Interesting article on Trey Hillman

Rockies of the AL?

Trey Hillman
Nippon Ham Fighters (Japan)

Since Trey Hillman took over in 2001, one foundation for the Fighters has been faith in the power of education and a belief that some less-traditional stats are worth pointing out to the players.  Equaling a 45-year old franchise record with 11 consecutive wins last season was evidence the Fighters have learned.  Hillman has been trying to teach his men to better recognize breaking balls out of the zone so they can lay off  them and attack the most promising pitches instead.
     Hillman has been in professional baseball for more than 20 years.  He is an alumnus of the University of Texas at Arlington where he was a standout baseball player and was named to the UTA Athletic Hall of Honor in 1992.  Hillman spent 13 years in the New York Yankees organization primarily as a manager at every level and won three Manager of the Year awards.  He guided his teams to three first-placed finishes.  In 2002, Trey was named Director of Player Development for the Texas Rangers.  The following year, Trey signed a two-year contract with the Fighters.
     He will use his vast managerial experience to give an inside look in how to build relationships with your players during a main session Friday.  This will follow an examination of the running game and tips on how to manage a poor attitude at Thursday Night Thunder.

Trey Hillman, the former Yankees coach who instituted the tandem relay the A's liked so much -- where Jeter was up the first-base line to shovel pass to nip a standing Jeremy Giambi in post-season play -- has been mentioned as a candidate in Florida.

However, he might have second thoughts. He is managing the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

Hillman lifted the Ham Fighters starter Satoru Kanemura, with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. His starter had a three-run lead and was an out away from earning his 10th victory.

Kanemura said after the game he'd "never forgive" his manager for costing him the win and said "I don't even want to see his face."

Management fined Kanemura 2-million yen and suspending him for the playoffs.

We imagine Hillman won't find the same kind of second guessing from Marlins arms.

In fact, Gibbons would like that too.

Ted Lilly didn't even get fined for his mound explo

Hillman on the Move?: Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman has been the subject of rumors recently after Sports Illustrated's Web site reported the fourth-year skipper would be a good fit for the Kansas City Royals, who would need someone capable of developing younger players.

Hillman, who managed at Triple-A Columbus from 1999-2001, was director of player development for the Texas Rangers in 2002 before coming to Japan.

The Texan said he was flattered by all the speculation, but that his preference would be to stay with the northern Japan club, which is clinging to the last playoff spot in the Pacific League.

"Sometimes, I have to give difficult messages to both the staff and the players. I don't like giving difficult messages, but I am also not afraid to give them."

Further snippets:
The person who has stood the tallest in this whole regrettable incident is Trey Hillman. His handling of the situation has been very adept.

In the macho world of pro sports, nobody likes to be shown up, whether it is player vs. player, player vs. manager, or manager vs. manager. The first instinct is always to step up when challenged...

You have to tip your hat to Hillman in this case for doing exactly the opposite.

The truth is, that he may have dealt with it differently if it had been with a player back home, but now in his fourth season in Japan, the Texan has learned a lot about the culture and reacted appropriately.

By letting the front office deal with Kanemura, Hillman was able to keep himself and the team focused on what was really important -- winning the PL regular-season title and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Instead of these more mundane factors, the press has latched onto manager Trey Hillman's new-found appreciation for the sacrifice bunt as the core cause of the havoc the Hamsters have wrecked.

This should come as no surprise to anyone. After all, a year ago, the Chiba Lotte Marines were getting the same treatment. Manager Bobby Valentine could be forgiven for thinking the media believed his last name was Magic, since so many Lotte wins were accompanied by stories about "Bobby magic." Very often these were articles about the Marines' lineups, which Valentine changes nearly as often as his socks.

This year it is Hillman's turn. After three years of a strict on-base percentage attack in which he bunted less than any other manager in Japan, Hillman is bunting twice as often.

"The bunting has been part of our success but people need to look at it in perspective, because some people are writing that the reason we are winning is because we are bunting more," he said.