Assesment on Hill, so far?

[Jazz]

i think Hill is the real deal. He has been consistent since the 2nd half of last year (where he put up better numbers than Z), and has the kind of stuff to where he could be consistently great without many hiccups. If Z can get back to form, and Lilly and Marquis are any good, this rotation is the best in the division, maybe the NL.

[VVMattVV]

I remember either last season or the one before when there was the RUMOR that Hendry had a chance to trade Dunn for Hill straight up and would not do it. Almost everyone here was in agreement that was insane of Hendry if true. Dunn is off to a hot start this year and Hill is starting to show signs he could be the real deal. I wonder what the consensus would be about making that deal right now.

 

Bruce Miles said "Hendry wouldn't deal Hill for Dunn straight up." He was speaking hypothetically, I don't believe this deal was ever even rumored.

[soccer10k]

rich hill is good at pitching baseballs.

 

who could have seen this coming??

 

tied for the best era in the NL.

 

Surely not you.

[Rob]

I remember either last season or the one before when there was the RUMOR that Hendry had a chance to trade Dunn for Hill straight up and would not do it. Almost everyone here was in agreement that was insane of Hendry if true. Dunn is off to a hot start this year and Hill is starting to show signs he could be the real deal. I wonder what the consensus would be about making that deal right now.

 

Bruce Miles said "Hendry wouldn't deal Hill for Dunn straight up." He was speaking hypothetically, I don't believe this deal was ever even rumored.

 

I recall it that way as well.

 

However, when the original rumor first started, I was in the group verbally berating Hendry for his stubborn refusal to deal Rich Hill.

 

That bring Hendry one closer to me in our ongoing battle... but I still have the righteous Neifi and Rusch outrage.

[Soul]

They just highlighted Hill on Baseball Tonight, too. The kid's got a nasty, nasty curve. I can't remember who, but last year someone said Hill's stuff just wasn't major league ready.

 

I'd like to hear what that guy has to say now. So far so good with Hill. Keep it up, kiddo.

 

He's carrying this rotation right now.

[TruffleShuffle]

I was watching baseball tonight with a friend who'd never seen a Rich Hill curve, and he was blown away by it. What a beautiful pitch.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm enjoying Hill's 588 ERA+ for the season thus far.

[abuck1220]

I'm enjoying Hill's 588 ERA+ for the season thus far.

 

leads the majors...

[ltb]

I remember either last season or the one before when there was the RUMOR that Hendry had a chance to trade Dunn for Hill straight up and would not do it. Almost everyone here was in agreement that was insane of Hendry if true. Dunn is off to a hot start this year and Hill is starting to show signs he could be the real deal. I wonder what the consensus would be about making that deal right now.

 

Bruce Miles said "Hendry wouldn't deal Hill for Dunn straight up." He was speaking hypothetically, I don't believe this deal was ever even rumored.

 

you are correct.

bruce was just showing how highly hendry valued hill.

[TruffleShuffle]

I offer my prediction for Hill in 2007:

 

18-7, 3.02 ERA, 221 IP, 187 H, 61 BB, 215 K

[gflore34]

I believe its fairly simple, if Hill keeps throwing strikes and Zambrano doesn't, Hill will surpass Zambrano as the Cubs #1 starter.

[wastra]

Isn't it kidna funny how so many "experts" kept predicting that with his 90 mph fastball, he'd probably only be an average starter in the majors?

 

All he's done is dominate every level he's played at, and that's starting to translate to the big leagues.

 

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

[Soul]

Isn't it kidna funny how so many "experts" kept predicting that with his 90 mph fastball, he'd probably only be an average starter in the majors?

 

All he's done is dominate every level he's played at, and that's starting to translate to the big leagues.

 

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

Not sure about Rocky.

 

Hopefully Hill's 90MPH fastball will keep his arm under less stress than a 98MPH fireballer. After Woody and Prior, I'm into pitchers who can take the ball every time out over guys who shred their arms trying to break the land-speed record on their fastballs.

[gflore34]

Isn't it kidna funny how so many "experts" kept predicting that with his 90 mph fastball, he'd probably only be an average starter in the majors?

 

All he's done is dominate every level he's played at, and that's starting to translate to the big leagues.

 

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

Not sure about Rocky.

 

Hopefully Hill's 90MPH fastball will keep his arm under less stress than a 98MPH fireballer. After Woody and Prior, I'm into pitchers who can take the ball every time out over guys who shred their arms trying to break the land-speed record on their fastballs.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Zito' fastball isn't much faster than 90 MPH, if it is at all, yet, he's been able to have some major league success.

[Soul]

Isn't it kidna funny how so many "experts" kept predicting that with his 90 mph fastball, he'd probably only be an average starter in the majors?

 

All he's done is dominate every level he's played at, and that's starting to translate to the big leagues.

 

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

Not sure about Rocky.

 

Hopefully Hill's 90MPH fastball will keep his arm under less stress than a 98MPH fireballer. After Woody and Prior, I'm into pitchers who can take the ball every time out over guys who shred their arms trying to break the land-speed record on their fastballs.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Zito' fastball isn't much faster than 90 MPH, if it is at all, yet, he's been able to have some major league success.

 

A little bit :)

 

Hill's pitch speed is fine. It's all about where and when that curve is coming, not where & when he's going to blow the fastball by someone.

 

There was a guy named Maddux once who relied on pitch selection and location over pitch speed. I hear he did alright.

[Guest]

I'm enjoying Hill's 588 ERA+ for the season thus far.

 

leads the majors...

Is it possible to calculate an ERA+ for King Felix? Wouldn't you have a divide by zero error in that formula?

[abuck1220]

I'm enjoying Hill's 588 ERA+ for the season thus far.

 

leads the majors...

Is it possible to calculate an ERA+ for King Felix? Wouldn't you have a divide by zero error in that formula?

 

heh...his didn't show up on the leaderboard because baseball-reference has it listed as "inf," which i'm guessing is infinity.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

It's 597 now.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Isn't it kidna funny how so many "experts" kept predicting that with his 90 mph fastball, he'd probably only be an average starter in the majors?

 

All he's done is dominate every level he's played at, and that's starting to translate to the big leagues.

 

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

Not sure about Rocky.

 

Hopefully Hill's 90MPH fastball will keep his arm under less stress than a 98MPH fireballer. After Woody and Prior, I'm into pitchers who can take the ball every time out over guys who shred their arms trying to break the land-speed record on their fastballs.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Zito' fastball isn't much faster than 90 MPH, if it is at all, yet, he's been able to have some major league success.

 

Well, pitch speed isn't everything. 95 mph with no deception/movement is going to get hit by major leaguers.

 

I think "late life" is more important. There were several quotes from ML players after Hill's starts describing his stuff, saying he had a 95 mph fastball (I think it was the Brewers, IIRC). It's not just the speed, it's how it looks to hitters.

 

If Hill didn't have that great curve, his FB wouldn't look so hot. A plus pitch can really complement your other stuff if you know how to mix your pitches and locate.

 

Hill's slide step changeup is a nice pitch as well.

[seanimal]

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

When Wade Miller gets DFA'd on Wednesday, Guzman will slide into the rotation and Cherry will get called up to take up the spot in the bullpen.

[98navigator]

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

When Wade Miller gets DFA'd on Wednesday, Guzman will slide into the rotation and Cherry will get called up to take up the spot in the bullpen.

 

Works for me.

[daske17]

Could someone explain the significance of ERA+? I read the definition on baseballreference.com, but still don't get it.

[imb]

When does Rocky get the callup? :P

 

When Wade Miller gets DFA'd on Wednesday, Guzman will slide into the rotation and Cherry will get called up to take up the spot in the bullpen.

 

I read this quote without reading who posted it, and I was seriously praying that it was Bruce Miles.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Could someone explain the significance of ERA+? I read the definition on baseballreference.com, but still don't get it.

 

It's just comparing his ERA to the rest of the league, adjusting for the park as well. 100 is average, so 597 is REALLY good.

[jersey cubs fan]

Could someone explain the significance of ERA+? I read the definition on baseballreference.com, but still don't get it.

 

It compares a pitcher's ERA, adjusted for park effects, against other pitchers in the league. 100 is average. 150 is outstanding, 50 is terrible.