So Bill E. Hall has unofficially asked for a trade through his agent. Under normal circumstances, I would call him a whiny bitch and ship him out of my brain. But today I feel a bit saucy, so I think I will be in his corner...right now at 623pm...and maybe until after tonights game. Where incidentally, he is facing the not-so-big-anymore unit. The only kind of pitcher that he hits, an aging lefty.
In Bill E's defense, he has done everything that the team has asked him to do. Play a utility infield role, short full time, center field full time, and finally to 3rd base. Up until the last 2 years his numbers have not been terrible, at least in the national league. My problem with the "not living up to his potential" argument is that he is only 26. If you ever thought that he was going to knock 35 dingers on a yearly basis, you sir are an idiot. His minor league stats indicate that he struck out around 1/4 of his at bats, and the big league numbers are relatively the same. Even in his best season, 2006, he struck out 30% of the time, on the way to said 35 homers. This year is right around that 30% mark. That seems to be an alright number, considering the best players only hit well 30% of the time. The fact is that you have to give the guy time to work through the slumps. Everyone has them. And platooning with the AAAA "muscle" seems to be working out for the time being. And dont we usually pile on Neddy Bear for sticking with players for too long? Give the kid a break and let the marathon that is baseball run its course. At the end of the year, look at the numbers and then decide.
OK, thats all I have. He is good in the community? He has helped the younger players this year? He has played great defense to save some of the runs he is not producing? Batting below the Mendoza line against righties is a good thing?
I suppose that it was a fruitless effort. Any player who whines through his agent that he wants more playing time is a baby. But who are you going to get for a vastly under performing player? Finish the season, play your role, and shut the fuck up. Who knows, maybe then you get sent to Boston, where you will really hear it from the fans. In some peoples minds, it is still OK to be a pro athlete and not cry every time something doesnt go your way.
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I'm a Hall fan, always will be, but he does need to start hitting the ball. I don't like how he is getting the blame when Weeks, Hardy, and Cameron are sucking at the plate as well. You don't want to lose a player like Hall that can play every position. When Branyan comes in we can move Hall to SS or 2nd. I don't know has anyone thought of blaming the coach?
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