What do you think of Hill?

[Cubsfan97]

I don't really like Hill. He hasnt done anything to show me he can be a good pitcher. In 23 IP he has an ERA of 9.13. Not that impresive. Just curious of what you guys think of him.

[rockin500]

i like him. he's got a good curve ball, he just needs to be more commanding with his fastball.

His problem last year was that he had good numbers in the minors, but got away from what worked down there. Instead of going right after hitters, he tried to nibble too much and he worked too slowly. When he worked faster ala maddux, he was much more effective.

dont look at his spring numbers to gauge his effectiveness. pitches dont break nearly as well in arizona.

[redwhitenblue]

once he develops a third pitch i love him, his curve is knee-buckling and his fastball isn't overpowering-but he CAN place it well when he focuses...i will admit though Sean Marshall has become my favorite lefty prospect by far over Hill this spring

[burger eater]

I think he's swell. He throws a pretty curve ball. He throws fastballs sometimes. They get hit 500 feet.

[Slightly Sarcastic]

I think he's swell. He throws a pretty curve ball. He throws fastballs sometimes. They get hit 500 feet.

By people named Placido Polanco and Craig Counsell.

If Bonds' juiced ass ever got ahold of one of Hill's batting practice "fastballs", you'd need the Hubble telescope to track it.

If Hill can add another 6-8 MPH on his fastball and develop another quality pitch or two, he might be a decent back of the rotation starter.

[aarond23]

Jury is out on Hill. A dominating minor league year and 23 2/3 pretty brutal innings in the majors. I'm sure he will get some more shots and time will tell.

[TRIPxCORE]

Hill is definitely an unknown quantity at this point. He has a great, major-league curveball but not much else. His fastball is satisfactory as long as he could control it. Really needs a third pitch and to learn some control. Needs to stay in the minors for sure.

Guzman and Marshall OTOH need to be brought up for the start of this season.

[Cubsfan97]

yea I really like MArshall. I hope he gets a spot this year. He really deserves it.

[Ravenlord]

define what a good pitcher is and i'll let you know.

[Bob Sacamento]

define what a good pitcher is and i'll let you know.

Depends on what your definition of "good" is. Personally I consider a "good" pitcher slightly above the "average" pitcher. Of a current starter on the Cubs roster, I'd consider a present day 40 year old Maddux a "good" starter. Someone who's going to give you quality innings all year while giving up a modest number of runs and WHIP, yet still keep you in the ballgame.

Certainly a far cry from the "Professor" of old who earned 4 consecutive CY Young awards, but still solid numbers to help a ballclub contend. And if the younger pitchers can absorb one iota from Greg then this entire Chicago experience is worth it's weight in gold.

[Bob Sacamento]

Hill is definitely an unknown quantity at this point. He has a great, major-league curveball but not much else. His fastball is satisfactory as long as he could control it. Really needs a third pitch and to learn some control. Needs to stay in the minors for sure.

Guzman and Marshall OTOH need to be brought up for the start of this season.

Hill definately needs some seasoning before he's an MLB starter commodity. Sure the guy has one of the best curves in the majors/minors but beyond that he's very vulnerable. He's fastball is 89-91 mph with slight movement and he's working on a straight change. The change he just started on late last year (and even tried working in the MLB) but never developed a good grip for it. While the fastball is average at best. Currently, Hill could be used as a lefty specialist without missing a beat, but the Cubs want to keep up his value as much as possible. What Hill doesn't have working in favor of him is his age, he's 26 now with limited MLB experience, with the emergence of the lefty Marshall that might make Hill expandible in a trade during the season. A prospect that was at one point deemed "untradable".

[Ravenlord]

historically, guys who use their curveball as their out pitch do eventually start giving up homers, however, this can be offset by a myriad of things. and i think Rich Hill can off set them. i would prefer Hill not see the majors this year until at least July.

i think he'll be a superior version of Barry Zito. unless he runs into the Shawn Estes problem of his curveball being so dramatic that it often gets called a ball for where it finishes instead of where it actually crossed the plate.