Article: Let's Talk About Eduardo Escobar

[Parker Hageman]

Eduardo Escobar's day at the park ended shortly after a Rick Porcello fastball bounced off the vulnerable part of the arm just above the elbow and sent shooting pain down to his digits. It is the type of injury that would have made a lesser person's fingers tingle for hours, leaving them incapable of eating steak.

 

Not Ed Escobar, however.

 

Banged up, bandaged up, and listed as day-to-day, the Minnesota Twins' hottest bat made his way several blocks from Target Field to his favorite restaurant to restock on massive quantities of protein.

 

The narrative surrounding Escobar's historic doubles pace has been credited to his penchant for eating at the Brazilian meathouse or a chance run-in with actor Nick Cage. These are both cute stories but the real catalyst behind the power surge has more to do with his development as a hitter than what he has been during outside the lines.

 

Take a look.

 

Click here to view the article

[diehardtwinsfan]

he looks quite a bit more muscular in general in 18 vs. 13... that's helping too I'm guessing.

[Dman]

Always liked him as a player.  He always seemed to be a bit under rated.   Unless he falls back to earth I am guessing he won't be overlooked anymore.

[ashbury]

he looks quite a bit more muscular in general in 18 vs. 13... that's helping too I'm guessing.

Yeah, that's what jumped out at me from the video moreso than any leg kicks or whatever - those glutes.

 

Always thought he was a better chance for success than Florimon, back when that was the debate. And in very small sample size of personal observation, I came to the view that he's a smart situational hitter with sneaky-underrated power.

 

And I still underestimated him.

[tbhysgb]

Eduardo is one twin that had a huge impression on me as a twins fan. About the time he came to the twins I got front row third base seats at coors field to watch the twins(back when Gardy was still around). Escobar was the only player that stood by us for what seemed like an hour doing autographs for everybody who wanted them, interacting with all the fans that he could.

 

He’s a great person and a great professional, I’m proud to have him on this team and I want to see him be a twin in the future.

[Parker Hageman]

he looks quite a bit more muscular in general in 18 vs. 13... that's helping too I'm guessing.

 

 

Absolutely. Escobar is notoriously diligent about his workouts. He was also significantly thicker in 2016 and 2017 but that did not translate to the same numbers he is having this year. It wasn't until he was able to connect his swing that he has been able to handle all pitches. 

 

Yeah, that's what jumped out at me from the video moreso than any leg kicks or whatever - those glutes.

 

 

There aren't any leg kicks to jump out. The hip coil difference is probably more noticeable to someone who spends hours each week pouring over videos of swings. 

 

At the end of the day, there are plenty of strong players. Plenty of players who added mass over five years. Plenty of those players haven't hit like Escobar is doing this year. He might have had some of the power but it would likely not be as consistent, particularly with the bat path he had previously. The tension he creates bringing everything back then snapping forward well connected in his lower-half, core and arms added to his aggressive intent and that is how we get this type of power production.

 

The only thing better would be is if he were losing more balls. 

 

 

[Tomj14]

So the Twins won the Liriano trade then?

[ashbury]

So the Twins won the Liriano trade then?

And they REALLY won the Pierzynski trade.

[Tomj14]

 

And they REALLY won the Pierzynski trade.

After looking at baseball reference, Liriano has 9.5 WAR since leaving, and Eduardo only has 6.6.

 

[Aerodeliria]

What I noticed in my admittedly limited looks at Escobar's at bats was his ability to resist lunging at pitches out of the strike zone. Specifically, I remember him cooly laying off a fastball high and away from Ricky Skaggs on a 3-2 count and thinking, "Wow, Escobar has matured. The old Escobar would have likely whiffed in that situation."

[nicksaviking]

 

After looking at baseball reference, Liriano has 9.5 WAR since leaving, and Eduardo only has 6.6.

 

Yeah, but Liriano only had .2 WAR for that half season with the Sox, which was his walk year.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm ready to talk extension with him.  Worst case scenario you have a versatile player that is very valuable to a team.

 

What would he take?  4 years and 40M?  4/60?  The more I think about it the less confident I am in my guesses.

[joefish]

Why did Porcello plunk him? Neither Porcello nor their catcher, Leon, showed any signs of being surprised. And they showed zero concern when Scooby got hit. I say they both knew it was coming.

[Parker Hageman]

Should have put this on the thread initially...

 

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/1010194512784871425

[ewen21]

 

he looks quite a bit more muscular in general in 18 vs. 13... that's helping too I'm guessing.

Proof that offseason conditioning is a big deal

[rdehring]

He is also one of the most likeable guys on the team, who I understand is great in the clubhouse.  Now what they really need...is his signature on a three year extension.

 

Let's get it done Front Office...now!

[Mike Sixel]

Good article! Thanks.

[TFRazor]

I didn't get a chance to watch the game but it definitely seemed that they were trying to hit him. Had something happened earlier in the game that this was retaliation for?

[Jham]

I didn't get a chance to watch the game but it definitely seemed that they were trying to hit him. Had something happened earlier in the game that this was retaliation for?

Gibby went up and in on jd Martinez and jd reacted like a baby. wasn't close to hitting him.

 

offer el caballo unlimited fogo with his deal. he'll sign... just don't tell sano...

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah the BoSox announcers suggested Gibson threw up and in on JD because he owns Gibby.  So they retaliated.

[ewen21]

 

Eduardo is one twin that had a huge impression on me as a twins fan. About the time he came to the twins I got front row third base seats at coors field to watch the twins(back when Gardy was still around). Escobar was the only player that stood by us for what seemed like an hour doing autographs for everybody who wanted them, interacting with all the fans that he could.

He’s a great person and a great professional, I’m proud to have him on this team and I want to see him be a twin in the future.

That is nice that he did that, but I couldn't care less about those kinds of things.  As long as the guy plays with heart, is a good teammate and contributes (check, check and check) he is A-OK in my books.  If he signed autographs and was a "nice guy" but was a loafer and a clown?  He could sign autographs and kiss babies until the cows come home and I wouldn't appreciate him one bit.

 

I don't need players to talk to me or give me anything but 100%, some production and zero off the field BS.  If a player can do that then that is all I ask as a fan

 

Edited June 22, 2018 by ewen21

[DocBauer]

The retaliation BS for intentionally hitting a player with a hard, quickly moving object is just that, BS.

 

I've really liked Escobar for some time now. Not yet 30 and keeps getting better. He's just a really good and versatile ballplayer. A real professional. I'm not picking on anyone, but what would Sano be like if his overall work and approach was more like Escobar's? But then again, we didn't know this was the player we were getting when we traded for him.

[DocBauer]

Question: Where does the nickname "Scooby" come from?