Shea Hillenbrand DFA'ed...

[GoCubsAndJays]

Originally Posted by Skipaway

You are talking about something unrelated to this issue. It's not about if Hillenbrand was given enough playing time that he deserved, but how to manage Hillenbrand. It's normal for players to complain about not playing more, or hitting in the wrong spots in the lineups, regardless how they are playing.

The issue was indeed Hillenbrand was sometimes not in the lineup as he claimed, and he went to the manager to complain. What we are not sure of is how Gibbons explained it to Hillenbrand. If indeed he called Hillenbrand for that, then he might just have poor managing skills.

I guess I can agree with that, but even still, not playing in only 5 games in a month is still no reason to complain about playing time when you playing more than most of the other players on the roster.

[Bob Zupcic]

Originally Posted by darkenigma510

One has to wonder whether JP is just not a people person.

Could be true, but Hillenbrand is no angel either. If I remember correctly, when the Red Sox traded him for Byung-Hyun Kim, he left some serious scorched earth on his way out the door. He's known around the league for being a first-class jerk. Just to give you a flavor, Carl Everett took Hillenbrand under his wing when Hillenbrand was a rookie.

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by GoCubsAndJays

I guess I can agree with that, but even still, not playing in only 5 games in a month is still no reason to complain about playing time when you playing more than most of the other players on the roster.

It wouldn't be surprising if he believes he's also better than all those with less playing time than he did. He probably felt Gibbons shouldn't start Zaun and Hinske at DH and 3B in a game against Angels.

It's understandable players aren't great at evaluating talents.

I am not saying Hillenbrand was right, just saying it might just be some personality clashes instead of someone being unreasonable.

[bababui]

From the Angels perspective

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseba...rts-mlb-angels

[abailey3313]

Originally Posted by GoCubsAndJays

The only weird thing is that Hillenbrand HAS been playing everyday. I don't know why he would be demanding to play more.

That'll be fixed with the next patch.

[abailey3313]

dola,

The caption for the picture accompanying this article is funny. Expect Shea Hillenbrand will land somewhere. Talk about pointing out the obvious.

Second, Overbay and Glaus have the corners under control. I'm not positive that the drop off from Hillenbrand to Hinske is that big of one, considering he'll probably get traded. It remains to be seen what they get in return, but it's not as if they gave up a key player at a thin position.

[ill16ca]

I'm actually kind of happy that this has happened. I've never liked Hillenbrand much... I don't like his attitude or his playing style.

Maybe now they can get Hinske out of right field and get Johnson more playing time. Then they could DH Hinske against righties and Molina against lefties, then split Zaun and Molina at catcher against righties.

[Hammer755]

Hillenbrand has to be one of the most predictable players in baseball. Book him for a 0.300 average, 0.340 OBP, and 0.460 SLG. He really is proof that you can bat 0.300 and still not be a very good player.

He really has no leg to stand on in his argument for more playing time. There are 8 guys on Toronto's roster with 150+ PA who have a better OBP% and better SLG% than him and he's a terrible defender to boot.

[crackpott]

Positives: Hillenbrand always sucks in the second half, and his slide has already begun. We really should be trading him regardless. Also, it now gives me a new player to follow around Skydome and heckle for 1.5 hours of batting practice other than David Wells.

Negatives: If we're forced to trade him, we won't get as good of a return. Also... I worry about the effect on the clubhouse.

[mikev]

Originally Posted by crackpott

Positives: Hillenbrand always sucks in the second half, and his slide has already begun.

I wonder if it's because he's never in a pennant race?

[andjbock]

Originally Posted by Bob Zupcic

Could be true, but Hillenbrand is no angel either. If I remember correctly, when the Red Sox traded him for Byung-Hyun Kim, he left some serious scorched earth on his way out the door. He's known around the league for being a first-class jerk. Just to give you a flavor, Carl Everett took Hillenbrand under his wing when Hillenbrand was a rookie.

I seem to remember it that way as well.

[mikev]

http://tinyurl.com/s3pdw

There's so much more than Hillenbrand complaining about playing time.

Sources have said that Hillenbrand and other players had taken turns attempting to write humorous messages on a clubhouse chalkboard. At one point, Hillenbrand is said to have written: "This is a sinking ship" on the board.

Though the messages were being quickly erased by the players after writing them, somebody apparently got word back to Gibbons about Hillenbrand's scribbling. After batting practice, the manager entered a players-only meeting, demanded who had written the message and got in Hillenbrand's face when he accepted responsibility.

Gibbons busted into a players only meeting, and then got in Hillenbrand's face? In a PLAYERS ONLY meeting?

Yeah I'd be a little pissed if I was him, too.

[BlackHatCowboy]

Hillenbrand to Minnesota? Possiblity? They were interested in him earlier in the season.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by ill16ca

I'm actually kind of happy that this has happened. I've never liked Hillenbrand much... I don't like his attitude or his playing style.

Maybe now they can get Hinske out of right field and get Johnson more playing time. Then they could DH Hinske against righties and Molina against lefties, then split Zaun and Molina at catcher against righties.

agreed, and going with Hammer's quote as well. It won't be too big of a loss , and much to gain.

[abailey3313]

Originally Posted by BlackHatCowboy

Hillenbrand to Minnesota? Possiblity? They were interested in him earlier in the season.

Toronto would be stupid to do that.

They want to make the playoffs and right now, the Twins are one game up on them in the wild card hunt. Unless they could pry an important piece away from the Twins current roster, it'd be foolish to directly help a team you're competing with for a playoff spot.

I think the Padres make the most sense.

[andjbock]

From Wiki:

Nevertheless, Hillenbrand entered 2003 being the subject of trade rumors. The Red Sox had signed free agent Bill Mueller, another third baseman, and many believed that Hillenbrand's lack of strike zone judgment would not be compatible with the on base percentage priorities of new Sox general manager Theo Epstein. With Mueller hitting around .380 and playing a solid third base, Hillenbrand became expendable and was sent to Arizona for pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim on May 29. The move was arguably expedited after Hillenbrand had earlier made some disparaging remarks about Epstein on a radio show by calling him a "faggot" while demanding he be traded from the Red Sox. He finished the season with a combined .280 batting average and career-highs in RBI (97) and home runs (20), including a three-homer game with the Diamondbacks in month of July.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by andjbock

From Wiki:

Nevertheless, Hillenbrand entered 2003 being the subject of trade rumors. The Red Sox had signed free agent Bill Mueller, another third baseman, and many believed that Hillenbrand's lack of strike zone judgment would not be compatible with the on base percentage priorities of new Sox general manager Theo Epstein. With Mueller hitting around .380 and playing a solid third base, Hillenbrand became expendable and was sent to Arizona for pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim on May 29. The move was arguably expedited after Hillenbrand had earlier made some disparaging remarks about Epstein on a radio show by calling him a "faggot" while demanding he be traded from the Red Sox. He finished the season with a combined .280 batting average and career-highs in RBI (97) and home runs (20), including a three-homer game with the Diamondbacks in month of July.

dind't the RSox win the WS soon afterwards?

[Erik W.]

I'm just curious what Hillenbrand's expectations for a team are, since he was quoted as saying "and they wonder why they aren't winning," and the sinking ship "joke." The Jays are still 10 over .500 and very much in contention.

Maybe he hasn't been on a good team since Little League, so he only thinks undefeated = good or something.

[andjbock]

He was traded mid-year in 03' and they made the playoffs, but won in '04.

[GoCubsAndJays]

Here's another article.

The team was having a players-only meeting, called by Vernon Wells, when in stormed irate manager John Gibbons.

According to one unnamed Blue Jay: "The manager said: 'You're gone! I'll be gone before you ever play another game in this organization.'

"It was as hot as I've ever seen (Gibbons) and that includes all of his ejections."

Hillenbrand was hitting .301 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs in 81 games. How easy is it to replace that?

"He was a cancer in this clubhouse," another player said. "Shea's day went the way the lineup card went. If he was in the lineup, everything was fine. If he wasn't he'd sulk. Sometimes he wouldn't even come out to hit."

Hillenbrand has a passion for being in the everyday lineup and most managers say there's nothing wrong with that. He made 17 starts at first base, 15 at third base and 43 as the designated hitter.

"I got along with him, but his sense of humour rubbed some people the wrong way," Wells said.

Hillenbrand's sense of humour included ripping the Canadian flag crest off the hat that the Jays wore Canada Day in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, according to a team official. Hillenbrand had been taken out of that game in the seventh inning.

If Hillenbrand actually did rip the Canadian flag crest off... that shows how classless he is. When you're playing for a Canadian organization, at least respect the country.