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
Tomahawk'n
July 20th, 2010
1:12 pm
Escobar’s a head case, but having said that, why is it that when hitters prior to or after they leave the Braves they hit like crazy (Francouer an excpetion for the most part)? Two words, NO four words, Terry Pendleton, Bobby Cox. Neither care about hitting, conditioning, and the other things that make a ballplayer. Talent can only get you so far (Just ask Mike Vick — he never did any prepractice or pregame warmups of any kind. He just walked out on the field and improvised). Being a great athlete requires determinaiton, dedication, and lots of hard work and preparation.
Frank Wren has assembled a very good baseball team this year. This was a good trade for the Braves. They got rid of a head case in return for a good shortstop – what a great leaping throw to first to complete a doubleplay on Sunday. Hard to say if Escobar could have done the same. The Braves got some really good talent for Escobar, which can be used for trade bait.
By the way, the Tigers were very intrested in Alex Gonazalez, and Jim Leyland is no dummy when it comes to baseball talent.
bfred
July 20th, 2010
1:12 pm
And to those asking “who in the organization ever said he had a bad attitude” – are you familiar at all with the Braves? They NEVER talk trash about former players or publicly humiliate those who are underperforming. Being a professional includes treating your people with respect. And if it isn’t working out, you go your separate ways. There’s nothing to be gained from trying to trash their reputations as well.
And Bernard – yours wins for most ignorant post of the day. “Cut” Kawakami, Lowe or McClouth? You do realize baseball contracts are for guaranteed money and these guys are each owed millions, right? Which also preempts trades other than situations where the Braves eat tens of millions of contract dollars? Loser indeed.
Bobby's Cox
July 20th, 2010
1:14 pm
The trade from a from a talent perspective..bad move. Obviously Yunel was in a funk, but I have to believe it was more of a mental issue. Apparently he had few, if any allies in the clubhouse and the rednecks,i.e. Bobby and Chipper were upset that Yunel would not drink Natural Light beers with them. Language barrier issues as well. No hablo ingles
Mark's for the Braves
July 20th, 2010
1:14 pm
Too late to second guess about Yunel now. I wish him luck, but think Gonzalez will be just fine.
How is Jo Jo doing, I wonder? It really would be shocking if he budded into a consistent starter.
USMC DAWG
July 20th, 2010
1:14 pm
The best SS the Braves have had, got traded away 3 years ago in the Teixeria deal. Elvis Andrus…
MARK
July 20th, 2010
1:15 pm
damn! good for yunel, he needed the change of scenary. the braves all the way
TomB
July 20th, 2010
1:15 pm
Kind of crazy to make a comparison after just four days. For what its worth, the Braves knew Escobar was a second half player so his so called lack of production could not be the major reason for this trade. This trade was made because the Braves felt he no longer belonged.He offered too much future potential otherwise. The Braves elected to go with the more experienced seasoned player who is also a great defensive shortstop.
MARK
July 20th, 2010
1:16 pm
don’t you have anything better to write about it.
GWB
July 20th, 2010
1:16 pm
I actually hope he does well there. But i seriously doubt he would ever consistently perform at this level in Atlanta. I also suspect that he’s playing up to his potential now because he feels like he has something to prove. Sadly, my guess is that he’ll cool off the closer Toronto gets to being elimated from the playoffs and he gets bored again.
S.C.Smith
July 20th, 2010
1:17 pm
When the players in the club house gave Gonzo a standing ovation. That speaks volumes about the trade. The players know better than anyone.
MARK
July 20th, 2010
1:18 pm
well said TomB. braves fan and js get a grip.
Eric in NC
July 20th, 2010
1:22 pm
How Yunel plays in Toronto is irrelevant. It does not affect the Braves. What is important is how Gonzalez plays in Atlanta.
Shaun
July 20th, 2010
1:22 pm
This trade was not simply about shortstop-for-shortstop. This trade was about improving minor league depth to make another trade while not downgrading significantly at shortstop.
If we just look at the shortstops, the Jays are getting the younger and better talent. But the success of the trade will depend on whether the Braves can turn the value they got into major league wins.
Rgarr
July 20th, 2010
1:23 pm
Good talent…bad attitude…good bye…and…good luck.
SportsFan
July 20th, 2010
1:24 pm
OK…OK…I get it…but THIS is what ALL team sports IS MADE OF…trades, signings, injuries, free agency and “the like” that make it ALL so interesting. No question the guy is a player, BUT he was in the “doldrums” here…NOW he’s out to PROVE his value…that proverbial “slap in the face” was perhaps his “wake-up call”…now let’s see if it holds for the CAREER…WHEREVER he goes…so guys get it and it changes them PERMANENTLY…for others it is a temporary “insult” (”How dare you do to this to me!”) that wears off after awhile. Our guy Jeff Francouer was traded and “lit it up” in NY for a bit…but alas, same “streakiness” there now too… NOT criticizing here, just observing that it is VERY RARE that such a trade becomes a CAREER TURNAROUND move.
Finally…just glad FW and the rest of the Braves “brass” DIDN’T trade him to the “Muts” or “Ponies” within the division (like “Frenchy”) because that’s all we need is to have him come back 16 times a year and make us REALLY LOOK STUPID…in that that vein, I say the “jury is still out” on Francouer…I predict that kid may yet come back and make us pay BIG TIME a the very moment we as Braves fans least need or expect it!!!
Knuckle Sandwich
July 20th, 2010
1:25 pm
Everyone on this blog knows about the potential living inside of Yunel Escobar. When he is motivated, the guy is a superstar. Apparently, Atlanta wasn’t a motivating environment for him.
Shaun
July 20th, 2010
1:25 pm
How Yunel plays in Toronto is irrelevant. It does not affect the Braves. What is important is how Gonzalez plays in Atlanta.
It matters. But what matters more is the value the Braves get out of all the players involved in the trade, not just the shortstops.
If Escobar plays like he did last season, Gonzalez plays like he has for most of his career, the Braves don’t use their minor league depth to improve and they miss the playoffs, this trade will not look so great.
But I think the Braves will make another fairly big move or two. I suspect that’s what this trade was all about, otherwise they would have kept the younger and more talented shortstop.
JoeFan
July 20th, 2010
1:26 pm
Doesn’t matter what Escobar does for Toronto unless he does it against the Braves. It should be noted the Jays have been playing Baltimore and that is close to playing a AAA team. Lets see what he does when the competition improves.Also the SS cupboard is not exactly empty for the Braves. They have severla canidates that should be ready in 2-3 seasons including Salcedo. In the meantime they fill the position with Gonzales.
Hunker Down
July 20th, 2010
1:27 pm
Escobar needed a wakeeup call and got it. He is one of the most talented players in all of MLB but was slacking. I am glad for his sake he seems to have awaken. It was best on both parties the move the Braves needed to make.
Good Grief
July 20th, 2010
1:27 pm
Don’t care. Write about the Braves, not the former players. Of course….you can’t help yourself. All of the AJC writers have man crushes on former ATL players like Vick. How many Vick articles have you written since he left? Get over the crush and write about OUR guys.
59bulldawg
July 20th, 2010
1:27 pm
Mark are you now in the self-congrats business of I told you so? First the Da’Rick saga and now this. Give me a break for pete sake. It’s only been a few games. Revisit this at the end of the season.
Lew
July 20th, 2010
1:28 pm
I’m going out on a limb here, but had he hit close to ..471 with a GS even for a couple games prior to the trade, he’d likely still be here. They felt he needed to go and maybe he’s happy to be gone.
59bulldawg
July 20th, 2010
1:28 pm
My bad Jeff! Thought you were Mark. I’m an idiot!
Shaun
July 20th, 2010
1:29 pm
SportsFan, Francoeur was never a great hitter (at least against righties). Escobar was actually a good player before this season. So it’s not a fair comparison.
Also, Escobar is just as likely to revert to his career norms as he is to continue to play as poorly as he did with the Braves.
I suspect the Braves didn’t make this move because they thought Gonzalez was clearly an upgrade. I suspect they made the move to stock up on valuable minor leaguers so that they can trade minor league depth for major league wins. I suspect they are smart enough to know that it’s quite possible they downgraded at short. But overall, they got the players that are desirable to contender looking to unload major league talent at the deadline.
George
July 20th, 2010
1:30 pm
It’s a little suspicious that Yunel goes to a new team and he is all of the sudden hitting the ball well. I conclude that he was simply mailing it in for Atlanta. He didn’t appear to be happy and as a result wasn’t playing hard. A team change and then some motivation to prove the Braves were wrong to let him go and there you have it (a player hitting over .400). It certainly would have been nice to have that motivated player in Atlanta, but I think Frank Wren did the right thing. He got a SS and two prospects for an unmotivated player. Not bad in my book. Clearly if Yunel was playing the way he can, as a “motivated” player, then this trade never happens. Just makes the loss of Andrus in the Tex trade bite that much more!!!!
Eraserhead
July 20th, 2010
1:30 pm
Jeff, you are getting like Mark Bradley with these predictions. Escobar was going nowhere fast in Atlanta. A change of scenery woke him up and he’s had a few good days of production. Let’s see what happens for the rest of the season.
neanderthal
July 20th, 2010
1:31 pm
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, he could be stinking it up next week. He is still the same. Head not in the game. If you cant be motivated by a first place team, you cant be motivated.
tony
July 20th, 2010
1:32 pm
They should have waited after Bobby Cox retirement. The braves future manager could have gotten more out of the young man like the Blue Jays manager.
rural fan
July 20th, 2010
1:32 pm
Still happy.
Tech Sucks
July 20th, 2010
1:33 pm
Just a guess here, but we are talking about 4 games. Didn’t Frenchy tear it up with the Mets for a while too?
Give it some time.
datominator
July 20th, 2010
1:35 pm
This is such baloney – people want to rate this trade after FOUR GAMES??? one of the reasons he wasn’t performing here was that he would get too caught up in his emotions – his numbers in Toronto almost validate this. Think about, wanna bet he was pissed he got traded? Maybe has extra incentive to show how wrong the Braves were about him? He’ll cool off, but even if he has a good second half (and I wish him well) he simply wasn’t going to get it turned around here with that attitude.
ATL Fan
July 20th, 2010
1:36 pm
Yunel and Kenny Lofton, peas in a pod.
Shaun
July 20th, 2010
1:36 pm
Jeff Francoeur does not equal Yunel Escobar just like Francoeur does not equal Jason Heyward. Francoeur was never a good major league hitter, at least not against righties. He never should have played against righty starters. Not all players are created equal. Heyward is good. Escobar is good. Francoeur is not. Please stop bringing up Francoeur in the discussion of the Escobar trade.
Ralph
July 20th, 2010
1:36 pm
Esco never would have hit 471 in 4 games in atlanta, I beleive he wanted to get out of atlanta and the way he played wha his way of doing it. Good ridance.
Dawg'88
July 20th, 2010
1:38 pm
Its easy to do what is asked after someone lets you know that you stink. You try harder and look to make people wrong in their observations about you. But no trade should ever be judged by 4 games. Take any 10 players and look at their 4 game stats. About 5 will do what Escobar has done and the other 5 will be doing worse or about the same that Escobar did with ATL.
Now come see me at the end of 2011’s season and I’ll let you know. AG will have been here through his contract and will see what numbers he has put up and what the Braves have accomplished with him. By then Escobar will have been on another 2 teams that finished 3rd or 4th in their division again (they aren’t getting by Boston or NY). He will have also shown his true spots (a leopard can’t change his spots). His attitude will show as soon as he struggles for even a little while. He takes his offensive struggles on the field with him and vice versa. He will not hustle or make a bone headed mistake that will cost the team.
Its easy for YE to hustle and play good defense as long as his offense is ok. Just wait until that offensive lull Toronto. You know come to think of it stats may not even be the best judge. The Braves as they are currently constructed need team players and those who get along. That aspect would never have worked with YE and never will. Goodbye YE….enjoy the postseason on TV…its your own fault for what has transpired…you had several chances and a choice whether or not to play hard with a decent attitude everyday…the Braves?….They had no choice…
They chose TEAM over a me guy!
Good Move!
Billy
July 20th, 2010
1:38 pm
This trade could very well come back and haunt the ………. Blue Jays…….. If Collins and Pastor Nicky are as good in the bigs, as those 2 young 20 year olds included in the trade, as they are in AA
The Braves fleeced the Jays
mikeymike
July 20th, 2010
1:40 pm
the fact of the matter is, whether he hits .400 or .500 for the rest of the year and beyond, he wasn’t doing it in atlanta. whether it was disenchantment or lack of motivation here, he was useless to us.
Ramblin Wrecker
July 20th, 2010
1:40 pm
Jeff Francoeur went on a tear when he joined the Mets…how’d that turn out?
Yunel is excited to have a change of scenery because he was tired of being surrounded by people who were tired of him. Now he’s got a clean slate. So by default he’s happier and that makes him play better. But as soon as something doesn’t go his way, or he gets an error on a play he disagrees with…he’ll return to his pouting self.
And even if he hits the way he used to…the point is he didn’t fit the clubhouse. And that means something to have one bad apple spoiling the whole experience.
GeorgiaSouthernBrave
July 20th, 2010
1:40 pm
He has done this hitting against the Orioles and the Royals for crying out loud! Wait until he faces Boston, NY, and Tampa!
Tami
July 20th, 2010
1:41 pm
Basically, I’m just plain IRRITATED at Yunel. The Braves’ organization & their fandom have always wanted Yunel to succeed, and we all were more than patient with this kid. I KNEW this would happen once he was traded. I’m now wondering whether he baited the organization on purpose so that he could be traded. I can’t imagine any other reason why he would succeed after being traded otherwise.
danbo
July 20th, 2010
1:41 pm
Makes a difference when you have a batting coach!
Mitchell
July 20th, 2010
1:42 pm
Shane
July 20th, 2010
12:42 pm
Mitchell is the Village idiot of this blog.
A few months ago he was saying Chipper wasnt a HOFer and as part of his argument he said Andruw Jones was a far superior post season batter
Liar! Never in my life did I say Chipper wasn’t a Hall of Famer. What the hell are you talking about?
You’re just one of those people who think I hate the guy because I made fun of him for hitting into a double play like twice.
Get over it. He’s old, he hurts himself swinging, he misses ground balls hit right at him. I’m not the only one who rips him for those things. That doesn’t make me or anybody else think any less of him for his overall career which is most definitely Hall of Fame worthy. The fact that you would even think that is pathetic and shows what a douche you are.
What is worth pointing out as I did earlier is that the two people happiest to see Yunel go, Bobby and Chipper, are both retiring at the end of the year which ultimately makes the trade inherently flawed.
There’s no guarantee that Gonzalez gives us a better chance to win the World Series. Sure, it’s a team game and he’s considered more of a team player so in the short term there’s cause for making the move but it’s funny, I always thought the Braves were about patience. You’d think for a guy who was Mr. Clutch last year he’d get just half the amount of patience the likes of KJ and Francoeur, not to mention Greg Norton, were able to enjoy.
And if I remember correctly, I never said Andruw Jones was a great post-season performer and Chipper Jones wasn’t or Chipper didn’t come through for us ever and was terrible!
All I did was make the case based on what I remembered (without looking up the numbers) was that Andruw was just as much if not slightly more valuable to us as Chipper.
I mean, conventional wisdom would tell you that Chipper was the leader of the team and was the “straw that stirs the drink” for lack of a better way of saying it… the MVP, Mr. October… whatever. What you can’t argue is that he certainly was no Derek Jeter. But then again, who is? I mean, I hate saying that, I hate Derek Jeter and he can burn in hell in his Yankee pinstripes but it is what it is.
Of course, now you’re going to say I think Chipper Jones is half the player Derek Jeter is and isn’t fit to carry his you-know-what and I wish Derek Jeter could have been a Brave and if he had been we would have been better off.
Because that’s how you think. Because you’re a tool.
If the stats say I’m wrong about Andruw and Chipper in the playoffs, then fine. It doesn’t really surpise me to be honest. Of course he (Chipper) did have more playing time as Andruw was not on the team in ‘95.
But I wasn’t looking at stats. I was going by memory and feel. What I remember is Chipper making the last out in the ‘97 NLCS and what I feel is that he was not exactly a Met killer in the ‘99 NLCS.
Also, Andruw’s two World Series homeruns where a tad bit more memorable than Chipper’s lone long ball in ‘99.
No, you’re right. Chipper sucks. I hate Chipper. We should trade him. He’ll never set foot in the Hall of Fame.
I have to ask though, why did it take you months to get back to me with those post-season numbers? It should have taken you five minutes. This little misunderstanding could have been resolved long ago.
But it’s okay I guess. I forgive you Shane.
Hat Land Dub Raves
July 20th, 2010
1:43 pm
Jeff,
I’m trying to let it go, but I’m pretty pissed that he laid down on this team. Good riddance.
HTOWNBRAVESFAN
July 20th, 2010
1:43 pm
Yunel Escobar can become a hall of famer in Toronto, and that doesn’t change the fact he was a space cadet in Atlanta and probably would never reach his full potential in a Braves uniform. Furthermore, I don’t think one weekend of beating up on Baltimore Orioles pitching constitutes a turnaround of any sort.
JTH
July 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
The problem was Yunel. Now the problem is solved. End of story.
Frenchy
July 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
I’m sure I’m not the first, but my production spiked when I was traded to NY. Baseball players are like stocks. You have to look at the value when it was part of your portfolio, not what it does after you sold. Escobar was a speculative stock and he was replaced by blue chip (albeit with less long-term upside). But, to quote the late George Allen, the future is now.
Trade Nate for a Bag of Balls to the Mets
July 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
he is doing this against KC and Orioles
DawgDad
July 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
Whatever Escobar does it is clear a change of scenery was warranted. Evidence is the standing ovation Gonzalez received from the players.
Dumping an enigmatic talent is always a calculated risk.Unfortunately for the Braves, they will probably get the lesser half-seasons of each player. Gonzalez can’t allow himself to get caught up in comparisons, and being a seasoned vet I don’t think he will. So far he’s been very good defensively and not much at the plate, but less of an issue in the clubhouse. If he plays solid D and the Braves get into the postseason nobody’s going to care much what Gonzalez hits.
The bigger concerns are Glaus’ consistency, outfield production, and Chipper’s health. Glaus needs to have another June in August. McLouth needs to come back strong. Heyward needs to return to form. Hinske/Diaz/Infante need to produce collectively like a starting left fielder (and there are signs they might). Chipper needs to stay healthy and produce like he had been recently. Two or there minuses in these areas and the Braves might come up short.
SMITTYSTHEMAN
July 20th, 2010
1:46 pm
OMG Renegade #1 —- Please check your spelling! That’s pathetic.
ATL Fan
July 20th, 2010
1:46 pm
To me the real question is did Atlanta improve by making this trade. How Yunel Escobar does in Toronto is not a good barometer for what he could have done in Atlanta. The best barometer is what DID he do in Atlanta. That question is easy to answer; he deteriorated. As to judging the trade, we need to observe what Alex Gonzalez does the rest of the year. If it is better than what Yunel did during this year, then the Braves did great for everyone concerned…including Toronto and Yunel.