Hill's spot in jeopardy?

[Guest]

I think it's entirely possible he starts the year in Iowa for this reason that I posted in the game thread:

 

I'm a little worried about Hill. The most discouraging thing is that, correct me if I'm wrong, all of his starts have been shorter than he wanted. He hasn't really stretched out his arm yet has he? If his next outing is a short one, that would obstensibly mean he wouldn't have gotten the desired amount of innings you want out of a starter heading into the regular season.

 

Hill has 1 option left, so I'm thinking if he has another short outing (how many times is he scheduled to start?) it's entirely possible that he starts the year out in Iowa to get his arm stronger and the Cubs go to a 4 man rotation early in the year. What is the possiblilty of that

 

Stretching his arm out isn't a concern. He threw ~50 pitches in the game and when he was pulled, went straight to the pen to throw 30 more pitches to get up to ~80 pitches

[Illini Iceman]

I've been accused of being a "Hill basher" in the past, unfairly. Although I still believe he is average-to slightly above average at best. He is severely overvalued on this board, but thats just my opinion.

 

Many around here had some unrealistic expectations for him last year. he had a fine year, but he is still inconsistent and not getting any younger.

 

I agree, the Cubs need to identify and give more chances to players that are getting younger instead of wasting their time on guys like Hill that are not.

 

Name a player that is getting younger. Name one.

 

Yeah, sub 4 era, 28 years old, why waste time with a pitcher like that? What a ridiculous statement.

 

OMG, you're right, I can't name any player that is getting younger! And now that I think about it not even any human on the planet getting younger! Thanks for explaining that to me. Or maybe that was my point. Next time I will try one of those cute little eye rolling smilies and you might catch on.

[SABR Gamer]

I've been accused of being a "Hill basher" in the past, unfairly. Although I still believe he is average-to slightly above average at best. He is severely overvalued on this board, but thats just my opinion.

 

Many around here had some unrealistic expectations for him last year. he had a fine year, but he is still inconsistent and not getting any younger.

 

I agree, the Cubs need to identify and give more chances to players that are getting younger instead of wasting their time on guys like Hill that are not.

 

Name a player that is getting younger. Name one.

 

Yeah, sub 4 era, 28 years old, why waste time with a pitcher like that? What a ridiculous statement.

 

OMG, you're right, I can't name any player that is getting younger! And now that I think about it not even any human on the planet getting younger! Thanks for explaining that to me. Or maybe that was my point. Next time I will try one of those cute little eye rolling smilies and you might catch on.

 

It was clear that you were being sarcastic. The eyes shouldn't be necessary.

[17 Seconds]

It sounded like he was using a cliche phrase to imply that we should be going young and that Hill is not good. Relax.

[TruffleShuffle]

Although I still believe he is average-to slightly above average at best.

 

this is a poor assessment.

[Bruno7481]

Although I still believe he is average-to slightly above average at best.

 

this is a poor assessment.

 

Why?

 

Do you not agree that most people's expectations of Hill last year were extremely out of whack? He had a tremendous finish to the 2006 season and I think too many expected him to pick right up from that point.

 

In April he was very good.

In May-June he was average.

In July-August he was slightly above average.

In September he was slightly below average.

 

In his defense it was his first year as a full time starter at the ML level, he should improve. I just believe that his ceiling is a solid #3 guy. He needs to develop another pitch to go along with his curveball. When he doesn't have his curveball he has nothing else to rely on. His fastball isn't strong enough to get by when he doesn't have his curveball. He was toying with a changeup last year, I hope that is something that has improved this year. A changeup can be tremendously effective even if it is just average.

[CubColtPacer]

Although I still believe he is average-to slightly above average at best.

 

this is a poor assessment.

 

Why?

 

Do you not agree that most people's expectations of Hill last year were extremely out of whack? He had a tremendous finish to the 2006 season and I think too many expected him to pick right up from that point.

 

In April he was very good.

In May-June he was average.

In July-August he was slightly above average.

In September he was slightly below average.

 

In his defense it was his first year as a full time starter at the ML level, he should improve. I just believe that his ceiling is a solid #3 guy. He needs to develop another pitch to go along with his curveball. When he doesn't have his curveball he has nothing else to rely on. His fastball isn't strong enough to get by when he doesn't have his curveball. He was toying with a changeup last year, I hope that is something that has improved this year. A changeup can be tremendously effective even if it is just average.

 

I haven't been on the Hill train either, but his ceiling is going to have a hard time being a solid #3 guy when he was a solid #2 last year.

[Bruno7481]

Although I still believe he is average-to slightly above average at best.

 

this is a poor assessment.

 

Why?

 

Do you not agree that most people's expectations of Hill last year were extremely out of whack? He had a tremendous finish to the 2006 season and I think too many expected him to pick right up from that point.

 

In April he was very good.

In May-June he was average.

In July-August he was slightly above average.

In September he was slightly below average.

 

In his defense it was his first year as a full time starter at the ML level, he should improve. I just believe that his ceiling is a solid #3 guy. He needs to develop another pitch to go along with his curveball. When he doesn't have his curveball he has nothing else to rely on. His fastball isn't strong enough to get by when he doesn't have his curveball. He was toying with a changeup last year, I hope that is something that has improved this year. A changeup can be tremendously effective even if it is just average.

 

I haven't been on the Hill train either, but his ceiling is going to have a hard time being a solid #3 guy when he was a solid #2 last year.

 

Ok, bad comparison.

[TruffleShuffle]

has hill really been working on a new delivery? if so, that's stupid. take a guy who has a history of control problems, but finally overcame those, and after he's found success, change the way that he's throwing. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[WarningtrackPower]

Hill's on Jeopardy?

 

 

 

"I'll take AAA ballparks for $400, please Alex"...

[Derwood]

nice bounce back

[sneakypower]

nice bounce back

it was against the giants. 2 R in 5 IP might be more of a negative than a positive, considering the 2 runs they'll be scoring per game all year.

[UK1679666180]

As I mentioned in the game thread, Hill had his best curve of the Spring, but he still has no command or control of that FB. I don't know if it's his delivery or the release point on his FB that's throwing him off but if you can't throw the FB for strikes at least 2 out of 3 pitches esp. to get ahead, you're playing w/fire.

 

I think he'll get it worked out by the start, he did take steps from his last outing.

[abuck1220]

has hill really been working on a new delivery? if so, that's stupid. take a guy who has a history of control problems, but finally overcame those, and after he's found success, change the way that he's throwing. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

i think the cubs are (were?) a bit concerned about hill. he threw in the bullpen for quite a while after his last terrible outing, and they had a guy stand there like he was a hitter, which seems a little strange.

 

also, i was walking to my seat yesterday at hohokam when i walked by an open door to the cubs' weight room. i stood there and watched fukudome, wood and dempster (who did a LOT of stuff considering he was pitching that day) do their exercises for a while, then hill came in and went through his pitching motion a bunch of times while looking in the mirror.

 

ps - he also pulled himself up on the pull up bar and hung by his knees like a monkey for a second, and i really wish i could have gotten my camera out to catch that moment because it would have made a great avatar.

[CuseCubFan69]

has hill really been working on a new delivery? if so, that's stupid. take a guy who has a history of control problems, but finally overcame those, and after he's found success, change the way that he's throwing. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

i think the cubs are (were?) a bit concerned about hill. he threw in the bullpen for quite a while after his last terrible outing, and they had a guy stand there like he was a hitter, which seems a little strange.

 

also, i was walking to my seat yesterday at hohokam when i walked by an open door to the cubs' weight room. i stood there and watched fukudome, wood and dempster (who did a LOT of stuff considering he was pitching that day) do their exercises for a while, then hill came in and went through his pitching motion a bunch of times while looking in the mirror.

 

ps - he also pulled himself up on the pull up bar and hung by his knees like a monkey for a second, and i really wish i could have gotten my camera out to catch that moment because it would have made a great avatar.

 

Interesting. We have batters stand in and track the ball and also to get pitchers used to having a hitter in there. Some pitchers get into a comfort zone when they don't have a hitter and since Hill struggled maybe the Cubs thought he should throw some pitches with a hitter there. I've always thought his biggest enemy is himself and his lack of challenging hitters. He did a great job of going after hitters last year and I hope he continues along that path.

[Banedon]

ps - he also pulled himself up on the pull up bar and hung by his knees like a monkey for a second, and i really wish i could have gotten my camera out to catch that moment because it would have made a great avatar.

 

You with an avatar? Next you'll start capitalizing words, and it's all downhill from there.

[Guest]

Good God, abuck is a Rich Hill stalker.

[abuck1220]

Good God, abuck is a Rich Hill stalker.

 

technically i was stalking fukudome, wood and dempster before accidentally stumbling upon a stalking of hill.

[Jon]

Good God, abuck is a Rich Hill stalker.

 

technically i was stalking fukudome, wood and dempster before accidentally stumbling upon a stalking of hill.

That's for the courts to decide.

 

I'm not sure how much confidence Rothschild, Hendry, and company have ever had with Hill. Nothing would surprise me over the next couple of years.

[abuck1220]

Cubs SP Rich Hill followed his worst spring training outing with his best Tuesday at the Giants, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out six. Hill walked six and struck out one in 1 1/3 innings against the Rockies last Thursday. He adjusted his delivery afterward, leveling his shoulders to help his control. "It was something that's simple and really clean," Hill said. "I have no doubt about the way my mechanics were before; I really liked them, but it just wasn't getting it done. I'm really encouraged by it. We've been working hard all week."

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Arizona Phil gives a fairly detailed account of Rich Hill's tune-up start today versus the Angels AAA team.

 

Link.