Rich Hill comment in Stark column

[Stu]

Apologies if this has been mentioned, but did anyone catch that line on Hill from Stark's column today?:

 

"To be honest," said one front-office man, "Rich Hill is worth a lot more than that. Everyone in baseball was asking about Rich Hill at the winter meetings. So he's not getting traded for a fourth outfielder.

 

 

If everyone feels that way he may indeed be a valuable trading chip.

[Andy]

Apologies if this has been mentioned, but did anyone catch that line on Hill from Stark's column today?:

 

"To be honest," said one front-office man, "Rich Hill is worth a lot more than that. Everyone in baseball was asking about Rich Hill at the winter meetings. So he's not getting traded for a fourth outfielder.

 

 

If everyone feels that way he may indeed be a valuable trading chip.

Geez. Hill's a decent pitcher, but somehow I think if he threw with his other hand he wouldn't be getting half the hubbub he's been getting. If Hendry can get a good RF with a package including Hill, CPatt, and prospects then do it.

[SantoForHOF]

the only thing i can think of is remember when Zambrano came up near the end in 2002 and sucked out of the pen?

 

Maybe he'll follow Big Z's route...

[Outshined_One]

the only thing i can think of is remember when Zambrano came up near the end in 2002 and sucked out of the pen?

 

Maybe he'll follow Big Z's route...

 

While Z is younger than Hill (which surprises and shocks me to this day), I'd be quite thrilled if that ended up happening. :D

[Jon]

I don't really remember the Z for closer situation that well, but certainly putting Z in the bullpen was a better idea than even thinking about using Hill in relief. At least Juan Cruz was used as a starter and not Glendon Rusch.

[CubsWin]

Apologies if this has been mentioned, but did anyone catch that line on Hill from Stark's column today?:

 

"To be honest," said one front-office man, "Rich Hill is worth a lot more than that. Everyone in baseball was asking about Rich Hill at the winter meetings. So he's not getting traded for a fourth outfielder.

 

 

If everyone feels that way he may indeed be a valuable trading chip.

Geez. Hill's a decent pitcher, but somehow I think if he threw with his other hand he wouldn't be getting half the hubbub he's been getting. If Hendry can get a good RF with a package including Hill, CPatt, and prospects then do it.

I don't know. If a right-handed pitcher had a killer, knockout curve and a low 90s fastball and put up numbers like 11-4, 3.31, 194 Ks against just 35 BBs in just 131 innings in the high minors last season, I still think he would rate as a future starter in the major leagues.

 

Of course, it doesn't much matter what I think. However, it does matter what other GMs around baseball think, and, if this Jayson Stark article is to be believed, they think Hill will be pretty good too.

[NewUserName]

what I dont understand is why the Cubs seem to not want to use him though. He is apparently untouchable but seems destined for AAA at age 26

[abuck1220]

what I dont understand is why the Cubs seem to not want to use him though. He is apparently untouchable but seems destined for AAA at age 26

 

he went to college, that's why is age is higher than you'd like it to be. i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

[8-8-88]

Sell while his stock is high. We all know Dusty will screw him up somehow.

[umpunk]

i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

 

:roll: Here we go. Seriously, the post could be about trading for Jose Vidro and it would turn into, "Dusty doesn't play young players, he sucks...."

[imb]

i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

 

:roll: Here we go. Seriously, the post could be about trading for Jose Vidro and it would turn into, "Dusty doesn't play young players, he sucks...."

 

Hilariously, what he actually said was "Dusty would play Rich Hill too much". Wtg.

[ThePenguin11]

what I dont understand is why the Cubs seem to not want to use him though. He is apparently untouchable but seems destined for AAA at age 26

 

he went to college, that's why is age is higher than you'd like it to be. i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

 

The problem here is that top college pitching prospects aren't supposed to take as long to be major league ready. (I'm not sure he applies as one, but for the sake of discussion...) The high school guys are considered to be more projects than the college guys. It doesn't apply to all college pitchers, because some of them just suck and aren't good enough for the big show. In Hill's case, it's taking too long for him to be major league dominant. He should be able to have stretches, even when he's still a little 'green' where he can dominate major league hitting. That's if he's as good as advertised. Of course the sample size we have is a bit too small, so the only way we'll know is to put him out there and roll the dice. The downside to that is if he gets man-handled by MLB hitters over the course of a few months - his value at age 26 will be nil. Best bet is probably to trade him now for the best possible MLB talent we can. Otherwise, its ____ or get off the pot for Rich Hill this year.

[Jehrico]

i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

 

:roll: Here we go. Seriously, the post could be about trading for Jose Vidro and it would turn into, "Dusty doesn't play young players, he sucks...."

 

Hilariously, what he actually said was "Dusty would play Rich Hill too much". Wtg.

 

That does raise a peculiarity about Dusty...he overworks young pitchers, yet won't let young position players play much at all. I don't know what his thinking is...

[Outshined_One]

That does raise a peculiarity about Dusty...he overworks young pitchers, yet won't let young position players play much at all. I don't know what his thinking is...

 

Dusty thinks? :D :twisted:

[abuck1220]

what I dont understand is why the Cubs seem to not want to use him though. He is apparently untouchable but seems destined for AAA at age 26

 

he went to college, that's why is age is higher than you'd like it to be. i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

 

The problem here is that top college pitching prospects aren't supposed to take as long to be major league ready. (I'm not sure he applies as one, but for the sake of discussion...) The high school guys are considered to be more projects than the college guys. It doesn't apply to all college pitchers, because some of them just suck and aren't good enough for the big show. In Hill's case, it's taking too long for him to be major league dominant. He should be able to have stretches, even when he's still a little 'green' where he can dominate major league hitting. That's if he's as good as advertised. Of course the sample size we have is a bit too small, so the only way we'll know is to put him out there and roll the dice. The downside to that is if he gets man-handled by MLB hitters over the course of a few months - his value at age 26 will be nil. Best bet is probably to trade him now for the best possible MLB talent we can. Otherwise, its ____ or get off the pot for Rich Hill this year.

 

well, i don't think that's the case.

 

there's no doubt that hill's a late bloomer. but you can't argue w/ the #'s he put up last year, and his strikeout #'s have ALWAYS been out of this world. it's not like major league pitchers retire at 28...he's still got some time left regardless of what he does in the first few months of this season. if every gm in baseball was asking him about him at the winter meetings, i doubt it drops to no gm's asking about him in june...even if he struggles.

[jjgman21]

what I dont understand is why the Cubs seem to not want to use him though. He is apparently untouchable but seems destined for AAA at age 26

 

he went to college, that's why is age is higher than you'd like it to be. i, for one, am kinda glad that dusty wasn't in charge of how he was used when he was 22-23.

 

The problem here is that top college pitching prospects aren't supposed to take as long to be major league ready. (I'm not sure he applies as one, but for the sake of discussion...) The high school guys are considered to be more projects than the college guys. It doesn't apply to all college pitchers, because some of them just suck and aren't good enough for the big show. In Hill's case, it's taking too long for him to be major league dominant. He should be able to have stretches, even when he's still a little 'green' where he can dominate major league hitting. That's if he's as good as advertised. Of course the sample size we have is a bit too small, so the only way we'll know is to put him out there and roll the dice. The downside to that is if he gets man-handled by MLB hitters over the course of a few months - his value at age 26 will be nil. Best bet is probably to trade him now for the best possible MLB talent we can. Otherwise, its ____ or get off the pot for Rich Hill this year.

 

well, i don't think that's the case.

 

there's no doubt that hill's a late bloomer. but you can't argue w/ the #'s he put up last year, and his strikeout #'s have ALWAYS been out of this world. it's not like major league pitchers retire at 28...he's still got some time left regardless of what he does in the first few months of this season. if every gm in baseball was asking him about him at the winter meetings, i doubt it drops to no gm's asking about him in june...even if he struggles.

 

I agree with your sentiment, but am not so quick to concede that Hill is a late bloomer. Prior, Mulder, and other college pitchers that make the majors in the blink of an eye are still a rarity, not the norm. in his first full year of pro ball Hill dominated low A. in his second year he was in high A, not as dominant but still very good and still had great preipherals. in his third full year in pro ball he corrected his biggest problem (walks), dominated the high minors, and made it to the major leagues.

 

to me, Rich Hill is exacly where he should be and has a great chance to be a very good, and perhaps dominant, pitcher in the majors for 6-8 years. I think the problem is a disconnect with the career curve of major league pitchers. the greats tend to break into the majors at a younger age and last until they are older than most, but many pitchers who come out of high school and college don't break into the majors and start performing well until their mid 20's.

[JeffH]

I would be very reluctant to trade Rich Hill, but he has two things working against him that are tough to overcome - walks and home runs.

 

Fortunately for him, he strikes people out like crazy and is extremely tough to hit.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I would be very reluctant to trade Rich Hill, but he has two things working against him that are tough to overcome - walks and home runs.

 

Fortunately for him, he strikes people out like crazy and is extremely tough to hit.

 

He walked a ton at the Major League level last year, but he really didn't walk a ton of guys at AA and especially AAA. I think that's why the home runs went up, becuase he's made some adjustment to be around the plate more. Looking at his career, before this year he walked an insane amount of hitters, and didn't give up very many HR. Last year, he walked guys at a pretty reasonable rate, and gave up a bunch of HR. Seems to me that it's almost like an either/or with the BB and HR, not both.

[brfahey]

I would be very reluctant to trade Rich Hill, but he has two things working against him that are tough to overcome - walks and home runs.

 

Fortunately for him, he strikes people out like crazy and is extremely tough to hit.

 

He walked a ton at the Major League level last year, but he really didn't walk a ton of guys at AA and especially AAA. I think that's why the home runs went up, becuase he's made some adjustment to be around the plate more. Looking at his career, before this year he walked an insane amount of hitters, and didn't give up very many HR. Last year, he walked guys at a pretty reasonable rate, and gave up a bunch of HR. Seems to me that it's almost like an either/or with the BB and HR, not both.

 

Give me the HRs over the walks. Fergie Jenkins used to give up tons of homers every year but he didn't walk anybody (less than 2 per game). The results speak for themselves.

[CubsWin]

I think Rich Hill is in Hendry's plans for the rotation this season. Now that doesn't mean that he won't trade him. It will just have to be for the right guy.

 

Hendry doesn't want to have to count on Hill to perform well at the major league level so he re-signed Rusch. He also doesn't want to have to count on Wood being healthy, so he signed Eyre and Howry to help with the bullpen allowing Williams and Rusch to be in the rotation without seriously depleting the talent in the pen.

 

Hendry now has options. Younger players who have shown promise in the pen like Ohman and Wuertz and to some extent Novoa can battle it out for the final spots in the bullpen or be traded. Teams are always looking for bullpen help (especially during spring training). Wood can be allowed to return without being rushed. Hill can be allowed to compete with Rusch and possibly others for the 5th spot in the rotation. He also has enough money left to sign someone like Millwood or Weaver. If he does, he can afford to trade players like Williams, Hill or both for a really good OFer.

 

Options. Goooood stuff.

[Andy]

Options. Goooood stuff.

Offense is good too. And we don't have near enough of it at present.

[CubsWin]

Options. Goooood stuff.

Offense is good too. And we don't have near enough of it at present.

I agree completely.

 

And its December 17th.