Chicago Cubs Minor League Baseball

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

What to do with Rich Hill?

Rich Hill has been the Cubs own version of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde so far this season.

At Iowa, Hill has posted ridiculously good numbers going 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA and a WHIP less than 1.

In Chicago, Hill has been horrendous, going 0-4 with a ERA of 9.31 with a WHIP of 2. Most surprising is the K/BB rate which at Iowa is nearly 7/1 while at Chicago is below 1.

So, the question remains, what do the Cubs do with Rich Hill? Where does his future hold? Do the Cubs attempt to deal him? Do they move him to the bullpen?

1. Call Hill up and allow him to start. Although Hill has yet to succeed as a starter for the Cubs, he has nothing left to prove at Iowa. Inserting him into the bullpen lowers his value immediately, and indicates to the rest of MLB a lack of faith in Hill's stuff.

2. Call Hill up and send him to the pen. Once again Hill, has nothing to prove at Iowa, but his value is in the bullpen. Hill doesn't have the 3rd pitch to be successful at the major league level. Hill does have a curveball that is well above average when he gets it over the plate, and should be able to get left-handed batters out.

3. Trade him. His value could be as high as it is going to get now, although it was higher before the start of the season. Rich Hill could be a piece used in the July and August trade months to finish off a deal. GMs often take the approach that "we can fix him", so use Hill has trade bait.

4. Let him lead Iowa to a PCL crown. Who are we kidding, Hill is simply a AAAA player, too good for AAA, but too mediocre to make it in the majors. Rich Hill still needs to develop a 3rd pitch, but 26 is simply too old to do it, and his prospect days are gone, so no one will want him.

Your Turn: Which is it? Where do the Cubs go from here? Is Hill a cornerstone of the franchise or just another blip on the radar?

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