Dayton Daily News suggests Kearns for Hill

[ThePenguin11]

Call the Cubs

 

A hint for Reds General Manager Dan O'Brien: If you want to trade Austin Kearns — and you should if you are going to keep him exiled in Louisville — give Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry a call. The fast-fading Cubs are desperate for hitting, and left-handed pitcher Rich Hill might be available.

 

Who's Hill? He pitches for Class AAA Iowa, and he has 148 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors. In 5 2/3 innings with the Cubs, he struck out nine major-leaguers. One scout said, "He has a Barry Zito-like curveball."

 

Just dial 1-773-404-2827. Ask for Jim and be nice.

 

I would do that. I like Hill's curve, but I don't see him having any other major league pitch. He's a lot closer to Shawn Estes than he is Barry Zito. With the 'wealth' of pitching prospects we have, I'd definitely roll the dice here.

[AAApittsburgh]

No.

[rawaction]

Call the Cubs

 

A hint for Reds General Manager Dan O'Brien: If you want to trade Austin Kearns — and you should if you are going to keep him exiled in Louisville — give Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry a call. The fast-fading Cubs are desperate for hitting, and left-handed pitcher Rich Hill might be available.

 

Who's Hill? He pitches for Class AAA Iowa, and he has 148 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors. In 5 2/3 innings with the Cubs, he struck out nine major-leaguers. One scout said, "He has a Barry Zito-like curveball."

 

Just dial 1-773-404-2827. Ask for Jim and be nice.

 

I would do that. I like Hill's curve, but I don't see him having any other major league pitch. He's a lot closer to Shawn Estes than he is Barry Zito. With the 'wealth' of pitching prospects we have, I'd definitely roll the dice here.

 

You are so wrong about that. Estes probably had better stuff than Zito when he first came up, too. Hill throws harder than Zito and gets more movement on his fastball. If he can spot his fastball (which he's done well this year) and throw that curve, that's 2 plus pitches....and his curve is so good that it's enough for him to be successful.

[UK1679666180]

I like Kearns, he's not as worth as much as previously thought, but I'm sure I'd do it. I consider it, b/c of Hill's control problems as well as his age.

 

I just hate trading pitching, espeically young pitching with that type of stuff.

[E.J.]

I think Hill is in this organizations plans for the future, so I don't think he'll be traded. I don't think I'd do it either. I think you have to give Hill a shot at the rotation next year for sure.

[ThePenguin11]

I was comparing Hill to a young Shawn Estes, and 89 MPH is not very hard for a fastball. He doesn't throw with any movement, from what I've seen his fastball is straight as an arrow. Maybe Kearns isn't the right move. But I think Hill is a very tradeable commodity. After thinking about it for a few minutes I thought about the prospect of Murton and Pie playing left and center and that maybe looking for a LF right now is not a priority. But I think if we can get some real major league talent for Hill we need to take it. We can't fall in love with all of our prospects. We'll never see 80% of them play anyways. Especially with Dusty here through the end of next season. Edited July 10, 2005 by ThePenguin11

[Roast]

This is a tough call for me. If I had some assurance that Kearns would return to 03 form, i'd do it so fast it'd make heads spin. However, I think we already have a Sucky major league outfielder that got sent down to AAA.....

[ThePenguin11]

I wouldn't fall in love with that curveball either. Right-handed batters aren't fooled by it. His fastball is far from being a 'plus' pitch.

[1908]

I wouldn't fall in love with that curveball either. Right-handed batters aren't fooled by it. His fastball is far from being a 'plus' pitch.

Have you read this somewhere or is this your opinion?

[TXCubsFan]

Call the Cubs

 

A hint for Reds General Manager Dan O'Brien: If you want to trade Austin Kearns — and you should if you are going to keep him exiled in Louisville — give Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry a call. The fast-fading Cubs are desperate for hitting, and left-handed pitcher Rich Hill might be available.

 

Who's Hill? He pitches for Class AAA Iowa, and he has 148 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors. In 5 2/3 innings with the Cubs, he struck out nine major-leaguers. One scout said, "He has a Barry Zito-like curveball."

 

Just dial 1-773-404-2827. Ask for Jim and be nice.

 

I would do that. I like Hill's curve, but I don't see him having any other major league pitch. He's a lot closer to Shawn Estes than he is Barry Zito. With the 'wealth' of pitching prospects we have, I'd definitely roll the dice here.

 

The Cubs' season is over, so the Cubs aren't desperate.

[ThePenguin11]

I wouldn't fall in love with that curveball either. Right-handed batters aren't fooled by it. His fastball is far from being a 'plus' pitch.

Have you read this somewhere or is this your opinion?

 

I've seen every major league pitch he's thrown. It's my opinion. His fastball is weak and he has trouble locating it. His curveball is easy to sit on from the right side of the plate. In order for a fastball to be considered a plus pitch it doesn't have to be hard. Hill's never reaches more than 91 on the gun, but it doesn't move and he can't jam major league righties with it.

[1908]

I wouldn't fall in love with that curveball either. Right-handed batters aren't fooled by it. His fastball is far from being a 'plus' pitch.

Have you read this somewhere or is this your opinion?

I've seen every major league pitch he's thrown. It's my opinion.

That's what I thought. Every scouting report I've read classify Hill's curve as well above average (plus), and his K rate suggests he's fooling plenty of batters with something.

[ThePenguin11]

Hill's future is destined for the bullpen. That is my opinion. Especially if he remains with the Cubs. He won't leapfron Prior, Zambrano, Wood, Maddux or Williams. We've got Pinto, Mitre and Guzman supposedly waiting a future spot in that rotation. I just don't him doing it here. I think if we do keep him we ought to bring him up now and get Remlinger out of here.

[ThePenguin11]

I wouldn't fall in love with that curveball either. Right-handed batters aren't fooled by it. His fastball is far from being a 'plus' pitch.

Have you read this somewhere or is this your opinion?

I've seen every major league pitch he's thrown. It's my opinion.

That's what I thought. Every scouting report I've read classify Hill's curve as well above average (plus), and his K rate suggests he's fooling plenty of batters with something.

 

He's fooling plenty of minor leaguers who can't hit curveballs. That's why most of them are in the minor leagues and never get a cup of coffee. That's what I thought.

[ThePenguin11]

Don't get me wrong. If Hill had a heater, a real heater, that rode in on the hands of righties, they couldn't touch his curve. But since his fastball is straight and slow, he's going to have trouble at the major league level as a starting pitcher.

[RyCubsFan]

The Cubs have three lefties emerging as near ML ready: Hill, Pinto, and Marshall. All could be above average ML pitchers. Of the three, I'd trade Pinto first.

[Backtobanks]

This is a tough call for me. If I had some assurance that Kearns would return to 03 form, i'd do it so fast it'd make heads spin. However, I think we already have a Sucky major league outfielder that got sent down to AAA.....

 

Speaking of "Sucky major league outfielder that got sent down to AAA", how about Patterson for Kearns and then both teams can keep their fingers crossed.

[LoneStarCubFan]

If I'm Hendry I tell Baker that all the left field help he's going to get just got called up from West Tenn.

 

Shut up and play Murton Dusty. And while you're at it, play Cedeno too. Dump Macias and Remlinger and bring up two more hitters.

[abuck1220]

I wouldn't fall in love with that curveball either. Right-handed batters aren't fooled by it. His fastball is far from being a 'plus' pitch.

Have you read this somewhere or is this your opinion?

 

I've seen every major league pitch he's thrown. It's my opinion. His fastball is weak and he has trouble locating it. His curveball is easy to sit on from the right side of the plate. In order for a fastball to be considered a plus pitch it doesn't have to be hard. Hill's never reaches more than 91 on the gun, but it doesn't move and he can't jam major league righties with it.

 

so you've seen him throw, what, five innings? his fastball is faster than the 89 you mentioned previously, as well as the 91 you mention in this post.

 

kearns' value has plummeted since the beginning of the season, while hill's has skyrocketed. no thanks. if anybody thinks kearns is the difference in making the playoffs, they're kidding themselves.

[NorthsideAvenger]

so you've seen him throw, what, five innings? his fastball is faster than the 89 you mentioned previously, as well as the 91 you mention in this post.

 

kearns' value has plummeted since the beginning of the season, while hill's has skyrocketed. no thanks. if anybody thinks kearns is the difference in making the playoffs, they're kidding themselves.

 

Well, thePenguin isn't off-base with Hill's fastball as JJ Cooper of BA.com said about Rich Hill:

 

J.J. Cooper: Hill is a prospect, as he has an above-average 12-to-6 breaking ball that can be a strikeout pitch--it's a true major league curveball. He also has a major league average fastball for a lefty (87-90). But there are definite concerns about his command and his delivery that he has to work out. He's got potential, but he's not real polished yet. Because of his command questions, he could end up profiling as a reliever, but his curveballs (he throws a big-breaking one and a power curve) means that he can get righthanders out as well.

 

So I do believe that thePenguin is OFF with his "scouting" of Rich Hill, maybe because he has delusions of trying to get the megaoverrated Austin Kearns. BUT, Rich Hill, IMO, does need a third pitch if he wants to become a starter, otherwise his stuff maybe that of a lefty setup.

[Wheelimus]

Well, Kearns makes sense if we're really going to just give the season up. Maybe try to move Burnitz to a contender and play Kearns in right...

 

I'd hate to give up Hill, but you can't say no to someone with the upside that Kearns has. Now, this is Cincy, lets not overestimate their intelligence. Offer them a lesser pitching prospect. And even if it forces you to include Hill, make something come back in return from them.

 

Depending on how much of a youth movement we're going to, we could very well wind up seeing Hairston play 2B if we move Todd to a team who could use him...

[shnsajax]

has anyone tried that phone number?

[Jon]

has anyone tried that phone number?

You can call it tomorrow, but unless you want to talk to a nice older woman, I wouldn't bother. It's the Cubs' main number (773-404-CUBS).

[abuck1220]

so you've seen him throw, what, five innings? his fastball is faster than the 89 you mentioned previously, as well as the 91 you mention in this post.

 

kearns' value has plummeted since the beginning of the season, while hill's has skyrocketed. no thanks. if anybody thinks kearns is the difference in making the playoffs, they're kidding themselves.

 

Well, thePenguin isn't off-base with Hill's fastball as JJ Cooper of BA.com said about Rich Hill:

 

J.J. Cooper: Hill is a prospect, as he has an above-average 12-to-6 breaking ball that can be a strikeout pitch--it's a true major league curveball. He also has a major league average fastball for a lefty (87-90). But there are definite concerns about his command and his delivery that he has to work out. He's got potential, but he's not real polished yet. Because of his command questions, he could end up profiling as a reliever, but his curveballs (he throws a big-breaking one and a power curve) means that he can get righthanders out as well.

 

So I do believe that thePenguin is OFF with his "scouting" of Rich Hill, maybe because he has delusions of trying to get the megaoverrated Austin Kearns. BUT, Rich Hill, IMO, does need a third pitch if he wants to become a starter, otherwise his stuff maybe that of a lefty setup.

 

well, i saw a different rich hill than j.j. cooper apparently...

 

fb was 89-92 most of the night

 

iowa's gun is very inconsistent, but i've still found it to be slow (though to varying degrees).

[abuck1220]

Well, Kearns makes sense if we're really going to just give the season up. Maybe try to move Burnitz to a contender and play Kearns in right...

 

I'd hate to give up Hill, but you can't say no to someone with the upside that Kearns has. Now, this is Cincy, lets not overestimate their intelligence. Offer them a lesser pitching prospect. And even if it forces you to include Hill, make something come back in return from them.

 

Depending on how much of a youth movement we're going to, we could very well wind up seeing Hairston play 2B if we move Todd to a team who could use him...

 

the potential difference between kearns and burnitz is not worth hill. and i doubt that you're going to get a prospect as good as hill in return for burnitz.

 

off the top of my head, i can't think of any prospect from cincy that is exciting to me other than encarnacion, who would be blocked by ramirez. perhaps homer bailey, but he's in low A, and i doubt they would include their first round pick just to dump kearns.