BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Yankees sign utility player Bill Hall

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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Yankees sign utility player Bill Hall

The Yankees have signed 32-year-old Bill Hall as a potential utility player, news that Hall himself broke on his Twitter account by writing: “It’s official, I’m a Yankee!” He later tweeted a photo of himself wearing a Yankee cap.

Hall, who will get a minor-league deal and be invited to spring training, batted .211 with a .261 on-base percentage and a .314 slugging percentage in 199 plate appearances over 62 games for the Astros and Giants. He also had two home runs.

At the end of his tweet regarding the move, Hall wrote: “#IwannaRing!!!!

Geez, I haven’t seen anyone pander for a ring so badly since “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 07, 2012 at 08:17 PM | 17 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: yankees

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1. Bruce Markusen Posted: February 08, 2012 at 01:27 AM (#4056128)

First Jimmie Hall. Then Mel Hall. And now Bill.

2. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: February 08, 2012 at 01:30 AM (#4056129)

First Johnny Oates. Then...then...damn.

3. BochysFingers Posted: February 08, 2012 at 01:30 AM (#4056130)

Could Daryl be next?

EDIT: Bill Hall has a Twitter account? How many would follow him? Has to be more than the number who followed him on the basepaths (rimshot).

4. McCoy Posted: February 08, 2012 at 01:55 AM (#4056132)

He later tweeted a photo of himself wearing a Yankee cap.

Probably the first player who actually had to buy his hat for the photo op.

5. TomH Posted: February 08, 2012 at 08:32 AM (#4056180)

nah, Jeter gave him one as a present one evening

6. Random Transaction Generator Posted: February 08, 2012 at 09:30 AM (#4056196)

*slow clap*

7. depletion Posted: February 09, 2012 at 09:19 AM (#4057019)

Hall used to be very good. What happened? He's only 32.

8. zonk Posted: February 09, 2012 at 10:08 AM (#4057039)

Only a matter of time before The Kids in the....

9. zonk Posted: February 09, 2012 at 10:11 AM (#4057042)

nah, Jeter gave him one as a present one evening

Too bad the card was made out to Jerry Hairston.

10. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 10:18 AM (#4057047)

I think Branyan is the far more interesting mLB signing for the Yankees.

SG has him projected as 243/338/479, .353 wOBA. .360 wOBA vs. RHP.

If he's healthy (big if I know), a Branyan/Jones DH platoon could give the Yanks a 125 OPS+ for <$3M.

Can Russell play the field anymore? His stats look good at 1B, but that doesn't help the Yankees. If he can stand at 3B for 25 Gs, and provide non-Nunezian D, that would be a huge boost.

11. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 10:27 AM (#4057055)

I think Branyan is the far more interesting mLB signing for the Yankees.

Didn't the Yankees have Branyan for a while, a few years back? (Goes to check.) Ah, no, that was Richie Sexson. Close enough.

Branyan has played a grand total of 2 MLB games at third base the three seasons and he's going to be 36. I think the chance of him providing even Nunezian-level D is basically zero.

12. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 10:43 AM (#4057067)

Branyan has played a grand total of 2 MLB games at third base the three seasons and he's going to be 36. I think the chance of him providing even Nunezian-level D is basically zero.

Would he be worse than Miguel Cabrera?

He's an above avg. 1B in all the advanced metrics. All I'm asking for is -20 D.

13. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 09, 2012 at 10:52 AM (#4057075)

Didn't the Yankees have Branyan for a while, a few years back? (Goes to check.) Ah, no, that was Richie Sexson. Close enough.

My guess was Phil Nevin.

14. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 11:39 AM (#4057127)

Would he be worse than Miguel Cabrera?

He's an above avg. 1B in all the advanced metrics. All I'm asking for is -20 D.

The real answer to this question, of course, is "who knows?" so it is only fair I get that out of the way first. That having been said, I imagine he would be worse than Cabrera. This is a 36-year old that no Major League team has trusted to play third base for three full seasons. He has really only been a regular infielder once--in 2009, at first base. You could probably hide him there for 20 games--you can basically hide anyone short of Todd Hundley in LF anywhere for 20 games--but I think the chance of it being an absolutely epic disaster is pretty high.

15. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 11:44 AM (#4057134)

but I think the chance of it being an absolutely epic disaster is pretty high.

So, you're saying he's better than Nunez? Good enough for me.

16. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 11:54 AM (#4057143)

So, you're saying he's better than Nunez? Good enough for me.

Even if he's better defensively than Nunez, I think it is also possible that trying to use him at third base too much is going to result in some kind of injury.

17. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: February 09, 2012 at 11:58 AM (#4057145)

Even if he's better defensively than Nunez, I think it is also possible that trying to use him at third base too much is going to result in some kind of injury.

Well yes. But, I think this is the kind of risk you take (vs. putting your 180 OPS+ poor defensive 1B at 3B). It's Russell Branyan, a guy on a minor league deal making $850G. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt. Hell, he usually gets hurt anyway, w/o playing 3B.

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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Yankees sign utility player Bill Hall

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