Yunel Escobar (.471) like a new player — should Braves care?
Yunel Escobar's grand slam against Baltimore was his first homer of year.
When the Braves traded shortstop Yunel Escobar for Alex Gonzalez, it was easy to understand their logic. Escobar was slumping, management was turned off by his perceived attitude and they viewed him as a potential road block to a grand postseason run.
I wrote at the time that the deal could come back to haunt them. Of course, my time frame wasn’t the next four games.
Have you seen Escobar’s numbers since the deal? He is 8-for-17 (.471) with three runs scored, seven RBI and a grand slam on Sunday (his first homer of the season). He has walked once and has yet to strike out. He has moved runners along. He has been solid defensively.
Also, he has yet to pout.
So I guess he doesn’t stink after all.
Now, from the Braves’ perspective, this trade will be judged at the end of the season by: 1) Whether they make the playoffs and how they do when they get there; 2) What role Gonzalez has in that run (for what it’s worth, he’s 3 for 16 with the Braves).
In that sense, Escobar isn’t even a factor. But the franchise’s worst nightmare down the line would be for him to turn back into the player they saw for three seasons.
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, who spoke to Bobby Cox about Escobar following the deal, said: “The kid’s played great here. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and more.”
Just want to take a pulse of Braves’ fandom here: Are you happy for Escobar, upset that he has been a success or really don’t care one way or another?
This might be even the bigger question: What will make the Gonzalez-Escobar trade a success or failure in your eyes?
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486 comments Add your comment
bakes
July 22nd, 2010
9:20 am
Escobar was a headcase and didn’t enjoy, nor respect, being a Brave. I have no problem with their decision to get rid of him. My worry is, however, we’re going to do the same with Medlen, just to get another outfielder that we obviously do not currently need.
David in NYC
July 22nd, 2010
11:26 am
You want to judge this trade based on FOUR games? Really? Ever hear the expression “small sample size”? If Escobar hits .471 for the rest of the season, I promise to eat the printed version of this column in front of a camera and post it on YouTube. In fact, I will do the same if he hits .371 for the rest of the season.
This trade is roughly the same as the John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander trade (though the chances of Escobar’s career being anything like Smoltz’s are slim and none). The Braves are going all in for 2010 (at least partly because of Bobby Cox), and made their decision based on the remainder of the 2010 season. In that context (and having seen Gonzalez play shortstop far better than Escobar), it makes perfect sense.
If the Braves win the 2010 World Series, nobody will give a damn about Escobar or what he does in the future.
Robert
July 22nd, 2010
12:30 pm
“If the Braves win the 2010 World Series, nobody will give a damn about Escobar or what he does in the future.”
Unless Cox changes his plans and quits before the season ends, the above is an impossibility
Daddy Tuck
July 22nd, 2010
3:19 pm
This trade happened because of Bobby’s loyalty to Chipper. Ever since Yunel has been moved down in the lineup he has pouted. I would have moved Chipper to 5th or 6th and had Yunel in the 2 and JHey in the 3. Sorry but that’s the reality of the situation.
Unless the Braves believe one of the youngsters is ready next year to fill in at SS then this is a stupid move. You sit Yunel for a few games and then if that didn’t get his attention you trade him. I think Gonzo is a better defender and has more power he’s not the SS of the future. He might not even be the SS next year. One of the reasons we made the Tex trade was because of Yunel. I hated that trade too. Give me Elvis, M Harrison, and N Perez and you tell me how good we are now!!
Hawk4
July 22nd, 2010
3:21 pm
To ALL of you G.M.’s out there… You guys crack me up everyday with your lack of knowledge for the game that you so freely express to us.
Esco has more Talent than he knows what to do with. That is not in question. Him being the player we all wanted him to be is not in question. What caused the Trade is his ATTITUDE!!
When you have players like Hudson and Jones “The Leaders of the Ball Club” caught on camera trying to pat him on the shoulders, congradulating him on his great defence. And his response is to turn away and not even ackowledge them. “In a word, Screw you”!! Your a Big League ShortStop.. Act Like it…
bry22
July 22nd, 2010
4:21 pm
Should the Braves care? BE REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No way!!!!!!!!
BigJohnLongKock
July 22nd, 2010
5:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Bobby's Cox is limp like Chipper's unless he is with his new wife from Hooters!
July 22nd, 2010
5:25 pm
You guys are retarded… Yunel Escobar was the best player on the team last year. Now we get to watch Gimper Jones screw up running the bases and blowing plays at 3rd. As long as Bobby keeps his “boys” happy all is well. From a baseball standpoint this trade was pathetic and the minor leaguers are throw in’s at best. Can’t wait until Gonzalez blows his leg out again and the Braves are left with Brandon Hicks at short. Hicks should be able to put up Gonzalez’s numbers though, heck Lowe can pull off a sub .300 obp! Looking forward to the Braves choking in the first round again!!!
ijudgenot
July 22nd, 2010
6:36 pm
From the comments of the players on the Braves team about Gonzo it is apparent that there was a problem and Escobar would not have been voted Mr. congeniality in the locker room. Again the Braves must be confident that Salcedo will be here in a couple of years and Gonzo has a 2.5 mill option the Braves can pick up next year to carry them to Salcedo’s debut. The only gamble is Gonzo’s knees. That play where he goes in the hole and slides/pivots to make throw to first makes me hold my breath given his past medical problems with the knee. Gonzo is smooth and a pro. He and Prado have meshed very quickly.
Scott
July 22nd, 2010
10:55 pm
Jeff, your assessment of Escobar situation puzzles me. I think the Braves would like nothing more than to see him excel in Toronto. For whatever reason they didn’t see it coming here and felt he needed a wake up call. Gonzalez is a better fit for the Braves. Personally, I see Escobar as a bright young prospect who needed a change to reach his potential. If he hits his potential it will not haunt the Braves, it will tell them they did the right thing and it will be a feel good for those guys. You have to give the Braves organization more credit than that … Anyway, enjoy reading your commentary.
Yakuzafro
July 23rd, 2010
8:11 am
Good riddance! Yunel was a a prima donna that did not want to be in a Braves uniform.
He has good defense, but he will NEVER be an All-Star…well he plays for the Jays now…so I take that back..if they have no one to send, he might get the honors. Yunel is a super star in his own mind and not on the field. The Braves and Atlanta are better off without him.
BravesFanLostInOhio
July 23rd, 2010
9:52 am
Good luck to Yunel, but judging by the players reaction, it was the right move.
truth
July 23rd, 2010
10:22 am
We knew he was a player..he’s just got that attitude. I hope he does great in Toronto, he’s the one that lost in this deal, he could be playing for the 1st place Atlanta Braves, but he blew that. Maybe this will help him grow up and be the best player he can be..Play hard Esco
Buck Commander
July 23rd, 2010
11:13 am
Wait until he starts showing his butt and not hitting in front of the home crowd and all eight or ten of the fans that go to their games start booing him.
OneWord
July 23rd, 2010
11:14 am
Anyone remember Jeff Franco? Yeah the one traded to the Mets…same thing happened with him…now look at his situation in NY. They want to trade his ass because he is batting .240’s. Sorry but time tells all tells and there will be no difference in this one…
ForrestTucker
July 23rd, 2010
11:50 am
It looks as though Yunel Escobar is going to hit .500 this year. This is the worst trade in the history of major league baseball. Unell is 7 years younger than Gonzalez, has a greater upside potential than Gonzo and will probably win the MVP of the league this year. this is the second worst trade since the Len Barker deal that stripped the Braves of their core players.
Peter
July 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
He seemed to be an issue here in ATL and that is the last thing we need when we are trying to make a run at the playoffs and even more. He may be doing well right of the bat in TOR but that often happens when a guy gets traded to the other league or comes up. The AL pitchers haven’t faced him near as much but they will get the book on him soon enough. I wish him all the best but I am glad we made the change if he was causing any problems in the clubhouse.
FlashMarker
July 23rd, 2010
12:05 pm
Good luck to Esco. Yodel Esco will continue to play magnificently because he has great talent and should still be playing the Braves. Gonzo is much older and will retire soon so I think the Braves got burned badly on the trade. But hopefull the braves will learn their lesson and they should, because as the old saying goes, “ONCE BURNED IS A LESSON LEARNED”.
PaulWinchester
July 23rd, 2010
12:15 pm
The Braves should have traded Chipper Jones for their new shortstop Gonzales instead of Yunel. The only problem is that Gonzo and Yunel play the same position so it had to be Unel. Its too bad because Yunel will continue to be a superstar and an all-star for years to come. The Braves continue to make mistakes in the front office. We lost Jeff Francour and all Francour did in his first season in the majors when he was with the Braves was hit 29 homers and drive in 106 runs. Francour will regain his all-star form and that too was a bad deal for the Braves. It seems the Braves have given away a ton of talent over the years: J.D. Drew, Gary Sheffield, Jermain Dye, Jeff Francour, Yunel Escobar, Brett Butler, Brook Jacoby, Kevin Millwood, Javier Vasquez, etc. THE BRAVES HAVE CLOWNS RUNNING THE FRONT OFFICE.
39YearBravesFan
July 23rd, 2010
1:42 pm
Sometimes they need a fresh start. I hope he does well, not against us, but he didn’t fit with the Braves, bottom line.
GO BRAVES!!
Manyyyyyyyyyyyyy
July 23rd, 2010
6:12 pm
He does not luke like cuban player
Bravesfan54
July 23rd, 2010
6:16 pm
Jeff – to me it is obvious that Yunel was not mentally committed to playing his best for this team, this manager. I fully expected him to rise back up to his ability level for some other manager. I think he seethed with resentment toward Bobby Cox. It is, I think, generally accepted that when you fall out of Bobby’s grace – you are simply done. Bobby Cox has immense patience with ball players generally, but when he concludes you are not a gamer, you’re finished. Instinctively, Yunel sensed this and was not motivated to play his best….I do not feel that he consciously laid down or anything like that, but simply that his resentment seemed to have affected his abilities. I don’t think he was popular as a player, and this is a guy with a “machismo” personality. He no longer “fit” in the “team page” – I truly wish him well, and expect a brilliant career for the man. His fall into a state of malaise was partly Bobby’s fault – his heart hardened against this immature player. (For god’s sakes, he was told to stop whistling – well, take a man’s mojo and his soul will soon be buying a ticket “outta here”.) I don’t want to “blame” BC, just sayin’ this manager and this player were not “simpatico” in style, temperment, and a host of other intangibles.
Bobby should not have had to babysit or be this guy’s therapist. Yunel should have had the maturity to see Bobby’s bigger vision for success and sucked it up. Sorry for all my psychobabble, but this is my view. Do you agree with any of it?
TIM HARRIOTT
July 23rd, 2010
10:48 pm
Hey Jeff I read your article and could not disagree more. Yunel Escobar was a show boat athlete who did not respect Bobby Cox or Chipper Jones. He also hasnt hit a homerun all season and has been a hole in the braves great line up. Look at Gonzales now he is driving in runs and turning great double plays. Try watching the Braves next week and report that way.
OldTimer
July 23rd, 2010
11:32 pm
Escobar is like a hot looking gal with herpes, you’d like to do her, but you shouldn’t.
PeckerRash
July 23rd, 2010
11:33 pm
Amen.
OldTimer
July 23rd, 2010
11:40 pm
Wagner’s lost it. Get him out of here.
Kevin S.
July 24th, 2010
1:57 am
If you have a player who cant get motivated for a 1st place team, HOF coach in his last season or even a HOF 3b in his prolly last season, what else could one do?
I liked Yunel but he didnt want to play hard every day and Alex Gonalez has so far, which is more than Yunel did.
Why
July 24th, 2010
2:44 pm
If the Braves trade players who are not producing; why is MCCLOUTH still on the team?
Why
July 24th, 2010
2:54 pm
If the Braves trade players who are not producing; why is CHIPPER still on the team?
Skeezix
July 24th, 2010
3:13 pm
I was in the minority on this one. I thought Yunel was worth keeping and that he would eventually return to form. I figured Bobby would eventually work things out with him—him being traded tells me that Bobby had tried everything he knew and finally decided it was best to unload him for someone more reliable at SS.
SS is such a critical position that you can’t win a pennant with a SS who keeps making mental mistakes like Yunel did.
Gene
July 24th, 2010
3:37 pm
He wasn’t going to get it done here. I’m happy he’s having success, can still have a very notable career. I wish he could have found the motivation and focus to get it done here, but not the case. Reminded me of Andres Thomas: ton of potential, apparently thought that was enough.
Tyler
July 24th, 2010
9:42 pm
He needed a change of scenery. Just like Frenchy. So what if Escobar is doing better (props though) his team isn’t going to make the playoffs, our team is. Gonzalez is a great addition to the team. he has great leadership and good talent. hopefully his bat start to heat up more
ThePro10
July 24th, 2010
10:46 pm
Hey nice way to judge a trade after a week…i seem to remember Hawks fans reacting in a similiar fashion when Josh Childress decided to play in Europe…yunel Escobar is a good player but not irreplaceable
Bottom line: cancer in the clubhouse plus poor play on the field = TRADE BAIT!!!!
Dave
July 25th, 2010
11:39 pm
HE IS 8 for 17. Wow what a WEEK. Let’s put him in Cooperstown. You will see Gonzalez is twice the player Yunel is. Plus our new shortstop actually makes the plays in the field which will save you more games in the long run. Great trade in my book.
Michelle Anderson
July 26th, 2010
9:02 am
The trade woke him up. It might be temporary – either way the other Braves players had had it with him. He told one of them happy birthday and asked what he wanted and the other player said “for you to play hard today”. That says it all…
JT Grace
July 26th, 2010
10:16 am
I think this trade will come down to one of the all time worst trades in Braves history. Trading away a future all-star, gold glove type shortstop for an older journeyman is just nuts. If they had of at the very least gotten a couple of the Jays top ten prospects then it could have possibly been justified. However, even the prospects they got were so-so.
Do you all know how many shortstops the Jays have had since 2005? The answer is 18….they have used EIGHTEEN shortstops in 5 years. I am guessing the Braves will have a similar answer to that question five years from now. Stupid, stupid trade by the Braves.