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At least in baseball, February is the month for could-bes. It's the month when every pitcher's season belongs only to the imagination, and it's the month where you think about a pitcher like Shawn Hill and wonder what might happen if, somehow, everything finally breaks just right. He could be the guy who develops only after he's seemingly been forgotten. He could be the best sort of revelation, like that dollar you pull from your pocket after a wash cycle.Three months from now, Hill could be an essential (and pain-free) member of the Nats' starting rotation. On the other hand, he could be looking for a job. Or still looking to uncover the root of his unexplained forearm/elbow pain.For now, Hill says he's pain-free. Down in Viera, Fla. -- both his hometown and the Nats' spring training site -- Hill today threw a bullpen session, the latest step in his recovery from September arthroscopic surgery. He threw about 35 pitches -- a mix of fastballs, curves and change-ups. His fastball was in the low- to mid-80s, a velocity he intends to increase in the upcoming weeks. He needed some time to get the blood flowing and feel loose, but most important, Hill's right arm felt good. Last year, he could never say that."I'm not going 100-percent balls-to-the-wall at this point," Hill said, "but I'm feeling pretty good at this point."Of course, to understand the unpredictability of Hill's present comeback attempt, you have to examine the context -- and the devolution of his 2008 season.A year ago, the Nats looked at Hill as a top-of-the-rotation starter. Forearm pain caused an early-season DL trip. He made his first start April 19. Sometimes he fought through the forearm pain and pitched OK. Sometimes he felt elbow pain, too. Sometimes, under the spell of either/both ailments, he struggled to keep it together. He got shelled in three mid-June starts and, after that, was shut down for the season. With that, Hill, once a prospect, became a reclamation project. His final numbers: (1-5, 12 GS, 63-1/3 IP, 5.83 ERA, one Dr. James Andrews surgery.)Much is at stake for Hill this spring training, then. He must 1.) prove he's finally healthy and 2.) reclaim his spot in the Washington rotation. Speaking by phone today, Hill expressed confidence he can do both."I'm thinking that if I'm healthy, I should have my spot in the rotation no problem. If I go in and feel fine, everything else will take care of itself."As of right now, Washington's rotation features John Lannan, Scott Olsen and Daniel Cabrera. Youngsters Collin Balester and Jordan Zimmermann have the inside shot at the last two spots. Hill has to steal one of those. For now, he said, nobody in the organization has suggested a potential role in the bullpen.Hill's goals for the season, then?"Easy enough. Stay healthy. Everyone always says what I'm capable and all that stuff, but that doesn't mean anything if you're not healthy you can't prove it."When Hill imagines his perfect season, he thinks of the benchmarks of durability -- 200 innings, perhaps, or 35 starts. But neither, he allows, is realistic. Even if he's healthy and going strong, Hill guessed that the team probably won't allow him to pitch more than 160 innings this year -- "if that," he added."But my goal is go out there every start and force the issue," Hill said. "I know I have something I need to prove, to everybody including myself. That, one, I can stay healthy and, two, I can put up the numbers."
A healthy and an effective Shawn Hill would be a huge boost. I'm not holding my breath, but I really hope he stays healthy and can land a spot.
:NOTLD signal:
You rang?
haha awesome i just wanted to make sure this thing worked.
Your signal is currently down. Don't worry, I'll work on it. Just give me a little time.
^ Wow, you've gotten a lot better at that.
Fixed.
Not quite, he needs a Nats uni.
shawn hill thread = adam dunn discussion
Sorry, I promised Hammonds his "signal." Shawn Hill, yeah, sure. Healthy. Right. We all believe it. Yeah. Great. Rotation. Sure.
According to you, he is going to the Dodgers so I don't see why I need the added work.
Glad to see you rewrote your reply. That thing with the smell, even for you that made absolutely no sense.
So did you just sub Dunn's name for Gustavo Chacin?
I wonder what sort of products Shawn Hill could sell?
