Hillman Interview on Baseball Prospectus
David Laurila of Baseball Prospectus interviews our man Trey.
In at least one way, it is an encouraging interview: Try says he has given the Royals statistics to show that the biggest influence on OBP is walk rate. If true, that is a testament to him and a condemnation of our players.
over 3 years ago
Eppenweb
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Here's an interesting one...
DL: Is statistical analysis utilized in Japan in a similar fashion as here?TH: It is, and that was one of the most challenging parts. It actually simplified my approach with left/right matchups and individual matchups through history.
OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG
Is there evidence
That individual matchups mean anything? The sample sizes are so small, it seems like they have little to no significance, particularly with a young team like the Royals.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 15, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, in some cases I think you can draw some conclusions.
Like Jim Thome being 5 for 6 off Gobble with 4 homers or some such. Small sample size? Yes. Pitch Gobble to Thome? HELL NO.
Which is why I have trouble taking that part of Trey’s answer at face value. He might say he relies on stats for relievers, but his patterns do not back that up. His understanding must be skewed.
There was a recent quote from Hillman about plate discipline and drawing walks
Basically he said that he’s been talking about it and talking about it and doesn’t know what else he can do. Some players “just aren’t getting it.”
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
Which in some ways is a worse scenario.
It means the players we have that aren’t drawing walks aren’t likely to do so.
Trey seems to buy the notion that pitch selection and drawing walks is more of an inherent than a learned skill. Do you agree? Do you think this is something that has to be addressed in the lower leagues?
I think it is a development thing
Once a player has been in pro ball for 5+ years, you aren’t going to be able to change his approach much. It’s easy to tell a guy to take more pitches and only swing at strikes, but it’s hard for a player to suddenly do it. I mean they can force themselves to take pitches, but the key is getting them to take the right pitches and swing at the right pitches. So the organization needs to be working on this from the low minors up.
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
by Scott McKinney on Jun 15, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I seem to remember
An interview with Dayton where he basically said plate discipline is something you need to have before you’re drafted because it cannot be taught at that point.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 15, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
I seem to remember Moneyball giving the distinct impression that, although the As emphasize patience and disciplline at all levels in their system, Beane, et. al. had come to believe that basically the hitters either have it or not by the time they got into the system.
OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG
by Matt Klaassen on Jun 16, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Is somebody doing that?
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
by Scott McKinney on Jun 16, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't know
but our hitting coach hasn’t exactly distinguished himself with all of the supposedly talented hitters that have struggled under his watch.
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.
True
But I think hitting coaches are rarely deserving of either credit or blame for good or bad hitting. And the comments from him that I’ve read this season have all been about selective aggression. He’s essentially saying wait for a good pitch and then hit it, and that pitch could come at any time.
It’s hard to say how much he’s on board Hillman’s plate discipline/OPS train. But I also don’t think there’s much he or any hitting coach can do to genuinely alter the approach of any hitter. I wouldn’t mind if they fired him, but I don’t think it would make any difference.
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
by Scott McKinney on Jun 16, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the whole point of this post is that Hillman isn't telling guys to be aggressive.
He’s telling them to take pitches. So if they are getting the “aggressive” message, it isn’t from him.
I don't think the hitting approach of any Royals hitter comes from the messages they are getting from the manager, hitting coach or anyone else
These players have developed their approach over many years of playing baseball. I don’t think managers or hitting coaches really alter the approach of MLB players.
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
by Scott McKinney on Jun 16, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
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