I know I should be writing a recap about tonight's game, which I attended, but I have a bit of a bone to pick and it holds bearing over a quality walk-off win from the Brewers.
In recent days the Brewers have called up left-handed power hitter, Russell Branyan from AAA-Nashville and have inserted him into a pretty strict platoon role alongside struggling Bill Hall. Hall is hitting a woeful .220/.292/.418 this year with nine dingers and 22 RBIs. Hall is clearly upset about the move, especially because he's been moved around like a little punk for the last three to five years, mostly because he used to be a utility infielder. In 2006 he was able to respond by hitting .270/.315/.425, jacking 35 home runs and knocking in 85 RBIs while replacing JJ Hardy who was on the DL. The Brewers responded by giving him a multi-year contract and told him he would be an every day player, which he has been. That was kind of an odd deal though. Hall was moved to center field last season to make way for Ryan Braun and was then moved back to third this season as they moved Braun to left and signed Mike Cameron. But that apparently hasn't been the problem.
Unfortunately for the Brewers, Bill Hall has apparently taken a mental break from baseball for a little while. Since Branyan has been called up, Hall has not started a game. Tonight, he was able to get in with a double switch. He got a little luck in the bottom of the 9th by breaking his back in a jam job lazy fly ball that found the right field grass. Hall would move to second on a sac bunt by Rickie Weeks, steal third and score the game-winning run on a walk-off sac-fly by Mike Cameron.
After the game Bill Hall said, "It was a lot of emotions. I want to play and I guess I'll go out and do the things I used to do with the emotions I used to have."
Are you kidding me?! Are you trying to tell me that you stopped playing with the emotion that made you a good player? That you changed things because you got moved to the outfield and back to infielder or perhaps because you got a new contract? No offense Billy, but are you a major league ball player? That is the worst thing I have ever heard a professional player say about themselves. Even worse, Billy is too ignorant to realize he doesn't deserve to play against righties.
Later in the interview, he spewed off that he he has six home runs against righties and 16 RBIs and even hinted that he shouldn't have been the one to get ousted. Guess what Billy, you should have two more homeruns and about 20 more RBIs based on your plate appearances against right handers, especially considering the number of runners on base and the money you're getting. The funniest thing is that you're still slugging a whopping .323 against those right handed throwers, even with those six bombs. I'm sorry man but in 145 PAs, you are batting .158/.222/.323 with 42 Ks and 10 BBs. Against lefties? .409/.490/.705 with 7 Ks and 6 BB. WOW! CAN YOU SAY PLATOON!? This is utterly ridiculous. Did I forget to mention you've GIPD'd four times against rights and zero times against lefties?
What good are you when a RHP is on the mound? You can be upset all you want, but in the end, the best you can do is revert to your mean, and hope for your career numbers against righties which are .253/.303/.450. Even those are below the league average. If you want to win a championship as a player, you should at some point concede the fact that you are not that good or do the work to right the train. On WSSP Hall said he had 400 more PAs to work things out. Guess what? You don't deserve those PAs and if you disagree, enjoy being traded to a team that's willing to lose consistently. If any team does that they'll have black hole over at third. Branyan is the left handed version of Bill Hall. Platoon them and you're looking at a .290 hitter with a .350 on-base and about 25-30 HRs. If you don't: In all likely hood, .240/.310 and 11 errors in just a 1/4 of a season equals 44 errors.
Sit down, shut up and appreciate that some one was nice enough to pay you the money you're getting because you've been respectful and important to this team. Don't whine because your ego is hurt by the reality of your numbers which reflect your talent, and the fact that you are being paid far too much to be a below average third baseman in an organization that has a guy that is major league ready now (Insert Mat Gamel. Yes his defense sucks but guess what? He has 11 errors as well this year, but 21 more attempts.).
::End Rant::
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Nice to hear some ranting....In fairness to Hall, I think he was referring to emotions he always uses.....meaning using those emotions as a player off the bench. I highly doubt he was referrign to emotions used last year as an outfielder as opposed to fewer emotions this year as an infielder.
There's no question in my mind that the Brewers are right to platoon Hall until September rolls around and it will be time to let Gamel play. but one thing Bill Hall always does is play with emotion whether he's an infielder or an outfielder.
And in fairness to Brewer players, Melvin and Yost downplayed our righty heavy lineup all winter long. It was an oversight and a lack of preparation by the front office
Excellent point regarding the front office miscue, but I still have to disagree with you as far as Bill Hall goes. He even went as far as saying, "I tell you what, that was the most emotion I've had playing the game in a long time. Maybe that's what I needed."
So I don't think for a second that Billy Hall has been playing with the kind of heart he played with when he was trying to prove himself during the utility years. He's been frustrated with the front office for some time because of all these moves and it's just now coming out. I give him props for handling the moves so well up to this point, but I don't excuse him for not playing with everything has, perhaps even half heartedly. Maybe that's why he tries so hard just to hit dingers instead of conceding the not so sexy walk or opposite field single.
::End rant 2::
Aaron...based on the second part of the Hall quote, I stand corected. As you indicated, it seems very clear that Hall is either sabotaging his reputation out of frustration and ego or simply being honest.
Either way, it is very disturbing.
Another front office oversight seems to be our failure to sign Linebrink and Cordero....I'm not much for economics, but if we add up the money shelled out for Mota, Torres, Riske, and Gagne.....wouldn't it ve enough to sign Cordero and Linebrink?
Either way, as you've mentioned before, the bullpen has been very reliable with the exception of Gagne's blown saves....
I am out of ideas regarding Tony Gwynn junior. I surrender to ignorance. I don't understand. I understand that he needs to play and serves no purpose as a pinch hitter....but at the same time, he doesn't belong at AAA....He needs to be traded.
I don't see where Cameron is an upgrade defensively over Gwynn. And I don't understand Cameron in the 2 hole. Yes, Cameron is somewhat productive, but not at the expense of Gwynn wasting away.
Many argue that Gwyynn is not an everyday outfielder. I disagree. I guess we'll never know.
The money spent on Cameron could have been spent on signing Cordero and Linebrink or another starting pitcher...
And lastly, I have a question...We all agree the Brewers offense has been a terrible dissapointment up to this point...Why don't we attempt to steal more bases....sacrifice on a more consistent basis, and cultivate an approach that does not rely on homeruns....
I still concede that the Cordero thing was out of our hands. I think Melvin played it right. Not going for Linebrink I was okay with. Considering how well our bullpen has been with Mota, Torres, Riske, Dillard and Villanueva, paying Linebrink more money isn't a terrible thing, but I can understand the plus that he could have brought here.
As far as the Gwynn thing, we both said we wanted to see him every day and we were going to until he got hurt before Cameron got back. Picking up Cameron was a definite poke at the Brewers' lack of confidence in the youngster. People aren't saying he's not a every day player, but for some reason they don't think he's got enough pop to be in the league. Sorry, but if he can get on at a .380 clip in his career, I would pick him up in a heartbeat and let him be the leadoff hitter on my team. He's a great trade chip to say the least.
As for the sacrifices and steals question, it seems to make a lot of sense to play small ball these days, but there's a problem. The Brewers can't afford to concede outs via the sacrifice. The Brewers batting average is so low that, conceding that out puts you in a tough position, particularly if someone like Prince Fielder ends up at second. I've been ok with Hart moving Fielder to third while trying to bunt for a base hit, but I would prefer the 2-3-4-5 hitters only bunt in game changing situations in the 8th or 9th innings in tie or one run games.
The other things is the Brewers are getting tossed out or picked off a lot this year. I blame Ed Sedar. Nevertheless, the way Prince and Hart have been hitting this year, I wish Braun would get the green light a little more often with Fielder at the plate, especially considering Prince's recent ground ball rate. Other than that, Bill Hall, JJ Hardy and Prince Fielder are the only guys who have red lights most of the time in my back. Yesterday JJ got away with a freebe on a biffed hit and run. The only thing I wish we would do a little more is try to steal third with less that two outs a little more often with a rightie at the plate. Our strikeout rate is a little down this year, so getting that guy to third without giving up an out would be extremely helpful. Oh the nostalgia of watching Carlos Lee getting a walking start to third because the pitcher isn't paying attention.
The Cameron signing...yes....it sure seemed like lack of confidence in Gwynn.....I think the Brewers over obsessed about centerfield making the pitching staff immediatelly better....Gwynn would have done just fine...Oh well..We could have spent the money on a lefty bat....Anyway..here we are in May 2008..so..
I hear what you are saying about giving up outs via the sacrifice....We are not really in a position to be giving up outs.....but then again, I think there is greater potential to disrupt a pitcher when there is a runner on second or third base or better yet, when a base runner is a threat to steal....so yes, it would be nice to see some steals of third...
I don't think the Brewer runners are feeling too confident this year stealing the bases......
You mentioned Ed Sedar.....Was there anyone in spring training working with baserunners? Weeks and Hart had an excellent successs rate last year....but base stealing seems like something that needs to be done often in order to maintain some rhythm....some confidence...and as a result good sound instincts of when to run...
Bummer because in spring training we were running all the time if I remember correctly....
Looking at the Brewers' future line-ups I don't know if there is room for Gwynn, no matter that he brings a left bat to the line-up. With Braun settling in the outfield I see the grass being occupied by Hart, Braun, and LaPorta, with Hart running down flies in center. Even in AAA (with more consistent ABs) Gwynn has been underwelming. I like the kid, I like the family pedigree, and I like his defense, but, as it was already said earlier here, he might be more trade bait than Milwaukee's CF of the future. You can only have so many outfielders.
Dan...your outfield projection for the Brewers explains alot about Gwynn being out of place...but don't you think we could have showcased Gwynn this year in the majors?...and spent the money used on Canmeron for something else?
Post a Comment