Divisional series thread

[Brian]

WOW

 

 

 

WOW

[USSoccer]

That's a tough way to lose

[OleMissCub]

Shows how well I've followed the AL, but I had no idea that Matt Bush wasn't rotting in a prison somewhere

[Derwood]

Sayanora you phony baloney playoff team

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So strange that the Rangers didn't win

[Brian]

Canada does Thanksgiving on the weekend? What a waste.

[David]

Shows how well I've followed the AL, but I had no idea that Matt Bush wasn't rotting in a prison somewhere

 

i mean this is nothing compared to you not knowing arrieta was on the cubs until mid-late 2014

[OleMissCub]

Shows how well I've followed the AL, but I had no idea that Matt Bush wasn't rotting in a prison somewhere

 

i mean this is nothing compared to you not knowing arrieta was on the cubs until mid-late 2014

 

Yeah I checked out for about a year there. The suckitude was more than I could bare. I admire those of you who paid attention during those dark days.

[bukie]

Well, now the Rangers are 36-12 in one-run games.

[MUCubsfan]

Is anyone concerned about facing Kershaw and Hill in games 1-2 if the Cubs face the Dodgers in the NLCS?

Kershaw obviously is going to concern anyone. But Hill? A 36 year old who's started 24 games the past 7 seasons? Not the least bit concerned about having to face him.

 

yes, he has started 24 games the past 7 seasons. or the past 1 or so. and he has been very very good in those starts, to the tune of over 10 K/9, 2.45 bb/9, a 2.00 ERA, 2.37 FIP, and 3.18 xFIP (mainly because he has held teams to 0.39 HR/9).

 

in other words, your dismissive tone seems pretty damn silly. if he's healthy and available, he's not fun to face.

Rich Hill is a nice comeback story and he's had great success this year. But that doesn't mean I have to be concerned about having to face him. Simply put, I think the Cubs offense is way too good for me to worry about Rich Hill of all people.

 

Admittedly, whenever I think of Rich Hill I always think of that disastrous 07 playoff start so that certainly clouds my perception of him.

[Brian]

I honestly may not have seen a single pitch thrown by Hill since he was on the Cubs, so I'm not sure what's different about him but he seems like the kind of guy this team can dong the crap out of.

[Agony and Ivy]

I honestly may not have seen a single pitch thrown by Hill since he was on the Cubs, so I'm not sure what's different about him but he seems like the kind of guy this team can dong the crap out of.

 

He's not the same guy he was in Chicago. The curveball and variations of it are some of the best pitches in baseball. He allowed .33 HR/9 which is the best in baseball for anyone with 100 IP. He will still walk guy which is how you can get to him but since he's made the curveball his primary pitch he's been damn good.

[UMFan83]

I honestly may not have seen a single pitch thrown by Hill since he was on the Cubs, so I'm not sure what's different about him but he seems like the kind of guy this team can dong the crap out of.

 

He's not the same guy he was in Chicago. The curveball and variations of it are some of the best pitches in baseball. He allowed .33 HR/9 which is the best in baseball for anyone with 100 IP. He will still walk guy which is how you can get to him but since he's made the curveball his primary pitch he's been damn good.

 

That's crazy because I remember his curve being pretty damn good in Chicago but it was probably his #2 pitch and I believe he had trouble locating it at times.

 

But there was a time when we were really excited about Rich Hill as maybe a solid #2 of the future for the Cubs.

 

This game sustained me for the entire 06 offseason

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

I saw a slow-motion gif of an adjusted-plane curve that he throws now, and it was absolutely terrifying. It moved like a frisbee. I was not aware a baseball could do what it did.

 

http://www.pitcherlist.com/blog/gifs-of-the-night/rich-hills-curveball-the-nastiest-pitching-gifs-from-this-weekends-games

[Agony and Ivy]

I honestly may not have seen a single pitch thrown by Hill since he was on the Cubs, so I'm not sure what's different about him but he seems like the kind of guy this team can dong the crap out of.

 

He's not the same guy he was in Chicago. The curveball and variations of it are some of the best pitches in baseball. He allowed .33 HR/9 which is the best in baseball for anyone with 100 IP. He will still walk guy which is how you can get to him but since he's made the curveball his primary pitch he's been damn good.

 

That's crazy because I remember his curve being pretty damn good in Chicago but it was probably his #2 pitch and I believe he had trouble locating it at times.

 

But there was a time when we were really excited about Rich Hill as maybe a solid #2 of the future for the Cubs.

 

This game sustained me for the entire 06 offseason

 

He had a ton of issues, and still does, with fastball command, but he's flipped the script on how to use a curveball. He used to throw it for swing and misses but now he throws it for strikes and wants the hitters to take the pitch. He's fascinating to watch.

[David]

I honestly may not have seen a single pitch thrown by Hill since he was on the Cubs, so I'm not sure what's different about him but he seems like the kind of guy this team can dong the crap out of.

 

He's not the same guy he was in Chicago. The curveball and variations of it are some of the best pitches in baseball. He allowed .33 HR/9 which is the best in baseball for anyone with 100 IP. He will still walk guy which is how you can get to him but since he's made the curveball his primary pitch he's been damn good.

 

That's crazy because I remember his curve being pretty damn good in Chicago but it was probably his #2 pitch and I believe he had trouble locating it at times.

 

But there was a time when we were really excited about Rich Hill as maybe a solid #2 of the future for the Cubs.

 

This game sustained me for the entire 06 offseason

 

Huh? Wasn't his curve the one pitch for which he was known as OPR?

[David]

 

He's not the same guy he was in Chicago. The curveball and variations of it are some of the best pitches in baseball. He allowed .33 HR/9 which is the best in baseball for anyone with 100 IP. He will still walk guy which is how you can get to him but since he's made the curveball his primary pitch he's been damn good.

 

That's crazy because I remember his curve being pretty damn good in Chicago but it was probably his #2 pitch and I believe he had trouble locating it at times.

 

But there was a time when we were really excited about Rich Hill as maybe a solid #2 of the future for the Cubs.

 

This game sustained me for the entire 06 offseason

 

He had a ton of issues, and still does, with fastball command, but he's flipped the script on how to use a curveball. He used to throw it for swing and misses but now he throws it for strikes and wants the hitters to take the pitch. He's fascinating to watch.

 

Isn't that what most lefties with big loopy curveballs (like Kershaw) do?

[Agony and Ivy]

 

That's crazy because I remember his curve being pretty damn good in Chicago but it was probably his #2 pitch and I believe he had trouble locating it at times.

 

But there was a time when we were really excited about Rich Hill as maybe a solid #2 of the future for the Cubs.

 

This game sustained me for the entire 06 offseason

 

He had a ton of issues, and still does, with fastball command, but he's flipped the script on how to use a curveball. He used to throw it for swing and misses but now he throws it for strikes and wants the hitters to take the pitch. He's fascinating to watch.

 

Isn't that what most lefties with big loopy curveballs (like Kershaw) do?

 

Most pitchers, even lefties with looping curveballs, don't purposefully elevate their curveballs like Hill does. And I wouldn't call Hill's curveball loopy since he spins it on multiple axis and has at least a couple variations. What makes him different is he uses the high fastball to setup high curveballs and that's what fascinates me. I've never seen a pitcher do it.

 

EDIT: It's why I was hoping the Cubs would sign him this offseason since it was basically no risk. Here's a good article that does a much better job at describing it in detail.

Edited October 10, 2016 by Agony and Ivy

[Lefty]

 

He had a ton of issues, and still does, with fastball command, but he's flipped the script on how to use a curveball. He used to throw it for swing and misses but now he throws it for strikes and wants the hitters to take the pitch. He's fascinating to watch.

 

Isn't that what most lefties with big loopy curveballs (like Kershaw) do?

 

Most pitchers, even lefties with looping curveballs, don't purposefully elevate their curveballs like Hill does. And I wouldn't call Hill's curveball loopy since he spins it on multiple axis and has at least a couple variations. What makes him different is he uses the high fastball to setup high curveballs and that's what fascinates me. I've never seen a pitcher do it.

 

Ted Lilly worked like that.

[Agony and Ivy]

 

Isn't that what most lefties with big loopy curveballs (like Kershaw) do?

 

Most pitchers, even lefties with looping curveballs, don't purposefully elevate their curveballs like Hill does. And I wouldn't call Hill's curveball loopy since he spins it on multiple axis and has at least a couple variations. What makes him different is he uses the high fastball to setup high curveballs and that's what fascinates me. I've never seen a pitcher do it.

 

Ted Lilly worked like that.

 

Lilly never caught my eye when he pitched mainly because I was still playing and thought of the game differently, but taking a quick look at his pitch heat maps this is absolutely true. I'd be interested to know the data on Lilly's spin rates and such because Hill's are off the charts and he has openly discussed using that to his advantage.

[Agony and Ivy]

Dodgers have a wRC+ of 72 against lefties this year...the exact same number Heyward finished the season with. That's probably suboptimal to have a lineup full of JHey clones at the plate that don't play his level of defense.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Also the Cubs have a 116 wRC+ against LHP this year, highest in baseball even with the handicap of the pitcher's spot. So while facing Kershaw and Hill up to 4 times wouldn't be fun, they can't be looking forward to facing this lineup either.

[David]

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[javy knows my name]

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This would be a huge tiny mistake

[UMFan83]

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This would be a huge tiny mistake

 

Especially because due to the rainout Rich Hill wouldn't be available in Game 5 on regular rest as he normally would so you are either starting Hill on short rest or you are having your Urias/bullpen game anyways.