Fishing the NL East: Tim Hudson Earns Win Number 200

Apr 24, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson (15) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Have not done a link dump for the latest news around the National League East in a while, but am going to start doing this on a weekly basis going forward. Let’s check out all the latest happenings in the NL East:

Tim Hudson Wins Number 200 | Tomahawk Take

When the chips are down the man Braves fans want on the mound is Tim Hudson. Tonight at the age of 37 years 290 days Huddy – as his adoring Braves fans like to call him – taught the Nationals how to Huddy as he won his 200th game. And he did it in style.

Braves’ Brian McCann Aiming To Return | Tomahawk Take

The Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann has been dealing with the rehab that comes with reconstructive shoulder surgery. He has missed the start of the regular season and has set a date to which he wishes to return. McCann played through the pain for much of last season in hopes he could fight off the discomfort and help the Braves extend their October baseball schedule. Playing through the pain and playing at your highest ability were clearly in opposite directions as McCann’s stats for the 2012 season definitely didn’t represent the caliber player he is.

Braves bats run hot or cold, rarely in-between | Atlanta-Journal Constitutional

If there’s anything we’ve gleaned from observing these Braves during the first month of the season, it’s that we’re apparently going to witness a season of either real hot or real cold offense, with little in the way of room-temperature stuff.

Inside The Numbers: Bryce Harper’s (Near) Perfect Season | All Over the Hill

Bryce Harper lead the Washington Nationals to a commanding 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds tonight, smashing a towering 434-foot homerun en route to a 2 for 3 night with a walk. Just a typical night for the slugger. After setting the bar high with two multi-homer games and an astounding 11 multi-hit performances in just twice that number of games, Harper has made it difficult for himself to excite fans with stellar nights anymore; they just expect it. But in a season where the Nats, predicted by many to win the World Series, have already been labeled choke-artists after an 11-11 start, what Harper is truly doing is being overlooked.

Washington Nationals Rewind: Davey Johnson Not Happy With What He Sees In PNC | Federal Baseball

Ryan Zimmerman who went 0 for 4 with four Ks in his return to the lineup? “He’s awfully rusty,” Davey Johnson told reporters after tonight’s game, “But he’ll be fine.” Ross Detwiler, who threw 84 pitches in 5.0 IP in which he gave up six hits, two walks and three runs on two home runs? “To me he had a little command problem,” Johnson said, “He threw a lot of pitches in a short time, but he was getting ball up. But, he kept us in the ballgame.”

Jordan Zimmermann isn’t the Washington Nationals’ face, but he might be their ace | The Washington Post

The Washington athlete I’m most enjoying right now is not Alex Ovechkin, or Bryce Harper, or even Robert Griffin III jumping up and down on his surgically repaired knee (although all of them are entertaining, no doubt).

Salisbury: Phillies Again Told Giancarlo Stanton “Is Not Avaliable” | Section 215

As unrealistic as it sounds, Ruben Amaro Jr., and the Phillies continue to gauge the Marlins interest in a potential Giancarlo Stanton trade.

Giancarlo Stanton Trade Talk Scared Up Again For Whatever Reason | That Balls Outta Here

The Phillies and Giancarlo Stanton have had a pretty turbulent relationship. First, there was that unconfirmed rumor.

Philadelphia Phillies Need to Let the Fire Sale Begin, Starting with Cliff Lee | Bleacher Report

From 1994 through 2001, nobody really wanted to play in Philadelphia.

The organization was a mess.

The clubhouse was not very enlightening.

The team couldn’t win ballgames.

Sure, the likes of Scott Rolen were there. But every Philadelphia Phillies fan knows how that turned out.

Glory Days: Cliff Floyd | Rising Apple

No team in the major leagues grinds my gears more than the Miami Marlins. From their hideous ballparks to their nine fans to their inexplicable success (two world championships, no division titles), the Florida/Miami franchise is the eyesore of the entire National League East. But we, the other teams, benefit from their frequent fire sales, and one of the players who eventually made his way to Flushing by way of Miami is Cliff Floyd. His finest day as a New York Met is the subject of today’s “Glory Days.”

Aren’t The Mets What We Thought They Were? | Rising Apple

66-96, Fifth, No.

66-96, Fourth, No.

73-89, Fourth, No.

76-86, Fourth, No.

70-92, Fourth or Fifth, No way.

72-90, Fourth, No.

…In case you haven’t caught on yet, the above are some of the preseason predictions from the ESPN “experts” regarding what the Mets’ final record would be in 2013, what place they would finish in, and whether they’d reach the postseason.

Alderson: No thought of dumping Collins | ESPN.com

Terry Collins is not in jeopardy of losing his job anytime soon. That’s pretty clear.

But general manager Sandy Alderson came out and said it Friday.