Billy Hamilton On Fire

[FireDusty]

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/m...pbp&pid=571740

Check out the last 10.

Dude is so gonna get his 100 bags.

[membengal]

Now at .269/.333/.347 for a .680 OPS.

Given where he has come from a few months into the year, nice steps forward.

[Scrap Irony]

Don't be suprised if the same pattern holds true next year in A+. He could very well struggle mightily at first, but explode later. (Especially if they play in Bakersfield, a park so small it will suppress both doubles and triples.)

[RiverRat13]

Don't be suprised if the same pattern holds true next year in A+. He could very well struggle mightily at first, but explode later. (Especially if they play in Bakersfield, a park so small it will suppress both doubles and triples.)

Is Billy Hamilton "suppress proof"?

[RED VAN HOT]

The ratio of triples to doubles is impressive. It looks as if a high percentage of 2B's are being stretched. I'm guessing that if it goes to the wall, it is 3. It is also likely that many of his doubles are singles for anyone else.

[medford]

The ratio of triples to doubles is impressive. It looks as if a high percentage of 2B's are being stretched. I'm guessing that if it goes to the wall, it is 3. It is also likely that many of his doubles are singles for anyone else.

Yes, billy gets stand up triples where others will get a slide into 2b double.

I worry less about what he's done over the last 10, and more at his impressive numbers in the 2nd half.

[FireDusty]

Don't be suprised if the same pattern holds true next year in A+. He could very well struggle mightily at first, but explode later. (Especially if they play in Bakersfield, a park so small it will suppress both doubles and triples.)

If they put him in Bakersfield, they'll risk an injury.That field is horrid.

They should jump him to AA & let him struggle for awhile.

[dougdirt]

If they put him in Bakersfield, they'll risk an injury.That field is horrid.

They should jump him to AA & let him struggle for awhile.

Never going to happen. One, he would be incredibly overmatched. Two, while there were concerns over the field conditions before we started playing there, I haven't heard anything about them since games actually started.

[RED VAN HOT]

How is he progressing at SS? Notice that he has 38 errors, which I believe, on an innings adjusted basis leads Reds minor league players. IIRC, the Reds have expressed an intent to keep him at SS.

[Scrap Irony]

He has all the tools to be an outstanding SS-- Gold Glove even.

But he has a penchant for slinging the ball toward 1B almost like skipping a stone. This causes some of his throws to sail into the stands or snap over almost like a long, looping screwball.

His range is remarkable. Think of the best range you've ever seen (Ozzie, for me), then add a step in any direction that's not forward. It's that good. At times. At other times, it's like he can't seem to judge where and how to move in order to get to it. It's almost impossible to describe if you haven't seen it.

On other words, he has all the tools in the world. He just needs to consistently work on them, hone them, and perfect them.

[RED VAN HOT]

He has all the tools to be an outstanding SS-- Gold Glove even.

But he has a penchant for slinging the ball toward 1B almost like skipping a stone. This causes some of his throws to sail into the stands or snap over almost like a long, looping screwball.

His range is remarkable. Think of the best range you've ever seen (Ozzie, for me), then add a step in any direction that's not forward. It's that good. At times. At other times, it's like he can't seem to judge where and how to move in order to get to it. It's almost impossible to describe if you haven't seen it.

On other words, he has all the tools in the world. He just needs to consistently work on them, hone them, and perfect them.

Thanks for the update. As good as Torreyes is at 2B, the Reds infield defense should be something to behold around 2014.

[Hypnotoad]

Scrap, your assessment is quite true, but I will also mention that he has improved a great deal since April. The other night he made 2 fantastic plays in the hole to throw out the runner. If those plays were earlier in the year, the batter would be at second for sure.

In May I was thinking "well maybe he can play CF someday"; now I'm very optimistic about SS as long as he keeps improving and working at it.

[redsof72]

Defensive evaluations of this player are somewhat tough to nail down. He does not have soft hands. Ball will clank off his glove at times and error total shows it. But he keeps making plays that are simply beyond anything that can be put into words.

He made a play the other night that I still can't believe. On a potential 1-6-3 DP, he was moving toward second to take the throw from the pitcher and the throw came in behind him, which was going to force him to try to forget about the double play and try to keep the throw from going into the outfield, maybe try to keep one foot on second and step back with the other foot to stretch and take the throw and get one out. Instead, he put both feet against the back side of the base and let his body fall straight backwards, away from the base. He caught the throw with both feet touching the base in the process of falling straight back with his feet out in front of him, as if you were falling straight back onto a soft cushion. Just before he hit the ground, while still falling backwards with his feet out in front of him still pressed against second base, with the runner sliding in on him, he threw the ball toward first. It was right on the money and got the hitter by a step for a double play. Have never seen anything like it. Have never heard of anything like it.

Something no one could ever teach or practice. He just did it without thinking. That's Billy Hamilton.

[redsof72]

Tonight...eighth inning, 1-0 game, Dragons could use an insurance run, though Hayes is warming up and he is money in the bank.

One out, Hamilton draws a walk. West Michigan catcher is the kid from Arkansas, second round pick, was supposed to be the top defensive catcher in the draft. Tough guy to run on.

Pitcher throws over about four times, Billy dives back every time. First pitch, he stills second easily. Number 93 of the year. Second pitch, he holds. Third pitch, he steals third. Catcher doesn't even throw the ball. Now he's on third with one out. Infield comes in. Torreyes hit a hard grounder right at the second baseman, who is in on the edge of the grass to keep the runner from scoring. Billy runs on contact, second baseman fields the ball, cocks his arm to throw home....sees Billy, and just throws it to first to get Torreyes. Billy scores. Fans go nuts. Dragons go on to win 2-0.

[lollipopcurve]

He caught the throw with both feet touching the base in the process of falling straight back with his feet out in front of him, as if you were falling straight back onto a soft cushion. Just before he hit the ground, while still falling backwards with his feet out in front of him still pressed against second base, with the runner sliding in on him, he threw the ball toward first. It was right on the money and got the hitter by a step for a double play. Have never seen anything like it. Have never heard of anything like it.

Great description of a play that sounds amazing.