Maybe I See It Differently

Last night, many Dodger fans saw a pitcher who they felt was ineffective and not in control of the game. Of course, they were right.  Rich Hill walked more than Lebron James in the NBA Finals. They felt he should be moved out of the rotation, to the minors, hung in effigy, DFA’ed or moved to the bullpen.   Last night, I saw Rich Hill have excellent movement, but he did not have a good feel for it. That’s what happens with curve-ballers.  That’s why Rich Hill is horrible in Spring Training.  This, right here, right now, is not much different than Spring Training for Rich Hill who is just trying to get a feel for all his curve balls.  His blisters are evidently behind him and now he is just trying to regain his “feel.”  It takes time…

Feel free to lose your minds over last night’s outing by Rich Hill, but I prefer the big picture and the big picture is that he is close to getting a grip and being dominant again.  Maybe the next start or the one after that.  With no blisters Rich Hill just needs to pitch. He’s close – the Dodgers will stick with him… and they should.  As horrible as it seems he has been, his ERA sits at 4.76. Jake Arrieta and John Lackey of the Cubs have worse ERA’s.

As it sits right now, the rotation looks to be pretty set – the most set it has been all year.

1. Kershaw
2. Wood
3. Hill
4. Maeda
5. McCarthy

… in no particular order.  Urias will stay at AAA until he gets his control back – it might be a month and Ryu is the odd-man-out.  It has been reported that he might go to the pen, but I can’t see that working long term.  They almost have to let him pitch to showcase him for a trade.  There are many teams who need starters.  With Urias and Stewart nearing ready, Ryu has no place to pitch, but they can’t trade him if he can’t pitch.  Are they hiding something?

Minor League Highlights

• Kyle Farmer was 2-4 with a HR but the game was at Albaquacky, so the HR does not count!  Farmer has a nice bat but not much power.
• O’Koyea Dickson hit 2 HR!
• Verdugo was 2-5 and is hitting .321 while OPS’ing only .788. Alex has 45 hits, 7 for extra bases and the rest are singles.  There is a disturbing lack of power in his game this year and in the times I have watched him play this year, he appears slower than last.
• BTW, Willie Calhoun has upped his upped a tick!
• Oaks pitched 6 strong innings and only allowed 2 ER, which is excellent for Albq!
• Rios was 3-5 with his 8th HR.  He is hitting .361 and OPS’ing .986 in a “Pitcher’s League.”
• Scott Barlow went 6 allowing 2 ER (2.66 ERA).