The Rich Pitcher

In his first game back from the DL last night, Rich Hill pitched 5 innings and allowed 6 hits while walking no one.  He gave up one run and his ERA sits at 2.77.  Some fans, like to criticize Hill because it means their irrational hatred of Andrew Friedman is somehow justified in their small minds. They criticized his rehab starts in RC because he walked a few batters because (of course) that is what they do.  They are master critics who walk down the hill, after the battle is over, and shoot the wounded.

Let’s get one thing straight: Rich Hill is a very, very good pitcher.  Not that he has always been a very good pitcher, but in the last year and a half he resurrected his career and is awesome… when he doesn’t have a blister.  “Yeah, let’s make fun of that blister.” Anything to prove to yourself that Hill was a bad signing by FAZ.  Dumb!  But, you know, he throws a curveball… well a bunch of curveballs from all different angles, so it takes him a little longer to get the “feel.”  That’s why he gets bombed in the Spring, but I think he is getting close.  Hopefully, he has the blister figured out.  After the game he told Alanna Rizzo:

“The ball came out of my hand well — not 100 percent the way I wanted to — but the one mistake to Brandon on a curveball that kind of hung. But overall everything came out the way I wanted to and the finger felt good. No issues there.”

You know, I respect differing opinions… especially when someone can articulate a position and defend it, with a sustainable and valid argument.  For example, DodgerRick wants five starters who can pitch deep into games.  That’s his goal and he dislikes anything less than that. He is unwavering and steadfast and presents artful arguments (like a lawyer) and while I don’t agree with him all the time (most of the time), I can respect his opinion.

The people who bother me are ones who never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.  Every comment is designed to support a circular argument that they have.  The simplicity of their character makes them exquisitely incomprehensible to me.  I can always predict with an absolute certainty what they will do…because they are so simple!  If a player Andrew Friedman signed or traded for makes a mistake or does something other than excellence, they pile on like turkeys in the rain.

• At first I thought Doc’s lineup was dumb last night, but I think he was just trying to shake things up.  It didn’t work, but I get what he was doing.  Just don’t do it again, OK?  😉  I mean, at some point, you have to trust your bench.  Taylor, Gutierrez, Turner and Hernandez all did their jobs, but Barnes, Puig, Pederson and SVS all failed.  Barnes and Puig left 8 runners stranded.  While not crazy about the lineup, players have to produce.  SVS has not produced all year.  When A-Gon comes back, he’s the odd man out. Joc, Puig and Van Slyke simply cannot hit lefties, I guess.  Joc is hitting .174 against LH pitching – he is a platoon player.  Sit him!  Puig is hitting .159.  Van Slyke is hitting .138.  Pathetic!  Grandal is hitting .133 against Lefties so Barnes was the right choice.
• Let Adrian hit #5 when he gets back. Keep Cody at #4!
• Minor League Report
• Shea Spitzbarth pitched 2 shutout innings upon his promo to AA. It is possible he could see LA THIS year!  If you can pitch, you can pitch and he is a pitcher.