Here are the official press releases I just received, first from the Hardy option:

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers today optioned SS J.J. Hardy to Triple-A Nashville and recalled SS Alcides Escobar.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

Escobar was batting .298 with 4 HR, 34 RBI and 42 stolen bases in 109 games with the Sounds.  He participated in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game and Triple-A All-Star Game.  Escobar, who entered the year as the top prospect in the Brewers organization according to Baseball America, will report to the team tonight and wear uniform number 21.

Next from the Castro firing:

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers today dismissed Bill Castro as pitching coach and named Chris Bosio interim pitching coach.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

“We appreciate and admire the dedication and tireless work ethic put forth by Bill Castro over the last 18 seasons,” said Melvin.  “A move like this is never easy to make, especially given Bill’s longevity with the organization and considering how hard he worked to reach this position."

Castro was named pitching coach on November 7, 2008 after serving as bullpen coach from 1992-2008.  Through games of August 12, the Brewers’ pitching staff ranked 27th in the Major Leagues with a 4.84 ERA while allowing a Major League-leading 151 home runs in 112 games.  The staff also issued 421 walks, which marked the fifth-highest total in the majors.

Bosio, 46, was serving his first season as pitching coach at Triple-A Nashville.  Under his guidance, the Sounds entered today’s games tied for second in the Pacific Coast League in team ERA (4.05) while allowing the fourth-fewest home runs (83).  Bosio has also served as pitching coach at Double-A Chattanooga (2008) in the Reds organization and at Triple-A Tacoma (2001) in the Mariners organization.  In addition, he has experience as a pitching coach at the Major League level, serving under Lou Piniella with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003.

Bosio owns a career record as a Major League pitcher of 94-93 with a 3.96 ERA in 309 games, including 246 starts.  He pitched for Milwaukee (1986-92) and Seattle (1993-96) during 11 seasons.

Bosio will join the Brewers tonight and wear uniform number 43.

And from the Hall option:

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers today designated INF/OF Bill Hall for assignment and purchased the contract of OF Jason Bourgeois from Triple-A Nashville.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

Bourgeois was batting .316 with 2 HR, 41 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 105 games at Nashville.  He will wear uniform number 16.

Your thoughts, fans?  Were these shrewd moves to shake up a team that has been struggling mightily over the past two months, or were they the last gasps of desperation from an organization that, deep down, knows its season is already over?  Leave your comments below, and I'll read some of the best of them tonight on Brewers Extra Innings.