Alcides Escobar Keeps Hitting, Solidifying His Future
by Freneau on Jul 19, 2011 2:17 PM EDT
in Kansas City Royals News
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I've done about three versions of this post before, but since you know I am a devotee of all things positive about this team, I figured I'd do so again.
Alcides Escobar began the season looking really really awful at the plate. I'd say it was "unspeakably bad" but we talked about it all the time, so that would be a lie. He also went something like 0-70 in the 9th inning of close games with men on base, yet Ned Yost would never PH for him. Of course, now the Royals are never in games late, so that doesn't matter.
And so, on June 3, after 218 PAs, he was hitting : .204/.239/.239. Since then, he has hit an astounding .336/.382/.493.
Insane.
So who had Alcides Hercules Escobar posting an .875 OPS over 148 PAs? Sure, the batting average is a little random (that's how batting average works in small samples) but he's also taking a fair number of walks and showing some small man power with 7 doubles and 4 triples during his hot streak.
On the season, Escobar's triple slash line is now up to .257/.297/.340. He's below average (for all positions) but now above replacement level for a SS, purely as an offensive player. His BRef War is at 1.9 on the season, Fangraphs has him at 1.7.
Escobar was always going to get a chance and a half from the Royals: he was a former top prospect and a Dayton Moore acquisition, who just happened to be part of the big Greinke trade. Heck, Chris Getz has getzed a chance and a half. However, Escobar's bat was so bad to begin the season (part of a years long decline) that even the biggest believers had to have some doubts. Sure, he's very good defensively, but you have to at least hit a little. In the long run, a guy with a .400 OPS just isn't playable (well, I'd hope so). Decent glove SSes with .500 or .600 OPS capability just aren't that hard to find.
With his hot streak, Escobar has likely solidified his future with the organization, in some capacity. I tend to think Escobar's defense is overrated. (Not because he's bad, but because the superlatives thrown around are so... superlative.) Someone asked in the Game Thread last night if Escobar's streak is "for real." No, I don't think so, simply because I don't think we suddenly have Troy Tulowitzki on our roster. However, he's played very well and brought himself back from the abyss and he should be given credit for that.
Get used to watching this guy, Royals fans, he's going to be here awhile.
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I think he's got some 3 fWAR seasons in him. Pretty solid, but never going to be an amazing player.
Killing time until time kills me
I tried to nail down exactly how much he needs to hit...
here:
http://www.i70baseball.com/2011/07/01/how-much-escobar-has-to-hit/
Giving him the benefit of the doubt on defense, the number I came up with is (at least) a .290 wOBA.
now the Royals are never in games late, so that doesn't matter.
You should watch the games sometime.
As for Esky, we could summarize as: “Yost was right.”
I agree that we have still been in games late.
I disagree that “Yost was right.” Yost had nothing to do with it. He had to play Escobar because he was part of the trade and was a ML ready shortstop… Wait. Maybe you mean Yost was right in not pinch-hitting Escobar late in games. No way. You couldn’t possibly be arguing that. You could not possibly argue that those ABs during late and close situations had such a positive effect as to make Escobar climb himself out of the abyss. I think what you meant to say is “Escobar always had the ability, but Seitzer helped him convert that to results” or something like that. Pssh—Yost was right. Please.
Maybe you mean Yost was right in not pinch-hitting Escobar late in games. No way.
Way. Talent is G*d given, experience is earned. This all reminds me of of Frank White’s first few years or even Willie Wilson’s.
by Jim Fetterolf on Jul 19, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you think he's hitting better overall because Yost let him hit in some key close/late game situations?
If so, why? Because it helps build character?
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Jul 19, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
its hard to argue against yost's handling of escobar at this point
whether his handling of escobar is the reason or any part of the reason why escobar is hitting…its a lost season and one of the young players have developed very nicely…you cant criticize yost’s handling of him b/c its about results…and the results are good
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 20, 2011 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions
has developed very nicely
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 20, 2011 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not criticizing Yost's handling of Escobar
I’m just not blindly following post hoc, ergo propter hoc and assuming that everything Yost did was a cause of how Escobar is hitting now. For the record, while I thought Yost should have pinch h it for Escobar some, I wasn’t too upset by it, as pinch hitting usually isn’t much of an upgrade.
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Jul 20, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I think you missed my post
Where I detailed some dozen or so instances in which Frank was pinch hit for regularly in his early years.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
http://www.royalsreview.com/2011/6/13/2221032/earl-weavers-thoughts-on-handling-escobar#69549492
52 starts, 20 times he was pinch hit for. Frank handled it just fine and so would Alcides.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
But imagine how good Frank would have been if he hadn't faced the indignity of being pinch hit for
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Jul 19, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
i dont think SBNation has the bandwith to allow for me to post...
all of the guys who have been allowed to struggle at the plate and then turned into good hitters…
and YAY…frank white turned into a hitter who was only 15% below average for his career…is that really your guys’ argument?
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 20, 2011 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Really?
We’ve been over this and over this. And you apparently don’t understand it. The point is that Escobar would not have suffered from being pinch-hit for. The point is that getting a few at-bats in the 9th inning during a close game did not make him a better player. What made him a better player was combining his ability with instruction from his hitting coach that allowed him to be more balanced, and at the same time, drive the ball more.
all of the guys who have been allowed to struggle at the plate and then turned into good hitters
There’s a difference between allowing a player to struggle and almost never pinch hitting for the player. I think few if any of us wanted Escobar benched. That doesn’t mean he always needed to hit in the bottom of the 9th with the tie or winning run at third base.
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Jul 20, 2011 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
pretty much everyone is in agreement and has been since day 1
of this season that it was about building for the future…we werent going to win this year. why would you take ABs away from one of the building blocks in order to give them to mitch? whether or not your liked how yost said it, there’s no good argument for PHing for escobar…assuming you buy into the 2011 as a building year
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 20, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t mind sacrificing a handful of PA’s to help the team win a little. And if anyone is arguing that he gets a special benefit from high leveral PA’s, I disagree.
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Jul 20, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah...i think thats where the disconnect is....
when yost talked about the situation….i’d have left him out there simply to get the extra ABs. had we pinch hit for him every one of those times, we’d have what? 1 or 2 more wins? who gives a shit
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 20, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
pretty much everyone is in agreement and has been since day 1
of this season that it was about building for the future…we werent going to win this year. why would you take ABs away from one of the building blocks in order to give them to mitch? whether or not your liked how yost said it, there’s no good argument for PHing for escobar…assuming you buy into the 2011 as a building year
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 20, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Who is this guy?
Does he just randomly post to piss off the “pop tart” crowd? Although, I do see him hanging around Judge’s site. Seems like trying to argue with him is a pointless exercise.
by hopefulguise on Jul 19, 2011 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Jim Fetteroff is an anagram for Lee Judge
Look it up.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
I've never seen him
and Kansas City Oracle in the same thread.
2011 Royals Review NCAA Bracket Challenge Winner, by process of attrition
This positivity is so sappy, so tender and so unconditionally loving . . .
. . . that the site should be renamed “Royals Romance.”
by kansasjohn on Jul 19, 2011 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
AE's development is one of the 3-4 interesting things about being a current Royals fan
Let’s go ahead and call it a pleasant surprise. They have been few and far between.
"Shot by my own men."
Along with a measly few other players playing above expectations...
Gordon, Melky, Crow, Holland, Wood, Coleman, Paulino, Francouer, Betemit, Chen, Francis, Collins, Treanor, and Pena.
Go Royals!
He's not just tapping out cheap singles, either
Seems like there’s been a whack of doubles and even a pair of homeruns, the first of them dramatic as all get out.
and he isn't swinging wildly and luckily getting contact
(see Pena Jr., Tony and Betancourt, Yuni).
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
He is only 0.007 away from Freedomy's average
when will he overtake him? I say by this weekend.
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
He is now 2.5 fWAR above Yuniesky for the year.
Making Escobar look real good next to seeing batter nine out out there again.
Go Royals!
'polk points'
sounds kinda dirty. Like it might be a street term for some unholy act. Like the blumpkin.
Not to be confused with Frenchy's
poke points
I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.
by mitchfreakingmaier! on Jul 19, 2011 6:22 PM EDT reply actions
"I tend to think Escobar's defense is overrated."
In defense of the rating, Fangraphs says he has the 2nd highest Fld in the majors at 7.7. First is Tulowitzki. Seems pretty good. Not a full season sample, but that is something.
Then again, I suppose it depends on who is rating it. Someone saying “best defender ever” is overrating. Someone saying “legitimate gold glove contender” would be right on the money. It isn’t like he getzing it out there.
i really hope you succeed
In making “Getzing” a verb
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 19, 2011 8:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Alcides isn't a small guy
Six-foot-one, 185, and he’s likely to fill out to 200 or so. He’s going to hit some doubles. Dare we hopè for 10 HR?
“To getz” (v.): To play baseball in the manner of a scrappy white guy while making too many errors and hitting for no power. Esp: to hit a weak ground ball. Ex. (trans.) “Boy, Jeter really getzed that DP ball up.” “And Pedroia getzes one to third. Easy play for A-Rod, and the inning is over.” (Intrans.) “With their second baseman getzing around out there, the Mariners’ infield doesn’t look good this season.”
"From northern New Jersey came Boom Boom Mazzaro
A righthanded starter drafted out of high school
He pitched in the minors at Stockton and Midland
And blew them away with all of the tools" --Not Warren Zevon
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