First blown save this season made a tough loss

Bobby Cox let Hudson pitch the ninth inning, is it a bad idea?

IMO, it's not a bad decision.

我不認為 Cox、McDowell 或 Hudson 的這個決定是錯誤的。Hudson 是投了超過 100 球，但他直到八局結束還是非常 dominant，8 IP、106 pitches、6 H、12 SO、0 BB，完全沒有疲勞或不穩的狀況；如果比賽的結果是 Braves 獲勝，everybody would say: "Hudson pitched like Cy Young, what a great game.".... blah blah blah，所以由結果論來否定一個事件是不智的。

倒是在 Hudson 被擊出第二支、甚至第一支安打的時候 Bobby 應該考慮換投，Actually he did send McDowell to the mound to check the situation. 但沒換的結果是被塞成無人出局滿壘的狀況。Bob Wickman 在這個時候上來也有討論的空間，也許是 closer 的尊嚴，但事實上 Wickman 的三振能力不強，他主要靠的是穩定性，或許有製造滾地球的能力；但在這種情況下，我覺得讓 Gonzo 或 Soriano 這種具備高三振能力的 power pitcher 上來可能會好一點。

Another key: 很多人指出是牛棚熱身不夠。How could Bobby bet on Huddy at the risk of losing the game?

It's only an unhappy ending, though. Tim Hudson still pitched like a Cy Young winner. 只能說，出來混的總是要還的。Welcome to the real baseball world.

It's my first thought about this SOB game. I'll think again and make more adjustment.

------ Update ------
Shit, I am damn wrong. 果然印象比不上真相 :P. Look at the charts below,
Wickman's K/9 is pretty good since arrived Atlanta ('06=8.65 & '07=8.10), or at least, is above average.
But his BB/9 this year is not that brilliant as '06 ('06=0.08 & '07=0.60) until today.
His GB/FB ratio changed significantly this year. For now, he is not close to a ground-ball pitcher as before.
So, perhaps Wickman is not a bad choice at that situation. But I still like to see Rafael Soriano stood there.

p.s. I think that a reliever is only as valuable as his ability to keep inherited runners from scoring. And I don't believe reliever's ERA or even WHIP, too few samples to prove something. I'd rather check his strikeout ability, RA or opponent's AVG.

順便看一個數據，BABIP : Batting Average on Balls in Play = (H - HR) / (IP * 2.82 + H - HR -SO)
前一篇談到 Tim Hudson 今年超猛的表現，現在看了 BABIP 呈現的有趣現象，可以說前幾年他太不幸了, or, 他今年幸運多了。
而今天這場只能說 Hudson & Wickman 霉星高照，得不到幸運之神的眷顧，打出去的球剛好都找得到洞，夠鄉愿的解釋吧 :D.

上圖：Bob Wickman's BABIP
下圖：Tim Hudson's BABIP


Reference: FanGraphs