The signing of Bill Hall to a one year contract presumably to play second base for the Astros in 2011 ranks right up there with the acquistion of Clint Barmes to presumably play shortstop for the local nine in the same season. It will not start a run on the ticket windows.
However, believe it or not, the additions of both Hall and Barmes have improved the Astros. Will they be improved enough to challenge the Reds and the Cards for the top spot in the division? Can they at least get back to a .500 record or better? No one knows that for sure. The oddsmakers still won't be expecting too much from the 2011 Astros, but in baseball far stranger things have happened over the years. (Sports Illustrated before the Hall acquistion ranked the Astros #25 in their power rankings of the 30 teams in major league baseball. The top three were the Red Sox, Phillies and Giants. Only Seattle, Arizona, Kansas City, Cleveland and Pittsburgh ranked behind the Astros.)
The Hall addition could boost the Astros a spot or two. Granted neither Barmes or Hall are high batting average or high on base percentage hitters, but that both have more punch in their bats than Tommy Manzella, Angel Sanchez or Keppinger. The Astros need more punch desperately. Teams who can hit home runs score more runs than clubs with higher batting averages, but much less power.
Hall hit 18 home runs for the Red Sox in 2010. He hit 35 for Milwaukee as recently as 2006. His lifetime average is roughly .250. He is only 31 and worth the one year contract.
Barmes hit 23 home runs for Colorado as recently as 2009. Neither will likely be all stars but both should provide more from their positions offensively than the Astros had in 2010.
Jeff Keppinger, if reports turn out to accurate, will likely be traded soon. The Yankees among others have expressed some interest in returning Jeff to the utility role he was holding down in Houston before Kazuo Matsui's skills eroded. Kepp had his best season in the majors, too. But while he made few errors his range is average and he does not provide much RBI punch. The role of backup utilitymay seems headed to the lower priced but effective Sanchez.
The Astros still need one more solid starting pitcher, the comeback to form of Carlos Lee in either left field or first base and either the coming around of Brett Wallace at first or someone to upgrade things overall in left if Lee has to move to the infield.
They HAVE improved their middle infield. How much is the question. And will it be enough?
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