NewsHall heeding Brewers' advice
Milwaukee (33-26) vs. Colorado (27-32), 1:05 p.m. CT
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
06/11/09 2:35 AM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Some members of the Brewers' coaching staff have for several weeks been quietly urging third baseman Bill Hall to make some drastic changes to his batting stance. Hall, it appears, is beginning to heed that advice. Hall unveiled a slightly altered stance on Wednesday, with his knees more bent but his left foot still pointing toward left field, and he went 0-for-2 with a walk in a 4-2 loss to the Rockies. Milwaukee needs to win Thursday to avoid a series sweep, and manager Ken Macha might be tempted to start Hall at third base for a second straight game since he's 5-for-9 lifetime against Colorado starter Aaron Cook. Even if Hall doesn't start Thursday, he's likely to get some at-bats over the weekend. Two of the three pitchers scheduled to start for the White Sox in an Interleague series are left-handed. Hall's altered approach is designed to flatten and quicken his swing. He's making alterations amid a tough season (.205 average, one home run since April 28) and a deep slump (five hits in his past 63 at-bats, .079). Hall's not alone. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was 0-for-4 on Wednesday with three strikeouts, including one with the tying runner on base in the seventh inning. Hardy has six hits in his past 47 at-bats (.128). Center fielder Mike Cameron walked in his first plate appearance Wednesday, but he finished 0-for-3 and has two hits in his past 22 at-bats (.087). Right fielder Corey Hart went 1-for-4 and has three hits in his past 27 at-bats (.111). Macha has options at third base with rookie Mat Gamel and Casey McGehee, and he is trying to balance his need to get Hall going with his need to field a competitive lineup. Macha has met several times with Hall, and compared the situation to one he faced in Oakland with right-hander Joe Blanton. "I had to take him to task on a few items, and he answered the call," Macha said of Blanton. "His response was that he was going to dig in a little harder and do a few more things." Macha hopes that Hall does the same. He has been working with Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum, who, "has some ideas to help," Macha said. "You keep your fingers crossed that the message gets across and we get production from him," Macha said. "Mat Gamel has been up here for a while now and he's done OK, but in the total scope of it, we have an unknown quantity [in Gamel]. Before the year is over, Billy may be a big part of the club. "I told him that we have 25 guys on the team and I try to use all of them. I'm not going to bury anybody, so [he] is going to have an opportunity to make a comeback." Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Yovani Gallardo (6-2, 2.84 ERA)
Gallardo pitched at least eight innings for the fourth time this season, allowing just two hits over eight frames against the Braves on Friday. He walked four in that game, but struck out six and kept Atlanta hitters off-balance all night. He spotted his fastball well and had the Braves flailing at his curveball. He hopes to erase the memory of his last outing against the Rockies, which came on Aug. 8, 2007. In that start, he lasted just 2 2/3 innings while allowing 11 earned runs on 12 hits. COL: RHP Aaron Cook (4-3, 4.50 ERA)
Cook was cookin' against the Cardinals in his last start, as he threw eight innings and allowed only an earned run on four hits to pick up his fourth win. Cook's reliable sinker induced 15 groundouts. Cook has not put together back-to-back quality starts since May 5 against the Padres and May 10 vs. the Marlins. He's 4-2 with a 3.55 ERA lifetime against the Brewers. Tidbits
Mike Cameron said he still had not heard from Major League Baseball regarding the timing of his appeal of a two-game suspension. Cameron's suspension, stemming from a dispute with umpire Marvin Hudson on Saturday in Atlanta, is being held in abeyance until his appeal is heard via conference call. ... Reliever Chris Smith finally made his Brewers debut a week after a promotion from Triple-A Nashville. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning Wednesday and then worked around two walks in a scoreless ninth. ... Jody Gerut popped up the first pitch he saw as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth Wednesday. Gerut is 2-for-18 (.111) since a trade from San Diego. ... McGehee made his first career start in the leadoff hole Wednesday and reached base three times on a double and two walks. Asked what made McGehee an attractive leadoff option, Macha quipped, "I think that's our only option." The manager had previously tried Hart in that spot against left-handed pitchers. ... Former first-round Draft pick Mark Rogers pitched three scoreless innings for Class A Brevard County, and fellow prospect Zach Braddock followed with two scoreless frames in a 1-0 win over Charlotte on Wednesday. Rogers has allowed only two earned runs in 18 2/3 innings this season over nine games. The Brewers are easing him back into action after he missed the past two seasons with shoulder injuries. Tickets
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• Friday: Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 4-4, 4.66) vs. White Sox (Clayton Richard, 2-1, 4.14), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Brewers (Manny Parra, 3-7, 6.86) vs. White Sox (Jose Contreras, 1-5, 6.45), 3:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Brewers (Braden Looper, 5-3, 4.50) vs. White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 6-2, 3.24), 1:05 p.m. CT
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
