Comments on: Reds prospect Billy Hamilton is the fastest man in baseball

By: fmlizard

fmlizard — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:54:08 +0000

This guy is like the baserunning Chuck Norris.

Billy Hamilton once scored on a walkoff sac fly – to the second baseman.

I fully expect him to hit a clean, no errors double – to the first baseman.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:23:22 +0000

Me thinks Billy watched A LOT of “Major League” whilst growing up.

Uh, Mr. Hamilton, who is your favorite player?

“No doubt it would have to be Willie Hayes”.

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:50:09 +0000

Memo to pitchers: throw over occasionally when Billy Hamilton’s on bases. He was not only getting monster leads, he was corkscrewing his front right clete into the ground for traction. Jeez.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:29:59 +0000

How’s about a little speed porn, eh?

By: hijackthemic

hijackthemic — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:29:54 +0000

I heard once he got a single and then scored when the next batter popped out to the catcher.

By: joshfrancis50

joshfrancis50 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:16:46 +0000

Word is he’ll transition to the outfield at some point and the Reds are already acknowledging this. They continue to play him at SS, however, because SS is the more difficult position and transitioning out of SS to OF is easier than having to revert back to SS if the need arises.

By: billymc75

billymc75 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:09:40 +0000

I’d like to put him up against Craig Gentry in Texas

By: hgulkkcaj

hgulkkcaj — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:38:26 +0000

I think the reason he will one day reach the majors is becuase he did not “take it back a couple of notches” on his way up.

By: hgulkkcaj

hgulkkcaj — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:36:23 +0000

I did in fact look it up. “Sliding Billy” was amazing! This new “Sliding Billy” sure will be fun to watch someday in the bigs.

Oh, and the original “Sliding Billy” from the 1800′s also walked a lot. He was only 5’6″!

By: scatterbrian

scatterbrian — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:20:55 +0000

I’m cool with just about anything that is not B-Ham.

By: scatterbrian

scatterbrian — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:19:09 +0000

While that’s an awesome feat, it would seem to be easier than stealing third. Here are the distances the ball needs to be thrown for this, stealing second and stealing third:

C > 1B > C = ~180′ (depending on where the passed ball is picked up by the catcher)
P > C > 2B = 187′ 3″
P > C > 3B = 150′ 6″

You can also factor in reaction time for the first baseman, and the fact that most of them don’t have great arms.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:28:56 +0000

Yeah really Church. He is greased lightening. Whatever that means.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:45:22 +0000

Which leads me to this . . . are we sure Billy Hamilton, isn’t, in fact . . . Vince Coleman Jr.?

#justsayin

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:41:08 +0000

Those stories are great. He was so fast, he once hit a ball up the middle that struck himself sliding into second base.

By: cggarb

cggarb — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:32:26 +0000

A move from SS to LF certainly reduces Hamilton’s value, but it doesn’t make him value-less.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:27:25 +0000

Moving Hamilton to the OF would be cutting his value off at the knees. If the guy can play short and hit like that….then he plays short. By the time he is up, the choice is more likely to be trade Cozart or move him to 2B and figure out what to do with Phillips. Of course, they will probably leave Phillips at 2B because of his contract…so moving Cozart to 3B may be a better option….moving any of these guys to a corner OF position if they are capable IF defenders would be stupid (so…probably what will happen).

By: randomdigits

randomdigits — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:20:49 +0000

Cool and all but he has to be beating himself up something fierce. In the interest of career longevity he might want to take it back a couple of notches till he makes it to the majors.

By: cggarb

cggarb — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:09:48 +0000

I wouldn’t worry about a position or playing time. Billy Hamilton is the very epitome of a “Dusty Baker guy.” You’ll have to pry him from Dusty’s cold, dead lineup card.

By: cggarb

cggarb — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:08:38 +0000

Correction: Dusty thinks Stubbs is a leadoff hitter. Stubbs is the player he's going to be. It baffles me that people keep carping about how he can't bunt (well). He has a career ISO of .149. No need to bunt.

By: metalhead65

metalhead65 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:07:47 +0000

I say move him to left field after he gets to triple A and has the hitting down and then they can worry about his defense. but then dusty would probably platoon him with whatever washed up ex card walt has signed that year.

By: nightman13

nightman13 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:02:11 +0000

Can I get a second to the nomination of Billy Mays Hayes for a nickname?

By: klbader

klbader — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:53:10 +0000

The comments about Billy Hamilton remind me of the stories told about Cool Papa Bell.

By: squires8

squires8 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:48:45 +0000

Now when this guy goes to look himself up in the Baseball Encyclopedia he’ll be right below that other Billy Hamilton who was mighty fast as well…..”Sliding Billy” scored runs, lots of runs….you can look it up.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:48:43 +0000

Valid point(s) Contraryguy. My guess is…he will also be able to lay down a bunt to take advantage of the speed. Which Drew Stubbs clearly is either unable to do and/or unwilling to work on. Precisely Stubbs’ problem. When he makes solid contact he has serious power. The issue is the woeful percentage of time he makes solid contact. Dude thinks he is a power hitting leadoff hitter.

By: georgia

georgia — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:43:12 +0000

Scoring from third as the catcher is throwing to first on a third strike to make sure the batter’s out. I’m assuming I read that correctly, and that’s insane.

By: thefalcon123

thefalcon123 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:39:24 +0000

IN 1983, 21-year-old Donell Nixon (brother of more famous Otis Nixon) swiped 144 bases in 135 in A Ball.

He did not lead the minors in steals that year.

Instead, he was one shy of 21-year-old A baller Vince Coleman, who swiped an incredible 145 bases in just 113 games. Overall, Coleman attempted 176 steals, or 1.6 stolen base attempts per game.

By: contraryguy

contraryguy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:35:06 +0000

The kid looks great, but where do you put him? BP has gotten paid, and Cozart is clearly good enough to stick for a long time as well. Can Hamilton be the leadoff CF that the Reds have needed for many years (aka one that doesn’t strike out 200 times a year)?

By: metalhead65

metalhead65 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:30:52 +0000

reds fans can only hope dusty is still not the manager when he gets called up or he will be lucky to play in 23 games let alone steal 29 bases.can’t take a chance on playing a young kid when there are guys like willie harris to play instead.