Sean Gallagher vs. Rich Hill

by columbusOHcubsfan on May 11, 2008 5:09 PM CDT

Today, Sean Gallagher pitched 4 1/3 innings of I 4 ER baseball. Two of those earned runs were let up by Chad Fox as he walked in two consecutive batters with the bases loaded. There was no doubt that Sean pitched a solid start, but the wheels started going off in that last inning, which was predictable for an inexperienced pitcher making his first start at the Major League level.

Today, Rich Hill went 5 2/3 innings of 3 hit 0 Earned Runs baseball. But... Rich gave up 4 walks, so the control is still a major issue is Rich wants to come back to the major league level. Overall, Rich is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA. He also has 13 strikeout and 5 walks.

My question is who would you rather have pitching in the back end of your rotation. Rich Hill or the young Sean Gallagher?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Ahhh the trade that never took place!

Gotta admit, I was eager to see Gallagher’s bags for a certain someone this past winter, but was I wrong! I’d love to see Gallagher get another start! Can we PLEASE get Fox outta here?!? I think I might rather see Cotts for goodness sake (okay, maybe not Cotts!!

by socalicubsfan on May 11, 2008 5:23 PM CDT 0 recs

Lou said tonight

that Sean will get another start. Sounded like Lieber is odd man out.

by sue369 on May 11, 2008 6:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

he's good out of the pen

and he says he’s ok with that. So, that sounds good to me.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 11, 2008 7:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

Um..

I think I would go with Gallagher. He’s 22. He has a higher upside, and I think he has just as good stuff as Hill. Hopefully, by the end of the season—we will have a rotation of Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Gallagher and Hill.

by Unique on May 11, 2008 5:28 PM CDT 0 recs

if I have to choose

I choose Gallagher. But I’d rather put Marquis up on blocks and pitch them both.

But Gallagher has to get stretched out more; he has to be able to go at least six.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 11, 2008 5:35 PM CDT 0 recs

Door number three - both.

Oh, I’m sorry. That wasn’t an option?

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 11, 2008 5:41 PM CDT 1 recs

Agreed.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on May 11, 2008 6:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yup, this would be your ideal 4 and 5 .....sorry Jason

...maybe pinch running is your bag

Felix Pie must play everyday!

by JB 23 on May 11, 2008 7:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rich has done this for a few years now

By this I mean start at the major league level. He needs to get his control back and then we can just get him back up here to be our 3/4 starter. Gallagher clearly has nice stuff and will hopefully be a solid major league pitcher, but I think Hill is the better pitcher.

Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs

by nji232 on May 11, 2008 5:53 PM CDT 0 recs

wasnt chad fox

once a 3b or c or something?

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on May 11, 2008 7:03 PM CDT 0 recs

oh, i just remembered...

jake fox… right?

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on May 11, 2008 7:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

Nah...

that’s Adam Fox

I haz show: http://hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on May 12, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'd rather we just get rid of Marquis and have lieber and gallagher at the back end

Lieber deserves another shot at a start, he has the benefit of the doubt with how well he’s pitched out of the pen, just had a bad start against a good cincy offense

by CubsBall2202 on May 11, 2008 7:24 PM CDT 0 recs

I like to see

Gallagher get a few more starts, His velocity looked good, just throw strikes.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 11, 2008 7:28 PM CDT 0 recs

Really glad that Gallagher will get a second start

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on May 11, 2008 7:40 PM CDT 0 recs

where'd you see that he will get a second start

by Unique on May 11, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

nevermind.

by Unique on May 11, 2008 7:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm guessing

Friday against the Pirates. I figured Lou would skip Lieber or Marquis(most likely Lieber), and have one of them start Friday. Personally I like Gallagher, his stuff looked pretty good today. But I still don’t think he has enough control of his pitches to be a quality starter this season. I hope I’m wrong, but right now I would trust Lieber over Gallagher.

by cubsfan25 on May 11, 2008 7:59 PM CDT 0 recs

Rich Hill

I’d way rather have Hill. His only issue is control. Many people forget that his ERA was 4.12. Thats still pretty decent to me.

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 11, 2008 8:00 PM CDT 0 recs

I think people forget

that Sean is 22. I really think Gallagher can potentially be a elite #3 pitcher in this league. Hill has the stuff to be a good #2/3 … but his mental makeup is lacking. I can’t remember who said it.. but, if you had Rich Hill’s stuff and Greg Maddux’s brain , you would have that full potential. Hell—if anybody would have Maddux’s brain, they could be great.. but anyways Rich hurts himself most of the time.

Point is .. Gallagher AND Hill should be in the rotation.

by Unique on May 11, 2008 8:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

Hill will be back once he gets his head screwed on straight.

And can we stop the “Trade Gallagher” stuff now? If/when Ryan Dempster leaves after this year as a free agent, we’ll need him.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 11, 2008 8:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed

about the hill’ness

I still think Hill is a GREAT pitcher and im a sucker for “stuff”. Once he gets his confidence and control back he will get back to making batters look silly.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 11, 2008 8:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

I never wanted to trade Gallagher

in the first place. He has done well everywhere he has pitched in the minors. His velocity has increased. He’s throwing 94-96 compared to the 89-92 he was throwing when he was 20+ pounds heavier just last year.

by Unique on May 11, 2008 9:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

If Demp

continues pitching this well is’nt he the number 2 we need? I think they sign him if he keeps it up. Although….....you’re probably right considering the outlandish $$ given for starters these days Someone might give him 5 years at 60M or something crazy if he wins 15-16 games.

by plenz on May 12, 2008 6:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

If Dempster keeps pitching like this...

... he will cash in bigtime this offseason. 5/60 might be too low an estimate.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 12, 2008 8:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

Lilly

is our #2 starter and he finally is pitching like it again. What a game Friday!!

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on May 12, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

5 years

Would be crazy. Would rather pay him more over 3.

by BartlettBob on May 12, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dead on with Dempster

and as well as he has pitched so far this year…I’d hate to see Hendry sign him to a three year deal…we did that with Marquis.

by walsh2317 on May 12, 2008 8:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

How bout Gallagher instead of Marquis?

Thats my hope as the season goes along anyway, gallagher looked good, and Marquis will be fine until around July-so Gallagher has time to work up the stamina to be a starter.

But he didnt know going into the game he was starting and the weather was pretty poor, so all in all, I was impressed…it was just nice to see him actually pitch as a starter after hearing his name so much this off season.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on May 11, 2008 9:16 PM CDT 0 recs

I doubt

Gallagher will be much better then Marquis this year, if at all. I really don’t think he is ready to be a good ML starter this season. I’m fine with him getting spot starts, or filling in for guys with a injury. But I’m not about to give him a rotation spot until I see a little more out of him. Lets also keep in mind this is the first time many of the D-backs hitters saw Gallagher before. Then the third time through the line-up they pounded him pretty hard. I’m a big Gallagher fan, and if the Cubs were in last place I would stay start the guy for the rest of the year. But as of right now I still think Lieber, Marquis and Hill all give the Cubs a better chance to win this year.

by cubsfan25 on May 11, 2008 9:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

I disagree.

They pounded him the second time around, because he was spent. And I think Gallagher will outperform Marquis - this year, and the rest of his career. Gallagher has better stuff than Marquis, and while 2008 will not be a banner year for Gallagher, and he will have his shaky starts, he will outperform Marquis, IMO. Marquis has reached his peak - I think Gallagher has no more to prove in the minors.

by Unique on May 11, 2008 10:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

I hope so

I just haven’t really seen Gallagher pitch a good game yet. In his games last year out of the pen last year he struggled almost every time out, and even in the spring I saw him struggling. I know the guy has put up big numbers against minor leaguers and I have followed his games for a while, but he has yet to have much success against major league hitters. So I really hope that the reason why the Diamondbacks didn’t hit well off him the first four innings, and not just because they haven’t really seen him much before. I guess I need to see some signs of success from him against Major league hitters, before I’m gonna be convinced he’s major league ready. I know alot of fans want him to be good right now, and some have made excuses for him because they like him. Some actually think because he has had success in the minors and that makes him better then some mediocre starters already. But there’s a big difference from pitching in the majors compared to the minors. So I don’t see him pitching well enough to have a sub 5 era this year, and if he has a 5 plus era he’s not going to be in the rotation for more then 3-4 starts with all the options we have. But I hope I’m wrong and I really hope Gallagher does well.

by cubsfan25 on May 12, 2008 5:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

Actually

Piniella sounds like he’s considering starting Gallagher again, but he still hasn’t made up his mind yet. He will probably think it over in the next few days, and alot could depend on if he needs LIeber out of the pen at all.

by cubsfan25 on May 11, 2008 10:10 PM CDT 0 recs

Here is the link to what cubsfan25 said

About Lou maybe keeping Gallagher in the rotation.

I think it is entirely possible to see a regular rotation of Zambrano-Lilly-Dempster-Hill-Gallagher before the season is over, with Marquis likely getting moved

Aramis Ramirez- NL MVP
Kosuke Fukudome- NL ROY
Carlos Marmol- Rolaids Relief Man

by sheamcmurray on May 12, 2008 1:25 AM CDT up 0 recs

Send Down Gallagher for 2 weeks....

give him two long starts in AAA and get his stamina up a little, the bring him back up if Marquis or Lieber are struggling

by fuku-domenation on May 11, 2008 11:05 PM CDT 0 recs

Sean Gallagher is a keeper

Gallagher is going to develop into a quality starting pitcher in this league. I have been impressed by this kid since I first saw him pitch last season. I like his repetoire, physical skills, intelligence and energy.

His time in the Cub rotation may be NOW. It’s exciting to have a pitcher like this come up thru the system. No doubt he will have hiccups along the way, but he is a far cry better than trotting out Jason Marquis.

MDBNIU….charter member Sean Gallagher Fan Club

Lou, stop being obstinate...bat Soriano # 6.

by MDBNIU on May 11, 2008 11:28 PM CDT 0 recs

he went four innings.

You can’t put him in the rotation right now. You’re guaranteeing that every time he pitches, you’re going to use your long man. We can’t do that.

I’m not suggesting that he can’t start next week. A second start lets us see where he is, stamina-wise, but we can’t just say “well, every fifth day, we’re going to use TWO pitchers completely.”

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 12, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

I hope in addition to his mental game...

Rich works on his changeup. I think it is absolutely necessary for him to develop some kind of working changeup to mix in with his curve. Otherwise I think it’s just too easy to tee off on his fastball. It’s a pitch he’s thrown before, but not that often, and I really think it will help him get through the order a few times.

It's gotta be the shoes, folks, it's gotta be the shoes...

by Schwa on May 12, 2008 1:39 AM CDT 0 recs

Tee off

do you realize Rich Hill has been very hard to hit the last three years? Teams only hit 227 off him in 2006, 235 off him in 07 and 197 off him so far this year. If could improve his change up a little bit he could be even better, but Hill stuff isn’t the problem. It’s throwing strikes consistently with good location on his pitches. His control was good the last year and half, and hopefully he can get back to that in the next month.

by cubsfan25 on May 12, 2008 4:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

Doesn't matter if Hill can't get the curveball over the plate

Rich Hill throws two pitches…a monster curveball and a below grade fastball. He has no changeup for all intents and purposes. Yes he has dabbled with that pitch, but it has done zero to enhance his effectiveness given that he can’t get his curveball over right now and hitters can therefore sit on his less than inspiring fastball. Not much difference between a below average fastball and a changeup for Hill.

If Hill can’t get that curveball over the plate then he can’t pitch at this level. It’s just that simple. His latest start in Iowa is further cause for concern. He might be spending more time in Des Moines then I would have originally guessed.

Lou, stop being obstinate...bat Soriano # 6.

by MDBNIU on May 12, 2008 8:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

Actually

IMO, because his curveball is so great it makes his fastball better. Below grade? No.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 12, 2008 9:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

I propose this

Hill starts pitching like a stud, Gallagher pitches to where he doesn’t suck, and Lieber and Marquis get looked at as very expensive insurance policies. I’d much rather see Hill pitching half as good as he did last year than Marquis pitching the way he did last year in the second half.

Lieber…..like I said…insurance. Though I’m willing to bet if he gets another spot start and throws well, someone will take him at the deadline.

by walsh2317 on May 12, 2008 8:46 AM CDT 0 recs

I didn't think

Lieber was all that expensive.

I’d prefer to keep him. We’ll need insurance in october.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 12, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

OT: Shawn Estes

Did anyone notice that Shawn Estes is scheduled to pitch against the Cubs this series. Holy Crapsville. I had no idea that guys was still around.

I haz show: http://hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on May 12, 2008 9:04 AM CDT 0 recs

He was just called up last week.

Glendon Rusch, however, has been sent back to the minors, so that leaves SD with only two ex-Cub pitchers—but three ex-Cubs total, as Jody Gerut was recalled when Jim Edmonds was let go.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 12, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up 0 recs

Jeez

Jody Gerut makes Jose Macias seem like Roberto Clemente. Is this what the National League has been reduced to? San Diego’s season is already over and the best they can do is call up Jody Gerut? Yuck.

Lou, stop being obstinate...bat Soriano # 6.

by MDBNIU on May 12, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up 0 recs