Brewers send All-Star Hardy to minors

By COLIN FLY
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE(AP) -- The slumping Milwaukee Brewers have sent former
All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy to the minors, given up on third
baseman Bill Hall and fired pitching coach Bill Castro.

The shakeup will give top prospect, Alcides Escobar, a chance to
show he's the shortstop of the future and a potential leadoff
man the club sorely lacks. He's batting .298 with four homers,
34 RBIs and 42 stolen bases in 109 games.

The Brewers will eat about $12 million in salary to Hall, who
was designated for assignment. He was slated to make $8.4
million next year with a $500,000 buyout. Hall has struggled
ever since hitting 35 homers in 2006.

Milwaukee is 55-57 and fading in the NL Central after losing 14
of 23 since the All-Star break.