News
Hill, Lind a surprisingly productive pair
Jays sluggers could finish as league's top RBI tandem
By Mike Scott / Special to MLB.com
09/14/09 7:43 PM ET
DETROIT -- Simply put, there is just one other 1-2 punch offensively in the Majors that has more combined RBIs than Toronto's Aaron Hill and Adam Lind.That may come as a surprise to many fans because the Blue Jays aren't in the pennant race, and Hill and Lind don't have an aura of star power attached to their names that more experienced and established players enjoy. They both entered Monday's finale against the Tigers with 97 RBIs.
Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria (103) and Carlos Pena (100) and Boston's Jason Bay (101) and Victor Martinez (97) had more combined RBIs entering Monday's game. And with Pena on the disabled list with a broken finger for the remainder of the year, it is likely the Toronto pair will have a chance to take over that lead. And the majority of Martinez's RBIs came with the Indians before a July trade to the Red Sox.
Kendry Morales (98) and Bobby Abreu (94) also have been extremely productive in the middle of the Angels' balanced lineup.
Jays manager Cito Gaston admits that both Hill and Lind want to eclipse 100 RBIs for the first time in their respective careers. While it doesn't play into how he manages a game, it is one of the personal achievements Gaston hopes will be met the remainder of this season.
"You want them to get to that mark to perhaps take some of the pressure off," Gaston said. "I'm not sure that they are really feeling it, but you'll feel better once they get there."
It is likely that the two Blue Jays hitters will continue to have long-term success because of their skill and their approach to the game, Gaston said. He admitted that the high number of home runs for Hill this season have been a bit surprising, but added that he expects his second baseman to hit for a high average and produce runs throughout his career.
"He's a gamer and very coachable," Gaston said. "He knows how to play the game and wants to improve."
And as Hill proved on Saturday with a game-winning two-run home run in the ninth inning, he also has a flair for the dramatic.
Gaston also expects Lind to be a long-term power hitter who can hit both right-handers and left-handers in the middle of Toronto's lineup. Lind is a very patient hitter who doesn't shy away from lefty pitchers, Gaston said, which is a good sign of his likely consistent production.
"Like [Hill], he is a coachable kid and really wants to learn," Gaston said. "I think what we are seeing from [Lind] right now is what he is going to be -- a very productive hitter."
Lind said neither he nor Hill is focused on being among the league leaders. In fact, they are more concerned with a friendly rivalry between the two for who will end up with more RBIs on the team.
"It's like when Hill got a cheap RBI [with a fielder's choice groundout Sunday], I give him [ribbing] about it and he will do the same," Lind said with a laugh. "I think we're more concerned about that, but we definitely root for each other. We want both of us to end up with as many [RBIs] as we can.
"I can tell you there is no one better to go through this with than Hill. He's the best. But now he caught up to me, so I need to pick it up a bit. Either way, it's fun to be a couple of run producers in the middle of this lineup."
There is a drill that Gaston wants to work on with some of his young left-handed hitters, including Lind and Travis Snider. It is a drill in which coaches will soft toss baseballs inside to their hitters, which will help them pull those balls with power. It also helps the hitters keep their heads still on those inside pitches, which helps them drive the ball.
Currently, Lind does a nice job looking for certain pitches when he is at the plate, and when he gets that pitch, he can do a lot with it, Gaston said. But if he can become more effective on pitches up and in and down and in, Gaston expects Lind's numbers to get even better.
"If he does that, I would expect you would see him hit 40 home runs," Gaston said.
Mike Scott is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
