Eduardo Escobar

[Brock Beauchamp]

Seriously, this guy.

 

That is all. Discuss.

[ashbury]

The only remaining debate is whether he will make another out at the plate this season, or the rest of his career.

[Squirrel]

He was my pick for favorite Twin this year. I'm sticking to it. Plus I rode the elevator with him after the Meltdown. Nice guy who has a really cute baby.

[Thrylos]

 

Seriously, this guy.

That is all. Discuss.

 

Been there, done that.

Way before anyone could believe.

 

Three words:

Gardy. Pedro. Florimon,

 

I rest my case.

 

[DocBauer]

I know we don't want to anno it him as an alternative time Twins great at this point, nor necessarily even all star status. Over the decades, I don't think we can claim the Twins have had an over abundance of great SS's. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the list of said SS would include Versalles, Smalley, Gagne and Guzman...though Guzman never really maintained the status he teased of. There were a couple of other decent players such as Mears or Hardy for a year or two, but unless I'm just missing someone, that's about it.

 

Now, that's not to demean the guys on the list, who were pretty darn good in their day, but it's not an overly long or overly prestigious list. And you could make different arguement as to how they rank, but for the most part, I think it's safe to say we have generally struggled for a few years to find an every day SS who could produce and could be counted on. As I previously mentioned, guys mature and find themselves at different stages and ages in their careers. I never fully bought in to the arguement Escobar was only a utility player, despite so-so milb stats, as he moved through the ChiSox organization rather quickly, and was promoted fairly young, only to sit on the bench AS a utility fielder. And it's hard to say if the Twins scouts were smart in their scouting of him, or lucky, or both.

 

Based on his overall numbers per AB the past two seasons, keeping in mind that in each season his numbers/performance began with intermittent play followed by steady play that seemed to actually lead to an increase in production as he became THE GUY, his numbers for 547 AB, roughly the average number of AB for a starting ML SS in 2015, his numbers would look something like this:

 

.268/ .312/ .425/ 43Dbls/ 4Tpls/ 12 HR

 

Huge potential production. Again, his numbers, though I don't have a month by month breakdown, seem to indicate his production, overall, increases when he gets steady play. Assuming health, as always, and breaks so he doesn't get worn out, could the Twins really have one of the most productive SS in the league? The past two years and correlating projections would seem to say yes.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Been there, done that.

Way before anyone could believe.

 

Three words:

Gardy. Pedro. Florimon,

 

I rest my case.

I also wanted Escobar starting in front of Florimon but I never dreamed he'd be this good.

 

My opinion was this:

 

While Escobar's upside appears to be minimal, at least he has something resembling an upside. Pedro Florimon was awful yesterday, is awful today, and will be awful tomorrow.

 

I really disliked Pedro Florimon.

[Mike Sixel]

So basically, get rid of the older veteran with no upside, and have the guy with upside (that we don't know much about) get time........I like that argument, Brock. Can we apply that other players......

 

As for Esco, he should have been the starter last year, based on his performance the year before. And, he is probably an averagish MLB SS right now, that makes him very good and valuable.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

So basically, get rid of the older veteran with no upside, and have the guy with upside (that we don't know much about) get time........I like that argument, Brock. Can we apply that other players......

 

As for Esco, he should have been the starter last year, based on his performance the year before. And, he is probably an averagish MLB SS right now, that makes him very good and valuable.

I didn't have a problem with Santana getting the nod out of Spring Training last season because he was the young guy with upside going into the season.

 

I didn't think they pulled the plug as quickly and violently on Santana as I would have liked but I couldn't really fault them for going with him in April.

[gopherman23]

I am going to start calling him Señor Dobles (Mr. Doubles) from now on. All the guy does is hit doubles. He should hit 40-50 this season, which is great extra base pop from your SS.

[Reider]

With the way Escobar has been playing, I was thinking that it wouldn't hurt to give him an opportunity to bat higher in the line up? I get why they have Santana in the 2 spot today (speed + .500 batting average). But what about Escobar? If he keeps driving the ball, perhaps the Twins should promote him to the 1 or 2 spot depending on how things are going.

 

For instance, Dozier has been cold has a cucumber. Wouldn't Santana-Escobar-Mauer be a decent starting 3 today?

 

Buxton-Escobar-Mauer could be good if / when Buxton gets his bat going

Dozier-Escobar-Mauer could be good if / when Dozier gets his bat going

Buxton-Dozier-Mauer could be good if / when Buxton and Dozier both get thier bats going

 

Not saying that you put Escobar there and leave him there for the rest of his career. I'm just saying that perhaps if he's driving the ball, give him an opportunity to play a bigger role in the first inning. And the reasoning is simple: This guy has taken over SS when he got the opportunity, and he did so while hitting the ball. It seems like he's the kind of guy who thrives, when given opportunities. Thoughts?

[bluechipper]

 

With the way Escobar has been playing, I was thinking that it wouldn't hurt to give him an opportunity to bat higher in the line up? I get why they have Santana in the 2 spot today (speed + .500 batting average). But what about Escobar? If he keeps driving the ball, perhaps the Twins should promote him to the 1 or 2 spot depending on how things are going.

 

For instance, Dozier has been cold has a cucumber. Wouldn't Santana-Escobar-Mauer be a decent starting 3 today?

 

Buxton-Escobar-Mauer could be good if / when Buxton gets his bat going

Dozier-Escobar-Mauer could be good if / when Dozier gets his bat going

Buxton-Dozier-Mauer could be good if / when Buxton and Dozier both get thier bats going

 

Not saying that you put Escobar there and leave him there for the rest of his career. I'm just saying that perhaps if he's driving the ball, give him an opportunity to play a bigger role in the first inning. And the reasoning is simple: This guy has taken over SS when he got the opportunity, and he did so while hitting the ball. It seems like he's the kind of guy who thrives, when given opportunities. Thoughts?

I'd be in favor of Escobar hitting first or second. I think Buxton, Escobar, Mauer would look pretty good.

[scottz]

My contribution to this discussion comes in the form of the always helpful anagrams.

 

Eduardo Escobar Anagrams:

A Scoreboard Due
A Obscure Adored
Dueces or Aboard

Do Secure Aboard

Rodeo Arcade Bus

Rad Because Odor

Roar Because Odd

Cobra Dead Euros

 

and my favorite Eduardo Escobar anagram (though you probably wouldn't have seen this one coming),

Underrated SS Hits

[Teflon]

Escobar is the second coming of Honus Wagner at SS compared to Florimon.

[ashbury]

Eduardo Escobar Anagrams:

A Scoreboard Due

A Obscure Adored

Dueces or Aboard

Do Secure Aboard

Rodeo Arcade Bus

Rad Because Odor

Roar Because Odd

Cobra Dead Euros

 A few more:

 

 Absurd Rodeo Ace

 Do A Bread Course

 Ace Our Roadbeds

 Dead Boar Source

 A Sour Bread Code

 Aced our SABR Ode

 Bare, Aroused Doc

 Bad Ecuador Eros

 Curse A Broad Ode

[DaveW]

 

I'd be in favor of Escobar hitting first or second. I think Buxton, Escobar, Mauer would look pretty good.

I don't think Buxton has "earned" it yet, he is still strike out too much to be a leadoff hitter, but I definitely would but Escobar in lead-off for now.

 

Temp batting order:

Escobar

Mauer

Sano

Dozier

Ploufe

etc

 

Batting order once Buxton starts to turn a corner:

Buxton

Mauer

Sano

Dozier

Plouffe

Escobar

 

Batting order once Buxton becomes the Stud Elite/MVP Type player he can/will be:

Escobar

Buxton

Sano

Dozier

Mauer

Plouffe

 

etc etc

 

Or you could go:

Escobar

Mauer

Buxton
Sano

 

[Primetime82]

Dozier

Escobar

Mauer

Sano 

Plouffe

Park

Rosario <<<<This guy has to learn to take pitches. 

Catcher

Buxton

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

My contribution to this discussion comes in the form of the always helpful anagrams.

 

Eduardo Escobar Anagrams:

 

A Scoreboard Due

A Obscure Adored

Dueces or Aboard

Do Secure Aboard

Rodeo Arcade Bus

Rad Because Odor

Roar Because Odd

Cobra Dead Euros

 

and my favorite Eduardo Escobar anagram (though you probably wouldn't have seen this one coming),

Underrated SS Hits

Thanks for putting a smile on my face tonight

[alarp33]

I was pretty adamant about not hitting Escobar 1 or 2, but in my defense I didn't know the alternative would be Danny freaking Santana becoming the 2 hitter

[twinsnorth49]

This guy is good at da basbol.

 

 

Wonder when everyone will be willing to finally recognise that?

[GCTF]

 

 

 Bare, Aroused Doc
 

Appointments available?

[Danchat]

Esco needs to be in one of the top 3 spots in the lineup. Outside of Mauer, he's the only one actually hitting the baseball.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Bare, Aroused Doc

Oh, this could go in so many directions

[Kwak]

So, when does Escobar get  a statue at TF?

[Hrbowski]

Escobar has not taken a walk so far this season. That is a sign of trouble. He is also striking out at the same rate as Trevor Plouffe, and is making hard contact at a rate of just .006 higher than Plouffe. The reason for his success? He is hitting balls in the air at an unusually high rate, as only Brandon Belt, Trevor Story, David Ortiz, Freddie Freeman, JD Martinez, Chris Davis, Adrian Beltre, and Bryce Harper have a higher rate than Escobar.

[h2oface]

Ah..... the TD darling. I am really loving his hitting. It certainly is making the darling lovers ignore the 3 errors in 7 games (and other plays in the field that looked like errors but batters were given gift hits instead)...... and the no walks and lots of K's, and I wish he could steal bases. But in this land of conditions he is not above suspicion. It is a long season, but he is high on the love meter right now.

[bluechipper]

Well this died down quickly. Now at .230/.278/.297 on the season.

 

But finally an extra base hit tonight!

[DocBauer]

Wait....I like Escobar a lot....but when did I get aroused?

 

Not saying it's not true...just wondering. Lol