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Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Edgy MD Feb 04 2021 12:40 PM

I dreamed I saw Rich Hill last night, reported to be a target of interest for the Mets organization. Hill is about as definitive a representative of "veteran lefthander" as there be. He's also a victim of the modern age, having participated in all or parts of 16 big league seasons, starting more often than relieving, but only notching 111 decisions. He's a guy you plug in when something else doesn't work out, but it usually works out with him, almost never posting an ERA over 4.00, sometimes having his control betray him, but always keeping the ball down. He throws curve after curve, in different spots and at any point in the count. He's hit-and-miss on staying healthy, so as long as you're not looking for a guaranteed 30 starts, but using him as an insurance hedge on somebody else, he's a good guy to have in uniform, assuming you have room for him. He would also provide a rare time in Mets history (though I'm not sure if it would be the first) when a player in uniform was older than the manager. [fimg=500]https://bostonglobe-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/Aow7_8EJpHKVaTC4jo63cpEtoLI=/1440x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-bostonglobe.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EQGIOBN4NJD6PEKBPOWG6XNLBY.jpg[/fimg]

Benjamin Grimm Feb 04 2021 12:43 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Did he once throw a perfect game?

Edgy MD Feb 04 2021 12:49 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Close. He's the only pitcher in big league history to have a perfect game wrecked by a fielding error in the ninth. He ended up losing in the 10th on a walkoff homer.

smg58 Feb 04 2021 01:42 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Not sure of the need as a starter, or his willingness to take a bullpen role. But he's good when he's healthy, and has more lives than a cat.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 04 2021 02:15 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

I've confirmed that no Mets player has ever been older than his manager. But there have been a few times when an opposing player was older than the Mets manager. Warren Spahn was older than Wes Westrum. Hoyt Wilhelm was older than Gil Hodges and Yogi Berra. Dave Guisti, Manny Mota, Willie McCovey, Vic Davalillo, Lou Brock, Gaylord Perry, Willie Stargell, Woodie Fryman, Phil Niekro, and Jim Kaat were older than Joe Torre. Pete Rose, Tony Perez, and Jerry Koosman were older than Davey Johnson. And Erik Kratz was older than Luis Rojas. Nobody was older than Casey Stengel.

Edgy MD Feb 04 2021 02:33 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

My guess is that the closest Mets to "older than his manager" were Rusty Staub in 1984 and 1985, and maybe José Bautista in 2018.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 04 2021 02:58 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Well, the closest is Joe Torre to Joe Torre. After that, it's Robinson Cano/Luis Rojas. But your guess would have been correct prior to 2020. Then: Rusty Staub/Davey Johnson Rene Rivera/Luis Rojas Jerry Grote/Joe Torre Jerry Koosman/Joe Torre Larry Bowa/Davey Johnson Mike Marshall/Joe Torre Robinson Chirinos/Luis Rojas Felix Millan/Joe Torre Jose Cardenal/Joe Torre Mike Torrez/Davey Johnson Tom Paciorek/Davey Johnson Rusty Staub/Joe Torre Rick Cerone/Mike Cubbage Staub and Johnson were born 427 days apart. Cano and Rojas 416.

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 04 2021 03:00 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

For a guy with his lengthy experience I barely ever taken notice of Rich Hill. The nondescript name (he should gone by Ricky Hill or Richie Hill), less-than-sexy numbers, the parade of employers, etc.

Edgy MD Feb 04 2021 03:42 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Yeah, I've almost called him "Ken Hill" once or twice already.

Willets Point Feb 04 2021 05:50 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

He also goes by Dick Mountain.

smg58 Feb 04 2021 06:09 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Willets Point wrote: He also goes by Dick Mountain. I wasn't aware that his side hobby was common knowledge.

Centerfield Feb 05 2021 05:43 AM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

I'm guessing this dream dies if we sign Bauer today.

LWFS Feb 06 2021 11:52 AM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

He's got a big, loopy curveball and is basically the best case future Matz, or what Zito would be if Zito lasted. Plus, he remembers the nineties. Like, in person! We need more of that on this TikTok-y, meme-talking, whippersnapper-heavy team.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2021 12:04 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

"Rich, what were you thinking when Freddie Freeman came up with tying runs on in the sixth?" "Well, I got him on a change in the dirt in the first. And when I got two strikes this time, McCannsie signaled for another one of those. But I was all 'Don't go chasin' waterfalls!'"

MFS62 Feb 06 2021 01:08 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Edgy MD wrote: "Well, I got him on a change in the dirt in the first. And when I got two strikes this time, McCannsie signaled for another one of those. But I was all 'Don't go chasin' waterfalls!'" Jared Porter was offering some TLC and look at the trouble he got into. Later

LWFS Feb 06 2021 01:39 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Curveball porn? WHOOT, THERE IT IS* [YOUTUBE]Zalb4aZD4Vo[/YOUTUBE] *More dirty-Miami-bass-y/superior to (and released a month before) "Whoomp"

MFS62 Feb 06 2021 02:11 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

From The Long Season(catcher to batter. Or was it Joe Garagiola's book?), "We both know what you're getting. But neither of us knows which direction it's coming from." Later

Fman99 Feb 06 2021 05:43 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Curveball porn? WHOOT, THERE IT IS* [YOUTUBE]Zalb4aZD4Vo[/YOUTUBE] For all the talk in the world of the 12-6 curveball this is a really nice 10:30-4:30 thing he has working.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2021 09:19 PM Re: Shall We Deliberate Over the Matter of Rich Hill?

Also, 10:30-to-4:30 is my idea of a fine workday.