Bill Hall DFAed, Bourgeois called up

[jackalope02ca]

It was bound to happen. Hopefully we can still trade him and get something back in return or at least have the other team pick up some of the remaining contract. When a guy doesn't produce over an extended period of time there isn't a lot of other options.

 

Hopefully Hall can catch on in the AL and carve out some sort of career as a utility guy.

 

As for those hoping we do the same to Suppan think about it for a minute. Suppan is still a better option than the majority of other 5th starters as when he is healthy he can eat innings. A lot of 5th starters around the league don't go deep enough in games to keep their bullpens from being overworked regularly.

[jjfanec]

Hall's WAR 0.2 Suppan's WAR -0.3

I will be honest and say I do not fully understand how that stat works, but Suppan before his injury with a mid 4 ERA obviously has more value than a guy who is hitting under .200. Then you look at who we have to replace the two players. Suppan we have Villy, Burns, and McClung, and for Hall we have Gamel, McGehee, Heether and Counsell. Hall had no value to this team where Suppan does.

[wallus]

And tomorrow is Christmas, where Santa leaves us one more to open.

 

I bet the clubhouse is toxic.

Oh no, a toxic clubhouse! They will never win that way.

[CheezWizHed]

Hall's WAR 0.2 Suppan's WAR -0.3

 

This isn't Hall vs. Suppan. Its Hall vs. other Utility players (Heether, Bourgeois, etc..) and Suppan vs other SPs (Dillard, Burns, etc...).

[JohnBriggs12]

Hall needs a fresh start elsewhere. I'm sad to see him go. He had some terrific moments as a Brewer unfortunately not many lately. I wish him well. Bourgeois has earned a look. He can run and he puts the ball in play. He's actually improved as a hitter as he's moved up. McGehee's stats got better at AAA too and he's turned out well.

 

Bourgeois since the All Star break: .353/.386/.462, 17 of 19 SB in 119 AB's.

[bobskube]

I feel terrible for Heether. And he is still not on the 40 man so he won't even get a cup of coffee in September? I feel for the guy. I would like to think the versatility/production make me not a homer for rooting for the guy who came in the system.

God, Is Heether the next Vinny Rottino on here now? Give bourgeois a shot and if he stinks...then Heether can have his chance. I'm sure he will be called up Sept. 1st anyway. It is no big deal.

[bobskube]

Hall is gone. It is a great day for me not too see that guy in a Brewer uniform. He was a stubborn, undisiplined, underperforming crybaby who should have been gone awhile ago. I never liked the guy even when he had his big season. I have been the biggest Hall basher on this site for a reason.

 

God, my dream is the Cubs pick him up now. That would be great since we picked up their Bill hall in Corey Patterson. I feel I should go listen to "Celebrate" by Kool in the Gang or the White Sox song...nah nah nah nah nah nah hey hey hey goodbye!

[EdgarDiazRocks]

i too, would like to be reminded of better times . . .

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2007/05/09/nZiqzLDH.jpg

[monty57]

Someone mentioned this in the "JJ Hardy to AAA" thread, but it really smells like there's a Hardy-and-Hall-for-high-priced-pitcher trade in the works. Otherwise, it doesn't seem to make sense to simply DFA Hall now, since you are going to have to pay him anyway. I thought it might happen in the offseason, when a suitable replacement could be found, but not now. It just seems odd.

[mls4]

Hall was the longest-tenured Brewer, having been on the 40-man roster since November 2001 and debuting with the team September 2002. We've gone through a few of them in the past couple years from Jenkins to Sheets to Hall.

 

If you care to know who was added at the same time as Hall, here's the full transaction:

11/20/01 Added IF Bill Hall, OF Jeff Deardorff, OF Cristian Guerrero, RHP J.M. Gold, RHP Brian Mallette and LHP Luis Martinez to the 40-man roster

 

Now I would call the longest-tenured Brewer is Rickie Weeks, going by his addition to the 40-man upon being signed in August 2003 and also his Brewer debut in September 2003. However, several have been with the organization longer than Weeks, including Fielder, Hart, Hardy, Parra, Iribarren, Escobar, Dillard, Stetter, Heether, Corporan, and Jones. If you go by organization time, Hardy and Jones were both drafted and signed in 2001.

[Invader3K]

Hall's WAR 0.2 Suppan's WAR -0.3

 

This isn't Hall vs. Suppan. Its Hall vs. other Utility players (Heether, Bourgeois, etc..) and Suppan vs other SPs (Dillard, Burns, etc...).

Agreed. Also, thank goodness I've never heard of a single GM in baseball citing WAR as a reason to keep or not keep a player...

[stalsy2310]

Is there a possibility we are going to try to steal some more bases with these call ups?

[Invader3K]

Melvin's comments in the press conference mentioned wanting to see a more "aggressive style". So I would think that is a definite possibility. With Escobar, it would be foolish not to have him attempt some steals.

[stalsy2310]

I think it was foolish all year to not and steal bases. If someone has speed use it.

[thablingster]

I will always remember the good times for Billy Hall. The walk off home runs. The Reds killing. The track suit and gold nike spikes in the 60-yard dash. You'd have to believe this is the end of the line for Hall in Milwaukee, but I definitely wish him the best. I bet somewhere TGJ is smiling right now knowing our outfield platoon consists of Jody Gerut, Cat, and Jason Bourgeois.

[BrewCrewForever]

I will always remember the good times for Billy Hall. The walk off home runs. The Reds killing. The track suit and gold nike spikes in the 60-yard dash. You'd have to believe this is the end of the line for Hall in Milwaukee, but I definitely wish him the best.

Perfectly said thablingster. My thoughts exactly. I have crushed the guy the past two seasons, but he did leave behind a lot of nice memories as well. I will always remember those that you mentioned above and more. Good luck Billy, but this is the best for the both of us.

[brewerjamie15]

I liked Billy. But enough is enough. A year and change of pathetic hitting is what did him in. I got sick of his whining about playing time as well. Goodbye and good luck. No matter -who- comes up to replace Hall can not do any worse. It is time for the French Revolution to begin.

[stalton]

I will always remember the good times for Billy Hall. The walk off home runs. The Reds killing. The track suit and gold nike spikes in the 60-yard dash. You'd have to believe this is the end of the line for Hall in Milwaukee, but I definitely wish him the best.

Perfectly said thablingster. My thoughts exactly. I have crushed the guy the past two seasons, but he did leave behind a lot of nice memories as well. I will always remember those that you mentioned above and more. Good luck Billy, but this is the best for the both of us.

Not to mention all the homers/game winners on holidays beginning with M

[LouisEly]

1) The only reason Bill Hall was called back up from the minors to begin with was because Hart got hurt and Hall was the only person on the 40-man in the minors who had any experience at all playing OF; will Hart out they only had four OFs on the ML roster.

 

B) The only reason Bourgeois got called up was because they needed an OF and it was between him, Patterson, and Katin. The only reason Heether was not called up was because he has only played 17 games in the OF and LF at that, never in CF or RF. Heether was not an option for this move. (Frankly I would have preferred Katin.)

 

3) I think part of this is an audition for Bourgeois for next year, be it a starter or bench player. Cite whatever MLEs you want to but so far Casey McGehee among others, good and bad, have proven that stat is not gospel. And frankly I think speed is a lot more valuable than people give it credit for because of the pressure it puts on defenses (watch a game closely in person from field level seats when Pierre is up or on base and see how it changes), the extra bases speed takes (not just stolen bases, but first-to-third, scoring from second, etc.), how it changes pitch selection when speed is on base, and the added defense in the outfield it provide. All things that do not show up on MLE, OPS, OXS, BABIP, TGIF, CYA, SNAFU, and any other acronym you want to throw out. But that is a topic for another thread.

 

Hall's WAR 0.2 Suppan's WAR -0.3

 

If WAR has Hall above average and Suppan below average for this season that stat is seriously flawed.

[BrewCrewForever]

I agree with LouisEly. Speed can really put pressure on the defense and be a big weapon. Look at Nyjer Morgan, Michael Bourn and Juan Pierre. Sure they don't hit for big power numbers, but they scare the heck out of me and I always hope we had a guy like that, a weapon. I think Escobar can be that guy, and Bourgeois could be a nice player like that off the bench.

[hawing]

Bill Hall's erstwhile success led to my best bobblehead acquisition of all time. I'll thank him for that and wish him well going forward.

[kramnoj]

If WAR has Hall above average and Suppan below average for this season that stat is seriously flawed.

 

It is measuring against replacement level, not average. It includes defense, and Hall is rated well this year. It also indicates how low replacement level offense is set. As one indication, Kendall, with only a positional adjustment and no help from a fielding rating is .1 WAR.

[TooLiveBrew]

Someone mentioned this in the "JJ Hardy to AAA" thread, but it really smells like there's a Hardy-and-Hall-for-high-priced-pitcher trade in the works. Otherwise, it doesn't seem to make sense to simply DFA Hall now, since you are going to have to pay him anyway. I thought it might happen in the offseason, when a suitable replacement could be found, but not now. It just seems odd.

I think this is an interesting angle. However, Hardy would still have to clear waivers if he hasn't already. If he has, I missed it.

 

But that wouldn't be too odd at this point, I miss ONE freaking day on BF.net and ALL THIS GOES DOWN?!?! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Invader3K]

Anyone think there's a chance Hall gets traded somehow yet? Melvin's comments yesterday kind of hinted at it, saying a few teams had called about him.

 

Would be really nice if the Brewers don't have to pay his whole salary next year, or at least swap for someone decent with a similar contract.

[Hate those Rodents]

I'd like to do Hall and Hardy for Harang. We can pay whatever we have to to make them bite on the deal, but at least it wouldn't add a boatload of money to our team.