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Billy Hamilton is baseball’s supreme speed merchant
Saturday’s Say Hey, Baseball talks about what could be a massive year for Billy Hamilton. Plus, Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper both hit massive dingers.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
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Remember the fast times of the 1980s, when baseball was filled with speedsters like Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman, and Tim Raines? Those players were able to steal bases with such regularity that they could basically fall out of bed and have 50-70 stolen bases to their name for the season. As the game evolved, that part of the game has diminished. However, one player is trying to bring it back, and that’s Billy Hamilton.
Hamilton has averaged 57 stolen bases over his first three full seasons as a big leaguer, but 2017 could end up being an amazing year even for his standards. He may have gone hitless on Friday night, but he did get on base with a walk. Once he was on base, he gave Philadelphia’s infield nightmares because he managed to add two more stolen bases to his impressive tally so far. Most importantly, he made it home and his run helped the Reds pick up the win on Friday against the Phillies.
Hamilton now has 23 stolen bases this year, which is nine ahead of Dee Gordon’s 14. Buster Olney noted that Cincinnati’s speed merchant is now on pace for a whopping 86 stolen bases this year, which would be the most that anybody’s put up in a single season since Rickey Henderson stole 93 bases in 1988. Billy Hamilton has always been known for his game-breaking speed, but this could be the season where he truly takes it to another level and reaches heights that haven’t been seen since the 1980s.
- It isn’t exactly breaking news that Giancarlo Stanton has an incredible amount of pop in his bat, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive whenever he shows it off.
- The same could be said for Bryce Harper, who managed to reach the upper deck in right field with this utter moonshot of a dinger.
- Bartolo Colon’s most recent start didn’t go well (again), and now the Braves could be losing patience with him as a starter.
- Sonny Gray threw well in his last start, so naturally fans are starting to wonder what the trade market could look like for him.
- In further trade market news, if Tommy Joseph keeps up his performances then it could be time for the Phillies to see what they could get for him.
- Brandon Moss had an atrocious start, but he’s starting to hit again and is looking like his old self now.
- If the Tigers aren’t in the playoff race this summer, then a fire sale could be looming.
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