Bill Hall

[Dojji]

Hall has kinda been an unsing hero for the Sox this year. He plays all infield and outfield positions, posts an .800+ OPS at the moment, hits with righthanded power, filled in nicely when 2 of our 3 starting OF were/are out and apparently can hit the corners with an 89 mile an hour fastball.

 

I just thought it was appropriate that he recieve some love. He's been a pretty important piece for the team and it's easy to miss IMHO.

[rhet]

Agreed.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I agree. I just got into an argument a week ago with someone about him because they said he is terrible. He really isn't, and has been important

[Dipre]

The captain of the Bill Hall defense team approves.

[Dojji]

Crazy Dojji Theory Time, but what with the state of the lower echelons of this bullpen, I wouldn't mind seeing Hall tried on the mound again in a no-pressure situation.

 

Basically I really liked what he managed to do and think he might be able to repeat it. He did a lot of what people pull their hair out trying to convince a pitcher to do -- kept away from the middle of the plate, kept it low, hit his spots at 89, and induced 3 ground ball outs, that starts to hover around the fringes of actual usefulness, especially when you're talking about pitching in relief. It went beyond the novelty of having a position player pitch to the point that Hall actually looked good out there (I know, I know, it was the Royals, but still). My eyes might be tricking me but I even thought I saw his fastball move a little towards the end of his inning

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8455089

 

Two of those outs the catcher isn't even moving his glove, the third is a perfect 0-2 pitch on the outside corner where the hitter has to go get it and probably hits it on the ground.. Again, pitching coaches tear their hair out trying to get that from a lot of young kids.

 

It's not like we really have a great deal to lose, he's on the roster either way, and you never know if we could wind up in the kind of situation that had Javier Lopez in right field a couple years ago -- having a guy who could come in from left field, retire one righthanded hitter, and then go back into left field, could potentially be useful. Being able to wrangle having 13 pitchers and 13 players on a 25 man roster could also come in handy in some of the crazier games you encounter in a regular season.

 

Ehh, it's just a vagrant thought. I put it out there mostly so I can have said it somewhere so I can move on from it, so take it FWIW.

[VA Sox Fan]

I agree!

 

From yesterday's Globe:

 

Meaningless, but still amusing: Bill Hall has five home runs and 15 RBIs in 97 at-bats. Jason Bay has three home runs and 24 RBIs in 212 at-bats. Obviously Bay is a much better player. But still.

[BoSox21]

Yea, I've been pretty impressed with the Rosenthal silencer

[BigPapiEnFuego]

After watching that video i'd like Bill Hall to pitch a bit more too. He seemed decent.

[Dojji]

Glad I'm not the only one.

 

Hey, maybe Hall should develop a knuckleball.

[a700hitter]

Hall hits the ball very hard. He runs and throws well. He's an adequate 4th/5th OFer. He's a better fielder than Hermida. He's not MIF material though.

[Dipre]

Hall hits the ball very hard. He runs and throws well. He's an adequate 4th/5th OFer. He's a better fielder than Hermida. He's not MIF material though.

 

You keep saying that, but he's looked good there the chances he's been given. Aren't you a member of the "WATCH THE GAMEZZZ!!!!" squad?

[Dojji]

Decided to go through the Gameday stuff and apparently I wasn't wrong about Hall's movement -- Gameday's Pitch F/X identified 7 of Hall's 11 pitches as Cutters, which is almost certainly not accurate but does at least indicate his fastball was running a little.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_05_28_kcamlb_bosmlb_1&mode=wrap

[Dipre]

Decided to go through the Gameday stuff and apparently I wasn't wrong about Hall's movement -- Gameday's Pitch F/X identified 7 of Hall's 11 pitches as Cutters.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_05_28_kcamlb_bosmlb_1&mode=wrap

 

It's the best tool for identifying pitch type and movement, however, i disagree with you about Hall eating some innings, if only for the potential of an injury.

[Dojji]

It's the best tool for identifying pitch type and movement' date=' however, i disagree with you about Hall eating some innings, if only for the potential of an injury.[/quote']

 

I certainly agree that he shouldn't pitch regularly, but if the choice is to bring out some arm-weary middle reliever, or Hall, and it's a blowiout (either way) going to him 5-10 times in a season I don't think would do any damage.

 

Perhaps what we saw was simply what might have been, if the Brewers had decided to develop the other side of Hall's skillset. Hard to blame them though, with the prospect of a power-hitting shortstop one way and maybe a half decent reliever the other..

[Dipre]

I certainly agree that he shouldn't pitch regularly' date=' but if the choice is to bring out some arm-weary middle reliever, or Hall, and it's a blowiout (either way) going to him 5-10 times in a season I don't think would do any damage.[/quote']

 

If he actually gets injured though, half the "Sox Nation" will call for Francona's head for being an idiot and a s***** manager. Position players are position players, pitchers are pitchers, but that's just the way i see it. After all, pitchers hit in the NL.

[Dojji]

yeah well, you know me, any odd novelty gets me intrigued and I want to see it tried. I agree that the downside may not be worth the upside.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

But back in the day position players used to pitch all the time and vice-versa. They're all just pansies now.

[Dipre]

But back in the day position players used to pitch all the time and vice-versa. They're all just pansies now.

 

Well it's a different time, even though i know what you actually mean.

[jacksonianmarch]

I stand by my initial prediction that Hermida gets DFA'd before Hall

[Dipre]

How about neither of them gets DFA'd?

[Palodios]

Both of them are worth something, so if anything, they'll be traded.

[jacksonianmarch]

How about neither of them gets DFA'd?

 

Oh, I know it is moot. I just caught heat for pontificating that Hall might be worth more than Hermida.

[yeszir]

Hall is tearing it up. He's stepped up big time in the wake of all these injuries. 12 for his last 31 with 8 RBIs and 11 runs scores isn't too shabby for a guy Jacko is sure will be DFA'd.

[jacksonianmarch]

yz, you have it wrong. I said Hermida would be DFA'd before Hall. I was actually singing his praises

[yeszir]

yz' date=' you have it wrong. I said Hermida would be DFA'd before Hall. I was actually singing his praises[/quote']

 

Oh I thought your post implied that they would both be DFA'd. My bad.

[TheMino007]

You need your bench players too. I can't complain about what he has done when called about in Cameron's/Ellsbury's absences.

[Northern Star]

So since Yahoo lists him as a pitcher, I guess the switch is official?