2010 BCB Community Projections: Koyie Hill

by Al Yellon on Mar 1, 2010 1:00 PM CST in Community Projections

Koyie Hill did a fine job last year while Geovany Soto was out and Lou didn't trust Jake Fox behind the plate. At one point he started 26 consecutive games, unheard-of for a catcher in this era. 53 MLB catchers caught at least 50 games last year. Hill's OPS of .636 ranked 42nd -- not great, but his solid defense makes up for that. He caught 40% of runners trying to steal off him, an excellent percentage.

He's not a great hitter, but as a backup, if he doesn't have to start more than about 30 games, the Cubs are in fine shape. For the record, Hill started 69 games in 2009.

Post your projection for Koyie Hill after the jump.

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I was surprised last year

how many times I found myself glad that Hill was playing instead of Soto. I felt like we had a better chance of winning when he was playing. Don’t know the stats, but it seemed that way. Could have been coincidence.

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Mar 1, 2010 1:45 PM CST reply actions

Stats

42-27 in games Hill started.
41-51 in games Soto started.

Coincidence? Probably. But food for thought anyway.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Mar 1, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

Wow

That’s insane. We were basically a Playoff team w Hill behind the plate. I knew we won more when he was playing, but those splits are sick.

by MrShowtime on Mar 1, 2010 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

IIRC, a lot of his starts were in Julyish. And July was when the Cubs played their best last year.

Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.

by Ryno Runner on Mar 1, 2010 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

Correct.

Now, again: coincidence? Impossible to know.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Mar 1, 2010 8:24 PM CST up reply actions

And if this trend continues in 2010?

Great defense up the middle starts at C.

How long does Lou stick with Soto if he doesn’t hit and the Cubs are struggling?

It may all be coincidence, but the Cubs sure sunk like a stone when Soto returned last year. I expect Soto to rebound, but I don’t think the Cubs are doomed if he doesn’t.

Thanks for posting those records-when-starting-stats. Meaningless or telling, at the very least Hill was a pretty effective tonic to the Blanco withdrawls .

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Mar 1, 2010 9:58 PM CST up reply actions

I really like Hill, but

I’d much rather have Rookie Year Geo behind the plate, if simply for the offense that he had provided. Let’s hope that is true this year. Also, it would be interesting to see the comparisons of how many wins Geo’s offensive numbers would have provided (if his sophomore year was like his freshman year) compared to how many wins Hill’s defense last year would have been worth. That would really sway me as to who I’d rather calling games, though unfortunately I haven’t the slightest clue as to how to proceed to collected these stats. Psychological stats, I understand. Baseball stats, not so much…

by Rhymenoceros on Mar 1, 2010 3:52 PM CST reply actions

Oh, of course the Cubs need that offense.

But it’s nice to know we have a solid backup.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Mar 1, 2010 3:58 PM CST up reply actions

To me it depends – if Soriano, Ramirez and Lee all hit like they are capable of hitting then I would take Hill behind the plate…unless Soto is hitting lights out.

I saw you in that coffee shop, breaking the fifth commandment. Congress passes these things for a reason, Lois.
Currently 34,839 on the Season Ticket Wait List - Expected age of being #0: 119

by hansman1982 on Mar 1, 2010 11:19 PM CST up reply actions