RIP Rich Hill

[Jon]

if they can sit there with a straight face and say he was getting squeezed by the ump (whether it's true or not), i think it's safe to assume he wasn't throwing balls behind hitters and six feet over the catcher's head. so that's something.

 

also, i'm sure part of the reason he was pulled was because of a pitch count.

I wasn't under the impression that he was ever really that wild, so I'm not sure how big of a difference this is. Perhaps he just upped his dosage of consitenyl.

 

If he's not far from the zone, it's probably worth continuing to fine-tune as opposed to shutting him down and doing an overhaul.

[abuck1220]

if they can sit there with a straight face and say he was getting squeezed by the ump (whether it's true or not), i think it's safe to assume he wasn't throwing balls behind hitters and six feet over the catcher's head. so that's something.

 

also, i'm sure part of the reason he was pulled was because of a pitch count.

I wasn't under the impression that he was ever really that wild, so I'm not sure how big of a difference this is.

 

i wasn't either. but the word "ankiel" was getting thrown around quite a bit in this thread and others.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

At this point it's too early to tell if the latest comments on Hill are spin or the truth. It could be either. I just hope that whatever Rich has lost, he finds soon. We could use him.

[illiniguy]

At this point it's too early to tell if the latest comments on Hill are spin or the truth. It could be either. I just hope that whatever Rich has lost, he finds soon. We could use him.

I can't see him helping at all this year. I think the Cubs should start using him out of the pen whereever he is at. Hell use him him one hitter at a time. Pick lefties who have no shot to hit him. Let him start getting successful again and try to build his confidence.

[Banedon]

if they can sit there with a straight face and say he was getting squeezed by the ump (whether it's true or not), i think it's safe to assume he wasn't throwing balls behind hitters and six feet over the catcher's head. so that's something.

 

also, i'm sure part of the reason he was pulled was because of a pitch count.

I wasn't under the impression that he was ever really that wild, so I'm not sure how big of a difference this is.

 

i wasn't either. but the word "ankiel" was getting thrown around quite a bit in this thread and others.

 

I'm pretty sure the word "ankiel" was being thrown around because he seems to have magically and almost instantly lost his high level of pitching skill. He didn't lose it as "glamorously" as Ankiel did, and I doubt his career is on the same future path, but there's still a mental element that has apparently impacted both pitchers. I don't think it's an unfair comparison from that POV.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

At this point it's too early to tell if the latest comments on Hill are spin or the truth. It could be either. I just hope that whatever Rich has lost, he finds soon. We could use him.

I can't see him helping at all this year. I think the Cubs should start using him out of the pen whereever he is at. Hell use him him one hitter at a time. Pick lefties who have no shot to hit him. Let him start getting successful again and try to build his confidence.

 

Well, if he fixes things, he could move back up quickly. Assuming his problem is just control and not stuff. If he gets it back, it would improve his trade value or allow him to step in for guys we might trade.

[abuck1220]

if they can sit there with a straight face and say he was getting squeezed by the ump (whether it's true or not), i think it's safe to assume he wasn't throwing balls behind hitters and six feet over the catcher's head. so that's something.

 

also, i'm sure part of the reason he was pulled was because of a pitch count.

I wasn't under the impression that he was ever really that wild, so I'm not sure how big of a difference this is.

 

i wasn't either. but the word "ankiel" was getting thrown around quite a bit in this thread and others.

 

I'm pretty sure the word "ankiel" was being thrown around because he seems to have magically and almost instantly lost his high level of pitching skill. He didn't lose it as "glamorously" as Ankiel did, and I doubt his career is on the same future path, but there's still a mental element that has apparently impacted both pitchers. I don't think it's an unfair comparison from that POV.

 

except ankiel was missing my feet, not inches when he was going badly. hill apparently has not been doing that, so i think he has a better chance of recovering.

 

i'm sure there's a mental element to it at this point, but the fact that he's not firing it over the backstop makes me think it's a combination of mental and mechanical.

[abuck1220]

At this point it's too early to tell if the latest comments on Hill are spin or the truth. It could be either. I just hope that whatever Rich has lost, he finds soon. We could use him.

I can't see him helping at all this year. I think the Cubs should start using him out of the pen whereever he is at. Hell use him him one hitter at a time. Pick lefties who have no shot to hit him. Let him start getting successful again and try to build his confidence.

 

his stuff isn't the problem. it's his control. it's not like he's getting battered around every time out.

[Banedon]

except ankiel was missing my feet, not inches when he was going badly. hill apparently has not been doing that, so i think he has a better chance of recovering.

 

i'm sure there's a mental element to it at this point, but the fact that he's not firing it over the backstop makes me think it's a combination of mental and mechanical.

 

Well if he was aiming at your feet, we might has isolated what Ankiel's problem was...heh.

 

I think it likely started as mechanical, and developed into something mental as well. I'd guess that it's most difficult to resolve when it's both like that too. Where does one begin and the other end? And it's difficult to keep your head out of it when you're constantly thinking about fixing mechanics.

[Laura]

Well, I'm guessing that Hill did show good progress in his side sessions / simulated game, but that didn't carry over to facing live batters (though, as abuck says, it sounds like he wasn't missing by much). I'm encouraged that they're going to continue to work through it. I don't think anyone can project a timeline for how long this may take.

[illiniguy]

At this point it's too early to tell if the latest comments on Hill are spin or the truth. It could be either. I just hope that whatever Rich has lost, he finds soon. We could use him.

I can't see him helping at all this year. I think the Cubs should start using him out of the pen whereever he is at. Hell use him him one hitter at a time. Pick lefties who have no shot to hit him. Let him start getting successful again and try to build his confidence.

 

his stuff isn't the problem. it's his control. it's not like he's getting battered around every time out.

No I get that, but it has to be a confidence issue at this point as well.

[Guest]

Actually, this isn't the first time I've heard that the AZL ump was fooled by Hill's curve (rookie ball umps are woeful) but I have to think there's some spin involved. Hill's problems this year haven't been Ankiel-like (nor Hill-like when he was in A-ball about 5 years ago), he's been missing close which fall in line with his release point mechanical problems.

[SouthSideRyan]

Actually, this isn't the first time I've heard that the AZL ump was fooled by Hill's curve (rookie ball umps are woeful) but I have to think there's some spin involved. Hill's problems this year haven't been Ankiel-like (nor Hill-like when he was in A-ball about 5 years ago), he's been missing close which fall in line with his release point mechanical problems.

 

I was gonna say this story sounds familiar about Hill throwing strikes and not getting the call cause of the curve.