Props to Bill Hall?

by Saberilliterate on Apr 16, 2009 12:48 AM CDT Comment 27 comments

In this very young season, is it too early to start giving props to Mr. Hall?

Throughout the offseason a lot of smack (on this site and others) was directed at Bill E. Hall and his contract. And given his offensive performance last year - some of it was deserved. But for the first time in his career he made it through an entire off season without a position switch and knowing the position that he was going to play. He is back in the infield and it is showing. Both in the field and at the plate.

His defense has been stellar to start the season. Some of the picks that he has made on the hot corner have been jaw dropping. Even in tonight's game against the Reds, some of the plays that he made from his knees on balls hit so hard that he camera guy couldn't keep up with them.

His offense (on the very young season) is nothing to gripe about either. He is OPS'ing .804 and has an OPS+ of 108

So the question(s) that I am posing is - Is it to early to start liking Bill Hall again and stop griping about his contract? After all, he has only had one bad year.

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I would say Billy has had one really bad season one not so great season and two pretty awesome ones, but I’ve always really liked Bill Hall, it was just getting frustrating watching him struggle after being so good. I hope he has it figured out again because when Billy is playing well he is a fun player to watch.

by Trent Durrington on Apr 16, 2009 2:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't dislike Bill Hall as much as some people do.

But with that said, I haven’t seen enough to call his defense much improved either. He’s made some nice plays, but we’re also talking about the guy who took a ground ball off his face Tuesday night.

I think he’ll have to stay hot for a couple of months before anyone will be ready to forget how wildly inconsistent he was last year. I hope he does, though.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by KLSnow on Apr 16, 2009 6:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't it his chest?

He was rubbing his chest after it happened.

by tcyoung on Apr 16, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he doesn't improve off of last year, we'll have a +3 3B according to UZR.

I’m fine with that – that means if he’s 5.5 runs below average with the bat, he’s a league average player. If he’s -10.5 with the bat he’s worth the contract.

---
Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com

by Jack Moore on Apr 16, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Bill Hall hits .250ish with decent power against righties and plays above average defense he just might be the most valuable player on the team. That level of performance should keep Counsell on the bench for most of the season.

by Getting Yosted on Apr 16, 2009 8:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It is too early.

I think I need a bigger sample size on his righty-lefty splits before I give props on his batting. As of this early date, he’s still only batting .188 with an OPS of .566 vs RHP. I tend to think he’ll be better than last year, but it’s too early to tell.

I’ve never had a problem with his defense. Did he make web gems the other night with that throw to get Wily Tavaras?

by cmow on Apr 16, 2009 9:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Did he make web gems the other night with that throw to get Wily Tavaras?

Sorry I don’t know since I don’t watch ESPIN’s Baseball Tonight.

by Saberilliterate on Apr 16, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He made the #2 Top Play, so I’d assume he made a web gem.

I rarely watch the ESPN “experts” anymore, or “LIVE” SportsCenter in general.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 minutes for hijynxing.

by Lavender on Apr 16, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The MLB channel's show is so far and away superior to Baseball Tonight it's not even funny

I just sit back and root for the taser
I'm on Twitter now. www.twitter.com/Enrico_Palazzo_

by Hyatt on Apr 16, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even with the Fernando Vina blooper :)

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 minutes for hijynxing.

by Lavender on Apr 16, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the MLB network show

But cringe everytime Mitch Williams is on and talking.

by Supertramp on Apr 16, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no worse than Kruk

I just sit back and root for the taser
I'm on Twitter now. www.twitter.com/Enrico_Palazzo_

by Hyatt on Apr 16, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

I think they are about the same. Adding Kruk basically made BBTN unwatchable for me, I was disapointed that MLB Network decided they needed to add his clone to their nightly show.

Also, that whole discussion with Larkin and Casey about statistics (covered brilliantly by Joe Posnanski) was enough to make my ears bleed.

by Supertramp on Apr 16, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What bothers me most about MLB Network

is that they do not show enough games. The MLB Network is similar to the NFL Network in that they do not really add that much to television viewing experience. I expect for there to be at least one game on per day or else it is just a money grab.

by Dionysus0 on Apr 16, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I actually like that you can turn it on during the night to see what else is going on throughout the game and aren’t locked into one specific game, I just wish they wouldn’t have gone for former ESPN guys and the typical Kruk like “player’s view” type guy.

For example last night I turned on to see Sheffield’s first Met at bat, they went live when Swisher was pitching earlier in the week (awesome), they cut to other notable events going on. All stuff you would miss if it was just a normal Reds-Mets game or something like that.

I’m watching the Brewers on the nights they are on, and if they aren’t on, you can watch either have MLB.tv or Extra innings for a different game – I like the concept of MLB Network.

by Supertramp on Apr 16, 2009 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Former ESPN guy

I used to really like Harold Reynolds on BBTN, but he’s insufferable on MLB network. I do like Sean Casey and Barry Larkin, though.

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 16, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

like MTV?

no music anymore?

by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 16, 2009 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

MTV2 barely has music on it anymore either

I just sit back and root for the taser
I'm on Twitter now. www.twitter.com/Enrico_Palazzo_

by Hyatt on Apr 17, 2009 7:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

pretty soon

Viacom will come out with MTV Music. An MTV channel dedicated to crappy music and their crappy videos.

by tcyoung on Apr 17, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dare I dream of a Nickelback marathon

I just sit back and root for the taser
I'm on Twitter now. www.twitter.com/Enrico_Palazzo_

by Hyatt on Apr 17, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or Heinder.

by tcyoung on Apr 17, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know Hasher and Hancer…

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Apr 17, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why must we

pick on the early 1990s Phillies? Who’s next? Milt Thompson? Jim Eisenreich? Kim Batiste?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Apr 17, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of which...

Hall is rather significantly overperforming his PrOPS so far.

by Zeyes on Apr 16, 2009 12:21 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I see what you did there

well played sir

I just sit back and root for the taser
I'm on Twitter now. www.twitter.com/Enrico_Palazzo_

by Hyatt on Apr 16, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BILL HALL RULES

Favorite Bill Hall moment:
Suppan strikes out after swinging at a pitch that hits the dirt 4 feet off the plate. Suppan practically falls over trying to hit it. He goes back to the dugout and Bill Hall gives him a look of “that was tough, there was nothing you could have done about that…”

by JAMOOL on Apr 16, 2009 3:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I've maintained that he's a fine defender

If there was smack going on, it wasn’t in my posts or even on the front page of this site.

If he can hit .250/.315/.440 playing every day he’s worth his contract easily. If he can’t keep the OBP above .300, I’d look into bringing up Gamel to play v righties at least by August.

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on Apr 16, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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