Rich Hill: The Man, The Mountain, The Myth and the Legend

Posted By on September 28, 2019

When Andrew Friedman signed Rich Hill to a 3 year / $48 Million dollar deal. he was lambasted by many Dodger fans for continuing down the path of signing Scott Kazmir, Brett Anderson, and Brandon McCarthy: “Another injury-prone pitcher.” “Blister boy!” Well, here we are at the end of that deal and Rich Hill has indeed spent some quality time on the IL, but if Friedman has it to do over, he’d did it again, without question!

In the time Rich Hill has spent with the Dodgers he is 30-16 with a 3.19 ERA and struck out 423 batters in 358 innings. It would have been great if he could have won about 15 more games. In 12 playoff games, he had a 3.04 ERA. He has electrified Dodger fans with his “hammer” curve that leaves batters feeling helpless and at age 39 he can still throw a 93 MPH fastball.

However, what makes Rich Hill both the Man and the Mountain is Hill’s well-documented journey of persistence and fortitude through constant physical injury and heart-wrenching personal tragedy. If the adage below is true it’s more true of Rich hill than anyone else:

Rich Hill never gave up, even after shoulder surgery, elbow surgery, Tommy John surgery, multiple, multiple injuries and the gut-wrenching death of his infant son. Out of baseball for a time, no one was interested in the “old has-been” so he started back in Independent Ball and worked until someone gave him a chance. Rich Hill dug deep with his passion for baseball and realized his dream of pitching at a high level in the majors again… snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Rich Hill is universally respected throughout all of baseball and is loved and respected by his teammates. His work ethic is right there with the epic work ethic of one Clayton Kershaw. He was the one who called out the young, cocky Alex Verdugo for not hustling. Alex respects the mountain. Very much so. Rich Hill is a guy you would go to war with. He’s a clubhouse leader. In a clubhouse full of leaders, he may be the real leader.

Dodger fans are better for knowing Rich Hill (knowing him by watching and hearing him). We love his passion, his leg whip, his candor, his enthusiasm, his drive, and his indomitable attitude. He will start the final game of the season and if he comes out of it upright, he will be on the playoff roster. All that has happened to Rich Hill sounds like a myth to some, sort of like a “hobbled Willis Reed” walking on the basketball court or a gimpy Kirk Gibson doing the impossible on the Big Stage.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I have a sneaking feeling that 2019 is Rich’s Hill’s last stand and that something extraordinary is about to happen. Rich Hill is not a Myth… he’s a Man, a Mountain and soon to be a Legend. Buckle up because this could be epic! Dick Mountain is about to take the Hill on Sunday.

Dodger News

  • Justin Turner’s back is better and he may play Sunday but just get him healthy. He will hit if he plays.
  • AJ Pollock is out today and it sounds to me that he should just rest on Sunday too so as to be ready for the playoffs.
  • Rich Hill threw a bullpen session and allegedly looked fantastic with no pain.
  • They say Joe Kelly will pitch on Sunday – I have my doubts.
  • Striker Buehler is still working on his mechanics and delivery because he hasn’t been happy with his last couple of starts. He claims that he got it figured out in the 5th inning. Let’s hope so…
  • It’s nice to see Cody and Corey locked and loaded and Will Smith seems to be getting his stroke and confidence back… just in time.
  • Ryu’s final tuneup is this afternoon. Let’s go Dodgers.

Arizona Fall League

The Dessert Dogs lost 5-2 to the Peoria Wart Hogs or whatever the heck they are called. Omar Estevez (.375) led off and went 3-4 (playing SS). He also drove in Jeren Kendall (.316) who was 1-3 (with two strikeouts). Kendall has 11 strikeouts in 22 AB’s. Do the math! The only other Dodger to play was Marchall Kasowski who pitched an inning with no hits, 1 K and 1 BB.

Music in Honor of Dick Mountain

This article has 39 Comments

  2. Rich Hill was a great sign. No question Hill, if healthy, can be a difference maker. He says he wants to play next year. If the knee is healthy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dodgers bring him back on an incentive based deal.

    1. I would like to see that happen even though next year’s rotation is going to be stacked. But, I would bring back Ryu if I had to choose between the two. I keep hoping that Ryu will be like Kuroda and keep coming back on short deals until he wants to return to Korea.

  3. Great post MT. Baseball needs more Rich Hills.
    He’s a real inspiration and I’m very happy he finally got a big payday to reward him for sticking it out all those years.

  5. Last night’s game was one of the weirdest games we’ve played in a while.

    Every pitcher had control issues, and yet every pitcher got out of big jams each time. I’ll take the positive outlook of it and say they stepped up and got big outs when they had to.

    Our magic number to have home field over NY is 2. Houston’s magic number to have home field over everybody is 1.

    I’ll pay attention to today’s game on my phone as I’ll be at the Pantages to watch Blue Man Group! I’ve never seen it in Vegas, but they’re here in LA for the next couple weeks.

    1. Oh man, that’s gonna be fun seeing the Blue Man Group! The next couple of days are just “wrap up the season” games anyways. I’m hosting a family reunion on Sunday, the game will be on all TV’s, but I won’t be able to watch as solid as I normally do.

  6. Love Rich Hill’s passion, enthusiasm and true grit. Hope he does well on Sunday. Good win last night. Although he may not be known for a great arm, Joc made a very nice throw home in the game from right field. Nice write-up on Dick Mountain, Mark.

  7. It looks like the pen is changing daily. Kelly is in and so is Hill… Here’s the staff as I see it

    Walker Buehler
    Clayton Kershaw
    Hyun-Jin Ryu
    Rich Hill
    Tony Gonsolin
    Dustin May
    Pedro Baez
    Kenley Jansen
    Joe Kelly
    Kenta Maeda
    Julio Urias
    Adam Kolarek

    Not making it…
    Ross Stripling
    Caleb Ferguson
    Dylan Floro
    Casey Sadler
    Yimi Garcia

    I think Kolarek edges Ferguson since he’s death on lefties and Roberts loves to have a loogy.

    1. I know it’s only one game, but given the lack of control, did Gonsolin just play himself off the roster? I’d use Stripling in lieu of Tony. I recall Roberts saying he was going to be in the pen.

      1. Well, if you think walking 2 and getting out of it is worse than the 3 runs Strip gave up in his last outing…

  8. Mark mentioned: “It’s nice to see Cody and Corey locked and loaded and Will Smith seems to be getting his stroke and confidence back… just in time. ”

    Pederson also deserves a mention.

    Pederson in September:

    .357 .431 .911 1.341 with 9 home runs, 16 RBI, 17 Runs. That leads the team in everyone of those stats except for RBI where is he is second to Seager. Freese with limited at bats is the only hitter that has a higher average and OBP.

  9. If Ryu doesn’t give Dodgers some type of hometown deal-like 3 years then I think Dodgers bring back Hill on an incentive deal. He’d be great depth starter. Doesn’t have to go every 5th day. I hope so. I love Dick Mountain!

  10. Today’s lineup:

    Joc (RF)
    Muncy (1b)
    CT3 (LF)
    Belly (CF)
    Seager (SS)
    Beaty (3b)
    Lux (2b)
    Martin (C)
    Ryu

    1. I’ll preface this by saying I really like Joc. Even during his slumps and cold hitting. There’s no unpredictability with him, we know what he is and in a backward sort of way that could be described as dependable. But I can’t figure our why he’s batting leadoff?

  11. Ryu’s performance today might have a significant effect on the Cy Young. Last chance to show voters that he really deserves it.

    1. I think Ryu will have to have a VERY good performance to have any chance of overcoming the guys who pitch on the East Coast. As far as I’m concerned, East Coast bias is a real thing, mostly because people who live back east simply don’t stay up until the very late hours to catch West Coast games. That gives them less exposure to pitchers like Ryu who wasn’t all that well known to begin with.

        1. There’s even more of a K bias. We saw that when Kyle Hendricks should have got Cy Young over Lesturd and we are seeing it against Ryu. The pitcher gets penalized for less K’s vs the fireballer who K’s double digits all the time.

    1. He’s probably getting Goose’s spot if Hill and Kelly are ready to go. I think we saw the non-playoff relievers last night.
      ~
      I never complained about signing Hill to that deal. After watching him beat the Cubs during their championship season he could play for me. To be accurate though the blister issues were after the signing not before.
      ~
      I’m glad to see the Dodgers working on bunting to beat the shift. Some of them are trying to be too perfect though. Just get it past the pitcher fair. It’s not like they’re trying to fool a 3rd Baseman. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Cody dropped one down when he saw his batting average dropping below .300 for the first time.

  13. I want to thank those who offered their kind words with me feeling fine from that little scare. I’ll find out more this coming Tues. about test results. No worries here! All is good and I’m not alone. It’ll be cool for Dodgers to win this season’s championship but they’ve been the coolest team in sports the whole of my life. For Dodgers to get their new youth to contribute so much this season is a tell they indeed hold a secrete. Here’s to hoping Dodgers bring their A-game throughout this postseason, CHEERS!!

  14. Glad to hear you are not alone Quas. And you are wished by all your friends here for a successful recovery.

    1. Quas- That’s great news that you are feeling so much better. Looking forward to a Dodger WS championship to help us all along.

  15. Ump behind the plate is an advertisement for an electronic strike zone. Calling pitches well outside the strike zone strikes. Let’s see if he gives Kenley the same gifts.

    1. I had my doubts KJ would close it, but striking out the side after giving up a HBP and a single is quite impressive. Lets hope he can use this as a catalyst and be dominant in the post season.

      105 wins ties the 1953 Dodgers. Get the sweep tomorrow and go into the playoffs feeling good!

  17. Kenley got it done! And he was very good, striking out the side. Runners on bases did not seem to bother him. Congrats and great job Kenley.

  18. Well Yanks just lost at Texas. That means we officially have home field vs NY in a potential World Series matchup.

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