Bill Hall wants to play more

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

"I'm one of the leaders on this team, so I want to be out there," Hall said. "I want to play every game because I feel like I can do something to help this team win, whether that is making a big play in the outfield or getting a big hit.

"Obviously, everybody wants to play. But whatever happens, happens. I've always been here for the team. I just want to do whatever is right for the team."

I understand why it would be good for Hall to play more, but Gross is playing too well right now. Hall has still been appearing in most games so at least he's not rotting on the bench when there is a righty on the mound. I think Hall has come around and look for him to get some huge hits down the stretch.

 

Hall's defense is also getting better by the day so it is good to have so many options in the OF.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I understand why it would be good for Hall to play more, but Gross is playing too well right now

 

Actually Gross isn't. He's 3 for his last 17. After that ridiculous hot streak, he cooled right off again. He peaked a few weeks ago with an .850 OPS, and he's back below .800 again.

 

Hall's had his struggles, for sure, but he needs to be out there more than he has been.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Actually Gross isn't. He's 3 for his last 17.

I was not aware of that. I guess my memory of his good play is shot. He did have a nice double today though. Maybe it is time to start Hall in CF in spite if a RHP is on the mound.

[1992casey]

Tuesdays, do you have a link for that quote? I'd like to see what kind of context the writer put it in.

[stoutdude04]

Im pretty sure that it was taken from the Milwaukee Brewers website. Dont know for sure so I wont link it either.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Tuesdays, do you have a link for that quote? I'd like to see what kind of context the writer put it in.

Hall Article

[homer]

"Actually Gross isn't. He's 3 for his last 17. After that ridiculous hot streak, he cooled right off again. He peaked a few weeks ago with an .850 OPS, and he's back below .800 again. "

 

sample

[DuWayne Steurer]

"Actually Gross isn't. He's 3 for his last 17. After that ridiculous hot streak, he cooled right off again. He peaked a few weeks ago with an .850 OPS, and he's back below .800 again. "

 

sample

 

 

 

Yeah, I understand that. But if Yost is trying to play the "hot bat", it's not Gross.

 

[endaround]

"Actually Gross isn't. He's 3 for his last 17. After that ridiculous hot streak, he cooled right off again. He peaked a few weeks ago with an .850 OPS, and he's back below .800 again. "

 

sample

Of course its a small sample, but if you ask Yost right now why Gross is playing its because he has a "hot hand." I really don't have a problem with it since they still need to evaluate if he can replace Jenkins, but he's not in the lineup for that reason.

 

[Jay Zahn]

Gross is in the lineup to provide OBP. Hall's offensive value this year has been primarily slugging, and the Brewers don't particularly need more slugging.

[homer]

"Of course its a small sample, but if you ask Yost right now why Gross is playing its because he has a "hot hand." I really don't have a problem with it since they still need to evaluate if he can replace Jenkins, but he's not in the lineup for that reason. "

 

 

True, but Nedly has actually been looking at some stats lately other than batting average.

 

"Since they've come back, Rickie's hit .312 with a .495 on-base percentage, and Gabe's hit .328 with a .400 on-base percentage," Yost said. "Rickie's averaging 4.63 pitches per plate appearance, which is first on the team. Gabe's at 4.31 per plate appearance, which is second on the team.

 

"Since Aug. 10, Rickie's got the highest on-base percentage in the NL and the second-highest in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez."

 

 

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=659621

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Why do I envision Bill Hall hitting a walk of home run against San Diego to save the season and get us into the playoffs? Am I dreaming?

[theavrock]

Because Bill Hall is a player that is loved irrationally on this board and by Brewer Nation. People remember the walkoffs and the fact that he struggled up through the system and "made" it. I like Bill Hall but he gets way too many props.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Because Bill Hall is a player that is loved irrationally on this board and by Brewer Nation. People remember the walkoffs and the fact that he struggled up through the system and "made" it. I like Bill Hall but he gets way too many props.

 

For a guy who had an .837 and an .899 OPS the last 2 years, I think he's hated irrationally much more than the reverse.

 

[theavrock]

As I stated I like Bill Hall. I far from hate him. But he strikes out more than Jenkins does but we rarely hear that. I was just responding to Rillo's question. People give him the benefit of the doubt most of the time wheras I dont feel like he earned that from one great season and one good to average season.

 

We need guys who get on base like Gross in the lineup especially when Hall struggles against righties. I am in no way advocating sitting Hall against lefties in favor of Gross (or anyone for that matter). I just think that Hall has struggled all season long and Gross has been great since he came back up so why not play him.

[rotoherb]

after today's game Gross is 4 for his last 21, but with five walks during that span. A .346 OBP during a small slump is still enough to have him bat second against righthanded pitchers. Hall will start tomorrow, I'm sure, against Gorzelanny.

[logan82]

after today's game Gross is 4 for his last 21, but with five walks during that span. A .346 OBP during a small slump is still enough to have him bat second against righthanded pitchers. Hall will start tomorrow, I'm sure, against Gorzelanny.

Darn it, that's what I was going to say. At least if he isn't hitting Gross still gets on base.

 

EDIT: It didn't sound like Hall was saying that he should be playing over Gross, just that he prefers to play. We heard pretty much the same thing from Hall last year when he was a super utility player before JJ got hurt.

[rluzinski]

I like seeing Gross's bat in the lineup but I also think it's important to get Hall's bat in the lineup at least 4 times a week. I don't see why that's not possible.

[RU Rah Rah]

I understand Billy's point, but his PT wouldn't be an issue if he was raking and/or getting on base. His OPS+ this year is a whopping 94. (This might have something to do with him seemingly swinging at the first pitch pretty much every time up.)

 

That said, I can see a point being made for him needing to play in order to get back in the groove. A bit of a Catch-22 there.

[jeffy]

As I stated I like Bill Hall. I far from hate him. But he strikes out more than Jenkins does but we rarely hear that. I was just responding to Rillo's question. People give him the benefit of the doubt most of the time wheras I dont feel like he earned that from one great season and one good to average season.

 

We need guys who get on base like Gross in the lineup especially when Hall struggles against righties. I am in no way advocating sitting Hall against lefties in favor of Gross (or anyone for that matter). I just think that Hall has struggled all season long and Gross has been great since he came back up so why not play him.

I don't know, there is just something about Jenkins strike outs that bothers me more. I think it is the way he often seems to be just flailing at the ball. Maybe it is just the style of his swing. Or maybe he swings at pitches that are way out of the strike zone more often than Hall. This season both Hall and Jenkins have struck out in 24% of plate appearances.

 

Bill Hall has been a disappointment offensively this year. He does seem to be figuring out that CF thing, though.

 

Going off on a tangent...watching Ricky Weeks blow and nearly blow several double plays makes me wonder why he was not the one to move to the outfield, rather than Bill Hall.

[billyhallfan]

watching Ricky Weeks blow and nearly blow several double plays makes me wonder why he was not the one to move to the outfield

 

"Rickie" has gotten much better at defense this year, and I am getting tired of people saying that he should be moved...

 

 

About the Hall thing, Bill has struggled, there is no doubt about that. But until he proves that he should be playing everyday with his play, then I think things need to continue the way they are. It seems like his offense almost misses the moving around, but his defense has gotten better. I think the weakest part of his game is deciding where to throw the ball, but he should get better at that. Until Hall goes on a tear, I think the Gross v. RHP and the Hall v. LHP is working just fine.

 

All that being said, it is a good thing that he wants to play, he shouldn't be happy about sitting.

[Jimbo]

Why do I envision Bill Hall hitting a walk of home run against San Diego to save the season and get us into the playoffs? Am I dreaming?

 

Right now my nightmare is Russell Branyan (Cards) and Brady Clark (Pads) coming back to haunt the Brewers. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/frown.gif

[jeffy]

Weeks defense should be measured against other every day second basemen in the league, not against his own performance in 2006.

 

He has the lowest fielding pct., is in a tie for 2nd most errors. He is also near the bottom in number of DPs, though a lot of other factors go into that. He also seems to be involved in an above average number of misplays that do not get scored as errors...of course, that could just be my mistaken impression.

 

His defense remain pretty poor as far as I can tell.

[rluzinski]

(This might have something to do with him seemingly swinging at the first pitch pretty much every time up.)

 

That isn't even close to true, as far as I can tell. I don't have swing/take data but I do know that in 151 of Hall's 418 AB , he's started off 1-0. He's even gotten to 2-0 on 10% of his AB. He's always been a very patient hitter. Last year, he averaged 4.15 pitches per PA, the 5th most in the NL. This year he's averaging "only" 3.98 P/PA (14th highest among 79 qualified NL batters).

 

As for Weeks' defense, all the advanced defensive metric seem to confirm that Weeks is still a very poor defender, although his recent struggles seem to be more mental than anything else. I still hold out hope that he can develop into an average fielding 2B but it's not looking to good right now.

[brewcrew00]

GIDP isn't going to help his case. Oh yea, neither is the .258 average.