33 replies to this topic

[Sprowl]

Cafardo tweets the Sox will recall Hill on Friday.

Hill is an articulate fellow who is probably the best source on his own mechanics, and he feels ready. From Britton's blog in the Projo:

Hill credits his offseason work with getting him in particularly good shape to continue his rehab this spring. That time has also allowed him to tinker with his delivery once again.

"I brought my arm up a little bit just to create a little bit more leverage and little more plane," he explained. "It's not so much the arm angle; it's really just bringing the hand placement a little bit higher so you can create more downhill plane and some more sink, especially to right-handers. It's proven to be extremely effective."

It sure seems that way. In his rehab appearances, righties are 4-for-24 off Hill with 11 strikeouts. Then again, lefties are 1-for-8 with seven punchouts.

Here's hoping he revives the bullpen drum corps.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Here's hoping he revives the bullpen drum corps.

I really, really liked the story from down in Salem about Hill footing the bill for after-game steaks for the whole team of A-ballers.

If there's anyone I think might bring a breath of fresh air and spirit of camaraderie to the pen, it's him.

[Eric Van]

You want a dark horse candidate for closer, here's your guy. Seriously. He might have a short shelf-life for that degree of effectiveness as righties get used to him, but for a few months he might prove to be a better option than Aceves -- which would of course allow the latter to return to his killer multi-inning role.

[mabrowndog]

May the prevailing Gulf Stream currents carry the corpse of Justin Thomas far, far away from the New England coast.

[Lose Remerswaal]

Not sure why it isn't today, but so long Jeremy John Jerome Justin Thomas. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Not sure why it isn't today, but so long Jeremy John Jerome Justin Thomas. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out

Just you wait -- watch BobbyV send down Tazawa instead...

[Crazy Puppy]

Not sure why it isn't today

Hill pitched Tuesday and Wednesday so he wouldn't be available tonight.

[Lose Remerswaal]

He's still better than whatsizname Thomas.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Just you wait -- watch BobbyV send down Tazawa instead...

Managers can do that?

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Managers can do that?

Yeah, by telling the GM that they want this guy over that guy.

It's a two-way street, and Ben has nothing to gain by pissing off BobbyV.

Edited by Buzzkill Pauley, 26 April 2012 - 08:50 PM.

[tonyarmasjr]

Yeah, by telling the GM that they want this guy over that guy.

It's a two-way street, and Ben has nothing to gain by pissing off BobbyV.

Well, other than markedly upgrading that spot in the bullpen.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Well, other than markedly upgrading that spot in the bullpen.

Sure. Until tonight, I thought it was a toss-up, but only because I have a poor opinion of BobbyV.

Tazawa over Thomas should have been a no-brainer. I'm praying after tonight BobbyV agrees.

[someoneanywhere]

You want a dark horse candidate for closer, here's your guy. Seriously. He might have a short shelf-life for that degree of effectiveness as righties get used to him, but for a few months he might prove to be a better option than Aceves -- which would of course allow the latter to return to his killer multi-inning role.

Bearing in mind I saw the results only against A-ballers: the stuff was electric. So I'm not saying he's going to make big league hitters look like toddler-t-ballers -- they will sit on the same 3-2 breaking ball that thunderstruck the A-ballers -- but I am saying this is an intriguing possibility if Ace falters. I think you have to give Ace a fair chance to adopt to a role he didn't anticipate filling, which necessarily is going to involve some meltdown. But if they need to make a switch, and based only on how I saw the ball explode toward the plate in Greenville, this option would be the route I might very well try next.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Bearing in mind I saw the results only against A-ballers: the stuff was electric. So I'm not saying he's going to make big league hitters look like toddler-t-ballers -- they will sit on the same 3-2 breaking ball that thunderstruck the A-ballers -- but I am saying this is an intriguing possibility if Ace falters. I think you have to give Ace a fair chance to adopt to a role he didn't anticipate filling, which necessarily is going to involve some meltdown. But if they need to make a switch, and based only on how I saw the ball explode toward the plate in Greenville, this option would be the route I might very well try next.

I hope BobbyV uses him as the 8th-inning setup/fireman, even though Aceves may or may not settle in as a closer. But as Thursday night proved, the better the arms available in key situations, the better.

Having Hill available to pitch the 8th means BobbyV should be willing to use Morales as the first reliever -- throwing against LHH's in the 5th-7th innings instead of Atchison and Thomas. There is no downside to that.

[twothousandone]

I really, really liked the story from down in Salem about Hill footing the bill for after-game steaks for the whole team of A-ballers.

If there's anyone I think might bring a breath of fresh air and spirit of camaraderie to the pen, it's him.

And he's never made $1 million in a year, so it isn't as though he's stinking rich, though averaging just under half a million for six years doesn't make him poor.

Given his path -- he looked a potential all-star when in Chicago in 2007 -- he may, indeed have a hunger that will impact others.

He might have a short shelf-life for that degree of effectiveness as righties get used to him

He held his own against righties for a while as a starter. In 2008 and 2009, he just stopped throwing strikes. If he's got that back, he might be a solid option against anyone.

[someoneanywhere]

Given his path -- he looked a potential all-star when in Chicago in 2007 -- he may, indeed have a hunger that will impact others.

I would say the hunger of others impacted him -- at least if buying 40 steaks is any indication.

[trekfan55]

Just you wait -- watch BobbyV send down Tazawa instead...

No. Thank G-d.

Lefty specialist Rich Hill has been recalled from Pawtucket, completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Justin Thomas has been sent back

Cafardo

#RedSox have sent down LHP Justin Thomas, presumably to clear a spot for LHP Rich Hill.

Rosenthal

[JimBoSox9]

That is unquestionably the best Red Sox-related news I have read in a month.

[PrometheusWakefield]

Hill, Tazawa, Aceves starting to look a little better, Morales and Albers looking like they have live stuff at the very least, Melancon looking strong in Pawtucket, Atchison looking good so far. If you squint a bit maybe it looks like an average bullpen.

[xjack]

He held his own against righties for a while as a starter. In 2008 and 2009, he just stopped throwing strikes. If he's got that back, he might be a solid option against anyone.

Don't think it's apples-to-apples. I think he's pitching more three-quarters delivery as a reliever than he did as a starter.

[Al Zarilla]

Have him come in tonight, if he's available, and get Adam Dunn and AJ Pierzynski and that Pauly guy in between and he'll earn his keep right away.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

That is unquestionably the best Red Sox-related news I have read in a month.

THE LEFTY SPECIALIST IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE LEFTY SPECIALIST! HUZZAH!!!

[stevman17]

It's probably been covered, but the point is worth repeating. Hills numbers are really good since 2010. In 136 IP:

10.125 K/9
4.6 BB/9

In a collection of a bunch of really small sample sizes since 2011, the numbers get even better. In 33 IP:

13.1 K/P
2.7 BB/9

The strong performance since 2011 appears to be driven by a healthy increase in O-Swing%. From 10.8% and 19.8% in 2008 and 2009 respectively, to 25.7% and 29.7% in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

I am excited for the Rich Hill era. Let's hope he stays healthy.

Edit - The K and BB numbers are from across all levels.

Edited by stevman17, 27 April 2012 - 01:30 PM.

[mauidano]

Justin, we hardly knew ye! Rich we hardly knew ye either. I think we shall like ye Rich better. Welcome back!

[Lose Remerswaal]

When did he shorten his name from "Milton's Rich Hill" to just "Rich Hill"?

[mabrowndog]

I wasn't sure if Thomas had been optioned or DFAd, but he does indeed have one more option left (his others were used in 2009 & 2010) that will allow him to be shuttled back & forth this season between the majors & minors, assuming he remains on the 40-man roster.

[someoneanywhere]

Hill, Tazawa, Aceves starting to look a little better, Morales and Albers looking like they have live stuff at the very least, Melancon looking strong in Pawtucket, Atchison looking good so far. If you squint a bit maybe it looks like an average bullpen.

It will be pleasant to squint at something other than missiles leaving the yard.

[PaulinMyrBch]

I really, really liked the story from down in Salem about Hill footing the bill for after-game steaks for the whole team of A-ballers.

If there's anyone I think might bring a breath of fresh air and spirit of camaraderie to the pen, it's him.

Well if its Liberty Tap Room beyond the mini-Monster in left, they've got some smokin hot southern girls working as waitresses and the host is drop dead gorgeous. Nothing says I'm the richest guy in the bunch more than picking up the tab.

Well played Rich Hill. Welcome back to Boston.

[Sprowl]

Hill's first big-league relief appearance didn't go all that smoothly, mostly because Hill's command was a bit off on both the slurve and the fastball. When he wasted pitches, they were way out of the strike zone, and not at all tempting to the batter. Also, he may have been squeezed on a few high pitches. The only hit was an infield chopper.



On the bright side, he still has the same ridiculous horizontal movement on his two main pitches. His fastball arm angle is, as advertised, less sidearm than before, but not much. He appeared to throw one slider at 85 mph.

[nvalvo]

This is the craziest chart I think I've ever seen. Can he really have more than a two foot horizontal separation just from movement?

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

Hill was very close to getting out of the inning... He looked nervous and I think he'll settledown and pitch well. I hope Bobby puts him in the best spots to succeed and doesn't get too tempted to use him against too many RH hitters. While I think he can get a few righties out I think he is still mostly a lefty specialist. The best thing was that he had good free and easy velocity, he should be a big addition to the pen and a monstrous upgrade over Thomas.

[Sprowl]

Rich Hill's second appearance confirms that his fastball is 1-2 mph faster than before his elbow injury, averaging 92 in Chicago and 92.6 in Boston. It has Masterson-level horizontal movement, exceeding 15" on fastballs to LHB. Against RHB like Cespedes, Hill's arm slot comes up closer to 3/4 than before, and so far it has been working for Hill as a LRL reliever.




Hill's slurve was occasionally wild against Chicago, but against Oakland, he was able to keep it close to the edges of the strike zone -- well out of the middle of the zone, but close enough to tempt a batter to chase.

[Lose Remerswaal]

Rich Hill's second appearance confirms that his fastball is 1-2 mph faster than before his elbow injury, averaging 92 in Chicago and 92.6 in Boston. It has Masterson-level horizontal movement, exceeding 15" on fastballs to LHB. Against RHB like Cespedes, Hill's arm slot comes up closer to 3/4 than before, and so far it has been working for Hill as a LRL reliever.

You're gonna need a bigger chart!

[Sprowl]

After 9 appearances and 8 innings, in 2012, Rich Hill has faced 30 batters, walked 5, struck out 7, and given up 2 hits.
His command has improved visibly over his appearances. Of his 5 walks, 2 came in his first game off the DL and 2 more three games later. Velocity on the fastball has averaged 92, reaching 94. That is a full 2 mph improvement over 2011, and it makes Hill a viable option for high-leverage LRL situations.

He's not yet the dominating LOOGY of 2011 because of the low K rate. Lefties are getting the bat on the slurve in 2012, but they are not hitting it hard. My guess is that the failure to achieve last year's astonishing K rate is because he does not yet have quite the command of the slurve that he used to before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament. Erratic command of his signature pitch accounts for most of his walks. The pitch still baffles LHB, who whiff 28% of the time on the slurve, but they also put 17% in play (numbers from TexasLeaguers). His pitching charts look like a random spray, not a donut or even a croissant. They have many pitches well beyond the strike zone and many others right down Broadway. Hill's accomplishments so far have come from pure stuff -- movement on both his pitches is still off the charts -- but not from commanding his pitches on the edge of the strike zone. If he can further refine his location, Rich Hill's ceiling is very high.