News
Hall's first career start in left ends early
Regular third baseman makes diving catch, leaves in second
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
05/04/09 11:40 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- Bill Hall's first career start in left field didn't last long. "But I was good while I was out there, right?" he said. Hall, the Brewers' regular third baseman, made a surprise start in left on Monday for the injured Ryan Braun, and recorded two putouts in the first inning -- including one on a dive -- but left the game an inning later with cramping in his right hamstring. So much for a feel-good story about Hall taking one for the team. He made it no secret last season that he was pleased his outfield days were over, but when new manager Ken Macha approached him Monday afternoon about manning left field for the first time in his career, Hall was willing to give it a try. The Brewers were playing a man short because Braun stayed back in Milwaukee for an MRI scan of his stiff back. It was ironic, then, that Hall was out of the game after two innings and Braun played the final two frames after delivering a pinch-hit, two-run double in the eighth that tied the game. Hall was hurt on that diving catch, on the last step before he laid out to take a hit away from Freddy Sanchez. He led off the second inning before Chris Duffy took over on defense. "I just went up there and said I'm swinging at the first pitch and hopefully I drive it somewhere," Hall said. "I lined out and didn't even make it to first base. I came in and told Roger [Caplinger, the head athletic trainer] I didn't want to force something. We didn't want to test it with the wet grass." Hall agreed to play left field about 10 minutes before Macha posted his lineup. He wanted to stack right-handed hitters against Pirates lefty Paul Maholm and both of the Brewers' reserve outfielders -- Duffy and Brad Nelson -- hit lefty. That left Hall and Casey McGehee to play left field and third base. McGehee played both outfield corners in Spring Training, but Macha favored the more athletic Hall roaming spacious PNC Park. "I'd like him to have some fun with the thing," Macha said about 90 minutes before the game. It was fun, Hall said, but only for an inning. Hall said he was feeling much better three hours later after the Brewers' 7-4 win, but he will have to be examined again on Tuesday to determine whether he'll miss any starts. Hall was not willing to blame the outfield experiment for his injury. "I could have hit a ground ball and busted out of the batters' box and the same thing happened," Hall said. He played some left field for a team of U.S. all-stars that toured Japan following the 2006 season, but before Monday, he had never played a Major League game at that position. Hall played center field for the Brewers in '07, but the experiment was a bust, so they signed free agent Mike Cameron and moved Hall back to third base in '08. Hall entered this season as the regular starter at the hot corner and has played exceptionally well there. Before he could get accustomed to left field in batting practice, Hall needed the proper equipment. He had not stepped foot in the outfield since 2007, so he didn't have a glove before Cameron provided a spare. "I'm using a Gold Glove-caliber outfield glove," Hall quipped. "I hope I don't disappoint him. I'm letting 'Cam' handle that gap over there." Cameron was briefly banged up, too. He crashed into the center-field wall chasing Brandon Moss' RBI triple in the bottom of the second and had his hands on his knees for the rest of the inning. Then he needed assistance with a contact lens later in the game.Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
