Comments on: Redbird Recollection: Bud Smith

By: Chris Eastburn

Chris Eastburn — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:03:10 +0000

Bud is a great guy with a great attitude. He currently gives lessons to my son. Yes, a scrawney lefty with not much on his fastball, but a lot of movement on all of his junk. Sound familiar? My son loves pitching to Bud. Not because he played in the Bigs, but because he treats my son with respect and is truly interested in his development.

By: Larry Sondhaus

Larry Sondhaus — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:10:16 +0000

By my count, Bud Smith is also one of 18 pitchers in baseball history (Christy Mathewson was the first) to have a no-hitter and a post-season victory in the same season. No one has done it since Bud.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:01:48 +0000

By your logic, lawless, Bud would’ve been permitted to stay in the game for…how many pitches? 140? 150? 160? Seriously, what’s your number? My point is, you *have* to draw a line somewhere. For me, the line would’ve been around 120-125 — and at the end of 7 innings & 105 pitches, Bud was clearly going to surpass 125 in order to get the no-no.

Hence, take him out after 7.

By: beau

beau — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:08:11 +0000

Good story by Erik.

Organizations need business rules regarding prudent uses of pitchers. Most guys would prefer a multi-year career versus one brief moment of fame.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:52:30 +0000

Scout.com is reporting that P Jason Motte will play for Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League for the 2008-09 winter season.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:23:32 +0000

Todd has a very different body type from Smith. The obvious thing is that he’s a righty, but he’s also about 30% wider — 5’11″, 210# versus 6′, 170″ or so. VERY different from the standpoint of mechanics, potential (and locations) for breakdown, and so on.

As a lefty pitcher oh-so-many years ago — and certainly with nothing remotely approaching a professional no-no, or even appearance, to my name — I’ve always felt intensely sorry for Bud Smith. And yes, lawless, this qualifies as a bad thing that really wasn’t anyone’s fault; TLR would have been castigated for pulling him too, and who knows, his arm might still have given out. Pitching is bad for arms.

By: cardzfanbub

cardzfanbub — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:14:19 +0000

PJ was my first thought as a comparison, but what about Todd? He’s young, and has dominated a couple of levels. He’s also quite small for a pitcher. I suppose he has a better fastball, and probably not as good of secondary stuff…

By: lawless

lawless — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:15:18 +0000

Nobody’s fault – I can’t assign blame to LaRussa for letting a man finish his no-hitter. Sh happens as they say. Do I wish he would have taken him out given hindsight – Heck yes – Can I blame him. No.

Anywho, great post. I truly enjoyed smith and was rooting for him as he was playing for the Ducks awhile back. Seems like a perfect guy to offer a roving pitching instructor or other job to if he is willing and able…

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:37:22 +0000

I remember the no-no quite well…and also the quote from Bud the next day. He said there was an unfamiliar feeling in his arm; that his arm felt “funny.” There’s no doubt in my mind that the 134 pitches were far and away the main contributor to his demise (he never had another Quality Start again).

He’s the lesson: when a fairly scrawny 21-year-old starter has thrown 105 pitches through 7 innings (as Bud had), and he’s been kept on a 110-pitch limit throughout his minor league career (as Bud was), it’s a really bad idea to go for the tiny, temporary, personal glory of the no-hitter. The end of the 7th was the time to remove him.

By: BigJawnMize

BigJawnMize — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:52:56 +0000

Walters, when he isn’t wild, kinda reminds me of him as well. Both have just filthy change-ups…