Rich Hill

[badgercub]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

[YearofDaCubs]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

Hill has only one pitch and that's it. His fastball and change are terrible. If you ask me, he has no future on this team.

[badgercub]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

Hill has only one pitch and that's it. His fastball and change are terrible. If you ask me, he has no future on this team.

 

Hill has decent velocity on his fastball but not a whole lot of movement which makes his location even more important. They were saying his location was excellent at Iowa, but he couldn't keep the ball down or get ahead in the count at all last night.

[C.C.]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

 

Hill at best projects as a Lefty Spec. I've been saying this since last year...

[PrimeTime]

All he is is a AAAA pitcher... Hes gotten to many chances in the majors and has proved anything...Id let him go for a rosin bag.. get anything you can for for bum

[Transmogrified Tiger]

All he is is a AAAA pitcher... Hes gotten to many chances in the majors and has proved anything...Id let him go for a rosin bag.. get anything you can for for bum

 

Hill has less than 50 MLB innings, even less as a starter, that's a far, far cry from to(sic) many chances.

[Backtobanks]

I've been worried about the Cubs hanging on to all of these prize prospects too long and then they lose their trade value when they get a few opportunities and then fail at them. I'm starting to think that about Pie. I know he's still very young, but Hendry has refused to discuss Hill, Guzman, Pie, etc. in the past and so far none of them are coming close to the potential they have shown. Also, many posters want to trade everyone on the team for the top prospects of other teams, but the same may be true of their prospects. Prospects are simply prospects until they prove something in the majors.

[TheDude]

Folks you either let the kids learn in the big leagues or you don't - there is no middle ground. The Cubs don't have can't miss prospects right now.

 

Hill has not had anywhere near too many chances. He needs a 100 IP in the starting rotation just to properly evaluate his progress. The stuff is there, the mental make-up appears lacking at the moment.

[Tracer Bullet]

To start their careers

 

Player A: 31 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 5.81 K/9, 1.82 K/BB

 

Player B: 23 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 7.99 K/9, 1.24 K/BB

 

I'm just saying, Hill has 46.2 IP in his career over a handful of sporadic starts. Meanwhile, his stats in AAA when he starts every 5th day on a regular basis are phenomenal. We have absolutely nothing to lose by telling him he's starting every 5th game for the rest of the year. I think a little confidence and a little coaching might help this kid. And if not and he's really not talented enough for the ML, let's find out. It's not like he has any trade value now anyway.

[Lefty]

To start their careers

 

Player A: 31 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 5.81 K/9, 1.82 K/BB

 

Player B: 23 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 7.99 K/9, 1.24 K/BB

 

I'm just saying, Hill has 46.2 IP in his career over a handful of sporadic starts. Meanwhile, his stats in AAA when he starts every 5th day on a regular basis are phenomenal. We have absolutely nothing to lose by telling him he's starting every 5th game for the rest of the year. I think a little confidence and a little coaching might help this kid. And if not and he's really not talented enough for the ML, let's find out. It's not like he has any trade value now anyway.

 

Uh, who are players A and B?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I was expecting to hear that Rich Hill had been transacted.

[Tracer Bullet]

To start their careers

 

Player A: 31 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 5.81 K/9, 1.82 K/BB

 

Player B: 23 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 7.99 K/9, 1.24 K/BB

 

I'm just saying, Hill has 46.2 IP in his career over a handful of sporadic starts. Meanwhile, his stats in AAA when he starts every 5th day on a regular basis are phenomenal. We have absolutely nothing to lose by telling him he's starting every 5th game for the rest of the year. I think a little confidence and a little coaching might help this kid. And if not and he's really not talented enough for the ML, let's find out. It's not like he has any trade value now anyway.

 

Uh, who are players A and B?

 

They're both current Cubs. One's 26, one's 40.

 

EDIT: I realize the order of my response may have been confusing. Player A is Maddux in his first year w/ the team, B is Hill last year.

Edited July 28, 2006 by yanrslatr

[goonys evil twin]

Folks you either let the kids learn in the big leagues or you don't - there is no middle ground. The Cubs don't have can't miss prospects right now.

 

Hill has not had anywhere near too many chances. He needs a 100 IP in the starting rotation just to properly evaluate his progress. The stuff is there, the mental make-up appears lacking at the moment.

 

Yep.

 

That being said, I'd include him in a deal if another team showed interest. I'd include any Cubs prospect in a deal, especially if it nets an impact bat. If he's not traded, he needs to start every 5th day.

[YearofDaCubs]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

Hill has only one pitch and that's it. His fastball and change are terrible. If you ask me, he has no future on this team.

 

Hill has decent velocity on his fastball but not a whole lot of movement which makes his location even more important. They were saying his location was excellent at Iowa, but he couldn't keep the ball down or get ahead in the count at all last night.

How many times have heard this already? At a certain point you just have to say that his stuff in AAA doesn't translate to the MLB level.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

Hill has only one pitch and that's it. His fastball and change are terrible. If you ask me, he has no future on this team.

 

Hill has decent velocity on his fastball but not a whole lot of movement which makes his location even more important. They were saying his location was excellent at Iowa, but he couldn't keep the ball down or get ahead in the count at all last night.

How many times have heard this already? At a certain point you just have to say that his stuff in AAA doesn't translate to the MLB level.

 

But it's too early to determine that. He needs time to see if he can make the adjustment, and not to be yo-yoed back and forth.

 

This season is a lost season. There's no reason Hill shouldn't be given a chance to take the mound every fifth day. He may make the adjustment, he may not. I'm not certain either way. What I am certain is that we haven't seen enough of him to make the call.

[TheDude]

How many times have heard this already? At a certain point you just have to say that his stuff in AAA doesn't translate to the MLB level.

 

You've probably heard it about 9 times. The number of starts he's had. That is not enough in anybody's book.

[RynoRules]

Hill's lack of velocity means that he will need to learn how to pitch as opposed to just blowing guys away. He'll need to hit spots and vary speeds.

 

Unfortunately, the only why to find out of he is capable of doing this is to keep trotting him out there.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hill's lack of velocity means that he will need to learn how to pitch as opposed to just blowing guys away. He'll need to hit spots and vary speeds.

 

Unfortunately, the only why to find out of he is capable of doing this is to keep trotting him out there.

 

Even assuming that's true, why is that unfortunate? If he gets destroyed in every start for the rest of the year and causes us to lose 3-5 games that we otherwise would have won, who cares? Seriously, this season is a complete loss.

 

He has no trade value at this point. He mopped up AAA for a few months. To my knowledge, there isn't a high risk of arm injury w/ him. This is the perfect chance to find out what Hill has to offer.

[mul21]

After his performance last night and what we have seen from him earlier would it be wise to use him in a package if the right deal came around? And if so, how much has his value dropped? That great curveball seems to be fine in AAA but when you can't spot your fastball well enough to set up the curve it loses a lot of its effectieveness. Where does Hill project to in the Majors a #4 or #5?

Hill has only one pitch and that's it. His fastball and change are terrible. If you ask me, he has no future on this team.

 

Hill has decent velocity on his fastball but not a whole lot of movement which makes his location even more important. They were saying his location was excellent at Iowa, but he couldn't keep the ball down or get ahead in the count at all last night.

How many times have heard this already? At a certain point you just have to say that his stuff in AAA doesn't translate to the MLB level.

 

How many times do you have to be told to wait until he get's 8-10 start in a row without having to worry about being demoted before you make a judgement? Have your opinions, but jeez, cut the kid some slack.

[d_money]

Marmol and Hill should be out there every fifth. There's something there, they need to be exposed to situations (ie. Marmol vs. Pujols) in which they can learn from.

 

No doubt, Hill has to step it up. I hope he's a sponge (not literally, of course) around Maddux while they are both on the team.

[forbez18]

Why not have the Cubs go to a six man rotation towards the end of the year. This could solve a lot of problems that the Cubs have. First it would let them see if there is anything there with Hill, they have to find out before going into next year. There is no way they can have the rotation set as Zambrano, marshall, marmol, maybe prior, maybe prospect, and a maybe a prospect. They have to find out who they can lean on and if Hill is not a guy they can then they have to look somewhere else next year, but this year is the time to find out. He has to be given the chances first and 50 innings is not enough. It would also hive Marshall time off because we all know he is nearing his max. innings, and prior could also use the time to rest so he doesnt get injured. But retaining to this post I think Hill should find his way in the rotation for a good amount of time this year.

[TXCubsFan]

I've seen Hill pitch at Round Rock. He has three pitches that are good enough to make him a #4 starter in the majors. Rich, however, may not have the temperament to be a good starter, and he might be better off pitching in middle relief or as a LOOGY.