Chicago Cubs Rich Hill (pitcher)

1 chicago cubs

1.1 2002–2004
1.2 2005 season
1.3 2006 season
1.4 2007 season
1.5 2008 season

chicago cubs
2002–2004

hill drafted in fourth round of 2002 major league baseball draft chicago cubs , signed on july 10, 2002. had been rated having 1 of best curveballs in draft mechanical , control issues kept him out of rounds. began professional career boise hawks of northwest league, 0–2 8.36 era in 6 games. in 2003 boise 1–6 4.35 era in 14 starts , led northwest league in strikeouts 99. promoted lansing lugnuts of midwest league, 0–1 2.76 era in 15 games (4 starts).

in 2004, assigned daytona cubs of florida state league. 7–6 4.03 era in 28 games (19 starts) , 136 strikeouts. selected baseball america having best curveball in cubs organization.

2005 season

hill began 2005 season west tenn diamond jaxx of southern league. made 10 starts them, 4–3 record , 3.28 era while leading league in strikeouts 90. earned may promotion triple-a iowa cubs of pacific coast league. in 11 games iowa, 6–1 3.60 era , 92 strikeouts. earned milb.com distinctions breakthrough performer of year.

hill made major league debut on june 15, 2005 against florida marlins. pitched 1 inning of relief, giving 2 runs on 3 hits, , did not factor decision. struck out carlos delgado first major league strikeout.

hill s first start on july 25, 2005, subbing oft-injured kerry wood against san francisco giants. once again gave 2 earned runs, lasted 5 innings. game memorable due hill tripping on third-base on way plate after todd walker drive down right-field line. 1 out , cubs down one, walker forced stop @ first base, , jerry hairston, jr. (who behind hill) @ second. hill did not score, , returned third base unhurt. did not factor decision. finished season 0–2 record in 10 games (23  ⁄3 innings) while making 4 starts. era 9.13 , struck out 21 while walking 17.

2006 season

hill pitching chicago cubs in 2006

in 2006, started season in triple-a iowa cubs, called on may 4 start against arizona diamondbacks. gained attention in chicago later in month during cross-town classic chicago white sox. on may 20, hill lost white sox 7–0, , starter in game saw a. j. pierzynski run on cubs catcher michael barrett @ plate in huge collision. hill sent triple-a iowa next day. made 15 starts iowa , 7–1 1.98 era , 135 strikeouts. selected mid-season pacific coast league all-star game, top star, , later selected post-season all-star , baseball america triple-a all-star.

hill returned majors on july 27 start against st. louis cardinals. lasted 3 ⁄3 innings, giving 4 runs on 6 hits – walking three. on august 1, defeated arizona diamondbacks first major league victory, , on august 6, got second win , first win streak. on september 6, hill fanned career high 11 batters in cubs victory on pittsburgh pirates. hill s first complete game , shutout came versus cincinnati reds in game in fanned 10 , allowed 2 hits, on september 16. hill s 2 complete games cg s cubs pitching staff in 2006 season, , 1 of solid contributors in rotation after being called up, posting 6–3 record 2.93 era.

2007 season

hill joined starting rotation of cubs after spring training, , #4 starter in rotation behind carlos zambrano, ted lilly, , jason marquis. pitched against milwaukee brewers first start of 2007 season, throwing perfect game through first 5 innings, , finishing allowing 1 hit, , 1 run on 7 innings pitched. continued excel during april, leading speculate taking on ace in cubs rotation while assembled streak of 18 consecutive innings without earned run.

cubs catcher michael barrett described rich s signature pitch follows.

hill suffered setback in philadelphia, took second loss of season giving 5 runs , left before getting outs in sixth inning. next start in new york city produced similar results posting third loss, , lou piniella pointed control problems. troubles continued in san diego during next start, picked third consecutive loss 5–1 padres , gave 4 home runs. piniella extended analysis of hill s throwing: not same pitcher left spring training. missing spots. of pitches hit out of park, catcher sitting on outside corner , balls inside, might have been outside. s got keep working. s not throwing hard, either, whatever reason.

hill rebounded in next 3 starts, going twenty-one innings , giving 2 earned runs. hill matched career-high eleven strikeouts against braves on june 7, 2007. season 11–8 3.92 era in 32 starts 183 strikeouts.

hill started game 3 of 2007 national league division series against arizona diamondbacks chris young homered off first pitch of game , lasted 3 innings, allowing 6 hits , 3 runs cubs swept in series.

2008 season

hill reworked delivery during spring training in 2008 after initial issues command retained spot in rotation season began. struggled start season, making 5 starts, , 1–0 4.12 era, striking out 15 walking 18. in final start, against st. louis cardinals on may 2, walked 4 of first 6 batters faced , removed in first inning. on may 3, optioned triple-a iowa in order control figured out.

hill continued have control problems in minors , shut down stiff on may 17. suffered various muscle strains rest of season, making 13 starts in minors iowa, daytona , arizona league cubs, , 4–7 5.85 era , 44 walks. played tigres de aragua of venezuelan winter league after season , 1–2 6.86 era in 9 games (six starts), walking 23 while striking out 16.