Assesment on Hill, so far?

[shnsajax]

Just to warn ya, it doesn't bother me, but that language isn't gonna go over well here.

 

My bad, I was just excited about Hill's start. The kid is looking really good and his recent performances have me feeling much better about our potential rotation next year.

 

If we could land a top of the rotation FA pitcher, I think the staff could be quite good.

 

Z

FA -- Zito, Schmidt, The kid from Japan

Prior

Hill

Miller

 

However, I'm not sure any of those acquisitions is realistic. Schmidt is probably headed to Seattle, Zito is going to cost a ton, and the kid from Japan has other more likely suitors. It may be worth it to pay for Zito and I would be in favor of keeping Miller at the back of the rotation to make it work since he would probably come cheap.

 

I really hope we don't go into next season with both Prior and Miller planned in the rotation. One should be the #5 starter the other is the backup plan.

 

If Prior or Miller could pitch 180 innings next season in the #5 slot the Cubs should be in good shape.

[Brian]

I was just thinking about something after watching the highlight clips on Cubs.com for this game. How about a Geo Soto/Rich Hill partnership for the rest of the year and next if Geo gets the backup job? Hill put up insane numbers at AAA with him and the best start of his major league career was with him so maybe they are a good match or maybe it's a coincidence.

[Brian]

oh and WTG Chicago media

 

Despite a performance that brought that kind of praise, Hill's first question from reporters was about a Michigan football game that was near completion.

 

"It's going to be a good win and a great step for obviously a great football program," Hill said.

 

:roll:

[Sarcastic]

Just to warn ya, it doesn't bother me, but that language isn't gonna go over well here.

 

My bad, I was just excited about Hill's start. The kid is looking really good and his recent performances have me feeling much better about our potential rotation next year.

 

If we could land a top of the rotation FA pitcher, I think the staff could be quite good.

 

Z

FA -- Zito, Schmidt, The kid from Japan

Prior

Hill

Miller

 

However, I'm not sure any of those acquisitions is realistic. Schmidt is probably headed to Seattle, Zito is going to cost a ton, and the kid from Japan has other more likely suitors. It may be worth it to pay for Zito and I would be in favor of keeping Miller at the back of the rotation to make it work since he would probably come cheap.

 

I really hope we don't go into next season with both Prior and Miller planned in the rotation. One should be the #5 starter the other is the backup plan.

 

If Prior or Miller could pitch 180 innings next season in the #5 slot the Cubs should be in good shape.

 

Like I said earlier, what spot Prior should be put in is pretty meaningless.

 

If Prior can pitch, the rotation could look like:

 

Zambrano

Prior

FA

Hill

Miller/Marshall/AAA pitcher

 

That would mean we'd need a good #2 pitcher from FA. If you don't count on Prior for anything, you'd need a good #2, and a good #3. The problem is, what two FA pitchers are out there whose salaries we could pay, and would be better enough compared to the kids to justify getting them instead of spending money elsewhere? Unless you think the Cubs are going to get Zito and Schmidt or completely rebuild, I don't see how the team's offseason plans would be any different with Prior in as the #2 or on the DL. I guess what I'm saying is, how do you think the Cubs should act differently than they would if they assumed Prior would be back?

[CubsWin]

Just to warn ya, it doesn't bother me, but that language isn't gonna go over well here.

 

My bad, I was just excited about Hill's start. The kid is looking really good and his recent performances have me feeling much better about our potential rotation next year.

 

If we could land a top of the rotation FA pitcher, I think the staff could be quite good.

 

Z

FA -- Zito, Schmidt, The kid from Japan

Prior

Hill

Miller

 

However, I'm not sure any of those acquisitions is realistic. Schmidt is probably headed to Seattle, Zito is going to cost a ton, and the kid from Japan has other more likely suitors. It may be worth it to pay for Zito and I would be in favor of keeping Miller at the back of the rotation to make it work since he would probably come cheap.

 

I really hope we don't go into next season with both Prior and Miller planned in the rotation. One should be the #5 starter the other is the backup plan.

 

If Prior or Miller could pitch 180 innings next season in the #5 slot the Cubs should be in good shape.

 

Like I said earlier, what spot Prior should be put in is pretty meaningless.

 

If Prior can pitch, the rotation could look like:

 

Zambrano

Prior

FA

Hill

Miller/Marshall/AAA pitcher

 

That would mean we'd need a good #2 pitcher from FA. If you don't count on Prior for anything, you'd need a good #2, and a good #3. The problem is, what two FA pitchers are out there whose salaries we could pay, and would be better enough compared to the kids to justify getting them instead of spending money elsewhere? Unless you think the Cubs are going to get Zito and Schmidt or completely rebuild, I don't see how the team's offseason plans would be any different with Prior in as the #2 or on the DL. I guess what I'm saying is, how do you think the Cubs should act differently than they would if they assumed Prior would be back?

Kind of off topic, but Wade Miller isn't signed past this season. Is he?

[NCCubFan]

Kind of off topic, but Wade Miller isn't signed past this season. Is he?

No. Hendry wasn't smart enough to include a club option in the contract. They may have basically paid him to rehabilitate for a year only to see him walk away.

[A New Era]

Damn.

 

Back then I knew Hill had the stuff to make it, but after this start. Damn, he has impressed me ALOT. I never thought he could do THIS good. He's far exceeded my expectations of him.

[NorthsideAvenger]

He got shelled against the Sox(the famous Barrett punch game)

then was exiled to AAA for nearly 2 months.

 

What also brings a :D to my face, is that with the way Hill has been pitching, he's basically took what Guillen said---"Tell that Triple-A [bleep] to shut up. Tell him to start throwing some strikes or he's going to get Dusty fired."---and shoved them back down that jerks mouth.

WTG, Rich, way to make Guillen look/sound like an idiot. Good job.

[soccer10k]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this already because I didn't feel like reading most of the thread so I apologize if I'm repeating information.

 

Rich Hill's game score today was 92 which ties Dontrelle Willis on 9/10 for the best game score in the National League this year. It is also behind only John Lackey with a 95 on 7/7 for best game score in all of baseball this year. =D> Rich Hill.

[mul21]

Just to warn ya, it doesn't bother me, but that language isn't gonna go over well here.

 

My bad, I was just excited about Hill's start. The kid is looking really good and his recent performances have me feeling much better about our potential rotation next year.

 

If we could land a top of the rotation FA pitcher, I think the staff could be quite good.

 

Z

FA -- Zito, Schmidt, The kid from Japan

Prior

Hill

Miller

 

However, I'm not sure any of those acquisitions is realistic. Schmidt is probably headed to Seattle, Zito is going to cost a ton, and the kid from Japan has other more likely suitors. It may be worth it to pay for Zito and I would be in favor of keeping Miller at the back of the rotation to make it work since he would probably come cheap.

 

I really hope we don't go into next season with both Prior and Miller planned in the rotation. One should be the #5 starter the other is the backup plan.

 

If Prior or Miller could pitch 180 innings next season in the #5 slot the Cubs should be in good shape.

 

Like I said earlier, what spot Prior should be put in is pretty meaningless.

 

If Prior can pitch, the rotation could look like:

 

Zambrano

Prior

FA

Hill

Miller/Marshall/AAA pitcher

 

That would mean we'd need a good #2 pitcher from FA. If you don't count on Prior for anything, you'd need a good #2, and a good #3. The problem is, what two FA pitchers are out there whose salaries we could pay, and would be better enough compared to the kids to justify getting them instead of spending money elsewhere? Unless you think the Cubs are going to get Zito and Schmidt or completely rebuild, I don't see how the team's offseason plans would be any different with Prior in as the #2 or on the DL. I guess what I'm saying is, how do you think the Cubs should act differently than they would if they assumed Prior would be back?

 

I don't think they need to act differently, because Prior shouldn't be asumed to have anything better than #5 starter stuff if/when he pitches next year. If you go about it that way, you have this:

 

Z

FA

Hill

FA or young guy/Miller

Prior or young guy/Miller

 

Whatever you get from Prior is a bonus and I think between Marshall, Mateo, Marmol and whoever else you want to throw in there you would have an acceptable back end of the rotation even without Prior. The biggest issue at this point is finding some offense without getting rid of the guys who are developing (Murton in particular).

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this already because I didn't feel like reading most of the thread so I apologize if I'm repeating information.

 

Rich Hill's game score today was 92 which ties Dontrelle Willis on 9/10 for the best game score in the National League this year. It is also behind only John Lackey with a 95 on 7/7 for best game score in all of baseball this year. =D> Rich Hill.

 

Damn you, I was going to point that out. :evil:

[Mizzou]

Kind of off topic, but Wade Miller isn't signed past this season. Is he?

No. Hendry wasn't smart enough to include a club option in the contract. They may have basically paid him to rehabilitate for a year only to see him walk away.

 

Wasn't smart enough? He did try and get the club option in there, but Miller didn't want it, as he had said from day one that he'd only sign a one year deal. And, while of course he was way off, Hendry thought Miller would be ready by May or June. So it's not like he signed Miller with the plan being for Miller to rehab all year and make a couple starts at the end of the season. I think it's pretty unfair to say that Hendry wasn't smart enough to include a option year, when anyone with a brain knows to try and get it.

[CubsWin]

Kind of off topic, but Wade Miller isn't signed past this season. Is he?

No. Hendry wasn't smart enough to include a club option in the contract. They may have basically paid him to rehabilitate for a year only to see him walk away.

Did it occur to you that maybe Miller didn't want it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow.

[WeberJazz]

High praise for Hill from Cincinnati:

 

"He's like a left-handed Ben Sheets, where he uses his curveball a lot," Reds catcher David Ross said. "You definitely can't look for the curveball because he throws 94 [mph]. He threw real well. One of the best pitchers we faced this year, I thought."

[Soriano12]

High praise for Hill from Cincinnati:

 

"He's like a left-handed Ben Sheets,

 

 

Lets hope he is healthier than Sheets.

[abuck1220]

Kind of off topic, but Wade Miller isn't signed past this season. Is he?

No. Hendry wasn't smart enough to include a club option in the contract. They may have basically paid him to rehabilitate for a year only to see him walk away.

Did it occur to you that maybe Miller didn't want it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow.

 

you do know that a contract is a two way deal, right?

[A New Era]

Kind of off topic, but Wade Miller isn't signed past this season. Is he?

No. Hendry wasn't smart enough to include a club option in the contract. They may have basically paid him to rehabilitate for a year only to see him walk away.

Did it occur to you that maybe Miller didn't want it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow.

 

you do know that a contract is a two way deal, right?

 

Well, it was a nothing contract. And it could work in our favor if Miller is the kind a guy who likes returning favors. We'll see. Either he will be the lovable cub next year or the dirty traitor. :wink:

[mg420]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

[Sammy Sofa]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

 

If their goal is coming in 3rd or 4th at best, sure.

[Brian]

Facts and figures: Hill's two-hit shutout on Saturday was quite a feat. He's the first rookie pitcher to throw a shutout for a team managed by Baker. Since the Cubs' last National League pennant in 1945, only one other rookie lefty has pitched a shutout allowing two or fewer hits: Jamie Moyer on Aug. 16, 1986, at Montreal.

 

Hill is the 11th Cubs rookie over the last 50 years to have at least five starts of seven innings or more while giving up zero or one run. The others include Kerry Wood (eight starts in 1998); Kevin Foster (five in '94); Steve Trachsel (five in '94); Mike Harkey (six in '90); Dennis Lamp (nine in '78); Burt Hooton (nine in '72); Rick Reuschel (eight in '72); Rich Nye (eight in '67); Cal Koonce (five in '62); and Dick Drott (seven in '57).

 

Hill also is the first Cubs left-handed pitcher with more than one 10-strikeout game in a season since Ken Holtzman in 1971. Holtzman had three double-digit strikeout games in 1969, '70 and 71.

[mg420]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

 

If their goal is coming in 3rd or 4th at best, sure.

 

just like hill is a aaaa pitcher, murton a 4th outfielder & theriot isnt a starting 2b. if the cubs went young in 2007 i think they could contend. i am tired of high priced free agents who either suck or get hurt. the future of the cubs is in the farm system not on the free agent list.

[Sammy Sofa]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

 

If their goal is coming in 3rd or 4th at best, sure.

 

just like hill is a aaaa pitcher, murton a 4th outfielder & theriot isnt a starting 2b. if the cubs went young in 2007 i think they could contend. i am tired of high priced free agents who either suck or get hurt. the future of the cubs is in the farm system not on the free agent list.

 

Marshall and Mateo are still way too raw to be counted on in that capacity. I think Hill is great but I think he's still going to be elarning when starts facing teams again and again. You simply cannot expect to win again and again with that as your starting rotation, even in a division this crappy. It's an absurd expectation.

 

And for the record, yes, there are a lot of players I'd rather have out there than Murton right now. Do I hate the idea of him starting in LF next year? No. Do I think it's the autpmatic or best choice? No. And you couldn't convince me that Theriot should be the starting 2B if you were made of money.

 

There's zero point in the Cubs going "half young" like you're suggesting. Either they sell of guys like Barret and Aramis and Lee and get what they can and go all youth or they insert a FEW rookies where they can. I'd happily accept Theriot as the chief IF utility guy next year...or with Murton, make him the primary OF backup and insert him into a legitimate platoon with Jones. But not both at the same time. This team is nowhere near being good enough to afford that luxury if they want to genuinely rebuild. Same with the pitching...having 1 rookies starter? Works for me. 2? Eh...if needed, alright But not in the long run. 3? That's not going to work.

Edited September 17, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[C.C.]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

 

If their goal is coming in 3rd or 4th at best, sure.

 

just like hill is a aaaa pitcher, murton a 4th outfielder & theriot isnt a starting 2b. if the cubs went young in 2007 i think they could contend. i am tired of high priced free agents who either suck or get hurt. the future of the cubs is in the farm system not on the free agent list.

 

That's basically what we have right now and we stink. It's not that high priced free agents stink, it's only the high priced FA we pick up.

[mg420]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

 

If their goal is coming in 3rd or 4th at best, sure.

 

just like hill is a aaaa pitcher, murton a 4th outfielder & theriot isnt a starting 2b. if the cubs went young in 2007 i think they could contend. i am tired of high priced free agents who either suck or get hurt. the future of the cubs is in the farm system not on the free agent list.

 

That's basically what we have right now and we stink. It's not that high priced free agents stink, it's only the high priced FA we pick up.

 

so did detroit & the marlins last year. this year they both seem to be doing ok. besides they young guys havent played full time the whole year. it took dusty almost the whole season to start using murton in LF everyday and theriot, soto & mateo are only getting playing time because nefi is gone and barrett, lee & rusch are injured.

[mg420]

i dont see why they would need miller next year anyway. z, prior, hill, marshall & mateo seems like a good rotation to me.

 

If their goal is coming in 3rd or 4th at best, sure.

 

just like hill is a aaaa pitcher, murton a 4th outfielder & theriot isnt a starting 2b. if the cubs went young in 2007 i think they could contend. i am tired of high priced free agents who either suck or get hurt. the future of the cubs is in the farm system not on the free agent list.

 

Marshall and Mateo are still way too raw to be counted on in that capacity. I think Hill is great but I think he's still going to be elarning when starts facing teams again and again. You simply cannot expect to win again and again with that as your starting rotation, even in a division this crappy. It's an absurd expectation.

 

And for the record, yes, there are a lot of players I'd rather have out there than Murton right now. Do I hate the idea of him starting in LF next year? No. Do I think it's the autpmatic or best choice? No. And you couldn't convince me that Theriot should be the starting 2B if you were made of money.

 

There's zero point in the Cubs going "half young" like you're suggesting. Either they sell of guys like Barret and Aramis and Lee and get what they can and go all youth or they insert a FEW rookies where they can. I'd happily accept Theriot as the chief IF utility guy next year...or with Murton, make him the primary OF backup and insert him into a legitimate platoon with Jones. But not both at the same time. This team is nowhere near being good enough to afford that luxury if they want to genuinely rebuild. Same with the pitching...having 1 rookies starter? Works for me. 2? Eh...if needed, alright But not in the long run. 3? That's not going to work.

 

dont see why not. look at who the twins have starting-santana, liriano & guys with era's over 4.5. oakland has zito, haren and guys with 4.5+ era's. neither has a powerhouse offense but instead they rely on a balanced lineup, a few good starters & a good pen. i hope to see the cubs follow suit next year. they can keep barrett, lee & aram and go young and still win imo.