Reds @ Astros, game 3

• justincredible

  

  Not seeing it.
• wildcats20

  

  justincredible;1503746 wrote:Not seeing it.

  It's not there.
• thavoice

  se-alum;1503727 wrote:In response to people thinking Billy is an all-star after a good game against a AAA team, with a AA pitching staff. I can't wait for Billy to be an everyday contributor on this team, because he's exciting as hell to watch on the basepaths. I'm not sure you carry someone on a playoff roster to simply be a pinch-runner though, outside of the wildcard game.

  I dont see why not. The BP and bench get shorter when you get to the postseason. You dont spot start guys come the postseason and most of the bench will be used to hit for the pitchers. What will be interesting is if they just use him as a PR because that guarntees pretty much a steal attempt or do they let him hit as well with about a 25-30% chance of him getting on base to try and steal.
  
  I most def see him on the post season roster for just PH.
• se-alum

  

  Azubuike24;1503443 wrote:Hamilton can't hit.
  
  I've watched this game tonight and I'm pretty sure I've seen him get more hits in the last 2 hours than Jack Hannahan ever has...

  SportsAndLady;1503447 wrote:Lol, this.
  
  I wonder if SE will be on tonight to tell us that he's seen Billy Hamilton's stats in AAA and that he can't hit right now in the Majors.

  It's right here. It's been a long standing debate over several threads.
• wildcats20

  

  se-alum;1503727 wrote:In response to people thinking Billy is an all-star after a good game against a AAA team, with a AA pitching staff. I can't wait for Billy to be an everyday contributor on this team, because he's exciting as hell to watch on the basepaths. I'm not sure you carry someone on a playoff roster to simply be a pinch-runner though, outside of the wildcard game.

  Not one person has said anything close to this.
  
  Again, he's been up for 8(?) games and has done nothing but positive things. He has put this team in position to win on multiple accounts. No one else on the roster can steal a base at will. He is a weapon and is a definite advantage.
• justincredible

  

  I mean, god forbid fans are excited about his potential given what he's done so far, amirite?
• se-alum

  

  wildcats20;1503759 wrote:Not one person has said anything close to this.
  
  Again, he's been up for 8(?) games and has done nothing but positive things. He has put this team in position to win on multiple accounts. No one else on the roster can steal a base at will. He is a weapon and is a definite advantage.

  So they didn't literally say he was an all-star, fine. They did use last nights performance to claim he was a major league ready hitter. We won't know either way until he gets a chance to play for a long stretch. I just think if the Reds thought he was ready, he would've been up long before September. I'm not hating on Hamilton, like I said, I can't wait for him to play everyday, but I'll take the season long sample from Louisville, over the one game sample with the Reds.
• se-alum

  

  justincredible;1503767 wrote:I mean, god forbid fans are excited about his potential given what he's done so far, amirite?

  I know, right.
• sportchampps

  The only negative I've heard about Hamilton is that he's a asshole. Heard he was the only player who wouldn't sign anything for the fans at the futures game.
• se-alum

  

  sportchampps;1503782 wrote:The only negative I've heard about Hamilton is that he's a asshole. Heard he was the only player who wouldn't sign anything for the fans at the futures game.

  Interesting. He really don't give off that vibe.
• thavoice

  sportchampps;1503782 wrote:The only negative I've heard about Hamilton is that he's a asshole. Heard he was the only player who wouldn't sign anything for the fans at the futures game.

  He was holding out for a deal like Manzeil got to sign shit.....
  
  
  I am excited to see how he does next year, and listen to people bitch how he isnt getting on base as much, or not hitting for power like Choo, etc.
  
  He will go through rough stretches, and we cannot expect him to steal every time he gets on base. WIll be interesting for whomever hits behind him. Conventional thinking says that person sees alot of fastballs which would be great.
  
  Or teams could just say fuck it, pitch normal knowing BH will steal the bag and focus on the hitter.
• se-alum

  

  From a guy that runs an autograph site.
  

  The big target for Louisville was Billy Hamilton, who is the Reds #1 Prospect, and the #18 Overall Prospect in baseball. When he came off the bus, he completely ignored everyone, but luckily a little kid stopped him. He then signed for about half of the people. I got him on a card. I tried for a baseball inside, and he was just being really weird and messing with everyone. He would skip around a ton, then come back, etc. He pretended not to know what the sweet spot was for one kid. Then with me, he held his hand out for me to toss him my ball, then he let it hit the dirt on purpose. I would have been BEYOND pissed off if it was a brand new ball, but thankfully it was only an already rubbed down ball. He threw it up without signing it.

• SportsAndLady

  

  Lol Jesus
  
  Are you seriously posting that, se?
  
  And are you seriously saying that because we think he should make the postseason roster that he's able to hit MLB pitching?
• thavoice

  SO it sounds like he messed with some guy who runs around and gets autographs and then sells them for profit.
  
  Kinda like BH a little bit more now!
• Azubuike24

  

  The debate isn't so much about Hamilton, but more about the fact that outside of about 6 hitters on the whole roster, everyone else isn't good and doesn't bring a top tier tool to the table.
  
  I mean, lets be conservative and assume that Izturis (because he's a SS), Hanigan (because he's a catcher) and Heisey (because he's the best RH bench bat) have guaranteed spots. You're still looking at 3 extra bench spots, possibly 4 if they drop the 5th starter (which happened with Leake last year). Are you really telling me with this list of options, you don't use Hamilton?
  
  Hannahan
  Paul
  Robinson
  Hamilton
  Miller
  
  Pick 3 or 4 of those 5.
  
  My argument is...it's the playoffs. You build your team for situations, not for the best talent. Mike Leake is a far more valuable pitcher than Zach Duke or Logan Ondrusek, but in a situational relief role specifically, he's not. That's why both of those guys are possibly going to make it while Leake is almost assured to be left off.
• thavoice

  Azubuike24;1503820 wrote:The debate isn't so much about Hamilton, but more about the fact that outside of about 6 hitters on the whole roster, everyone else isn't good and doesn't bring a top tier tool to the table.
  
  I mean, lets be conservative and assume that Izturis (because he's a SS), Hanigan (because he's a catcher) and Heisey (because he's the best RH bench bat) have guaranteed spots. You're still looking at 3 extra bench spots, possibly 4 if they drop the 5th starter (which happened with Leake last year). Are you really telling me with this list of options, you don't use Hamilton?
  
  Hannahan
  Paul
  Robinson
  Hamilton
  Miller
  
  Pick 3 or 4 of those 5.
  
  My argument is...it's the playoffs. You build your team for situations, not for the best talent. Mike Leake is a far more valuable pitcher than Zach Duke or Logan Ondrusek, but in a situational relief role specifically, he's not. That's why both of those guys are possibly going to make it while Leake is almost assured to be left off.

  So you think that DB will choose BA or ML?
  
  You may be right, but I would rather have ML over BA. For some reason when DB was talking to ML for an extended period of time when he was taken out the other night I think he was giving him his stamp of approval for this season, and that he has earned a spot in the postseason rotation.
  
  But I bet he goes with experience.
  
  
  Hamilton will be on the postseason roster, no doubt.
• Azubuike24

  

  Leake has been terrible since July. Look at his peripherals? They are all way below standard compared to the other starters. No way he gets the nod over Bronson.
• thavoice

  Any word on Cingrani? If he and JC can go...that is 4 pretty impressive power arms to run out there and both BA and ML wouldnt be needed.
  I very well could see that if JC or TC start that they have ML and/or BA ready to come in early if they experience issues. Back injuries can flare up quickly and for no reason at all, and with JC who knows what happens
• Azubuike24

  

  Cingrani is going to be in the pen, if anything. Not that I agree with that, but it's what's going to happen. That's if he's healthy though. Not sure anyone knows, especially with a back injury. Playoff roster, if I'm constructing it is as follows:
  
  Starters - Choo, Phillips, Votto, Bruce, Ludwick, Cozart, Frazier, Mesoraco
  Bench - Izturis, Hanigan, Hamilton, Heisey, Miller, Paul, Hannahan
  Rotation - Bailey, Cueto, Latos, Arroyo
  Bullpen - Chapman, Hoover, LeCure, Cingrani, Parra, Simon
  
  First, I keep 15 hitters and only 10 pitchers.
  Second, I keep 3 catchers, allowing us to use Mesoraco and/or Hanigan freely as a pinch hitter and not burn your backup catcher.
  Third, Hamilton clearly makes the roster as not only for the speed, but as a backup CF.
  
  The only spots that are up for debate would be to keep Robinson over the 3rd catcher, another reliever in lieu of another hitter and finally, Sean Marshall possibly getting a spot just given his talent and history. I feel we will see him at least once this weekend in a big situation as they wouldn't have brought him back if he had zero chance to contribute.
• thavoice

  I would put Cingrani in the rotation, and drop the 3rd catcher. I know shit happens but how often have you had to use a 3rd catcher?
  
  
  If you want to hit for the catcher then us a diff bench guy, or if you wanna PR of course you use BH.
• Ironman92

  

  Azubuike24;1503832 wrote:Leake has been terrible since July. Look at his peripherals? They are all way below standard compared to the other starters. No way he gets the nod over Bronson.

  15 starts versus +.500 teams.....4 losses
  
  When are these peripherals going to catch up with him? He has 14 wins this year, in 12 of them he gave up fewer than 3 runs, one time 3 runs and 1 time 4. Is he just lucky? Is karma waiting to get him?
  
  He's been terrible since July??? He's currently on a 20 2/3 streak of innings without a run scored.
  
  Need not worry, Dusty won't trust him either so he'll not sniff the playoffs because no way could he win in the playoffs. He clearly doesn't know what he's doing on the mound that's why he spent so damn long in the minors and is only a .600 winning % for his career. Just years of luck. Lucky like Tom Glavine and Jim Palmer.
• justincredible

  

  Leake was bad in August and his first start in September. He was great in July and has been great in his last 3 starts.
• se-alum

  

  Azubuike24;1503843 wrote:Cingrani is going to be in the pen, if anything. Not that I agree with that, but it's what's going to happen. That's if he's healthy though. Not sure anyone knows, especially with a back injury. Playoff roster, if I'm constructing it is as follows:
  
  Starters - Choo, Phillips, Votto, Bruce, Ludwick, Cozart, Frazier, Mesoraco
  Bench - Izturis, Hanigan, Hamilton, Heisey, Miller, Paul, Hannahan
  Rotation - Bailey, Cueto, Latos, Arroyo
  Bullpen - Chapman, Hoover, LeCure, Cingrani, Parra, Simon
  
  First, I keep 15 hitters and only 10 pitchers.
  Second, I keep 3 catchers, allowing us to use Mesoraco and/or Hanigan freely as a pinch hitter and not burn your backup catcher.
  Third, Hamilton clearly makes the roster as not only for the speed, but as a backup CF.
  
  The only spots that are up for debate would be to keep Robinson over the 3rd catcher, another reliever in lieu of another hitter and finally, Sean Marshall possibly getting a spot just given his talent and history. I feel we will see him at least once this weekend in a big situation as they wouldn't have brought him back if he had zero chance to contribute.

  You truly think Dusty would use Hamilton as the backup CF'er in the playoffs and not Heisey? This really only matters if Choo would get hurt.
• thavoice

  se-alum;1503880 wrote:You truly think Dusty would use Hamilton as the backup CF'er in the playoffs and not Heisey? This really only matters if Choo would get hurt.

  I doubt BH sees the field other than to pinch run in the postseason.
  
  Base stealing is his best attribute and a manger needs to put players in the best position to be successful.
• Azubuike24

  

  I meant to say "since August" when referring to Leake. Since his last start in July.
  
  I'd personally rather have Leake than Arroyo, but I think Bronson's upside when he really has it rolling is better. He's got better location and less walks. With that said, Arroyo is only unhittable about 1 every 10 starts.
  
  Either way, we all know I've been on the side of the argument that leaves both Arroyo and Leake out of the playoff rotation...