Hanshin Tigers Courting Hodges
I used to watch Rodney Myers when he pitched for the Cubs in the mid-'90s. He was kind of a power guy with bad control back then, but I haven't seen him in years so I don't know if he's really the same now. Signing two pitchers makes me wonder. Morel is putting up solid numbers but do they really have confidence in him?
Any news on Kinkade and Kataoka?
I was just trying to find out what happened to Trey Hodges. I don't see his stats listed anywhere on the site. Anyone know if he's playing for a Japanese team, and how he's doing if he is?
Thanks!
Apart from his debut, when Hanshin smashed Chunichi 15-1, Hodges has only managed to pitch an average of 5 innings per game, and, ominously, the number of innings Hodges pitched has steadily declined: 7, 7, 5, and 4. Again, discounting his first outing, each time he has left the mound, Hanshin have been losing: 2-5 against the Giants on Sunday; 1-3 against the Swallows the week before; and 0-3 against the Giants before that.
The Tigers' official site (Japanese only) gives Hodges's stats as:
4 games, 1 win, 2 losses, ERA 4.30, 23 innings pitched, 17 Ks, and 11 earned runs.
What do you mean "poor old Riggan"? How would you like it if your right arm was cut from your wrist to just above your elbow and you couldn't do the thing that you just love to do? (Baseball!)
A year is a long time to be off, lots of painful rehab. He is traveling 125 miles every day of the week to his rehab facility to help heal his elbow and arm. He loves Japan and will be back. Sounds like you don't have much compassion.
You wouldn't be from Brewster would you? How is Jerrod's arm doing?
Hodges' problem, as far as Okada sees it, is that he lacks consistency of command of the strike zone and doesn't have enough heat to be able to get by when his offspeed stuff isn't working. So his agent may want to start making some phone calls and see if he can find his client a spot with somebody next season.
My question is, was this all a quote from Okada-san? I think Okada may need an agent to find him a job next year!
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The 26 year old Hodges spent the entire 2003 season with the Atlanta Braves where he posted a 4.66 ERA in 52 games (1 start, 65.2 innings). He walked 31 and struck out 66 batters.
In 2004, Hodges has spent his time with the Braves Triple-A farm club, the Richmond Braves. He is currently 5-2 with a 4.82 ERA in ten games (all starts, 52.1 innings).
Hodges is expected to be used in a relief role. Riggan (2.84 ERA), Ramon Morel (3.00 ERA), and Jeff Williams (1.87 ERA) have all pitched well for the Tigers, who are four games back of the Central League-leading Chunichi Dragons.