Trey Hillman

[Banedon]

Phil Rogers' articlethis morning talked about a guy name Trey Hillman that's in Japan right now as someone the Cubs should consider. Considering my skepticism for just about anything Phil has to tell me, thought I'd run it by here and see what people knew about him and if he'd be a good option.

[daske17]

If Rogers' was serious that the Cubs should consider this guy for the manager position, why would the Tribune run this picture on the front page of the sports section:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/includes/printedition/09-28-06_CTC_SPT_240w_433h.gif

 

Yes, that's our potential new manager holding a fish on the field.

 

Kind of a mixed message, no?

[Soriano12]

Phil Rogers' articlethis morning talked about a guy name Trey Hillman that's in Japan right now as someone the Cubs should consider. Considering my skepticism for just about anything Phil has to tell me, thought I'd run it by here and see what people knew about him and if he'd be a good option.

 

I though he was the creator of South Park?

[Backtobanks]

If Rogers' was serious that the Cubs should consider this guy for the manager position, why would the Tribune run this picture on the front page of the sports section:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/includes/printedition/09-28-06_CTC_SPT_240w_433h.gif

 

Yes, that's our potential new manager holding a fish on the field.

 

Kind of a mixed message, no?

 

The Cubs stink like a dead fish, so I guess the message is that he can handle it.

[Guest]

unlike dusty, trey is apparently successful as a fisherman. perhaps he used the skunk as bait?

[soccer10k]

Phil Rogers' articlethis morning talked about a guy name Trey Hillman that's in Japan right now as someone the Cubs should consider. Considering my skepticism for just about anything Phil has to tell me, thought I'd run it by here and see what people knew about him and if he'd be a good option.

 

I though he was the creator of South Park?

 

That would be Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

[questionmarkgrace]

I'd take this guy if it meant we had a better chance to land japanese start Diasuke Matsuzaka? but seeing that it is going to be a silent auction just to gain the right to negotiate with him and Scott Boras, it probably won't happen.

[Laura]

He seems to like Hillman because of his maniacal attention to details and workouts (though it's unclear how much of that is driven by the fact he's managing in the Japanese Leagues). I'd be interested in finding out more than one throw-away line about what kind of manager he was in the Yankees' system and what kind of farm director he was for Texas.

 

But if Hendry can withstand the public pressure to anoint the local hero, it's likely he will look for someone who is very unlike the patient, forgiving, player-friendly Dusty Baker. He will want someone who is demanding and insistent on paying attention to details. That guy probably won't care whether players like him or not.

 

A brief scouting report on his style suggests Hillman might be welcomed as a savior by those who lament the Cubs' lack of fundamentals and the end of daily infield practice in the big leagues.

 

"Stickler for details," the report said. "Lots of repetition."

 

And that was his reputation before he spent four years in Japan.

 

The Japanese attitude about teamwork and preparation is closer to big-league baseball in the Branch Rickey era than the current one. Given the relative success at last March's World Baseball Classic, when Japan stunned both North and Latin America, it might be time to see if there is something we can learn from the Japanese.

 

American players who play for Japanese teams often are shocked by the long, highly structured, daily workouts, even during the season. Teams sometimes stay after games for more batting practice. Bobby Valentine, who managed the Chiba Lotte Marines to a title last year, has said the Japanese do "the ABCs like Dodgertown in the '50s."

 

The Japanese work ethic amazes Americans exposed to it for the first time.

 

Sometimes the pendulum swings too far. Baylor supposedly couldn't relate well to enough players ... and the Cubs ended up with a players' manager. Just because Dusty flopped doesn't necessarily mean we need a martinet to replace him.

[Wilmo]

I see this guy replacing Girardi in Florida, he seems to "like the fish". Dohhhh, bad joke. :roll: