Assesment on Hill, so far?

[CubmanPi]

Hill needs to figure this out and quick. The last thing we need is to be pinned with a black hole in the rotation going down the stretch.

[abuck1220]

We're screwed if two-pitch-Rich can't bounce back after the break...

 

LOL! pitch rhymes with rich...perfect nickname...hardy har har!

[A New Era]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

[abuck1220]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

yeah, we wouldn't want to do anything to disturb this tremendously productive outfield situation we've got set up.

[A New Era]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

yeah, we wouldn't want to do anything to disturb this tremendously productive outfield situation we've got set up.

 

Nice sarcasm there. Soriano and Floyd are putting up the #'s. At MOST, you're going to get someone to platoon with Floyd. Pie needs to be playing most of the time and adding another OF means he's likely demoted. And I don't want to see that. Catcher or SS is a much better position to focus on.

[Sammy Sofa]

So what was up with Hill today? I checked the end of the game thread for some kind of summary, but it was all just bickering over the catchers.

[Keener98]

So what was up with Hill today? I checked the end of the game thread for some kind of summary, but it was all just bickering over the catchers.

 

He sucked

[Drew Doughty]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

yeah, we wouldn't want to do anything to disturb this tremendously productive outfield situation we've got set up.

 

Nice sarcasm there. Soriano and Floyd are putting up the #'s. At MOST, you're going to get someone to platoon with Floyd. Pie needs to be playing most of the time and adding another OF means he's likely demoted. And I don't want to see that. Catcher or SS is a much better position to focus on.

 

i don't get why people are still saying floyd is putting up numbers. his 300 average and decent obp are both nice, but he is not hitting for power at all. His bat is worthless in a corner outfield position, especially since he's mediocre defensively.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

So what was up with Hill today? I checked the end of the game thread for some kind of summary, but it was all just bickering over the catchers.

 

He was pitching somewhat decent until the 5th inning when he gave up a grand slam to SteakGrowsOnDmitri

[CubColtPacer]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

yeah, we wouldn't want to do anything to disturb this tremendously productive outfield situation we've got set up.

 

Nice sarcasm there. Soriano and Floyd are putting up the #'s. At MOST, you're going to get someone to platoon with Floyd. Pie needs to be playing most of the time and adding another OF means he's likely demoted. And I don't want to see that. Catcher or SS is a much better position to focus on.

 

i don't get why people are still saying floyd is putting up numbers. his 300 average and decent obp are both nice, but he is not hitting for power at all. His bat is worthless in a corner outfield position, especially since he's mediocre defensively.

 

I thought you were talking about Murton there for a second with your description :D

 

Seriously though, while Floyd puts up decent numbers, right field is the best place where there might be elite bats to be had at the deadline. The Cubs can use the upgrade anywhere they can get it, and right field, while not being the most pressing need, just might be the need that's available to upgrade, and the Cubs have to take advantage of that if they don't have to give up too much of their future (and if they are allowed to take on payroll).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

I doubt Dunn would be any worse defensively than Floyd has been in right. Floyd is brutal out there.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

yeah, we wouldn't want to do anything to disturb this tremendously productive outfield situation we've got set up.

 

Nice sarcasm there. Soriano and Floyd are putting up the #'s. At MOST, you're going to get someone to platoon with Floyd. Pie needs to be playing most of the time and adding another OF means he's likely demoted. And I don't want to see that. Catcher or SS is a much better position to focus on.

 

Soriano should be in RF so that if we can add a big bat/no glove OF, we can put him in LF (or so that Murton can be brought up to play LF). Floyd's giving us a good OBP, but his SLG is nothing that can't be replaced and/or exceeded easily.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

I doubt Dunn would be any worse defensively than Floyd has been in right. Floyd is brutal out there.

 

My 2-year-old runs better than Cliffy at this point.

[TruffleShuffle]

Hill for Dunn anyone? I might even throw in Murton if they'll take Eyre off our hands.

 

Sold.

 

And where would Dunn play? Please don't say RF. And please don't say move Soriano to RF for Dunn in LF. So basically don't say anything. kthxbye.

 

I doubt Dunn would be any worse defensively than Floyd has been in right. Floyd is brutal out there.

 

My 2-year-old runs better than Cliffy at this point.

 

I think we should see if under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Floyd is allowed to use a motorized wheelchair when he plays outfield or runs the bases

[TruffleShuffle]

here's hoping that rich worked some stuff out during the ASB

[Handlebar McSkullet]

From this mornings Inside Edge at ESPN.COM

Cubs streaking, Hill sliding

 

Not long ago Rich Hill looked like he could be the best pitcher in a talented Cubs rotation. Entering his June 17 start against the Padres, his ERA was 2.82. The Cubs have been hot, but Hill has been reeling. He's made four starts since June 17 and his ERA has risen nearly a full run to 3.81. He has given up five or more earned runs in three of his past four outings. So what has gone wrong for the young Cubs starter?

At the beginning of the season, Hill's best pitch was his curve, but the big hook has lost its effectiveness over his past four starts.

 

VS. CURVEBALL

BATTING AVERAGE WELL-HIT AVERAGE MISS PERCENTAGE

First 13 starts .169 .124 31

Last 4 starts .406 .375 14

 

 

Hill might be going to the well too many times when it comes to his hammer. In his first 13 starts, he threw his curveball 29 percent of the time, while in his past four starts he has thrown it 36 percent of the time. He also has made some location mistakes with his curveball lately; even in his earlier starts he got himself into trouble when he left it at the belt and on the outer third of the plate. Lately, he's hung more breaking balls and hitters have benefited greatly:

 

CURVES: BELT-HIGH ON OUTER THIRD OF PLATE

PITCHES BATTING AVERAGE SLUGGING PERCENTAGE

First 13 starts 51 .346 .500

Last 4 starts 27 .778 1.556

 

 

At the beginning of the season, opponents rarely made solid contact against any of Hill's pitches. But hitters have crushed his offerings over the past four starts:

 

SQUARING UP

FIRST 13 STARTS LEAGUE AVG LAST 4 STARTS

Well-hit average vs. fastball .196 .284 .474

Well-hit average vs. off-speed .132 .173 .432

Well-hit average vs. all pitches .172 .267 .453

 

Hill will look to get back on track Monday against the Giants, a team he shut down in September 2006, going eight innings and giving up only one run.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That's some pretty cool info, thanks.

[TheDude]

Why trade Hill for Dunn? Giving up Hill is worth a half-year rental? Or is this idea contingent on an extension?

[abuck1220]

good thing hill pitched well tonight...what with his career hanging in the balance and all.

[bukie]

Did Hill do anything noticeably different tonight? Didn't watch the game. Good location on the curve tonight?

[CubmanPi]

Did Hill do anything noticeably different tonight? Didn't watch the game. Good location on the curve tonight?

I only listened to the game, so I didn't get to see any of his pitches, but from the sounds of things he was definitely sharper, early on especially. It also didn't hurt him that he got to pitch against the Giants.

[NCCubFan]

Did Hill do anything noticeably different tonight? Didn't watch the game. Good location on the curve tonight?

I only listened to the game, so I didn't get to see any of his pitches, but from the sounds of things he was definitely sharper, early on especially. It also didn't hurt him that he got to pitch against the Giants.

Especially a Giants' team not on Barroids. :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

He kept his pitches down a lot better...except for the one he left belt high for Feliz.

[TruffleShuffle]

He kept his pitches down a lot better...except for the one he left belt high for Feliz.

 

Yeah that was a bad ball, but I used the DVR and watched every pitch that he threw... he was down in the zone with most of his pitches, except the ones that Koyie wanted high. The curve had nice bite and was ending up at the knees or just below. There weren't a lot of really hard hit balls.

 

After the top of the 8th, I was gonna say we should just call him "Hard-Luck Rich", but I guess since ARam got that double, we can stick with "One Pitch" as his nickname.

[TruffleShuffle]

cmon rich, shut those loser snakes down.