Eduardo Escobar's Defense

[Nick Nelson]

Parker had a tweet today that I found rather eye-popping:

 

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/643523201495121920

 

Offensively, Escobar has been an underrated contributor to the team's success. But what I wanted to touch on here was his defense. When I wrote a column in July arguing that Ed should be the everyday SS, several commenters -- including some that I tend to agree with almost always -- mentioned that they don't find Escobar to be a strong defender at shortstop. I was perplexed by that because I've always felt he was average at worst, and a breath of fresh air compared to the error-prone DanSan.

 

Well, in 37 games since he took over the position full-time at the beginning of August, Escobar has committed 1 error in 149 chances, and has been involved in 21 double plays. His UZR this season is solidly above average, as it was last year. While he certainly doesn't have the physical capabilities of a guy like Santana, Escobar has made some plays that have really wowed me, and he almost always seems to make good decisions.

 

So what I'm wondering is, have any of the skeptics come around on Escobar's defense now that we've been watching him play regularly at short? And if he keeps playing the way he does offensively and defensively, could he be one of the team's most valuable players next year?

 

All of a sudden, getting Ed (who is 26 and still under control through 2018) for a half-season of Liriano is looking like a hell of a deal. 

[nytwinsfan]

And Gordon should be ready by around 2018, so there is a decent chance we are set at SS.  Now let's worry about Catcher.  Polanco and/or Plouffe seem like the obvious major pieces to make available to acquire a high-upside catcher over the next year or so.

[Thrylos]

Old news

 

Too bad Gardenhire and Ryan decided to do their own thing last season and Ryan continued the practice for half a season this season.

[ThejacKmp]

 

And Gordon should be ready by around 2018, so there is a decent chance we are set at SS.  Now let's worry about Catcher.  Polanco and/or Plouffe seem like the obvious major pieces to make available to acquire a high-upside catcher over the next year or so.

 

And Arcia.  The Twins could solve some issues with those three pieces this offseason.  And maybe unload Nolasco!

[nytwinsfan]

 

And Arcia.  The Twins could solve some issues with those three pieces this offseason.  And maybe unload Nolasco!

I'd give Arcia another shot (at DH, not OF) to start the year.  I'm not ready to give up on him yet. That's one more reason I'd like to trade Plouffe this offseason, but I'm not convinced Ryan will do that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I was pretty high on Escobar but thought he had a very small chance of repeating last year's success. Either way, I was trumpeting him at short in May because, like you said, he's steady with the glove and looked to have modest upside with the bat.

 

I am very happy to be wrong about his upside with the bat. He's doing exactly what he did last year. I'm still not entirely sold on him as a starter but damn it all, he deserves the job out of ST. The guy has compiled roughly a full season's worth of PAs at the position and his bat has been way above average during that time.

[Seth Stohs]

I never thought he'd repeat last year, but I 100% believed he had deserved the opportunity to try. He was only 25 last year. He earned the job. No question in my mind.

 

Defensively... I don't think he has great range, but he makes the plays and has a very good arm. 

 

Molitor was a full Danny Santana guy though this year. 

[stringer bell]

JJ Hardy has won Gold Gloves with similar range and less of an arm. EE has bobbled a few more balls this year, but his arm is strong and accurate and he positions himself well. I think Escobar is plenty good to play on a contending team.

[DaveW]

I was one of the folks who thought he had no chance to stick or be a starter in the majors. I am very happy that I was wrong.

 

I think Escobar looks "ok" somewhere close to slightly above average defensively at SS, which is actually a compliment. Couple that with his above average to good bat for the position and you are looking at a guy who could be a top ten overall SS the next couple seasons minimum. I think the range leaves a bit to be desired and the instincts as well which keeps him from being very good to great defensively. But again, top ten overall, top 5 this year. I think he will be an important piece, not on the level of Sano, Buxton, berrios, dozier moving fwd, but in that next group with Mauer, Hicks, Rosario etc

[Squirrel]

I was perfectly fine with giving DanSan every opportunity to succeed. However, I'd never been that high on Santana ... too error-prone; and he always has been, at least from my limited experience seeing him play through the years. While Escobar has never been the 'flashy' option, I think he's done the job tremendously well. And while it's still too early, perhaps, to write off DanSan, I still think that Escobar is the better choice going forward. Like you said, Nick, he makes good decisions and I think that is an underrated quality.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm just glad they figured it out eventually, and hope they give him the job he's earned next spring also.

[Squirrel]

 

I'm just glad they figured it out eventually, and hope they give him the job he's earned next spring also.

I've learned not to hope that far in advance ... surprised you haven't!

[h2oface]

 

Parker had a tweet today that I found rather eye-popping:

 

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/643523201495121920

 

Offensively, Escobar has been an underrated contributor to the team's success. But what I wanted to touch on here was his defense. When I wrote a column in July arguing that Ed should be the everyday SS, several commenters -- including some that I tend to agree with almost always -- mentioned that they don't find Escobar to be a strong defender at shortstop. I was perplexed by that because I've always felt he was average at worst, and a breath of fresh air compared to the error-prone DanSan.

 

Well, in 37 games since he took over the position full-time at the beginning of August, Escobar has committed 1 error in 149 chances, and has been involved in 21 double plays. His UZR this season is solidly above average, as it was last year. While he certainly doesn't have the physical capabilities of a guy like Santana, Escobar has made some plays that have really wowed me, and he almost always seems to make good decisions.

 

So what I'm wondering is, have any of the skeptics come around on Escobar's defense now that we've been watching him play regularly at short? And if he keeps playing the way he does offensively and defensively, could he be one of the team's most valuable players next year?

 

All of a sudden, getting Ed (who is 26 and still under control through 2018) for a half-season of Liriano is looking like a hell of a deal. 

 

I keep seeing the bloopers he can't get to, or the balls just out of reach of his glove, and the balls thrown to first from deep in the hole toward third dribbling to first ala Little Ben Revere, and some bad decisions on when to throw home. But there is some flash and acrobatics for double plays, and like Hardy, he handles his range. If he hits like he has the last 30 days, how do you keep him out of the lineup at short?

 

I have to compare the trade by comparing Liriano's performance since the trade, as if this could have been for the Twins the whole time, to Escobar's performance for the Twins for the whole time since. I can't just call it a half season for several years, as Escobar could have been cast off just as Liriano was at any point, and Liriano could have been resigned or extended. Granted, Gardenhire and Anderson in the ear doesn't help Liriano's performance, and that Ray Searage is the unforeseen potion that couldn't have happened for the Twins.......

but.....

comparing the total performance of each over the time since the trade, I think it is still highly favored in Liriano's direction.

[jimmer]

 

JJ Hardy has won Gold Gloves with similar range and less of an arm. EE has bobbled a few more balls this year, but his arm is strong and accurate and he positions himself well. I think Escobar is plenty good to play on a contending team.

Hardy has a great arm, not sure Escobar's arm is better and when Hardy won his GGs his RZR (the stat that measures range) was .833, .802 and .820.  Escobar's RZR this year is .794.  Hardy also has had great UZRs.  Escobar is at 1.0 and was at 2.1 last year. Then there's the huge difference in DRS. He's not anywhere near what Hardy was defensively when he won his GGs or this year or earlier in his career.

 

Having said that, if Escobar keep playing like this, he deserves to continue to be a starter for sure.

[ashbury]

I'll stand up as a past skeptic on EE's defense. (Also his offense, different subject.) I don't actually get to watch many games uninterrupted, so my skepticism was based mostly on Small Sample Size: it seemed that anytime I was actually paying attention, he was committing an error or bobble or flub (oh MY!).

 

So-so range, mediocre reliability, just didn't add up to a starter in my view.

 

And I can't say that I've seen enough during his present tenure as starter to form any opinion one way or the other.

 

But I'm definitely coming around on his durability on offense, and I guess I'll just have to admit to a biased sample on defense, and go ahead and elevate him in my mind from "Starter on a bad team, valued Utility man on a World Series team" to something better. Like, maybe, Starter.

[Shane Wahl]

 

Old news

 

Too bad Gardenhire and Ryan decided to do their own thing last season and Ryan continued the practice for half a season this season.

 

Yeah, I give you props for that one.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I was pretty high on Escobar but thought he had a very small chance of repeating last year's success. Either way, I was trumpeting him at short in May because, like you said, he's steady with the glove and looked to have modest upside with the bat.

 

I am very happy to be wrong about his upside with the bat. He's doing exactly what he did last year. I'm still not entirely sold on him as a starter but damn it all, he deserves the job out of ST. The guy has compiled roughly a full season's worth of PAs at the position and his bat has been way above average during that time.

 

This.  He deserves a full time shot.  He's done this for several years now where he goes on an unbelievable offensive outburst while playing average to above defense.  He was brought into the league very young, so I'd say it's quite possible that he could be an above average SS.  The job should be his to lose at this point. 

 

Oh, side note, but at this point I think it's safe to say we won the Liriano trade...