What does Aaron Hill want? Does he want to go to the All-Star Game? Does he want to be Rookie of the Year? What's the deal?

I mentioned this in the chat, but I think it's great so I'm posting it here too.

Rotoworld.com yesterday:

Hill is still batting .357, but the fact that he doesn't have a homer or a stolen base in 98 at-bats limits his fantasy upside.

Hill: "Homer and a stolen base, eh? Yeah, I can do that..."

Rob, I know you were deeply conflicted about this. Chris Carpenter lost his shutout tonight. Ninth inning homer by... Felipe Lopez.

I don't know what to say.

As long as Phil Cuzzi and Kerwin Danley didn't award Lopez the homerun after an initial "double" call by Ron Kulpa, I'm good.

They didn't, right?

Having skimmed the game chat, here's my very favourite comment:

<MatthewE> I hate the Orioles, and I hope the Jays win 900-2.

I thought that I was the cause of the Jays' woes until tonight. Last week, I appeared at least briefly at the games on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Those, of course, are the games the Jays won last week. I'm sorry to say that I caused Halladay's loss on Saturday; some convocation thing was going on, and I had to be there.

So, Aaron Hill, eh? I guess he's okay..

Treat to watch Lilly and Hill tonight. What a fun ballgame. And I haven't been by lately so I don't know whether this has been discussed, but may I say I am greatly impressed by Rance Mulliniks. He's not saying anything earth shattering, but his contributions are thoughtful and well constructed. He doesn't grate. And praise the Lord he's not trying to be glib and chatty and fill air space. He's a calm, wise presence. It's like water in the desert.

And suddenly — I can hardly believe it — I Don't Want to Turn The Sound Off during a Blue Jays telecast!

Just got back from the ballpark. Shame only 15 k were there....It was a great game.

Aaron Hill:

What can I say? The man is a baseball God. I love Aaron Hill. I want my sister to marry Aaron Hill and have his babies. Seeing his first HR and SB was great, as was watching him go 4-4. Aaron Hill for mayor.

I didn't post it because I thought it would make me sound like a loser, but I did tell Mrs. Hank about my dream the other night where I was in the stands and caught Aaron Hill's first home run.

Why am I posting it now? I still sound like a loser.

I don't mind saying I sleep more soundly on the nights the Jays win. I have confessed it to my wife, and she seems to understand. If Mrs. Hank understands, then you are not a loser, you're a lucky man.

I think I'm going to keep a record of this love fest for Hill. Let all the same heapers of "over the top" praise not be the ones to fire flaming arrows when this kid comes out of the stratosphere.

And if your having a baby this year do not name your child Aarron unless you like the name or you are naming him after Hank.

I was actually disappointed when Hill went 1 for 4 on Saturday. That's how used to seeing him hit I've gotten. 4 for 4 really doesn't surprise me much from what I've seen of him so far. His average will eventually fall closer to .300 but he's clearly a very talented hitter given his K/BB ratios so far.

Hill is hitting at a dizzying pace, but what the Jays really need is for Wells, Hudson, and Hinske to hit. (It would be nice to see Adams start climbing towards .270 or .280 as well.) Actually Wells has played pretty well in May and June, but the others definitely need to step it up.

Interesting looking at Hill's game log. I was trying to see if he feasted on the cellar dwellers or if he was doing against all comers. Looking at his game log I don't see any holes though - http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?statsId=7483

It is a great start, but it is only 102 AB's so he hasn't even offically lost his rookie status for 2006 yet (130 PA, currently at 112). I'd like a bit more HR power than 1 over 100 AB's, but with a 382 avg with more BB than K's who's complaining? I guess we could pick on his road stats (238/319/310 Avg/OBP/Slg over 42 AB's).

Looks like the real thing, and is a lot more fun to watch than, say, Kevin Cash. Lets hope he forces a trade of Hinske or Hillenbrand before years end. Nothing against the two of them, but I like Hill's potential more than those two's estabilished level of performance.

It was reported that JP said he will NOT trade Hillenbrand, That Hillenbrand is exactly what they want in a player and that he is hear to stay.

So much for the stop gap scenario we were all hoping for.

Regardless of what JP has said about not trading Hillenbrand, I still think he'll be traded if there's an offer that knocks JP's socks off.

He would be foolish to turn down a good trade offer.

Well if someone offers him the moon, yeah I'm sure JP will take it. But still I was kind of hoping that Hillenbrand would be shopped around and not kept on for next season.

Chances are he will make 5 mill in Arb...

Yikes.

Mrs. Brumfield and I were at the game last night to celebrate my birthday. They seem to do pretty well on my birthday and it's a good omen they won because when they've gone to the play-offs, they always won on my b-day, for what that's worth:).

Last night's game sure makes up for the previous 2 disasters we went to against Milwaukee. I just wish they would've won Saturday when my Dad was there because that was the first time I went to a game with him in 5 years.

My B-day present from the missus was dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe before the game to catch the Jays batting practice. I didn't see Vernon Wells during BP and Mrs. Brumfield thought he must have been delayed by all the limo drivers tying things up at Pearson Airport. They did flash the Jays line-up on the board very briefly when we were at the Hard Rock Cafe and Wells was on it. Good thing he was. That was a hell of a way to return to the line-up, connecting for a 3 run shot on the first pitch he sees.

Ted Lilly was amazing, all 10 K's were swinging. He really had Sammy Sosa at his mercy. Lilly used his full arsenal and Sosa had no clue what was coming. He really mixed his pitches well.

And Aaron Hill, you might as well call him Ted right now. It was great to see him hit that homer last night. He's been unconscious and right now, he has to be the best player to ever wear number 2 in the team's history. Let's see - there was Steve Staggs, Danny Ainge, Nelson Liriano, Jacob Brumfield, Tom Evans, Dave Berg. Yeah, I'd say Hill's been the best player to wear my favourite number. Hill's start brings back memories of John Olerud's 1993 season or the hot start Tony Fernandez had in 1999.

Anyways, I'm just happy they won last night. It was a nice present from the Jays. Too bad only 15,000 showed up because it was a hell of a game and a beautiful evening to watch a ball game.

Let me second the appreciation for Rance Mulliniks. He's gotten comfortable at the microphone very quickly, he's familiar with pretty much everything going on in baseball (not just the Jays), and his kinda down-home delivery is a nice counterpoint to the play-by-play guys. Of the four analysts used by the Jays so far, he's probably my favourite at this point. I just worry that every time the other team brings in a left-hander from the pen, Garth Iorg will take over in the booth.

Great victory over the Orioles, especially because these will not be easy to come by. As fans, we do need to temper our enthusiasm for Aaron Hill -- but keep in mind, he's a better pure hitter than either Adams or Gross, and when he does fall back, I don't think he's going to fall very far. I think you can pencil him into the Blue Jays lineup for the next five years.

I was pleased to see that Gibby told the Star that Adams will be seeing a lot more left-handed pitching, and that he got the start last night.

Garth Iorg platooning in the broadcast booth? No, thank you. I've been good.