Richard Hill

by kylejo on Sep 12, 2006 12:54 PM CDT

My appologies if this diary has already been done before...I have been away for quite awhile. However, if it has not been said before I think that all of those who really were convinced that Rich Hill could not pitch at the major league level owe Mr. Hill, our best pitcher the past month, an apology. He has only given up one earned run in each of his last four starts. That is pretty impressive and in a season that not even Carlos Zambrano can salvage for us, I am very hopeful for next years rotation with the emergence of Rich Hill looking like a solid number 3 pitcher in our rotation.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Al HAS apologized

I for one am expecting similar mea culpas on
Izzy next year.

I HATE NED COLLETTI

by jessica on Sep 12, 2006 1:02 PM CDT reply actions

my appologies as well

i havent read this page lately because i have been faltering and focusing my energies on the bears, but every time rich hill pitches i just get excited that maybe he can be close to the pitcher in the majors that he was in the minors.

by kylejo on Sep 12, 2006 1:06 PM CDT reply actions

Rich HIll

I have been impressed and truly hope that he will continue doing this next season. The fact that it took him 120 pitches to get through 5 2/3 yesterday was a little troubling though.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 12, 2006 1:07 PM CDT reply actions

Defense

The defense behind him didn't help, though Santo was convinced the ump missed the call on the first error charged to Ramirez.

What does not kill you makes you stronger.

by Pa on Sep 12, 2006 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

haha speaking of santo

Was anyone else listening to the game on friday afternoon. I am driving home from school and the cubs are just getting whooped and I feel so bad for ron. He seriously is going insane in that booth enduring this. All of a sudden out of nowhere they start talking about halloween. Ha and im like you guys must be out of your minds bored with this season right now to be talking about halloween. Anyways, Ron starts talking about kids comign to his house on halloween and hes like "yeah, the kidsll come by and ill give them whatever they want. as much candy as they want, ill even give them a sandwich, a beer, you name it" ha and pats just laughing and is like, "i dont know how their parents would feel about that ron. Then Pat goes "yeah, you can just imagine what itd be like when the kids got home, their paretns would ask how it went and theyd be like, 'great, the santos gave us a six pack!" it was priceless.

by kylejo on Sep 12, 2006 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Rich Hill was a little shaky in the 4th

and couldn't get on top of that curve. Instead of reverting back to his pre-break form, he settled in and finished off the inning. As we all know, he is locating the high fastball up in the zone well and very effectively and nailing his 12-6 curve for strikes.

I wanted to give up on him at a time, but I have been back on the bandwagon since his last call up. Even at times during his first stint this year, he showed flashes of excellence. I was blasted on BCB when I stated that up until that A.J. Pierzynski debacle, Hill looked sharp against the White Sox but the screws came loose afterwards. The talent has always been there. It is hard to ignore that for the majority of two full seasons, this guy has owned the Pacific Coast League.

Everyone knew this season has been over since June (May really), and I wanted Hill to have as much opportunity as possible to fix what wasn't working at the Major Leauge level. While it may be to early to construct a trophy cabinent for a Cy Young Award, it isn't too early to get excited.

Just say NO to Cedeno in 2007!!!!!

by TheBeerBaron on Sep 12, 2006 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Hill's pitch counts have been very reasonable...

...since he's been recalled.

Every now and then any pitcher will have the kind of game Hill did where he throws a lot of pitches.

But if you look back at his last 4-5 starts, he's pitched very well, gone deep into games, and his pitch count for going that far has been pretty damn good.

So I wouldn't worry about it. He didn't have his best stuff yesterday and battled through nonetheless.

by theprognosticator on Sep 12, 2006 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

That is, in fact...

... a good indicator of a good pitcher -- that he can win without having his best stuff.

I'm big enough to admit that I was wrong about Hill -- and that he DID make the adjustments necessary to be a winner at the major league level.

by Al Yellon on Sep 12, 2006 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

So after last nights game Al....

when does your bynum apology come :)

by Lablover on Sep 12, 2006 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

One game? You've got to be kidding.

by Al Yellon on Sep 12, 2006 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Al...

...Hill deserved every bit of the criticism he received earlier because as was clear, the talent was there, he just seemed scared to be a big league pitcher.

The big difference I'm seeing in Hill now is that he trusts his stuff. He got his head together.

Confidence makes all the difference in the world sometimes. He's got some swagger, and we're seeing better results.

by theprognosticator on Sep 12, 2006 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Funny thing is

that I think that Hill found that confidence right after he gave up the grand slam to Iguchi. If memory serves me correctly, he struck out Thome, Konerko, and Dye, then got 4 more. He ran into more trouble after that and was pulled from the game then sent down. I think that Hill could have been successful at the MLB level from then on.

I won't complain though. He's good now and he wouldn't have made a lick of difference this year anyway.

by NO100 on Sep 12, 2006 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I was impressed...

that he was able to make it through almost 6 innings while only giving up one earned run (and that wasn't until the very last AB) when it was clear from the first inning that he didn't have his best stuff all night.

On that last AB, when (I forgot who--the pinch hitter) grinded him out for like 10 pitches, I would have liked to see him at least TRY a changeup, though. He really needs that pitch.

by Thelonious on Sep 12, 2006 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

The hitters

were also fouling off a lot of pitches. They seemed to just get a piece of the ball. This, I believe is what contributed significantly to his pitch count.

Forget about '07. Let's wait until 2008!

by secdelahc on Sep 13, 2006 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Hill

owes me an apology for the pain and suffering he caused me earlier this season

I'm calling it even

by flyball on Sep 12, 2006 2:19 PM CDT reply actions

lol, agreed!

Just say NO to Cedeno in 2007!!!!!

by TheBeerBaron on Sep 12, 2006 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Strong Secondary Pitches

I just imagine if Hill is able to spot his fastball and make that changeup really work how that will affect his amazing curveball and overall game. If he is able to do that during the off season and come back next year will three solid pitches, I think he could be better than a #3 or 4 pitcher.

"Keep the sun out of your eyes and be yourself"

by cubbietenor on Sep 12, 2006 2:51 PM CDT reply actions

I too have apologized

The guy I refuse to apologize to is Ryu, no matter how good he turns out to be. His first start cost me about $5000 in therapy bills.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 12, 2006 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

Then how much has Dempster cost you?

For me, I eschew therapy. I do, however, have an ulcer now.

by Thelonious on Sep 12, 2006 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't discuss Dempster in therapy.

My therapist doesn't think I'm ready.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 12, 2006 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Then I can only imagine...

...where you are with respect to LaTroy Hawkins.

by gauchodirk on Sep 12, 2006 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions

We're working towards it.

Then again, some issues are just better left buried.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 12, 2006 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Witch doctors

work much cheaper.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Sep 12, 2006 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

My HMO only covers psychic surgery

by Thelonious on Sep 12, 2006 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Think of it this way

If you don't go to ballgames, you'll save a fortune. And the commodity market for bat's teeth and eye of newt are down. So get off the HMO breadline and do something nice for yourself.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Sep 12, 2006 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Voodoo Priestesses

are dirt cheap right now.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 12, 2006 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

someone

say something about Voodoo Priestesses?

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Sep 13, 2006 1:47 AM CDT up reply actions

That sounds like my freshman and sophomore

years - the pills that is. :)

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 12, 2006 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I wonder if hill has ever tried to learn...

a splitter or forkball, because his straight change has almost no movement. If he had a change-of-pace off his fastball with movement, he could probably be an ace.

by Thelonious on Sep 12, 2006 3:10 PM CDT reply actions