Sliding Billy Hamilton

[Edgy MD]

That's Billy Hamilton of the Bakersfield Blaze of the High A California League. Reds affiliate. Managed by Ken Griffey.



G: 79
AB 322
BA: .323
OBP: 413
SLG: .441
OPS: .854
SB: 100
CS: 21

That's 100 stolen bases in less than half of the equivalent of a big league season. In fact, #100 came in game 78.

Now that's an aggressive dude. He's been on base 154 times and attempted 121 steals. But one of those was a homer, so no stealing there. Nine were triples, so all he could possible steal is home. Seventeen of those hits were doubles, plus there are presumably times when another big load (relatively) was on base in front of him. Or maybe, in theory, a time when a guy got a hit behind him before he could run, perhaps knocking him in, or at least out of stealing position. That could have happened too.



Billy Hamilton, ladies and gentlemen. Makes Ricky Henderson look conservative.

[Frayed Knot]

This guy's going to be interesting to watch on his march to the big leagues.
It's not just the aggression in his stealing, what you most often hear about him usually involves words: Game. Changing. Speed.

He's starting to hit a bit too [.323/.413/.441] with his OPS 150 pts higher in 2012 than in 2011, although some of that might be the California League factor.
Right now he's a SS. Opinions as to whether he stays there are mixed although the "fallback" option of utilizing that speed in CF isn't a bad choice either.

[nymr83]

I've heard Keith Law say that he doesn't stick at SS but should be ok in Centerfield on his speed alone even if he doesn't get great breaks on balls.

He is going to be fun to watch.

[Frayed Knot]

Billy Hamilton update:

3 more thefts last night to bring his season total to 131, he's been caught 27 times (83% success rate)
Now at AA Pensacola in the Southern League after spending most of the year in High-A Bakersfield (Cal Lg), Hamilton has a potential 24 games remaining and at his current pace would finish with 157 steals
The minor league record is 145 (caught 31 times) by one Vince Coleman (you may have heard of him) in 1983 for Macon (Low-A So Atlantic Lg), the same year Donnell Nixon swiped 144 (caught 24) in Bakersfield (High-A California League)


Because the minor league system is less extensive than it was in years gone by very few all-time records have much of a chance to get broken these days, meaning we're not likely to see a season with 72 HRs or 254 RBIs (1954 & 1948 - both in 'Class C' ball( anytime soon.
As it is, Coleman's SB mark and Gary Redus hitting .465 for Billings in 1978 are said to be the only significant single-season minor league records under a half-century old.

[Edgy MD]

Games: 114
Stolen Bases: 139
Caught Stealings: 32

Yesterday: 0-1 --- his fifth straight game with a caught stealing, a period during which he has nonetheless stolen eight bases successfully. His success rate appears to be flagging, if not his desire. Yesterday breaks a streak of at eight straight games with at least one steal.

[Frayed Knot]

Hamilton needed two SBs going into last night to break the record.
By the 3rd inning he had three.

[Edgy MD]

Wow. You don't want to promote him too quickly or else you get the latest in a long line of speedsters who aren't ready for big-league pitching, but you don't want him to give his legs' best years to minor league ball.

[Frayed Knot]

Bringing him up in the next week or so - even if strictly to be a pr for Cincy's stretch drive and/or post-season - is being openly discussed by various pundits.
Not sure how much/if any of that talk is coming from the club itself.

[MFS62]

Holy Herb Washington, Batman.
If they feel they need him for the stretch run, I could see a September call-up.

Later