Q+A: Toby Hall

Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 | 7:14 a.m.

He was Lou Piniella's starting catcher for three years at Tampa Bay, but now former UNLV backstop Toby Hall will have to settle for catching in the same city as his former skipper.

While Piniella was signing to manage the Chicago Cubs during baseball's off-season, Hall was coming to terms with the crosstown White Sox, where he is expected to back up A.J. Pierzynski and provide offensive punch against left-handed pitching.

Hall talked about his new assignment while catching up with former Rebels coaches and teammates at the recent UNLV baseball alumni game.

Q: Until last year, when you were traded to the Dodgers, you had spent your big league career as the starting catcher at Tampa Bay. But now that you have turned 31 and have signed to back up A.J. Pierzynski in Chicago, can it be assumed you are comfortable with being a backup or platoon-type guy?

It was the right thing. If he (Pierzynski) gets hurt, then they need a guy who can catch every day. Plus, I needed a breath of fresh air, needed to be in a winning atmosphere. At this stage of my career, it was the best fit. There are other teams where I could have gone and tried to beat out a young kid. But I want to win and right now.

You were the Devil Rays' starting catcher for four years and became ingrained in the community, even starting a foundation to benefit the Make-A-Wish, Safe Start and Ronald McDonald House children's charities. But when word got out the D-Rays wanted to offer you a minor league contract, you took it as an insult, right?

The whole thing is, there was no contract even out there. I guess someone must have popped off at the GM meetings or something. That's the way it went down.

But then you got in a little insult of your own. I saw where you told one of the Tampa writers, "I guess it would have to be a minor league contract, because they are a minor league organization."

Let me tell you what. For having to catch the worst team in baseball for five years, I was the most politically correct guy. I did pretty good about keeping my mouth shut. So when they came at me like that - hey, my quote made sense.

You and your wife, Karra, still make your home in Tampa. Was there any feedback to your remark within the community?

I've had people come up to me and say, "You're right." All I was doing is sticking up for the community because they deserve good baseball in Tampa.

You were part of a pretty good baseball team in Los Angeles last year - for half a season, anyway. But then the Dodgers picked up Mike Lieberthal to back up Russell Martin and you became a free agent.

My point when I wanted to be traded out of L.A. is that there was no future for me there. When you play every day and then you get traded and you don't play I've seen people sit around and accept not playing. I don't believe in that.

I saw a story on the MLB.com Web site that called you "the best catcher in baseball that nobody wanted." Was that a fair assessment?

I played in Tampa and it's not a big market. You try to do the best you can but your name doesn't quite get out there. I did the best I could do there, but now I'm getting a chance to go to a big market. So let's see what happens.

I see where you kept your soul patch. I read where you used to dye it in your team's colors. So how do you think it will look black-and-white with pinstripes?

(Laughing) That used to get the crowd going a little bit. But I've always wanted to be a White Sox. Great town, great atmosphere. And I know from playing them every year how tough they are.

You only played one year, 1997, for the Rebels, but is there any memory from UNLV that sticks out?

When we flew to Hawaii. I had never been there. But this is the place that taught me how to catch and got me headed in the right direction.