Has Hill turned the corner?

[Jehrico]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level, but rather whether or not he would have the ability to mentally handle being in the majors. He's had two good starts in a row now...what are the odds that he's gotten the monkey off of his back? I'm hoping this is a sign that he's finally turned the corner and can be the pitcher we all hoped he could be. Honestly, I was in the camp there for awhile who thought he'd never amount to anything, I'll happily be the consumer of crow if he keeps this up.

[Drew Doughty]

I won't say it as an "official" thing, but it seems like he's much more ocmfortable. I just worry about him being like Mitre was last year for his solid 2-start stretch.

 

Then again, Mitre wasn't nearly as dominant as Hill at AAA.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

I readily and freely admit that I did. Granted, this is only 2 games, and one of them was against the stankin' Pirates, but he has looked fantastic in both of those starts. Like I said when he was called up this time, I hope he makes me eat a buffet's-worth of crow. It's only good for the Cubs if they have a slew of young pitching/trading options going into next year.

[abuck1220]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

are you friggin' kidding me? i've been a punching bag for my support of hill over the past two seasons...he's probably been the most criticized player in the organization this side of neifi. it's taken every ounce of my strength to resist spending a couple hours digging up a bunch of hill quotes and posting them in a brand new thread.

 

in conclusion, he's looked pretty good his last couple starts for a AAAA, one pitch lefty specialist.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

I readily and freely admit that I did. Granted, this is only 2 games, and one of them was against the stankin' Pirates, but he has looked fantastic in both of those starts. Like I said when he was called up this time, I hope he makes me eat a buffet's-worth of crow. It's only good for the Cubs if they have a slew of young pitching/trading options going into next year.

 

The stankin' Pirates are 4th in the NL against lefties in OPS and runs scored.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

Quite a few did doubt his ability to succeed, saying, amongst other things, that he only had one pitch and that his FB wasn't good enough.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

I readily and freely admit that I did. Granted, this is only 2 games, and one of them was against the stankin' Pirates, but he has looked fantastic in both of those starts. Like I said when he was called up this time, I hope he makes me eat a buffet's-worth of crow. It's only good for the Cubs if they have a slew of young pitching/trading options going into next year.

 

The stankin' Pirates are 4th in the NL against lefties in OPS and runs scored.

 

Really? Holy crap...literally.

[RynoRules]

In response to the thread's title: I sure as heck hope so!

[NCCubFan]

Even his first start this time up he pitched great in the first inning. Unfortunately, things fell apart after that. But with his past two starts, I think at least he's earned a spot in the rotation for the rest of this year to show if he can build on this success.

[oldcubsfan]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level, but rather whether or not he would have the ability to mentally handle being in the majors. He's had two good starts in a row now...what are the odds that he's gotten the monkey off of his back? I'm hoping this is a sign that he's finally turned the corner and can be the pitcher we all hoped he could be. Honestly, I was in the camp there for awhile who thought he'd never amount to anything, I'll happily be the consumer of crow if he keeps this up.

 

Too bad the search function is disabled, they were many who thought he was a bust.

[Jehrico]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level, but rather whether or not he would have the ability to mentally handle being in the majors. He's had two good starts in a row now...what are the odds that he's gotten the monkey off of his back? I'm hoping this is a sign that he's finally turned the corner and can be the pitcher we all hoped he could be. Honestly, I was in the camp there for awhile who thought he'd never amount to anything, I'll happily be the consumer of crow if he keeps this up.

 

Too bad the search function is disabled, they were many who thought he was a bust.

Maybe I was understating it abit, but it seemed to me that most of his detractors were down on him for his perceived lack of mental ability to handle this level, not his physical abilities.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

I readily and freely admit that I did. Granted, this is only 2 games, and one of them was against the stankin' Pirates, but he has looked fantastic in both of those starts. Like I said when he was called up this time, I hope he makes me eat a buffet's-worth of crow. It's only good for the Cubs if they have a slew of young pitching/trading options going into next year.

 

The stankin' Pirates are 4th in the NL against lefties in OPS and runs scored.

 

True-but 2 of their main players against lefties Casey and Wilson are now both gone.

 

This season against LHP:

Casey: .311/.350/.500

Wilson: .313/.376/.535

 

Also Freddy Sanchez did not play today: his numbers against LHP this year

 

Sanchez: .466/.484/.636

 

So Hill made a great start, but that Pirates stat is slightly misleading-because they didn't have 3 of the 4 hitters who were a major part of making that stat true. Whoever it was against though, Hill still dominated them.

[NCCubFan]

Maybe I was understating it abit, but it seemed to me that most of his detractors were down on him for his perceived lack of mental ability to handle this level, not his physical abilities.

Several were, but there were also several that said he didn't have enough good pitches to be a successful major league starter.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It's too early to say Hill has turned the corner, but I am pleased with his performance the past two games. It should give him somewhat of a longer leash with the Cubs FO and hopefully keep him penciled into the rotation until the end of the season. With the promise that our young pitchers (Marshall, Hill, Marmol) are showing at the major league level, the Cubs will have more options for next season, both in filling out the rotation and in possible trades.

[minnesotacubsfan]

i've been a punching bag for my support of hill over the past two seasons....

 

 

oooooo boo hoo. like your the only one.

 

 

I really had questions about Hill, and I still do. I have severe concerns of a pitcher the relies so heavily on his curveball, but I love what I'm seeing from him now. He seems to be mixing his curve with his FB well. I wonder if he mentally has made a corner, but what has changed from May until now for him that would lead to the last two beautiful starts? Has he figured out major league hitting out and adjusted or will major league hitting adjust to him?

[frostwyrm]

I had my doubts as to whether he could succeed at the MLB level but even in the spring I had no doubts that it was time either to trade him or let him sink or swim with the big league team. The guy had nothing left to prove at AAA and he's getting old.

[C.C.]

I love what I'm seeing so far, but I'm still not sold yet. The past two teams have really helped him out by swinging at balls out of the zone.

I'm eating crow the past two games and the crow is tasting pretty darn good! Keep it up Hill!

[Cubzfan64]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

[C.C.]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

 

I'd love him to add another pitch.

[CoolHandLuke]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

 

I'd love him to add another pitch.

 

I thought he added a change at some point?

[TruffleShuffle]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

 

Yes, but the sample size was also too small for him to be declared a bust, as many were doing after a few poor outings last year and this year.

[TruffleShuffle]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

 

I'd love him to add another pitch.

 

I thought he added a change at some point?

 

He did -- he just needs to use it a little more.

[TruffleShuffle]

I don't think anyone doubted Hill had the ability to succeed at this level

 

Quite a few did doubt his ability to succeed, saying, amongst other things, that he only had one pitch and that his FB wasn't good enough.

 

The fastball stuff was ridiculous. If a LHP can't succeed with a 90 mph FB, someone should've told that to all those lefties who have spent 10+ years in the majors while throwing in the upper 80s.

[CoolHandLuke]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

 

I'd love him to add another pitch.

 

I thought he added a change at some point?

 

He did -- he just needs to use it a little more.

 

Does anyone know how much he used it while at iowa? From what I remember reading on here, it seemed like it was at least an adequate pitch.

[Guest]

Too small a sample size - It would be remarkable for a guy with only a couple pitches to be able to succeed in the ML.

 

That said, of course I'm happy to see what he's done recently, I just think it's way too soon to think he's turned any kind of corner.

 

I'd love him to add another pitch.

 

I thought he added a change at some point?

He got a few swinging strikes on changeups today. And I only watched about 3 IP.