FanPost

Hill and Pie in the winter leagues

Rich Hill has the following line in the Venezuelan league (maybe he was already released, I don't know):

Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
ARA VWL 1 2 6.86 9 6 0 0 0 21.0 23 19 16 1 23 16 1.32 .288

23BB on 21IP tells pretty much the whole story. He also hit a batter with the bases loaded his last appearance as a reliever (he inherited the runners), and then followed that up with a couple of walks. Seems like he is really done.

Felix Pie:

Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS
LIC DWL .304 20 56 8 17 4 0 1 7 24 2 10 4 0 .328 .429 .756

Again, BB pretty much tell the story here too. 2BB in 56AB translates to roughly 20BB in a full season for him. His numbers are pretty bad overall, no power and his average is pretty much all a result of a .356 or so BABIP. Adjust the BABIP to a normal value and his numbers are awful as well (Btw, Jake Fox has an OPS of .939 while playing for the same team). Seeing as Pie is not a big power guy his lack of plate discipline pretty much kills all his value as a hitter (he can't steal bases if he can't get on base). All the evidence in the majors as well as the dominican league suggest Pie will not be a good pro hitter, and I think the Cubs are doing exactly what they should in seeking another outfielder. If they sign a guy who has injury concerns or is bad defensively then Pie can have a role as defensive sub in the outfield.

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