Rich Hill is done

[DiamondMind]

We really should have the funeral for him, to be polite.

 

After reading today that he again got shelled in winter league, for his Aragua club, I'm finally ready to put the stake in Rich. With questionable mental makeup, there's absolutely nothing that leads me to believe that Rich can turn this around. We've seen that he can be a fairly successful major league pitcher, but only through one season. Everything else however has pointed to that being a fluke season.

 

He's done, game over. I have more faith in freakin Gooz than Hill anymore.

[Derwood]

good thing we absolutely would not trade him for Dunn

[shnsajax]

We really should have the funeral for him, to be polite.

 

After reading today that he again got shelled in winter league, for his Aragua club, I'm finally ready to put the stake in Rich. With questionable mental makeup, there's absolutely nothing that leads me to believe that Rich can turn this around. We've seen that he can be a fairly successful major league pitcher, but only through one season. Everything else however has pointed to that being a fluke season.

 

He's done, game over. I have more faith in freakin Gooz than Hill anymore.

 

He can still go to the Cards and win 15 games in 2009.

[SouthSideRyan]

Rich Hill isn't done.

 

There now, it's even.

[DiamondMind]

Rich Hill isn't done.

 

There now, it's even.

 

Prove it. Tell me why. And don't tell me how old he is, during your explanation.

 

Rich Hill was lit up for seven runs -- six earned -- in 1 1/3 innings in his VWL start on Friday.

Hill had a strong first outing for Aragua, but he walked four in 3 2/3 innings in his previous start and he had no luck at all last night. He's allowed nine earned runs and walked seven in 10 2/3 innings.

[SouthSideRyan]

Something's not right with Rich, and that something needs to be fixed. I don't know if its his mechanics, his mental approach, his hiding an injury, but he's clearly not the same person. You for whatever reason think whatever's wrong with him has no possibility of being fixed. I disagree. Calling his '07 a fluke, and insinuating he's never been that good at any other time is ludicrous.

[Brett]

Can we hope for lefty specialist...?

[NewUserName]

I have a hard time believing that someone who pitched so well in 2007 is done. His 2007 season mirrored a successful minor league career. So it wasnt a fluke. His velocity isnt a problem, so whatever it is lays elsewhere. Seems to me anything besides lowered velocity is probably fixable.

[DiamondMind]

I have a hard time believing that someone who pitched so well in 2007 is done. His 2007 season mirrored a successful minor league career. So it wasnt a fluke. His velocity isnt a problem, so whatever it is lays elsewhere. Seems to me anything besides lowered velocity is probably fixable.

 

Disagree. Pitching coaches usually don't make good psychologists.

[UK1679666180]

We really should have the funeral for him, to be polite.

 

After reading today that he again got shelled in winter league, for his Aragua club, I'm finally ready to put the stake in Rich. With questionable mental makeup, there's absolutely nothing that leads me to believe that Rich can turn this around. We've seen that he can be a fairly successful major league pitcher, but only through one season. Everything else however has pointed to that being a fluke season.

 

He's done, game over. I have more faith in freakin Gooz than Hill anymore.

 

What do you suppose they do?

 

They're not going into next year with Hill being counted on, they won't get much in return for him, he makes a small salary, and for whatever chance (albeit small) that he does get close to where he was, he has a higher ceiling.

 

They are handling it correctly as far as how they are handling Hill now, but they have ask themselves whether or not they could've done something differently in the off-season from '07 to '08.

 

I have no idea what your post is trying to prove beyond the obvious.

[Vanilla Ice]

I also have more confidence in Gooz, but that is because I believe he will become a very nice reliever.

 

It is ridiculous to believe that Rich Hill can't turn it around and become a solid #2 starter at some point. Is it likely? Maybe not. But, he seems to have good stuff and hasn't gotten hit too hard. He just cannot find the strike zone.

[SaorsaDaonnan]

I'm finally ready to put the stake in Rich.

 

 

what is the value of having an opinion about Hill's future?

 

Hill has talent and costs essentially nothing. all we need to do is:

 

a) make sure that our plans don't require his presence

b) sign his ~major league minimum paycheck

c) do whatever we can to get him the medical help he needs, if any

d) watch him closely and be prepared to give him another shot if his performance merits it

 

we can do all of this, and keep him on the 40 man if need be, without having to give up anything of

significance. even if the probability of his returning to form were very low, say 10%, there'd be every

reason to keep him around and see what happens.

 

if we release him, we gain.....nothing. except, I guess, the grim satisfaction of having cut ties with

a player who will probably disappoint us. but would we really give up even a vanishingly small shot at

having a cheap no. 2 starter just so we can avoid some minor emotional rollercoaster? why sacrifice

talent just for the cheap satisfaction of it?

[DiamondMind]

We really should have the funeral for him, to be polite.

 

After reading today that he again got shelled in winter league, for his Aragua club, I'm finally ready to put the stake in Rich. With questionable mental makeup, there's absolutely nothing that leads me to believe that Rich can turn this around. We've seen that he can be a fairly successful major league pitcher, but only through one season. Everything else however has pointed to that being a fluke season.

 

He's done, game over. I have more faith in freakin Gooz than Hill anymore.

 

What do you suppose they do?

 

They're not going into next year with Hill being counted on, they won't get much in return for him, he makes a small salary, and for whatever chance (albeit small) that he does get close to where he was, he has a higher ceiling.

 

They are handling it correctly as far as how they are handling Hill now, but they have ask themselves whether or not they could've done something differently in the off-season from '07 to '08.

 

I have no idea what your post is trying to prove beyond the obvious.

 

I don't think my post was trying to prove anything. I was merely curious if other people shared my dread, or were optimistic about Rich. Seems to be a mix of both.

 

As for what to do with Rich? I have no idea. He's old enough to obviously not be considered a rookie, but yet there he is in VWL with Aragua with all the 20-somethings. He just seems to be treading water.

[Guest]

We really should have the funeral for him, to be polite.

 

After reading today that he again got shelled in winter league, for his Aragua club, I'm finally ready to put the stake in Rich. With questionable mental makeup, there's absolutely nothing that leads me to believe that Rich can turn this around. We've seen that he can be a fairly successful major league pitcher, but only through one season. Everything else however has pointed to that being a fluke season.

 

He's done, game over. I have more faith in freakin Gooz than Hill anymore.

 

What do you suppose they do?

 

They're not going into next year with Hill being counted on, they won't get much in return for him, he makes a small salary, and for whatever chance (albeit small) that he does get close to where he was, he has a higher ceiling.

 

They are handling it correctly as far as how they are handling Hill now, but they have ask themselves whether or not they could've done something differently in the off-season from '07 to '08.

 

I have no idea what your post is trying to prove beyond the obvious.

 

I don't think my post was trying to prove anything. I was merely curious if other people shared my dread, or were optimistic about Rich. Seems to be a mix of both.

 

As for what to do with Rich? I have no idea. He's old enough to obviously not be considered a rookie, but yet there he is in VWL with Aragua with all the 20-somethings. He just seems to be treading water.

 

Rich Hill is also a 20-something. Aragua isn't some minor league team.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If only there was something in Rich Hill's past that showed he would be capable of coming back and being productive at the major league level after being an old for his league basket case who couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.

 

If only.

[DiamondMind]

If only there was something in Rich Hill's past that showed he would be capable of coming back and being productive at the major league level after being an old for his league basket case who couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.

 

If only.

 

Sarcasm and elitism aside, I already made mention that the only reason I have personally to believe in Rich is the one season. That was kind of my point. Was that one season enough to convince people he can come back at equal or better value, or is he done? It was a simple question, and honestly your response pisses me off. Just really no need for the sarcastic attitude. It doesn't make you look good.

[UK1679666180]

If only there was something in Rich Hill's past that showed he would be capable of coming back and being productive at the major league level after being an old for his league basket case who couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.

 

If only.

 

Sarcasm and elitism aside, I already made mention that the only reason I have personally to believe in Rich is the one season. That was kind of my point. Was that one season enough to convince people he can come back at equal or better value, or is he done? It was a simple question, and honestly your response pisses me off. Just really no need for the sarcastic attitude. It doesn't make you look good.

 

If you would've phrased it like that, I would've taken to the question differently. It just appeared that you were taking an initial stance opposite of many on this board who happen to really like Hill and hope for him to be back to where he was in '07 (maybe unrealistically) & you wanted just to ruffle some feathers. Of course, I thought you did likewise with your constant and pointless posts updating of Murton getting it handed to him with Oakland.

 

Of course, I'm probably looking too much into it.

[SouthSideRyan]

If only there was something in Rich Hill's past that showed he would be capable of coming back and being productive at the major league level after being an old for his league basket case who couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.

 

If only.

 

Sarcasm and elitism aside, I already made mention that the only reason I have personally to believe in Rich is the one season. That was kind of my point. Was that one season enough to convince people he can come back at equal or better value, or is he done? It was a simple question, and honestly your response pisses me off. Just really no need for the sarcastic attitude. It doesn't make you look good.

 

If you believe that Rich's '07 is the only sign that he was any good then you're not going to be satisfied with anyone's response.

[mdwilla]

SP R. Hill 1.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1 GO-1 FO

 

I was really hoping he could be a 6th starter or long man next year at some point for the Cubs but it's not looking good for Rich. "Maybe this is the year" annual winner Angel Guzman threw well in his last start.

[Sammy Sofa]

"Elitism" maybe wins the 2008 "misused word of the year" award.

[treebird]

"Elitism" maybe wins the 2008 "misused word of the year" award.

 

you think you're better than me just can you can use that word right?

[Sammy Sofa]

You're an elitist elitist.

[javy knows my name]

"Elitism" maybe wins the 2008 "misused word of the year" award.

Total hyperbole

[imb]

"Elitism" maybe wins the 2008 "misused word of the year" award.

 

groupthink

[rynefan]

I have a hard time believing that someone who pitched so well in 2007 is done. His 2007 season mirrored a successful minor league career. So it wasnt a fluke. His velocity isnt a problem, so whatever it is lays elsewhere. Seems to me anything besides lowered velocity is probably fixable.

 

I know, I know. I will never understand this.