It can be said that if you have a gift but cannot find the ability to use it, then you have no gift at all.
This is the case of Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton. Hamilton has been a fixture of the struggling Reds offense all season, posting a .256/.298/.364/.661 line in 2014 with 56 SBs in 79 chances ("Billy Hamilton Statistics and History", 2014). His speed sets him apart from his peers as one of the most explosive players in baseball capable of making a run all on his own,.
This is the case of Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton. Hamilton has been a fixture of the struggling Reds offense all season, posting a .256/.298/.364/.661 line in 2014 with 56 SBs in 79 chances ("Billy Hamilton Statistics and History", 2014). His speed sets him apart from his peers as one of the most explosive players in baseball capable of making a run all on his own,.
You might say "what's the big deal?" Well those 23 Caught Stealings notwithstanding, Hamilton just has not been as productive as the Reds need him to be. Sure, the Reds offense has been wracked with injuries this year and failed to hit consistently. Manager Byran Price has had to use "99 total lineups (130 when including pitchers)" ("2014 Cincinnati Reds", 2014). But Hamilton has been there in 148 games, batting leadoff 132 times. In September, "[h]e's batting just .150 (6-for-40) this month and what's worse is that he's got just one stolen base in 12 games" (Bender, 2014). That doesn't get it done. His talent is obvious. But for the Reds to succeed and for Hamilton to flourish, he is going to need to play some winter ball, fall league ball, something. pitchers have figured out his tendencies in a little over one full season of big league ball. He needs to learn to better make contact to best utilize his blazing speed and cut down on his 114 Ks.
Otherwise, it;s like he has no gift at all.
References
2014 Cincinnati Reds. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014.
2014 Cincinnati Reds. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014.
Bender, H. (2014, September 1). Billy Hamilton drives in two with eighth triple | Fantasy Alarm. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
Billy Hamilton Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014.
Otherwise, it;s like he has no gift at all.
References
2014 Cincinnati Reds. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014.
2014 Cincinnati Reds. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014.
Bender, H. (2014, September 1). Billy Hamilton drives in two with eighth triple | Fantasy Alarm. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
Billy Hamilton Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014.