posted on Sunday, January 07, 2007 10:45 PM by Jim

Toby Hall

ESSENTIALS
2006 OVERVIEW

OFFENSE

Toby Hall started the season as the starting catcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and finished the season as a backup catcher for the Dodgers.

His overall numbers -- .259/.286/.406 -- resemble nothing remarkable, mostly due to being overexposed in the starting role.  After he was traded to Los Angeles, he proved to be a very capable backup, even if he wasn't happy with the decrease in playing time.

Here's how his splits break down from Tampa Bay to Los Angeles:

Team
SplitABAVGOBPSLG
TBvs. RHP
165.224.247.376
LAvs. RHP
41.341.357.366
TB
vs. LHP
56.250.300.464
LAvs. LHP
16.438.464.625

Obviously the difference in sample sizes makes it pretty obvious that Hall isn't a .368-hitting catcher like he was during his short time in the National League, but I do think it illustrates what Hall's capacities are as a hitter.  Namely, he has pop against lefties and won't kill a lineup if he has to start against righties for a week.  Any longer, and it would get a little dicey.

BASERUNNING

Like most catchers, Hall is slow, and whatever speed he does possess he doesn't use well.  His -13 rating in the Bill James handbook is one mere notch better than Paul Konerko. 

DEFENSE

Hall features a stronger arm than A.J. Pierzynski, which is proven in the caught-stealing rates.  Hall has thrown out 36 percent of potential basestealers; Pierzynski only 26 percent.  Hall did post a career low 27.6 percent in that field last year, with most of his struggles coming in Tampa Bay (11-for-44).  When he joined the Dodgers, he threw out 5 of 14 runners, which is roughly his career average.

He's not known as much of a game-caller or defensive wizard otherwise, but considering the pitching staffs he's had to work with in Tampa Bay, it's not entirely his fault that he doesn't have any sort of reputation.

2007 OUTLOOK

I'm pretty sure everybody here is aware of how much I like this move.

He had an opportunity to get more playing time with Philadelphia or perhaps receive more money from the Yankees, but the South Side should play to his strengths.  He's not going to be asked to face a lot of righties.  When he does, it will be in situations like day games after night games, or if A.J. takes a foul tip in the wrong spot; that sort of thing.

Hall will get the chance to face his fill of lefties.  The Sox faced more southpaws than any other team last year, and that number doesn't figure to decrease much in 2007.  If he's not catching when a southpaw's on the mound (Pierzynski hit them respectably until the last two months of the season), he may get the chance to spell Jim Thome at designated hitter once in a while.

This will be the first time Hall gets to catch a pitching staff not ravaged by injuries or rookies.  It will be interesting to see how he responds in that department.

PROJECTIONS

Toby Hall
 AB HR RBI
 BA
 OBP SLG OPS
2007 ZiPS
301
640.259.305.365.670
2007 BJS
 131 3 16 .267 .314 .389 .703
2007 JCM
 176
 6
 27 .272 .309 .415 .724

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