Rich Hill Article on CNNSI

[jmajew]

I thought this article was pretty interesting. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/luke_winn/05/07/cubs/1.html

 

Here is the part that I found most interesting...

Hill was first given the books in the winter of 2004, when he was training in Massachusetts with Craig McLaughlin, a coach at prep school Buckingham Browne & Nichols, and Matt Hyde, a scout for the Yankees. Hill devoured them then, but it still took him the better part of three seasons -- multiple call-ups, the verbal sparring with the Sox, and an agonizingly long wait to get his first W as a big-leaguer -- to put the whole package together. "The more you control your behavior, the better off you are," Hill said. "How you behave on the mound usually dictates how you think, and that translates into everything else."

 

 

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

[seanimal]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

[Soriano12]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

 

or intelligence.

[snoodmonger]

good article

[seanimal]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

 

or intelligence.

 

Yeah, Z's to busy bench-pressing Ward to read any books.

[jersey cubs fan]

"Maybe a few years ago, I would have thought, this isn't supposed to be happening," said Hill. "But now, with a positive mindset and a positive thought process, you have to think that, this is the way it should be happening."

 

If they did anything, it sounds like Hill used these books to get a little more positive attitude and to expect success. I don't see how that is something that would benefit Zambrano. He's got all the confidence in the world. His problem is consistency, which may or may not be related to health.

[tkenm356]

Zambrano: What's this?

 

Hill: It's The Mental ABC's of Pitching. I think it could really help you and your struggles.

 

Zambrano: /takes book, breaks it over knee

[Chocolate Milk]

Interesting stuff regarding changing his curveball.

[seanhopper]

It's also interesting because none of these people are from the Cubs organization. One of the Chicago papers (I honestly forget which one) mentioned that Larry Rothchild was the one who got him to focus on the mental part of the game. This may have been the case or, as we have seen in the past, this may just be PR ploy coming from the Cubs org.

[NewUserName]

I like the part where his brother wouldnt let him throw curveballs until he was 17. Nothing ruins a arm like too many breaking balls while still in HS.

[CoolHandLuke]

Nobody thinks the most interesting information is the fact that he didn't throw with his left arm until he was 6?

 

I don't like how the author says Ted Lilly has "been decent". Sure his record is 2-2 but his ERA is still under three, he has been strikeout out a ton of batters, and he is not walking people or allowing many base hits.

[TruffleShuffle]

i wanna know why his brothers just decided they were gonna make him throw lefthanded

[seanimal]

i wanna know why his brothers just decided they were gonna make him throw lefthanded

 

So he could make the Majors with a 90 mph fastball.

[CubmanPi]

He came back down to earth, dropping his next two starts, but maintained his end-of-April ERA at 1.77 and rebounded to beat Washington on Sunday for his fourth victory.

Errors like this really get to me. How does this make it to print?

[98navigator]

He came back down to earth, dropping his next two starts, but maintained his end-of-April ERA at 1.77 and rebounded to beat Washington on Sunday for his fourth victory.

Errors like this really get to me. How does this make it to print?

 

Someone made that mistake nationally (perhaps there was a press release of probable starters?). I was listening to the Reds radio feed yesterday, on Gameday Audio, and when they updated the Cubs score the announcers also mentioned that Rich Hill (not Guzman) was pitching...

[CubsWin]

"Maybe a few years ago, I would have thought, this isn't supposed to be happening," said Hill. "But now, with a positive mindset and a positive thought process, you have to think that, this is the way it should be happening."

 

If they did anything, it sounds like Hill used these books to get a little more positive attitude and to expect success. I don't see how that is something that would benefit Zambrano. He's got all the confidence in the world. His problem is consistency, which may or may not be related to health.

Clearly Carlos is a confident pitcher and expects success, but this isn't just about having confidence, its also about how you handle yourself when your confidence is shaken and you get frustrated. If you're saying that Z doesn't get frustrated, then I'd look again. I've seen several instances when one walk seemingly leads to another because he isn't pitching with a calm, cool and collected attitude but is pitching out of frustration. He could certainly benefit from practicing letting the past be in the past and pitching in the here and now. And that is also what this method seems to be teaching.

 

And its not just Carlos that would likely benefit. Lots of ballplayers would. They are all incredibly gifted athletes otherwise they wouldn't be there. But what sets the great ones apart, besides that next level of athleticism, is their ability to focus, their preparedness and their mental attitude towards the game and the act of competition.

 

I always expected Hill to be good, but not this good. Taking on mastering the mental aspects of the game certainly seems to be paying off for him.

[snoodmonger]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

 

or intelligence.

 

what makes you think Z is stupid?

[seanimal]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

 

or intelligence.

 

what makes you think Z is stupid?

 

Referring to yourself in the third person, while not a 'slam-dunk', is a good indicator. Sean knows.

[snoodmonger]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

 

or intelligence.

 

what makes you think Z is stupid?

 

Referring to yourself in the third person, while not a 'slam-dunk', is a good indicator. Sean knows.

 

i disagree. i could see the argument that it's an indicator of self-absorption, but I don't get the link between that and intelligence. Especially with an ESL person, who probably derives much of his public speaking methodology (and command of language in general) by mimicry.

[seanimal]

They really caught my attention because I couldn't help but think of how much this could help Z.

 

You speak as if Z has the attention span to read a book.

 

or intelligence.

 

what makes you think Z is stupid?

 

Referring to yourself in the third person, while not a 'slam-dunk', is a good indicator. Sean knows.

 

i disagree. i could see the argument that it's an indicator of self-absorption, but I don't get the link between that and intelligence. Especially with an ESL person, who probably derives much of his public speaking methodology (and command of language in general) by mimicry.

 

Yeah, I was kidding.

[NCCubFan]

what makes you think Z is stupid?

 

Referring to yourself in the third person, while not a 'slam-dunk', is a good indicator. Sean knows.

NCCubFan disagrees. :D

[soccer10k]

Nobody thinks the most interesting information is the fact that he didn't throw with his left arm until he was 6?

 

I don't like how the author says Ted Lilly has "been decent". Sure his record is 2-2 but his ERA is still under three, he has been strikeout out a ton of batters, and he is not walking people or allowing many base hits.

 

I caught that too. Since when is a 2.82 ERA merely decent?

[Jehrico]

Nobody thinks the most interesting information is the fact that he didn't throw with his left arm until he was 6?

 

I don't like how the author says Ted Lilly has "been decent". Sure his record is 2-2 but his ERA is still under three, he has been strikeout out a ton of batters, and he is not walking people or allowing many base hits.

 

I caught that too. Since when is a 2.82 ERA merely decent?

Since it was printed in an SI article.

[jersey cubs fan]

Nobody thinks the most interesting information is the fact that he didn't throw with his left arm until he was 6?

 

I don't like how the author says Ted Lilly has "been decent". Sure his record is 2-2 but his ERA is still under three, he has been strikeout out a ton of batters, and he is not walking people or allowing many base hits.

 

I caught that too. Since when is a 2.82 ERA merely decent?

Since it was printed in an SI article.

 

You're talking about a publication whose writers still generally refer to pitchers' records as the end all be all in defining who is good and bad.

[Jehrico]

Nobody thinks the most interesting information is the fact that he didn't throw with his left arm until he was 6?

 

I don't like how the author says Ted Lilly has "been decent". Sure his record is 2-2 but his ERA is still under three, he has been strikeout out a ton of batters, and he is not walking people or allowing many base hits.

 

I caught that too. Since when is a 2.82 ERA merely decent?

Since it was printed in an SI article.

 

You're talking about a publication whose writers still generally refer to pitchers' records as the end all be all in defining who is good and bad.

Exactly. SI holds less credibility with me than ESPN, and that's saying alot.