Holy crap. Bill Hall is in demand

Ken Rosenthal says that the Nationals and Orioles are interested in the services of one Bill Hall.

Bill Hall: Chesapeake Bay:: David Hasselhoff: Germany

That happened about 15 months before I imagined it would

Imagine my surprise, sitting in a Best Western in Macon, Georgia, and seeing that the Astros released Bill Hall. A couple of emotions to report:

1. I'm impressed Ed Wade pulled the trigger as "quickly" as he did. I mean, you could have made a case for this a month ago, but I didn't think it would actually happen until next season, if it happened at all. I don't know if Ed Wade isflexing nuts to show Jim Crane that he can cut waste as well as any CEO, but I like it.

2. But it's not as though Wade had a choice. Keppinger - in a limited amount of time - and Bourgeois had both done a much better job. I'm sure Wade wanted Hall to work out so Keppinger could be expendable, but in the end, we can chalk Hall up as another veteran free-agent signing that just didn't work out.

Jayson Stark on the Astros

Jayson Stark's new column takes on the Astros and their situation come July:

If we had to pick one club in baseball that has the look of a sure-fire seller in July, we'd pick the Astros. But there are two things to remember: 1) As GM Ed Wade pointed out, the Astros actually have a better record this year (18-30) than they had in late May last year (17-34) -- and last year's team went 59-52 the rest of the way. 2) Until the Astros' sale to Jim Crane is approved (most likely sometime in July), Wade can't even have a conversation with the new owner about his philosophy on team-building.

But at a time in which his club is obviously rebuilding, Wade says he expects to take the same approach this July that he took last July: "Anything that builds the type of depth that will get us where we need to be, it would make sense to explore."

Stark notes that Other Clubs believe Wade would "gladly listen" on Myers, Wandy, Barmes, and Hall. Only two of those guys are having seasons worth giving up more than a jock strap's worth of hamster cage shavings for, and I'll let you figure out the two.

And on Hunter Pence, noting that the Braves, Phillies, and Orioles are interested him?
An executive of a fourth club says he believes there's a "1 million percent chance" Wade would need, essentially, a job-saving haul in return to even consider trading Pence.

"If you're Jim Crane walking in the door," the exec wondered, "how can you trade the one guy on your team who represents that part of Texas -- a blue-collar, hard-nosed player?"

Stark later notes that the Phillies are telling teams they can only really afford what amounts to half of Pence's $6.9m salary.

What say you?

Lineup for G35: Astros v Reds

Interesting lineup for tonight's game, in which we see:

*J.R. Towles hitting 2nd.
*Bill Hall hitting in front of Brett Wallace

I really like the first part. Kind of want to vomit at the 2nd.

Bill Hall is pissed

Ooooh, Bill Hall is pissed. After getting tossed in the 7th inning, he had a lot to say. Here's an excerpt - click the link for the whole thing:

It’s amazing how umpires can get away with so much stuff and nothing happens to them. It’s all about them trying to get something on ESPN punching someone out or getting their spot on ESPN. I have no idea. It’s getting ridiculous. It’s gotten worse over the last few years, and hopefully somehow some way it can be calmed down a little bit because it’s a little out of hand.

The umpire in question was Tom Hallion. Hallion has a, ahem, definitive style in which he twists his body around 180 degrees on a third strike call.

Bill Hall's hands weren't cocked

Steve Campbell notes that Bill Hall realized what he was doing wrong:

Hall determined that he wasn’t getting his hands to the cocked position fast enough, leaving him out of sync and causing him to foul off fastballs.

“I had a really good BP,” Hall said. “Good hitters know when their swing path is good,” Hall said. I knew my swing path was good that day. “I kept working on it and started putting the barrel of the bat on the ball.”

Then he went 0x3 with 3Ks on Sunday.

God bless you, Brad Mills

Zach Levine reports that yes, Michael Bourn is out of the lineup with a tender Netherlands. But also that Bill Hall has been dropped to the #7 spot. Best news of the morning. The Astros should get an honorary Win just for that.

Of course you know this means War

Hang on, did Bill Hall put a bounty on Cole Hamels after a little altercation mid-AB in the second inning? Apparently, Hamels threw a pitch anyway after Hall called time, where Hall had to be restrained by the home plate umpire during the shouting match.

Hall:
"I’m not going to let him speed-pitch me. Obviously, he threw a pitch in, and I’m not going to let him disrespect me either. He kind of said something that I didn’t like too much. It’s over with....He’s definitely a marked man for me now, so when I do some damage off him, I’m going to let him know I did some damage off him. I can guarantee that."

Obviously, I wasn't there, and haven't seen any video replays yet. But if it takes Hall getting "disrespected" to fire up the team - even if it's in Spring Training - I'm all for it. I'm also just curious as to just how Bill Hall will let Hamels know that he is disrespecting him. Take a poll! (And use of the "home run" term carries an implied, "Should it happen...")

Bill Hall might rather be at 3B

Sporting News' Stan McNeal talked to Bill Hall, and finds he's more comfortable at 3B.

Hall:
"I got really good at third base for the two years I was there. I feel I can be a plus at second base. I still am athletic. I can move around and make some exciting plays there. It's a position I'm excited to be at. Any time you can have athleticism at second base with some power, it's a plus for your team. That's what I'm looking to add here."

Eyes up, Chris Johnson.

2011 Astros = 2005 Brewers

McTaggart has a Q&A with Bill Hall, who was asked what he thought of this team:

"This team is what you would say is in a transition period with Roy [Oswalt] being gone and [Lance] Berkman being gone, and they have some younger guys who are expected to go out and produce and help this team win. In Milwaukee, I was one of the first guys to come - prospects - and I was in the clubhouse first and got to be with all those other guys who are turning into superstars now, with Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Rickie [Weeks] and J.J. [Hardy], when he was there. All of us came up at the same time as a group and had to learn how to win together and know the meaning of going out and competing every day. That's the knowledge I can give to these guys, being that I was through it before and I know what they're feeling."

Meat Wagon Update!

With the arrival of Bill Hall, who is now off diaper duty until October, everyone's in camp.

With that, we get a couple of Meat Wagon updates:

-Angel Sanchez is about ready to hit him some singles. Mills:
“He’s stepping up a little bit, and we’re hoping that he can hit against live pitchers tomorrow."

-Alberto Arias might not be able to throw live BP tomorrow. Mills qualified his scheduled appearance with a "hopefully."

McTaggart's Update

Brian McTaggart has his update from today's Spring Training:

-Keep Nelson Figueroa in your thoughts and prayers, as his grandfather has passed away, and Figueroa will miss some time to attend the funeral.

Figueroa:
"He instilled that hard-work mentality into my father and he instilled that into me, and dad still works as hard as ever. I go and play this game with a workman mentality and take nothing for granted, and realize I'm blessed to play this game. I've paid my dues time and time again, and will continue to do so in [his grandfather's] honor. We're a very close family, and this will make us even tighter."

-Bill Hall is expected in camp for the first time tomorrow, as he has been with his fiancee for the birth of their child.

McTaggart, on #2

McTaggart has a nice little look at who will hit in the 2-hole for the Astros this season. Was the subject line not clear?

McTaggart, on Bill Hall

You've probably seen it, but Brian McTaggart has his own reaction to the Bill Hall signing. A pull:

Back to the Astros. With the moves to acquire Barmes and Hall, the Astros have completed their top offseason task, which was to add some run production to the middle of the infield. The Astros got a combined nine homers last season from the second base and shortstop positions, and Barmes and Hall could wind up hitting 20 apiece if things go right.

Suddenly, the lineup seems more legitimate.

FanGraphs, on Bill Hall

FanGraphs also did some thinking about Bill Hall. Here's a pull:

Minute Maid Park’s short porch in left field is designed perfectly for Hall’s batting profile – a pull-heavy right hander...In a park that plays well to his skillset, and with a certain position for the first time since 2008, there’s reason to believe that Hall can produce at second base for the Astros in 2010. The situation works out perfectly for both teams: the Astros get a low-risk stopgap in a rebuilding time, and Hall gets a chance to build some value for one last push at another multi-year contract.

Thinking about this Bill Hall thing

So as the one who was on duty at the AC Desk this weekend, being called away on business meant that I completely failed at my job. I thought, "What can possibly happen?" And then the Astros went and signed Bill Hall to a $3.25 million contract. A couple of notes about this.

1. This is pretty clearly the end of Jeff Keppinger's time as 2B1. If this is true, I'm okay with that. 2010 was the best year of his career, and if the Astros can capitalize on that with a couple of prospects - even lower-level ones - then that's great.

2. That said, the Hall deal is only a one-year deal. Meaning the Astros are paying $3.25m for a guy who has posted one year with an OPS higher than .700 since 2007. Keppinger is heading to arbitration for the second time, after making $1.15m in 2010. Even if his 2nd year of arbitration nets him a 100% raise, it will result in almost a million dollars less than Bill Hall's deal. (But again, if you spend $1m adding a good prospect or two, then I can live with that).

3. The Astros are obviously just trying to get to 2012. Heading into 2012, Lee will be mercifully be in the final year of his contract. Bourn and Pence will be in their final year of arbitration. Hall will be off the books. Who knows what will happen to Barmes? Just right there, that's potentially five positions (without even having looked at pitchers) that are up in the air beginning in 2013. Will the Astros give extensions to Bourn or Pence? They've decided - rightly, in my humble opinion - to wait and see. There's no pressure to lock anybody up, because let's be honest, the Reds and Cardinals are going to be better - on paper - than the Astros for the next couple of seasons. With the Brewers acquiring Zack Greinke and Shawn Marcum, they are now better than the Astros.

4. So Wade is doing what he has done over the past couple of years: Trying to catch lightning in a bottle while adding to the farm system. It seems to be his M.O - stock the system, and then get fired before any of them finish climbing the chain. If you're a Wade believer, then you hope whomever is the new owner (if there even is one by 2012), believes in the system and keeps him on. It's not Wade's fault that the Astros have $35m in financial commitments in 2012, and $18.5m of that is to Carlos Lee. Patience is the word to remember around Astros Fandom. Think Mills is reminiscing about his days at Fenway yet?

Tuesdays Rumored Rumors

The flu knocked He Who Was In Charge of the Updates down yesterday, and today is a little iffy, but let's go through the rumors and topics of the day for Day Two of the Winter Meetings:

Somehow, the Astros were interested in Ty Wigginton, before he mercifully signed with Colorado.

Wandy Rodriguez changed agents, from Barry Praver to Adam Katz. Adam Katz also represents Carlos Lee.

The Astros are interested in Jack Cust, as are the Mariners.

Ed Wade confirmed they have been active in trade talks, but that's as far as it went:
“We’ve exchanged some trade proposals with teams today and we were prepared to move forward if they were embraced, and they weren’t.”

One possible area the Astros could upgrade at 2B is with former Brewer/Red Sock(x) Bill Hall, and had conversations with Hall's agent.

The Astros are interested in Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Expect the Astros to be active in tomorrow's Rule 5 draft.