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
Mad Mike
July 20th, 2010
11:54 am
i think he wanted to be traded – don’t have a guess as to why, but i think he wanted to be traded
Glausosaurus
July 20th, 2010
11:56 am
Dude needed a change of scenery. Braves lose this deal ultimately, but that’s just the way it played out.
I don’t blame Wren for moving him – I think it made sense from a clubhouse standpoint (if all the rumors about him being a bad teammate have any validity), but beyond what Chipper and crew thinks of Escobrat, this was not a good trade for the Braves organization.
Clay
July 20th, 2010
11:56 am
I think his start proves he needed a change of scenery. I think he and Bobby were equally sick of each other. Who knows, he and the Braves next manager could have had a great relationship, but…
I understand the trade and anyone who writes “Frank Wrenn screwup” after 4 games is the same idiot who proclaimed Glaus a failure after 2 weeks.
Joe T
July 20th, 2010
11:57 am
I don’t understand why the Braves could not motivate him. Did they exhause all avenues to get him to play better? He is an unbelievable talent. He carried the Braves the 2nd half last year. Looks like he is going to carry the Jays this second half. As I said in a previous blog, I think the Braves gave up on this kid too soon! I really do!
the cox man
July 20th, 2010
11:58 am
he wants to show up the braves it is a sad thing when a player can turn it off or on. best trade ever.
joe
July 20th, 2010
11:58 am
This is a pointless article undoubtly brought on by a lack of something to write about. IT’s BEEN 4 GAMES!!!!!!! No wonder the newspaper business is suffering.
adam
July 20th, 2010
11:58 am
let him get comfortable in toronto and he will revert back to his old ways of thinking he is better than he is, making mental mistakes, trying to make plays look harder than they are, you get what i’am trying to say. great move by wren to get him out of atlanta. let him be somebody else’s problem.
chicanos5
July 20th, 2010
11:59 am
Yuni’s attitude was not good for the team, Iam happy his gone and Iam sure he is happy where he is at. Good decision from the Front Office.
bruce
July 20th, 2010
11:59 am
happy for escobar, hope he keeps it up and proves that his attitude this year prevented him from being the player he has been and is capable of being.
Big Fan
July 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
Escobar is obviously talented. It is unfortunate the Braves couldn’t find a way to motivate him besides trading him. Over the long haul the Braves have to hope the minor leaguers make this an equitable deal.
chas
July 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
It’s way to early to analyze how this trade plays out for each team. If Gonzalez had Yunel’s numbers and visa versa would we already be talking about what a great trade this is for the Braves? Bottom line is that Yunel was not producing this year and did not fit in the clubhouse. Sure the trade appeared to be a somewhat short term return for a long term risk, but it was worth it in my opinion. Remember how Frenchy tore it up in Nyc for a little while and now is back to his old ways. Let’s not rush to judge anything right now.
Snellville Tony
July 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
HE PLAYS FOR TORONTO!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a Braves fan, I don’t care at all!!!! We had no other options but to trade him. Let’s PLEASE move on to the business at hand, which is getting to the Playoffs. Since when did we start judging trades after 6 days?
One Eyed Jack
July 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
Good for Yunel, getting unloaded is a heck of a movitation.
Agree with trade, Alex is a pro and brings consistent performance and good clubhouse juju to Braves. Will help in stretch run…Can you believe we Braves fans get to actually say stretch run? Incredible turn around.
After this season, we’ll see what happens. Look, there was life after Furcal, it will go on. (I always kinda liked Jermaine Dye, myself…)
BuckheadBrave
July 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
1.) saying a player is productive in one place means he would be productive in another is never an accurate comparison. Chemistry and atmosphere mean so much to a persons psyche you cant compare to totally different settings. Not everyone has the ability to perform no matter their surroundings and that goes for every level, even us in the business world sometimes personalities just don’t mesh.
2.) He is intensely motivated right now. Do you think Escobar will bat .427 in Toronto in August with nothing on the line. Or maybe he will, perhaps it was the pressure this is the first season the Braves have REALLY been playing for something and it was his worst year yet, maybe he can’t thrive where there are expectations. I’m going to stick with the trade motivating him theory though. Look at Francouer in the second half of last year, now he is on the bench and more than likely on his way out of NYC.
Ted M
July 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
It very well may “appear” to haunt the Braves but it won’t.
Unless…
Omar! Omar!
July 20th, 2010
12:01 pm
I know that Escobar had a bad first half, but the man was the MVP of the 2009 season. As others have pointed out, Cox has had patience (too much patience!) with much less talented, less productive players when better players were on the bench (e.g., Kelly Johnson, Greg Norton, Nate McLouth). I think in the long run the trade will definitely be regretted. But what do I know, I’m an Omar Infante fan.
Marcum commented, “But, now that we’ve got Yunel, it’s been fun to watch him the last couple days.” That’s one thing you can say about Yunel – he was always entertaining.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 20th, 2010
12:01 pm
If the Braves get to the World Series, or even the NLCS, I don’t think any of us can complain. If they don’t, and Gonzalez reverts to the mediocre hitter he has been for most of his career, it’s fair to call it a failure.
I do think it’s funny that the Braves wouldn’t part with Escobar for Jake Peavy, who aside from this season’s struggles is a Cy Young candidate every year, but now they trade him for a very average offensive shortstop just because of one lackluster half season.
don
July 20th, 2010
12:01 pm
I still support the trade becuaes Escobar would never have played consistently well in Atlanta. However, I feel sure that Escobar, like so many others, will do much better having “escaped” Atlanta. Maybe the atmosphere in Atlanta isn’t quite as good overall as many seem to believe. While everyone seems to tout the Atlanta Way of playing baseball, the fact is they only won one WS out of all those tries. And, in many of those years, the rotation featured three future HofFers and usually a fourth (Avery, Neagle, Leibrandt, etc) who would have been a one or, at worse, a two starter on most other teams.
Maybe the promised land aint the promised land after all.
Ted M
July 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
unless you consider that we may have been able to get more for him in a trade then we did.
Jo-Bu
July 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
I think the trade and the results afterward is the very evidence of this great swap. Yunel needed a change of scenery and the Braves needed, ahem, a “Company man”.
Regardless of anything extra we get for A-Gon, the trade was a great one with the big arm of Collins coming into the farm system. Don’t look at the first week of results of this trade, look at the long term gain in Collins. And as far as A-Gon, he’s shown he’s a solid SS, not a lot of flash but gets the job done. If we get a long ball streak out of him at some point, that’s gravy as the overall intent (I think) was more about the clubhouse than a power hitting middle infielder — we can get that power stroke from an outfielder trade, which I think we do need.
SCBravesFan
July 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
Jeff, seriously….its ben four games! GMAFB…
JohnSmith
July 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
Esco would never have played this hard with the Braves. It’s sad that it came to this, period.
Ted M
July 20th, 2010
12:04 pm
He wasn’t going to do this for the Braves. And it’s only been a few games.
Anyway, congrats Yunel for the hot start. Keep your head in the game and hustle.
Terry Pendleton
July 20th, 2010
12:04 pm
If I had Terry Pendleton as a hitting coach I would hit -.00000 not .0000. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the midget picture (5′6″ 1/2) Wren got as a throw in..
This trade was good for Yunel and the Jays, not Atlanta.
I predict Yunel will help improve the Jays tremendously.
Marc in FL
July 20th, 2010
12:04 pm
It’s done, regardless of what happens next, it’s done. Move on and forget about it.
BraveNewWorld
July 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
It doesn’t surprise me that Yunel is on fire right now, but this trade can’t be judged until next year really. Let’s see how both guys do for the rest of this season and next year. Everyone over-analyzed Francoeur’s hot start in New York and he’s basically come back to his 2008-2009 Atlanta numbers now. I wasn’t thrilled with this trade for the long-term, but the fact is that guys with a bit of a hot dog reputation don’t last on the Braves. They probably have the dullest clubhouse in the majors, but they win (in regular season) so it’s hard to dispute what they’re doing to build the team. I just hope that Gonzalez doesn’t disappear in the post-season assuming we make it. That’s what this trade was really about, getting a guy that can help immediately for one that didn’t really fit the clubhouse.
Shane
July 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
The fact that he is hitting well in Toronto only proves he quit on the Braves.
Have fun in 4th place Yunel.
Willi
July 20th, 2010
12:07 pm
I think that Bobby Cox had a lot to do with the yunel attitud, Yunel was NEVER Cox favorite therfore he didn’t want to be a Brave, I don’t think that with Cox at the helm he was ever going to develop. the Braves got a good player, specially a respected player which Yunel wasn’t, it’s too early to judge Yunel in his new team, for now I think that the Braves got what they needed and for the future I don’t think that this trade will haunt them since Yunel didn’t want to be here.
thinbreakness
July 20th, 2010
12:08 pm
YES
Coop
July 20th, 2010
12:08 pm
I’m not nor will I ever be mad at Wren for these moves as long as we have a tight-wad owvership group. Look, I’m not thrilled about giving away players like Wainwright, Texeria, Sorriano, Francouer, Escobar for basically nothing, but what do you guys expect? Ted Turner is the real culprit. He cared so much about the team and the city that he gave away the Braves to a group that doesn’t give a sh!t about baseball. Certainly not about winning. Management isn’t allowed to spend to get the top players, so Wren’s done a pretty good job considering. What the hell’s he sposed to do ya morons (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Look, I’m excited about the team, but we most likely won’t win. We can’t add the Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Corey Hart, Adam Dunn player we need to shore things up cause we got no cash! the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox can simply outspend us.
So every once in a while, we’ll get a magical season like this, but until we spend more, we’ll be a 3rd place team more often than not.
And another thing, thanks Ted for screwing up TBS. Bad enough you gave away my team, but you gave away the network that used to show them. So now, I never get to see them play since I rarely get stationed in GA. You suck you communist jerk!
Mike C.
July 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
It dosn’t make any difference what he does there from the Braves perspective. He was not getting it done here. He WAS a disruption in the clubhouse. Just see the player’s comments. I hope the trade woke him up and he has a great career. My guess is he will be who he is in the long run. He is a great skills player with an unprofessional attitude and it will show through wherever he goes.
Brian
July 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
Are you serious? Five games? Five?
richham
July 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
Seriously. This is your soapbox for the day. Judge the trade after a whole 3 or 4 days?
I’m only concerned with how the Braves play, Escobar is already old news. What you didn’t think this trade would light a fire under him for a couple of weeks after what everyone said. Why don’t you find something worth writing about for a change. Maybe you can find some canadian baseball team that needs a new mascot.
Brian
July 20th, 2010
12:10 pm
Actually FOUR games! FOUR!
moboman
July 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
The sucess or failure of this deal lies not in the next year or two. Dont we have some bigtime SS prospects on the farm? Its those guys that will determine this deals merit. Gonzalez will be fine for 2 years.
ChillyMutt
July 20th, 2010
12:12 pm
What isn’t as obvious and takes more digging than just reading a box score is his sometimes numb skull base running …. lack of bunting skill or daydream fielding. For every great defensive play or big base hit there was an opposing Escrewup. Be glad he’s gone, the Braves are a better team without him.
Wolfdog
July 20th, 2010
12:12 pm
Dude, it’s only 18 at bats. Give it time and he’ll become a cancer there as well.
Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
CC — You’ll get conflicting answers on that one. It’s possibly both are true, depending on the moment.
Tim
July 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
Give me a break. My grandma could hit over .400 against the Orioles. And she’s been dead since 1993.
Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
Paul — non-conformity: That’s a good way to put it.
Supes
July 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
Wow Jeff,
Talk about the cart before the horse???
Shouldn’t you wait more than 4 games to come out with this piece???
Long term how will I view this trade as a success you ask?
Simple – Braves making a deep run in the post season. Never having to wonder if someone made a mental error in the game (like Esco seemed to do) to cost us a critical run or even a game down the stretch. Never having to wonder if his attitude is affecting the team chemistry in the locker room.
Alex Gonzalez is OUR SS now. He’s a fine player. Maybe not great but I’ll never have to worry about his professionalism on the team.
Yunel has went to baseball purgatory and will be a forgotten man in the long run – maybe not quite the bust that is Jeff F but close. That’s my long term view on this. Braves will be just fine in the long run. Just like Jeff, Yunel is a head case. Braves don’t need one of those on the team. Not now not ever.
ken
July 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
My concern with the Braves is their inconsistency and favortism in how they seem to be short on patience with some players and too long with others. Specifically , I saw Cox stick with pinch hitter G Norton last year when it was clear to all of baseball that he didn’t have it anymore to the dertiment of the team. This year, its C Jones who has clearly lost his edge and is continually hurt and what does Cox do as soon as he says he ready to play, he starts him no matter how well the other guys are doing which i believe hurts the team. This is just two examples but i could name others. The good old boys network is alive and well in the Braves organization and this to me is why they have only won one championship despite the success in the 90’s. Just my humble opinion.
sean
July 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
it doesnt matter how good he is in toroto.the point is nobody liked him,he as rude,lazy,and too good to listen to critisizm.if youre team cant trust you…..thats everything!!!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2010
12:14 pm
Atlantabytes — You make a good point. I think it gets back to what they think this season can be, as opposed maybe to the years those other guys slumped. If the Braves were in fourth place, I’m not so sure they make the trade.
ASHCAN.
July 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
@PJ,GONZALEZ AINT GETTING IT DONE EITHER!! OFCOURSE PEOPLE WILL KEEP SAYING GOOD TRADE BECAUSE ITS ALREADY DONE.The braves will do what they always do and thats suck when it really counts and make dumb trades.Another thumbs down for the braves and some of its blind divided fans.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
Yunel’s, like using Viagra, bat will eventually go limp at the plate. You can’t really think this guy will hit .450 for the season.
Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
Hollywould — Really? Jumping the gun would be declaring the trade a success or failure. I’m not doing that at all. To the contrary, I said judgment will be made after the season. But there’s nothing wrong with tracking it as we go. You can’t deny Escobar taking off is interesting. Agree?
AppalachiaBrave
July 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
JEFF ~ He’s in Toronto, no pressure, and playing Baltimore. But I wish him luck…He has the potental to be an all-star tho. It’s all between his ears.
Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2010
12:17 pm
Herschel: How do you really feel.
Brian
July 20th, 2010
12:17 pm
“Non-comformity”? So the baserunning blunders, lazy defensive episodes, effortless at-bats, and me-first attitude were him not “conforming”? If that’s the case, then every baseball player in the league better start “conforming”.