Hill climber in Chicago

RICH HILL An untouchable

Baseball officials are known to gush about their pitching prospects almost as if they were speaking about their own children. Such is the case with lefthander Rich Hill. For while the Cubs spent zillions this offseason, some in their organization are far more excited about Hill than Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, or any of their other acquisitions.

Could Hill be a budding Barry Zito or Tom Glavine?

Obviously, it's too early to tell. But Hill, a 1999 graduate of Milton High School who attended the 2004 World Series parade in Boston as a fan, is one of the Cubs' untouchables, especially as Carlos Zambrano inches closer to free agency at season's end.

Hill, 6 feet 5 inches, 205 pounds, who played at the University of Michigan, seemed to figure things out over his final 12 starts of 2006, going 6-3 with a 2.92 ERA, including 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in September. Over those final 12 starts, Hill struck out 79 with only 24 walks in 80 innings.

Hill was a freshman when Tom Brady was a senior at Michigan, and the poise Brady is known for is the same coolness Hill began to show late last season.

"I had some success at Triple A after I went down in May, and when I came back up [July 28] I was able to do the same things I got Triple A hitters out with at the major league level," Hill said recently from Chicago. "With the success came confidence. And with some of the failures I had I just learned an awful lot. In fact, I remember by brother, John, telling me after I got pounded by the White Sox for seven runs in four innings [May 20] that game was probably the turning point because that was the lowest, my largest failure in the big leagues."

It was also the game in which Cubs catcher Michael Barrett punched White Sox counterpart A.J. Pierzynski in the jaw following a home plate collision, after which Pierzynski enthusiastically slapped home plate. Hill called Pierzynski's actions "gutless," which raised the ire of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

Hill was demoted to Iowa the next day.

"That was the best thing that happened to me," said Hill. "Going back to Triple A and being able to work on the things that got me in trouble. Making changes here and there and just adapting to things. I started having success again in Triple A and in my mind I was wondering when I'd come back up. Once I did, I just had so much more confidence than before."

He pitched two complete games against the Reds (one called after five innings because of rain) and matched Chris Carpenter pitch for pitch for seven innings in front of a big crowd at Busch Stadium Aug. 26, in one of the more intimidating settings in the National League. There was no doubting Hill's ability. He commanded his fastball. That made his curveball, his best pitch, even more effective. He has a slider, and this offseason he's been able to refine his changeup.

Hill also has had the benefit of picking the brain of former Cub Greg Maddux.

"I asked him everything," said Hill. "I even asked him about his changeup and the advice he gave was that he could tell me all day how to throw it and how to grip it, but everybody has to find their own comfort with it. That's what I did. I'm so excited about trying to use it once spring training starts because it will give me a fourth pitch. I was throwing it maybe 10 times a game. Now it's a pitch I feel I can throw any time."

A strikeout artist in the minors, where he fanned 491 batters in 351 2/3 innings, Hill has matured to the point where strikeouts aren't his be all and end all.

"Get them out any way you can," he said. "I was striking out a lot of people, but I'm finding the fewer pitches you use the deeper into the game you're going to get. I'm still learning things all the time. By no means do I think I feel I'm established. I have to prove myself all over again to our new manager, Lou Piniella, and to all of our new teammates."

Don't bet on Swindal's inclusion

Pull the lever, line up three A-Rods, and you win $252 million.

Far-fetched? Of course it is, but if commissioner Bud Selig doesn't rule against Yankees president Steve Swindal's interest in Excelsior, which is vying for control of three New York racetracks and eyeing the inclusion of video slot machines, you might as well allow slots at the new Yankee Stadium.

Next month, the New York Legislature will likely hear recommendations on which of three groups (Excelsior, Empire, or the New York Racing Association) will operate the tracks. Excelsior is run by developer Richard Fields, who industry sources say is close to buying Suffolk Downs (Swindal does not appear to be involved).

An ad hoc committee comprising government appointees in New York conducted a lengthy analysis of multiple bids and scored Excelsior's the best by fewer than 2 percentage points. So it has a real chance.

Baseball doesn't mind its owners having stakes in horses or racetracks, and we're well aware of Swindal's father-in-law, George Steinbrenner, and his love of horses. Gambling is the problem.

The commissioner's office has long indicated it will evaluate potential ties to gambling on a case-by-case basis, but as of Friday Major League Baseball spokesman Patrick Courtney said Selig had not yet ruled.

In October, Robert Nutting, a Pittsburgh Pirates partner, removed slots from consideration at his Seven Springs Mountain resort in the Catskills when told Selig would not have approved. But apparently there is a way around it, and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has learned it -- have your wife own the casino. In that case, Marian Ilitch is owner of the Motor City Casino. Nutting, however, wasn't able to pull it off because it would have created a major structural change in his stake of the Pirates.

Our most educated guess is that Swindal doesn't have a chance of being part of this. But who knows?

Lowell goes about his business

A few questions for Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell.

Q: I'm sure you're used to seeing your name in trade talks. Did the recent leaking of your name by the Colorado Rockies bother you?

ML: "I think the leaking of names is sometimes done by accident and sometimes done intentionally to stir up interest/movement or whatever. The motives aren't always innocent. However, I understand that this ultimately is still a business and trades and talks are part of it."

Q: Theo [ Epstein] told me he tried to get in touch with you or your agent about what happened. Did you get an explanation?

ML: "I did get an explanation and that is all you can ask for."

Q: You said at the [Boston] Baseball Writers dinner how much you loved playing in Boston and you'd like to spend your entire career here. Has that sentiment been officially relayed to the Sox? Any talks concerning a contract beyond this year?

ML: "I believe the Red Sox know this because all upper management was at the writers dinner when I said this, but no talks as of yet have been made about a new contract."

Q: Would you have traded you for Todd Helton?

ML: "Straight up, yes. Our numbers don't compare. However, I like me a lot more than I like Todd, and Todd is a good guy."

Q: You had a very productive season last year. Was there something different about American League pitching that suited you? Was it being in a such a formidable lineup?

ML: "I don't think the AL pitching was a big change because through interleague play I had faced almost everyone already. I believe I worked out hard in the offseason to get my swing to a point of comfort and consistency. When I have that I don't believe the league matters. I believe the numbers will be there."

Triple play
Apropos of nothing: 1. OK, it's the year 20-something, Curt Schilling is running against Tom Brady for a US Senate seat from Massachusetts. Who wins?; 2. Shonda Schilling has it right. A couple of more decent years, another title, and her husband's Hall of Fame chances are extremely good; 3. After reading Gabe Kapler's comments on his fondness for legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's leadership skills in this space last Sunday, former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire, a longtime friend of Wooden's, plans to set up a meeting between the two.

Junior achievement?
Tony Armas Jr. seemed lukewarm on his impending free agency when we spoke in the Nationals clubhouse in September. "In some ways I am looking forward to it," he had said, "but you don't know what it's going to bring or how long you're going to be out there. There's always that unknown about who will want you and the situation." Armas ended up signing a one-year deal with the Pirates last week. The kid once traded from the Red Sox along with Carl Pavano for Pedro Martínez has always had good stuff, but never quite put it together, with injuries playing a role. At 28, it's not too late. Armas's father, a former Sox center fielder, often said, "At some point, he could be a star."

Four baseball officials who were asked were baffled that the Todd Helton deal did not take place last week. The majority agreed the Rockies and Red Sox would rekindle talks in spring training. "Manny Delcarmen [one of the players Colorado asked for] has a very good arm and he could be a very good middle reliever, but you take your chances there. You don't have very many chances to obtain a hitter like Helton," said one National League GM. An American League West GM said, "The last thing you want is for that Red Sox lineup to get better. I was crossing my fingers that it wouldn't get done. Thank God." And an AL Central manager said, "Boston had their reasons for not giving up a prospect and I respect that. That shows restraint and AL East teams don't have much of it. But having said that, Helton is one of the best in the game. Helton at Fenway. Are you kidding?" One NL Central manager thought the Sox did the right thing. "Helton is still very good. I wouldn't want to face him, but who knows about that back problem and how it will play down the road."

It's a tribute to Giants GM Brian Sabean that he backed a medical decision not to allow Mike Matheny to play in 2007. Matheny was one of the game's top catchers, winning four Gold Gloves, and the Giants could surely have used him to work with their young pitchers, but persistent symptoms long after his last concussion were a red flag to Sabean and the Giants' medical staff, who would not clear him to play. "He's a great catcher but he's a better person," said Sabean. "I just think our staff did a great job in recognizing how serious it was and we feel that we were able to shut him down in time and hopefully he'll be able to live a normal life. I think his example will go a long way in helping to ensure that players take concussions seriously in the future." Matheny also did the right thing and retired.

On a conference call last week to announce signing a one-year deal with Texas, Sammy Sosa dodged the steroids question he'll likely get asked a lot in 2007, especially if becomes the Rangers' full-time designated hitter. "I know who I am and how I play baseball," Sosa said. "My numbers don't lie. I'm not going to knock on every fan's home and say, 'Believe me.' I believe in myself."

Barry Bonds's contract is in commissioner Bud Selig's hands and should be resolved shortly, a source familiar with the talks told the Globe. Major League Baseball rejected the $15.8 million, one-year deal, which includes an out should Bonds be indicted on federal perjury charges. But the language that's holding up the deal relates to a personal appearances clause.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com; material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.