Will Billy Hamilton be moved to CF?

[Superdude]

Originally Posted by bellhead

A lot of players have opted for lasik, which gives you close to that vision. I did it 10 years ago and have 20/12...

Reaction time is probably a much larger factor than vision. Just because you can see the seams doesn't mean you can react accordingly at 90+MPH.

[RedlegJake]

Originally Posted by Superdude

Reaction time is probably a much larger factor than vision. Just because you can see the seams doesn't mean you can react accordingly at 90+MPH.

Plus if you're born with vision that good you likely have the synaptic connections to your brain to make that reaction, while with lasik those connections aren't there - you see but you still can't react.

[Mario-Rijo]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Stubbs strikes out because of pitch recognition, not because of his swing or anything to do with it. There is a reason that nearly everyone strikes out and walks at a similar rate as they always do. It isn't some easy fix because it is usually related to the ability to read a pitch quick enough to know what is coming and that generally can't be taught.

Cozart makes more contact, or should. But a lot of guys make more contact than Joey Votto does too. Doesn't mean they are better hitters. If contact rates made good hitters, Juan Pierre would be the best hitter in baseball, not one of the worst.

How do you know it's a pitch recognition issue?

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo

How do you know it's a pitch recognition issue?

Because of how much he is out on his front foot flailing at a breaking ball. He steps too soon because he is reading fastball then had to try and wait, leading to him being way off balance and reaching. If he could read that pitch, he wouldn't step early and be reaching.

[lollipopcurve]

Because of how much he is out on his front foot flailing at a breaking ball. He steps too soon because he is reading fastball then had to try and wait, leading to him being way off balance and reaching. If he could read that pitch, he wouldn't step early and be reaching.

Stubbs swings through plenty of fastballs. It's not just a matter of pitch recognition -- he may be guessing at times (pitch or location), and he doesn't have the contact skills to compensate when he guesses wrong. He may also have a hole down and in.

[bellhead]

Billy with another strong day 2 for 5 and a walk. OBP is now at .411.

The last 10 games he has been on fire hitting at .386 average and a .481 obp....

[Dan]

Originally Posted by bellhead

Billy with another strong day 2 for 5 and a walk. OBP is now at .411.

The last 10 games he has been on fire hitting at .386 average and a .481 obp....

I'd love to cash in while his value is this high. Not for a rental, though. So a Chase Headley type or Denard Span but not Quentin or Willingham.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Stubbs swings through plenty of fastballs. It's not just a matter of pitch recognition -- he may be guessing at times (pitch or location), and he doesn't have the contact skills to compensate when he guesses wrong. He may also have a hole down and in.

Yes, Stubbs swings through plenty of fastballs too. But, in his career, Stubbs has generally hit fastballs well. He generally hasn't hit offspeed stuff well. Stubbs has more going on than just his inability to read certain pitches, but that is the largest part of it.

[mace]

Baseball Prospectus has a Hamilton story today by Ian Miller, who just wanted to see him play. It includes some video.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=17256

[fearofpopvol1]

I would trade Hamilton now if it will net the Reds a good player who can help the team beyond this year.

Something tells me as well that some teams would bite too.

[klw]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...or-163-steals/

Hamilton stole four bases last night, giving him 67 steals in 56 games this season. Minor-league seasons are 144 games, rather than 162 games, yet he’s still on pace for 163 steals on the year. Seriously: One. Six. Three.

[Vottomatic]

If the Reds don't move Hamilton to CF, then he is definitely trade bait. Shortstop prospects are valued more higher than non-power hitting CFers. So a non-move is simply because he has more value at SS for some other team. Reds have Cozart, most likely for a long time, and there is zero sense in keeping Hamilton at short. Plus, he's not considered very good defensively.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

If the Reds don't move Hamilton to CF, then he is definitely trade bait. Shortstop prospects are valued more higher than non-power hitting CFers. So a non-move is simply because he has more value at SS for some other team. Reds have Cozart, most likely for a long time, and there is zero sense in keeping Hamilton at short. Plus, he's not considered very good defensively.

Have you checked out what Cozart is hitting lately? He is anything but a 'foundation' piece right now.

[rgslone]

My thinking about moving Hamilton to CF revolved around defense. If his most exceptional skill is speed, then, given his other skills, where is he most valuable? If his defense at SS projects to be at best average (and maybe below average) at the MLB level - and I don't know if this is true, but others have questioned his defense - wouldn't his exceptional speed possibly be better put to use in CF? Of course, that also assumes he can develop into a good fielder? We've had examples of speedy guys who still were'nt very good fielders, right?

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

If the Reds don't move Hamilton to CF, then he is definitely trade bait. Shortstop prospects are valued more higher than non-power hitting CFers. So a non-move is simply because he has more value at SS for some other team. Reds have Cozart, most likely for a long time, and there is zero sense in keeping Hamilton at short. Plus, he's not considered very good defensively.

Hamilton's defensive position will IMO have little or no bearing on his future with the Reds. He is here for his offense, including baserunning. Whether he is a SS, 2B, CF or LF, the Reds will value him very highly and are unlikely to trade him.

Obviously if someone wants to offer the moon for the guy, you take it. But I think the Reds see Hamilton as their lead off man and a star player for the future. I don't think they are too worried about where he plays defensively.