Koyie Hill
From Yankees.com -
The New York Yankees announced today that they have claimed catcher Koyie Hill off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. With Tuesday’s (4/4) outright of RHP Jorge DePaula to Triple-A Columbus, the Yankees’ 40-man roster now stands at 40. A corresponding 25-man roster move will be made when Hill reports to the team in Anaheim.
After the 2002 season, this is what John Sickels said (in his Prospect Book) about Hill:
He will be a very fine reserve catcher and will be good enough to start for some teams. Grade B-
Of course, that was three years ago. Still, Sickels gave him the same grade after 2003. However, it was qualified with:
…I’m afraid he may end up just as a reserve catcher down the road, rather than a future starter.
Lastly, in 2005, Sickels wrote:
…Hill looks like a .250 hitter with some power, but an inadequate on-base percentage, and not-as-good-as-it-should-be defense….
This all said, I don’t see the need for this move – unless Hill has options that Wil Nieves does not. Then it makes a ton of sense.
Sorry, no luck. He’s out of options. That’s why the Diamondbacks had to get rid of him.
I have no idea why the Yankees would want to sign him, unless Torre’s going to pull a Bobby Cox and carry three catchers.
Mr. Furious? Sounds like the guy that didn’t make the final cut for The Fantastic Four. Bet they stole “It’s clobberin’ time!” from your audition reel. That’s showbiz. You know, I had the original idea for Saturday Night Live. They changed it from Wednesday to Saturday. Clever bastards.
There have been some recent rumors that the sox were looking at hill as a caddy for wakefield.
Josh Bard butchered the job a few days ago. Three past balls.
That’s what I’d heard as well. From what I understand, the Sox tried to trade for him in Spring Training, but couldn’t make a deal.
At first, I thought that the Yankees might’ve claimed him to keep the Sox from getting him (a la Jose Canseco in 2000), but that wouldn’t make sense since the Sox are higher on the priority list than the Yankees.
Perhaps they’re going to try to do the same thing that Arizona did when it’s time to move to 2 catchers – put him through waivers and hope he clears so they can send him to Columbus. Even though the Sox passed on him this time, they might claim him in that case just to cock up the Yanks’ plans.
BTW, my handle comes from a movie that’s a parody of superhero films. But hey, if making fun of it makes you feel better about yourself, feel free.
I was hoping you were actually one of the guys from the record label, Mr. Furious Records (out of Nebraska), which publishes some interesting DIY Midwestern punk-rock. Why not Zoolander if you’re referencing Ben Stiller movies?
At the risk of straying too far off topic, I’d picked the name right after “Mystery Men” came out, and just sort of stuck with it.
I’ll have to check out that label, though… I haven’t been anywhere near the punk scene in a while, but I always appreciate good music.
Back on-topic, after reading some stuff online, I’m wondering if Stinnett might be the odd-man out. Hill beat him out for the backup job in Arizona a couple of years ago, but he got hurt.
Considering that Hill is only 27 (as opposed to Stinnett’s 36), and the fact that the Yankees have no prospects in the high minors, maybe Stinnett is the guy who’s going to be let go. He’s an OK backup, but he’s older, and only looks like a good hitter when compared to John Flaherty.