Billy Hamilton

[Redsfan1507]

Choo's age would be a negative before his money is up too. If Hamilton is on pace for 10-12 HR as a leadoff hitter, he isn't far behind Phillips pace, and he's a cleanup hitter in this scheme...add a dozen triples, and 80 SB, and I take Hamilton over Choo, as long as he can hit .270 or so. He's fun to watch too.

 

[redlegs@hokies]

Gamechanger is a treat to watch. Hope the hammy is good to go for Pit.

 

[Redsfan1507]

He's a skinny kid, going to get skinnier in season. Ultimately, they need to bulk him up a little in the offseason. It's a catch-22, because pre and post PED's, bigger isn't usually faster...and that speed is his special tool. I do get a kick out of the littlest guy dominating the game when he's on base though. Just his threat makes teams change their approach. It's not unlike the beads of sweat pitchers had facing Bonds, or Aaron or Ruth at the plate...except walking them was often sound strategy, and when the worry starts with Billy.

 

[JohnU]

I think the hamstring deal with Hamilton was something that was just ... "oh let's think of something in case he gets on base tomorrow."

The guy is rounding third base on triples ... ROUNDING third base. He'd have been going on a couple of those had the situation merited it.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Billy's a star. Far more than the pinch runner Dusty saw. He's a gold glove CF, with some pop. He's a total energizer with a big goofy smile and a hustle monster. I love him.

 

[WvuDieHard]

You bet your bottom dollar the Yankees would pay big money for him. The real value I see out of BH is how he actually gets to the pitcher which in turn gets the batters behind him good pitches to hit. it is amazing to me how speed can change the makeup of a team. You are seeing it right before your eyes. Joe Morgan had similar qualities if you old timers remember. The common phrase still holds true in many sports: SPEED KILLS

 

[JohnU]

Morgan was a better player at the plate than Hamilton and was a smarter player at first base than Hamilton.

That said, Hamilton has clearly learned a lot of baseball in 3 months -- and all that's holding him back is his propensity for trying to create adventure. Tagging at 3rd on popups to 2nd base is an example.
The game will come to him but he can't just go daring catchers to throw him out. Big-league pitchers and catchers aren't intimidated. In the case of Molina, they just learned to cut their risk.
Hamilton brings 4 tools to the game and once he learns to hit lefties, he's got 4.5 tools.
Maturity will add the rest of it in time -- but I fear his reckless running will end up hurting him.

 

[WvuDieHard]

All base stealers over the course of the game have been prone to injury. That is the nature of beast. You will run the risk of hamstring pulls, sprained ankles, hand and finger jambs, and the occasional broken bone. It just goes with the territory. As Joe Morgan, he played 2nd base and usually batted third because he had some power to go with the speed. Hamilton is bringing that excitement back to Cincinnatti and we haven't seen it since Morgan.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Morgan was a good one...a great hitter in his prime, but that BRM lineup helped him a lot too. Not many pitch arounds in that lineup. The Reds lineup is full of holes. Billy's contact and groundball rates are important to success- if he doesn't chase much, they don't want to walk him, he'll be a problem for pitchers- as long as he doesn't hit too many flyballs. His approach so far is a good one to maximize his one elite tool- his speed. Drew Stubbs was a guy that had a similar tool, but had an approach that minimized its effectiveness.

I've always believed that speed on the bases and the threat if a bunt was great for offense- makes the opposition concentrate more on things they don't prefer to do- increases holes in the D, forces more mistakes on D and mistake pitches to the hitter. Billy's D is awesome too. If the Reds could get a couple of .300 hitters in the lineup behind him, they'd be rolling.

 

[Mondo Jay]

Love what this kid is doing. shutting up the doubters!

 

[RamCub]

Question - Does being picked off first base while going back to the base count as a caught stealing, a pickoff, or both in the statistics?

 

[Hit-n-Run]

If the runner makes any move toward the next base after being PO, it is scored PO and CS. If picked off and no move toward next base is attempted it PO only.

 

[Redsfan1507]

It's an out either way. Like the semantics of a passed ball being a separate category as an error by the catcher...both theoretically preventable gaffes.

 

[JohnU]

Hamilton's PO rate will decline as he matures and his base-stealing will improve as a result.

 

[redlegs@hokies]

Hamilton's PO rate will decline as he matures and his base-stealing will improve as a result.

+1. I agree with this post.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Everyone knew he could run...I'm surprised at his power and his arm, and to be honest, his ability to make regular contact, especially with RISP. He's (and Frazier and Pena and Mesoraco) a rare bright light(s) in the darkness of a dugout overshadowed with guys that frankly sometimes look like they'd rather be elsewhere. Bruce is hollow. Ludwick is going thru the motions. Votto is the silent mystery absentee. BP is injured, but where is he ? Cozart is clueless on the bases. Fill ins are helpless. Middle relief is bad. Defense is shuffled daily. George Foster slams the batting coach on radio, no one notices the 3b coach needs a guide dog. Price looks exhausted. There are two months left...it's a long season.