Could Rich Hill rebound in '09?

by Clutche on Jan 29, 2009 9:49 PM CST

After the 2008 performance from Cliff Lee, however, I think it is safe to say that one should never completely write anyone off. Remember, after an 18-5 campaign in 2005, Lee was downright terrible for 2 seasons at the major league level before having a Cy Young-type campaign in ‘08. The bottom-line is this, anyone can rebound, they just need the opportunity and support from an organization to get there.

Personally, I’d rather see him get a fresh start with another organization. I am just hard pressed to see the Cubs giving him a fair shot.

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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I find this post ironic...

…considering the one immediately above it.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 29, 2009 10:46 PM CST reply actions

I sure hope not

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by Fukudometer on Jan 30, 2009 8:04 AM CST reply actions

I also think we should trade Pie and the that Aaron Heilman kid

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by Fukudometer on Jan 30, 2009 8:05 AM CST reply actions

the = get

fail

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by Fukudometer on Jan 30, 2009 8:05 AM CST up reply actions

Quote from the post.

The bottom-line is this, anyone can rebound, they just need the opportunity and support from an organization to get there.

I don’t believe this. Sometimes a player has all the support he wants, and still fails. Rich Hill seems to fall into this category.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 30, 2009 8:41 AM CST reply actions

I agree....

But, have we given him ample opportunity and enough support?

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 30, 2009 8:46 AM CST up reply actions

Support?

Please elaborate about what “enough support” is.

by dmlichte on Jan 30, 2009 8:47 AM CST up reply actions

Have they sent him to a sports shrink?

It may be psychological and curable

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 30, 2009 8:58 AM CST up reply actions

That may be.

But this team needs to win. Now. No room on the 25 man for a guy like him.

"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08

by Bildo1805 on Jan 30, 2009 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

I hope he proves all of the nay-sayers wrong........

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 30, 2009 9:03 AM CST up reply actions

Rich Hill is finished

When Hill was going good he had one distinguishable pitch, and that was his trademark curveball. Other than that Hill threw a fastball that scared nobody, but in 2007 he was able to spot it in complement to the curveball.

Hill losing the ability to throw the curveball is like the Titanic hitting an iceberg. He doesn’t have a repetoire of pitches to fall back on.

by BLou on Jan 30, 2009 9:06 AM CST up reply actions

Nice to hear from an expert. Thanks!

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 30, 2009 9:13 AM CST up reply actions

Don't know if completely finished

But basically I agree with Blou on this, he seemed to be pretty one dimensional. I still wish him luck though.

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Jan 30, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't.

But it’s not like Hill is destitute. If he felt his problems were mental, he could’ve sought out a psychologist on his own. It is his career that’s at stake, after all.

I liked Rich a lot and I hoped against hope that his control problems were mainly physical in origin, but even I’ve given up on him at this point. He needs a fresh start with a new team, and even if/when he gets one, I’ll be surprised if he salvages his career. I write this with no joy – I really do wish him the best.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by daver on Jan 30, 2009 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

I agree for the most part

If Hill needed more “support” from the Cubs organization, if he failed due to some tramatic event in a game, then this is not a player with the wherewithal to be the type of pitcher the Cubs need. If he was so shaken at being forced to have an embarrassing bullpen session then how is this guy going to be a playoff run pitcher or even a playoff pitcher?

I think that its not about the support… sometimes there are just factors out there and whether or not they’re going to get their crap back together is unknown. I believe that Hill could get it back together for the Cubs, Orioles or someone else… it appears that this will have to happen for Baltimore now.

The one thing that we need to realize is the type of pitcher that Hill is… with that big sweeping curve he’s really an all or nothing type of pitcher. Even during his run of success he had games where he just could not get that curve over and when you have a high 80s fastball, its just not gonna happen in those games. Look at what has happened to the career of Barry Zito.

by dmlichte on Jan 30, 2009 8:47 AM CST up reply actions

No

Thanks for asking.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jan 30, 2009 9:46 AM CST reply actions

Cliff Lee revisited

Check his stats again. He did not have 2 bad seasons before last season. From 2004 to 2006, he went 14-8, 18-5, 14-11 before the disastrous 2007. Lee had a lot more major league success than Hill so his bounce back wasn’t completely unexpected. Lee had 54 career wins before last season. Lee’s 2007 started with an injury and things spun out of control from there. Lee also had much better numbers in the minors in 2007 during his time there than Hill did last season.

I’m not worried about Rich Hill becoming a Cliff Lee turnaround. I do suspect if he goes to Baltimore that he will pitch again in the majors. He may even have some minimal success but I’m not expecting much.

by rlpete on Jan 30, 2009 11:17 AM CST reply actions

I hope Hill

Lights up AL. Then the PTBNL will not be a scrub

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 30, 2009 12:16 PM CST reply actions

Deal is.....

He crashes we get Pie back

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 30, 2009 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

Whether Hill rebounds...

…is up to him and his sports physcologist. The problem with mental blocks (and that certainly is Hills problem), is even when they appear to be corrected, they tend to reappear during pressure situations.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jan 30, 2009 1:09 PM CST reply actions

There is "Part Two" to the problem

And that is that Rich Hill is over-reliant on throwing the curveball. The curveball is the most difficult of pitches to throw for consistent strikes. And when it is your bread and butter pitch like it is for Hill then that greatly compounds the issue.

by BLou on Jan 30, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

Throwing that 12-6 bender...

…requires a high degree of confidence, and Hill’s is fleeting.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jan 30, 2009 1:48 PM CST up reply actions

The question asked was "Could Rich Hill rebound in '09?"

Well, he is 6-5. Maybe he should try the NBA.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 30, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions

With his frame...

he might be better suited for the WNBA.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Jan 30, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

Cruel

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 30, 2009 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

Of course he could ...

… but I don’t see it happening, at least as a starter. He’s older than many realize (he’ll be 29 by opening day), never has developed a reliable third pitch, and by most accounts is not confident in the abilities he does have. Baseball America once suggested he could become a good option as a lefthanded reliever, and that may end up being his role.

"We gotta circle the bandwagons." - Devin Hester

by Jose's Eyelid on Jan 31, 2009 3:02 PM CST reply actions