What happened to Trey Hillman?

October 20th, 2007 - Select excerpts from the Royals announcing Trey Hillman as their new manager...

• "In baseball circles on a national level, this couldn't be perceived as a better hire," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said.

• He spent 13 years managing in the Yankees' minor league system and three times was a manager of the year.

• "He won at every level, was manager of the year at three different levels," Moore said. "In Japan, the first two years, his team showed improvement. The fourth year they won the Japanese Series and this year they're back in the Japanese Series with a team that's virtually last in every offensive category."

• "My approach is very simple: I believe we've allowed some of the components that produce wins (to subside) with the offensive-driven game in the last 15 or so years. I like the three-run home run just as much as anybody, but sometimes you don't have the matchup or the personnel to wait for that." - Trey Hillman

 

 

When Trey Hillman came on to the scene a little less than two years ago, it seemed that the Royals were finally willing to acknowledge that we didn't have the firepower to compete with the big boys.   We weren't going to outslug the Tigers or outspend the Yankees.   It was time to take a different strategy, and Trey was just the man to lead the charge.   We were going to get on base, become solid in all the fundamentals, lead with pitching, and manufacture runs.   Hillman was the poster boy for this in Japan, where he led an incredibly offensively subpar Nippon team to the promised land.   So - what happened to Trey Hillman?

To look at the Royals today, you would have no idea that 2007 Trey Hillman was managing the team.   The team ranks dead last in the American League in OBP, Stolen Bases, and number of pitches seen as a team.   They are 2nd to last in fielding % and BB's drawn.    All of these are indicators of "small ball" strategy.

I was watching a game a few weeks ago and the Royals were tied 1-1 in the latter innings.  They had a lead off double from someone (likely Callaspo or Butler) lead off an inning.   The next batter was Mark Teahen.   Mark Teahen is a good hitter, especially by Royals standards, but he's definitely not an "abort the strategy" good hitter.   He also hits to the opposite field a lot.

I thought to myself, "2007 Trey Hillman - the one we thought we hired - would lay down a bunt here to get the lead run to 3rd with 1 out.   That's what small ball managers do - and when you have lesser talent, it makes A LOT of sense to play that way."  Teahen promptly flew out to LF, and the Royals stranded him.   This scenario has played out more times this year than I care to count.

The starting pitching for this team has been terrific.   They lead the AL in CGs and HRs allowed when you take out the relievers.  Greinke, Meche, Bannister, and now Hochevar are all quality MLB starters, and I'd venture to say that many top tier teams would gladly trade out their starting five for ours.   But Trey has let them down.   He doesn't even attempt to manufacture a run here or there.   He just sends below average hitters continually to the plate to swing away.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that to some extent he has been hamstrung by his fearless leader.  A man who refused to acknowledge that he has hired a small ball manager and equipped him with a whole bunch Yuni6-3 Betancourts.   I might compare it to pouring diesel into your Accord and wondering why this "reliable car" is not performing.

The problem is, it appears that Trey has abandoned what made him so successful despite the fuel he's provided.   He doesn't even attempt to manufacture.    He doesn't look to play the best defensive lineup.   He doesn't send runners.    He just watches Mike Jacobs strike out again from the top step.

I saw Game 6 of the 1985 World Series yesterday on ESPN Classic or MLB TV, can't remember which.    The announcers were talking about how every run had been so precious in that series, and how Herzog and Howser had squeezed every run across that they could.   Neither of those teams (especially our beloved Royals) had the power hitters to win a WS, but Howser used what he had.

What happened to Trey Hillman?