One of the hottest topics around the Reds is Billy Hamilton. There are many who believe that Hamilton’s defense is great enough to keep him in the lineup despite his lack of productivity offensively. There are also many that believe the Reds need to move on from starting Hamilton, and some that believe they need to move on altogether. It is a great debate because there are valid reasons on both sides, and no clear cut answer. Many of the Redleg Nation writers got to sit down with the Reds front office last month. Without giving away too many company secrets, it is clear there is some civil divide among even the front office on what to do with Hamilton.
Billy Hamilton’s offense is not improving, and at this point it is what it is.
| Year | OBP | wRC+ |
| 2014 | .292 | 79 |
| 2015 | .274 | 53 |
| 2016 | .321 | 78 |
| 2017 | .299 | 65 |
| 2018 | .296 | 66 |
Hamilton is not improving, and with over 2,500 plate appearances, that probably is not changing. Reds president Dick Williams said just as much in an interview earlier this year. Hamilton is the 4th worst qualifying hitter (out of 150) in the MLB in wRC+ this season. One of the most frustrating aspects of Hamilton is that the Reds have always just settled with Hamilton’s offensive woes. Hamilton has made 411 of his 613 starts in the leadoff or #2 spot in the lineup. Hamilton only had a .308 OBP in a full season at AAA the year before he was called up. Hamilton has never been sent down despite not improving his on-base percentage. There is something to be said about earning your spot in a big league lineup. Billy Hamilton for some reason has been entitled to a spot despite no improvements in his offensive game.
How much value is Hamlton’s defense and how much does it make up for his offense?ÂÂ
This is the major question and there is no perfect answer to this. The best data point to look at this would be to examine how many runs a player is creating, and how many runs are they saving. If you look at weight runs created (not wRC+) which gives you an actual total number of runs a player is worth, Hamilton is worth 42. Hamilton has 5 defensive runs saved this year. Here is how he compares with rest of the National League Central in total runs saved + created:
Lorenzo Cain 102 (16/86)
Starling Marte 68 (0/68)
Harrison Bader 61 (13/48)
Albert Almora Jr. 57 (7/50)
Billy Hamilton 47 (5/42)
It is also worth nothing that Bader and Almora have a lot fewer plate appearances and innings. Hamilton only having 5 defensive runs saved does feel a little off, but there have certainly been some instances where his defense has taken a minor step back while still making spectacular plays this season. Even if it is off, which certainly is possible, Hamilton’s career high is 15 defensive runs saved. He would still be below the rest of the NL Central CF given everyone had the same amount of playing time. You can certainly conclude that it is significantly easier to produce runs offensively than save runs defensively.
How much value could Hamilton be as a pinch-runner/late inning defensive replacement?
Hamilton was electric in 2013 when he was called up in September. I found an old post from our friend Doug Gray in 2013 which will refresh your memory and give you some context of just how value he was in that role. The Reds could have quite the weapon if they used him this way over a full-season. Hamilton would easily be worth the $7 million or so he will cost in 2019 if used this way, but there is certainly an argument that the Reds should allocate money elsewhere.
The Reds right now should be using Hamilton as pinch-runner/late inning defensive replacement to get a better data sample of the value of that, and giving guys like Scott Schebler and Phillip Ervin a shot to play CF. Both players probably can’t play good enough defensively to play there everyday, but the Reds should at least be making sure of that now while there is nothing to lose. It is a shame that Nick Senzel is hurt right now because he would be another potential candidate (similar to what the Cubs have done with Ian Happ). Most likely the Reds will have to look for a replacement this off-season. Hamilton certainly is not the only problem the Reds have, but him starting is not a solution to improving the Reds in 2019. The Reds need to start planning and figuring out what they will do without him starting everyday next season.
All stats are used courtesy of Fangraphs, Baseball-Reference, and ESPN Stats & Info, and include games played through 9/8/18.
So long as Bob C. is the GM of this team Billy is going nowhere.
The big mistake was the Reds thinking BH could be a lead off hitter and sticking with him despite his struggles.
Easy solution. Nick Senzel starts in CF in 2019. Chris Welch is on record saying Senzel is fastor than any current Red (Hamilton and Pereza are faster). Release Hamilton and add the 7 million to whatever money has been bugeted for 2019 Starting Pitching.
I agree non tender him and be done with it.
The Reds should play Williams and Ervin in CF for the rest of the season and get a glimpse of how the team plays. Hamilton should be used as a pinch runner/defensive CF nearly every game as you suggested.
I don’t think it matters much if Hamilton starts or not in 2018. But in 2019 I think he needs to a) play for another team, or b) start sparingly at most. He’s a utility level player, albeit one with very strong but limited, specialized skills. It would be fine if he gets a dozen starts in the big west coast parks, and fine if he gets another dozen to rest some regulars (but only against right handed pitching). After that, it’s late inning pinch running, defensive replacement, and the occasional double switch. The runs created numbers are painfully clear – starting Hamilton on a regular basis starts the Reds at a significant disadvantage against NL central competition.
Someone should check on Chad. He is probably very upset and might shut down the website.
Billys best is now & behind him. In retrospect, he should have been dealt to the Giants last winter/spring. Trade him, non-tender him, or gear up for another 90 loss season in 2019.
Agreed all of this stupid talk about hamilton and Riggleman and whoever else really doesn’t make a hill of beans difference the reds pitching is a dumpster fire even if you replace billy with mike trout the reds would still not be a 500 team right now. I mean don’t get me wrong analyzing and talking Reds baseball is fun but they basically need 3 starting pitchers next season if they want to be relevant.
I also would like to see the Reds try Nick Senzel in CF. Billy needs to be traded or converted to a late inning/defensive replacement/pinch runner. I think the 7 million would be better spent to sign Trevor Cahill or used as a portion of the total needed to sign Dallas Keuchal.
Didn’t he just turn 28? He’ll never hit. We all know that now. Best to move him. Ervin in CF.
We know exactly what Billy Hamilton can do. He is known quantity. We cannot qualify for the playoffs. We should spend the last month of the season learning about whether or not other players can handle center field defensively.
He should never start another game period and I wished he had done better and always said just get on base at league average and he was a keeper.Time to move on from him.
Check out the starting lineup for today. Hamilton is leading off. What can Riggleman be thinking?
I doubt Riggleman makes the lineups.
Keep Billy Hamilton and reassign Homer Bailey to the bullpen. It worked to save KerryWood’s career
I agree but as long as he is here he will start 140 games or so.The idea of putting him in the best position to help the team is the right thing but they never do it with him or anybody else for that matter.Its almost like whoever calls the shots must constantly keep doing the same things over and over hoping and praying it eventually works instead of moving on.Its one thing to ride a good horse until he can’t go but its just dumb to ride a bad one that never could go.
The American League has the DH. Maybe the National League can install the DF rule and Billy could become a Designated Fielder.
I still think that, maybe because BC wants, sometimes plays hitters so he can make those great catches. I may be wrong but I thought it was easier running in to make a catch than running back.
. My problem with Hamilton is that he has not improved in 5 years with the reds and there is nothing to suggest he has even tried. He still can’t bunt, still doesn’t hit grounders, many strikeouts and few walks and just in general a lack of doing anything significantly better. And now his stolen bases are down as well. And now his Drs is 5. Sorry, I don’t see the value except as a role player in 2019, or preferably gone.
Somebody needs to teach Billy Hamilton how to bunt than he can use his speed.But the reds won’t spend money on that so why complain when nothing will be done about it.i say hire Brett butler to help billy.
It seems that many of you are forgetting the old saying…….”every championship team is strong up the middle….behind the plate, second, short, and center field”. How about the ’75 and ’76 World Series Champion Teams? They had Cesar Geronimo in center field, and The Chief was never really known for his offense. Although in ’76, he stunned everyone by hitting .307. Geronimo was never the base stealer than Hamilton is, but let me tell you The Chief could play a mean center field. He won four consecutive Gold Gloves ’74 through ’77 and had an absolute cannon for an arm. Sparky Anderson used to say that when Geronimo was running down a flyball, he had about an 8′ stride. I’ve been called “old school” many times, but you’ll never convince me that Hamilton’s offense needs to a lot greater. Sure, that would be nice……..but offense wins games, and defense wins championships.
This is so true and so painfully frustrating to read. The biggest question that I have this year is why does he only have 30 SB? Billy’s numbers this season are almost identical to his career averages, yet his SB numbers are almost half of his career average. You could pinch run him and use him as a defensive sub just about any game and he should have 60 SB on the season at a minimum.