Hall catching on in second year with Sox

CLEVELAND -- Do the White Sox have a catcher controversy?

No. But it sure looks like they have two capable ones, which wasn't the case last season.

"It was kind of a mulligan year for me,'' Toby Hall said.

After signing a two-year, $3.65 million contract prior to last season, Hall was expected to give the Sox a proven bat and solid defensive skills in relief of No. 1 catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

But after dislocating his shoulder during spring training, Hall wasn't even able to join the Sox until May 18, and the 32-year-old receiver basically tried playing with one arm.

Maybe that's why his numbers (.207, no home runs, 3 RBI in 38 games) were so lackluster, and maybe that's why Hall threw out just 3 of 29 basestealers.

"You just can't wait for it to get over so you can start preparing for the next season,'' Hall said. "It wasn't much fun, because you're jumping in during the middle of the season and you're just not healthy enough to perform.

"Just being able to show what you can do, it's good to be back and feel normal again.''

After getting 3 hits in each of his last two starts, Hall was back behind the plate Tuesday night against the Indians. He continued to swing a hot bat while driving in the White Sox' first run with a double in the third inning.

"I've got to give him credit,'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Especially when you don't play that much and play the way he's played. Every time behind the plate he's doing a good job, and the bat's starting to come around. I think it's because he's a little healthier.''

While he took a team-high .351 average into Tuesday's game, Hall is well aware that Pierzynski is entrenched as the White Sox' top catcher.

"I know my role here and I know that I can help the team,'' said Hall, who admitted he often felt like an outsider last season. "But I'm here to give him (Pierzynski) days off and it's only going to make us better in the end, when we're together and healthy and he gets days off.''