Rays' hint to Hall: It's time to grow (mentally)

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© St. Petersburg Times
published May 29, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- It is only a hunch, mind you, but the Rays have a pretty good idea where Toby Hall's problems began.

They suspect it was at breakfast. Although some have argued it was lunch. Everyone can at least agree that dinner was somehow involved.

When he was anointed the next big thing, who knew Hall would take on the role literally?

This is why the Rays took the drastic measure of showing potential the door Tuesday. They looked at the best young prospect on the roster and decided he was a fraction more than his former self.

He rolled into spring training looking 20-25 pounds heavier than last seen. Hall appeared sluggish in March and failed to quicken his pace in April or May. By the time he was sent to Triple A on Tuesday, it was overdue.

Do not consider it a demotion. Do not presume the Rays think less of him. Think of it more as an adjustment. And perhaps a lesson for the future.

Fewer than 100 games into his major-league career, Hall has just learned to take nothing for granted. Not his talent, not his standing. He was stunned when told he was being shipped out and that, as much as anything, should be an indication of how much room there is to grow.

Throughout the clubhouse there is nothing but praise for Hall as a person. Modest and playful, he has the personality and skills of a future star.

At the same time, there are whispers that Hall had lost his way on the field. That what looked like a lack of confidence today may have started with a bout of overconfidence on an earlier day.

Not a touted prospect in college or his first few seasons of pro ball, Hall's star rose quickly beginning in 2000. By the time he finished a two-month stint with the Rays last season, he was considered one of the game's up-and-comers. He was featured prominently in the team's promotions and scouts unanimously agreed he was the best of Tampa Bay's young players.

Somewhere between October and March, that promise dimmed. The presumption is it had to do with his preparations for 2002.

There seems to be little doubt Hall will be a solid, perhaps even excellent, hitter in the big leagues. He has good power, makes excellent contact and appears to thrive in clutch situations.

"He will hit. He will be a good player up here," manager Hal McRae said. "I have no qualms about that."

McRae does not share in the belief that Hall was physically unprepared to play in the spring. He said Hall got off to a slow start for some reason and the slump continued as frustrations mounted.

What became clearer in recent weeks was Hall's offensive problems were beginning to show on defense.

He never will be considered a strong catcher, but Hall had worked hard in recent years to be an adequate receiver.

Today, however, there are minor grumblings about his work behind the plate. He took his time coming out of the dugout between innings and pitchers would have to wait on the mound to start their warmups. He was slow calling pitches, giving the impression he was indecisive.

Usually it is coincidence when a team performs better with one player in the lineup instead of another. Sometimes it is a question of matchups.

In the case of Hall and John Flaherty, the numbers are hard to ignore. The Rays are 8-6 when Flaherty starts and 9-26 with Hall. The pitching staff's ERA is 3.41 for Flaherty and 5.50 for Hall.

Some of that has to do with simple experience. Flaherty has been in the majors for 10 years and has a better understanding of opposing hitters.

But, even if experience is the major factor, Hall must take a long look at the numbers and decide it is his responsibility to do something about it.

In the end, this move was best for Hall. He was given two months to work his way through his problems and failed. Further struggles would have caused further doubts in his mind to no one's benefit.

"Is this team better with Toby Hall on it? You better believe it," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "We would have kept him here if the most important thing was to win a game tonight. But I have to think about what's best for Toby Hall. And what's best for the organization long-term. Right now, that means getting him back to playing the way we know he can."

Hall will not be in the minors long. He has proved he can hit in Triple A and it is only a matter of time before he finds his groove.

The bigger question is how he accepts the decision. He can be angry, that's understandable. He can be disappointed, that's expected.

But he can not afford to be sullen and frustrated. The fault is his and so is the responsibility. It is Hall's duty to find the edge he lost.

Who knows, maybe he'll get there and realize he still is hungry.

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