Where would he play? I'm guessing SS?

Where would he play? I'm guessing SS?

 

 

If I brought him up I would put him in either LF or CF. I know he's never played it, but he has the speed and athletic ability to learn on the fly IMO.

Sidenote: #3 all time in stolen bases in MLB history is Billy Hamilton.

There is a need for a leadoff guy who can get on base. We don't know if Hamilton can hit AA pitching.

 

Even if Hamilton lost .30 points in His average on OBP at every level he advances to he would still have around a .240 AVG and a .320 OBP by the time he got to the Bigs ...I would like to see him at AA for a while as well and understand letting guys play and succeed at all levels before bringing them up...Hamilton since the break last year has been lights out, his plate discipline has been what you want from a leadoff hitter and his baserunning has got even better...I really think with as much as he has improved since being drafted and definitely in the last year in the half that he isnt going to skip to many beats going forward...The only time he has ever failed was while learning how to hit left handed which he seems to have improved at tremendously...

Sidenote: #3 all time in stolen bases in MLB history is Billy Hamilton.

 

 

Interesting. I had never heard of him.

If I brought him up I would put him in either LF or CF. I know he's never played it, but he has the speed and athletic ability to learn on the fly IMO.

 

Thats what Im thinking as well...If he can learn switch hitting on the fly then learning CF shouldnt be to hard at all but thats why Id love to see him get a few startsthings at AA first...If Valdez can play it Billy can...Maybe the Reds can convince the futures coaches to play Hamilton in CF during that game

Interesting. I had never heard of him.

 

Yeah many stories have been written already comparing the new Billy to the old Billy...The reason you havent heard of him is he played in the late 1800s...

So we bring a guy up, to the show, that has only hit high A pitching, and put him in a position he has never played? Wow!

So we bring a guy up, to the show, that has only hit high A pitching, and put him in a position he has never played? Wow!

 

There are stories of him catching a ball over the shoulder from the SS position all the way out on the warning track because the OF lost the ball, does that count as playing the OF

There are stories of him catching a ball over the shoulder from the SS position all the way out on the warning track because the OF lost the ball, does that count as playing the OF

 

Call me cynical but....no way.

So we bring a guy up, to the show, that has only hit high A pitching, and put him in a position he has never played? Wow!

 

 

I know, that's how desperate I feel the Reds offense is at this point. If they can trade for a guy that they can plug into the lead off spot I'm all for it, but I don't know if there is one available that the Reds can afford.

I don't think that bringing him up and having him not be ready would kill Hamilton's confidence. What it could kill, however, is the Reds season. If you bring him up, plug him into centerfield and the leadoff spot what do you do if he isn't ready? It's July 6th, by the time the break is over it will be July 12th. If you give this more than a couple of weeks you're right at the trading deadline. With the Reds in a 3 team race you can bet that the Cardinals and/or Pirates (if either are behind the Reds in the standings) would block a trade for any decent leadoff man. I think a move like this reeks of desperation. This has not been a good road trip for the Reds so far but if they can win the next two they will have had a 5-5 trip, even a split and a 4-6 trip to the west coast would not be a disaster.

Call me cynical but....no way.

 

It apperently happened in Spring Training I believe and there is no footage...Just like him scoring from 3rd in a popup to the infield...The guy has already created tales, real ones!

 

Here are some links to the play Im talking about...

"We were playing on this field the other day. The left fielder just lost a ball," Doran said.... - Red Reporter

 

Check out this link it talks about it a bit, but also look at the gif of the catch he made in the second post while your there...

Billy Hamilton leaping play at SS - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

 

From twitter: Jonathan Goldman (@jjgoldy5)confirmed: Billy Hamilton made a diving catch at the LF warning track from SS last night...

Not aware of the kids mental makeup at all. If he's the most mentally tough player in professional sports, there's no way I bring him up. The Reds have plenty of .200 hitting, average range outfielders and don't need another one.

Not aware of the kids mental makeup at all. If he's the most mentally tough player in professional sports, there's no way I bring him up. The Reds have plenty of .200 hitting, average range outfielders and don't need another one.

 

 

So you think that is what he would give the Reds?