Rich Hill (might be) turning around

by NittanyCub on Jul 12, 2008 5:42 PM CDT Comment 31 comments

Taken from one of my favorite Cub-centric baseball sites, The Cub Reporter:

Starting for the AZL Cubs versus he AZL Angels at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning, Rich Hill worked five shutout innings (68 pitches, 47 strikes, 8/0 GO/FO), allowing three hits (all three singles) and a walk, with five strikeouts. He really had his roundhouse curve and efficient two-seamer working today, as he went to a three ball count on only two of the 17 Angels hitters he faced.

Coupled with his previous outing last Sunday when he worked four innings of one hit ball with six K, Hill has now gone 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB and 11 K over his last two outings since modifying his delivery under the auspices of Cubs Minor League Pitching Coordinator Mark Riggins and AZL Cubs Pitching Coach Rick Tronerud.

Emphasis mine.

I know that it's not likely that Hill will make the post-season roster( God-willing, if the Cubs DO make the playoffs), and granted, it's in Arizona where he's pitching against 18 to 20 year-olds, but I am definitely looking more closely at Hill's progression from here on in. When I think about the variable performances from both Marquis and Lilly-- both being really hot and sometimes really cold -- the option of Hill being back in Chicago might not be the worst of ideas.

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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He'll probably get moved to AAA soon, then.

I wouldn’t focus too much one the fact that he’s been pitching to rookie leaguers, though; this isn’t a guy who we don’t know if he has the stuff to get major leaguers out. The only question with Hill was could he fix whatever problem (physical, mechanical or mental) that was keeping him from throwing strikes.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Jul 12, 2008 5:49 PM CDT reply actions 5 recs

Good point

I’m actually going to recommend this. From what I understand, you’re saying that Hill still has the stuff to pitch in the Bigs, save the problem that was inhibiting him?

I agree with what I understand, nonetheless.

"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk

by NittanyCub on Jul 12, 2008 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't care about the hits or the K's

What is significant is the number of walks. Just two walks over nine innings of work is indicative of him getting his control back. That is a huge step forward.

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband

by Ross on Jul 12, 2008 5:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is very encouraging!

If he keeps it up, we get another starter for the run to the post season essentially for free.

"Baseball is like church- many attend, few understand." ~ Leo Durocher

by The Lip on Jul 12, 2008 6:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The competition doesn't matter....

his problem was NOT that he didn’t have the stuff, it was the fact that he could NOT throw strikes. He should be moved to Iowa for three or four starts, and, if he is successful in keeping his focus on the strike zone, he should be back in the bigs.

The poem fails when it strays too far from the song, and the song fails when it strays too far from the dance ~ Ezra Pound

by crazymountain on Jul 12, 2008 6:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You're contradicting yourself.

If you think he has the stuff, and that his problem isn’t that he didn’t have the stuff, then going to Iowa would be negligible. If I think about it, I think it’s a mixture of both the hitters being more capable of hitting his pitches, and his ability of getting the strike zone consistently.

"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk

by NittanyCub on Jul 12, 2008 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The difference in going to Iowa...

... is that’s a much more realistic simulation of major league baseball - with crowds, better hitters, etc. - than the AZL is.

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

by Al on Jul 12, 2008 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The thing I think about most in this case is better umpires.

Make sure he gets use to a zone closer to what they use in the majors and just more consistant.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Jul 12, 2008 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent point.

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

by Al on Jul 12, 2008 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also think

it will be important for him to have a few batters challenge him at Iowa and see if once he gets flustered if he continues to throw strikes or if he falls apart again

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jul 12, 2008 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Point out where I said he didn't have the stuff....

his problem was NOT that he didn’t have the stuff, it was the fact that he could NOT throw strikes.

The poem fails when it strays too far from the song, and the song fails when it strays too far from the dance ~ Ezra Pound

by crazymountain on Jul 13, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I said in my post

Read my post more carefully:

If you think he has the stuff, and that his problem isn’t that he didn’t have the stuff

I never summarized your post in the way you’re trying to say so.

"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk

by NittanyCub on Jul 13, 2008 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look, this isn't an argument!

Yes it is! No it isn’t! Yes it is! No it isn’t!

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

by Al on Jul 14, 2008 4:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good for Hill

Hope he makes it back to the Majors soon just so we can hear the obnoxious catch phrase the PR people make up for Rich Hill and Rich Harden.

“Cubs have a Rich rotation”

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Jul 12, 2008 6:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

I can hear it now

“The Cubs are too Rich for the Cardinals appetite”

or on loscubs.com
Rich y Rich

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 Jul 12, 2008 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"An Embarassment of Riches"

Eat More Katsui

by CaliCub on Jul 13, 2008 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just curious – are we going to post a “Rich Hill is rising from the ashes” FanPost after every start? If so, I call dibs.

"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement. Fans like that are special." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field

by northsider on Jul 12, 2008 7:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When he makes it back to the bigs

Can we call him”The Phoenix”?

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Jul 12, 2008 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he makes it back to the bigs, absolutely.

by northsider on Jul 12, 2008 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dang, I didn't even know about that FanPost

I feel silly.

"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk

by NittanyCub on Jul 12, 2008 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LLIH!

by daeviant on Jul 12, 2008 9:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hypothetically speaking....

if Rich does return to form who would he replace?

Before Marquis’ last start I would have said him….

If the rotation continues to do a respectable job as it has lately Rich might not be back in the bigs this season until the rosters expand.

No injuries (knock on wood [no pun intented])

DEROSA: How did it feel when you're sitting in Baton Rouge and it came across the ticker that Mark DeRosa had just signed to play second base with the Chicago Cubs.

THERIOT: In all honestly, when I saw it, I really felt like punching you right in the mouth and or breaking your leg.

by EJThunder on Jul 12, 2008 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs