AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 12
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Mark it down: Escobar’s an emerging star
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let me start by saying Edgar Renteria has long been one of my favorite players, one of the classiest I’ve covered in 13 years as a baseball beat writer.
And he’s still one of the best 7-10 all-around players at his position, which happens to be the deepest position in baseball right now, in terms of elite guys at the top.
That said, if I’m the Braves, I trade him this winter.
Not because I think he’s about to slip due to age (I don’t), and not because he isn’t one of the most valuable players on the team (to the contrary, despite missing August due to injury, he’s still probably the MVP of this team).
No, they should trade him because he’s probably their best trading chip in terms of being both a sought-after player — one that some other teams would really want — and a player the Braves could move and replace from within without taking a big step back.
Which brings me to my real point: Yunel Escobar is good. Really, really good. An extraordinary talent who is clearly ready to play every day, not just play but perhaps star, and whose best position is clearly shortstop.
First, one other important point on Edgar: His $9 million salary next season if very reasonable, and his $11 mill option for 2009 includes a $3 mill buyout the Red Sox will pay if it’s declined by the team (how all this would translate in a trade would have to be worked out, since Braves are paying about $6 mill annually for Renteria, when the portion that the Red Sox pay is taken into account).
Again, no one is disputing Renteria’s importance to this Braves team. And given their druthers, the Braves would surely prefer to trade several other guys instead of him.
But because of the entire set of circumstances, including their still-constricted payroll (it’s going up next season, but not by a huge amount I’d bet), their dire need for another starting pitcher (not necessarily an ace, though that’d be great, but at least a strong No. 3 or No. 4 guy), and again - this is important - the talent they have to fill his spot, Edgar just makes the most sense, in terms of being a guy other teams will want, whose not over-the-hill, not injury-prone, and has a sterling reputation as a no-nonsense player who’s great in the clubhouse, sets a strong example, makes no waves, etc.
Now, back to Escobar. Folks, I really believe we’re watching the emergence of a future star, from the confident way he carries himself to the undeniable physical gifts. It’s much the same feeling I got watching Renteria emerge as a Marlins rookie, the same feeling I got when I covered that team and he hit the extra-innings game-winning single for them in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.
Only difference: Escobar has more offensive potential and a stronger arm than Renteria had. Of course, Escobar is also five years older (24) than Renteria was when Edgar emerged as a star for the Marlins.
It’s time for Escobar, no question. And he needs to be at his natural position, shortstop. Not second base, where the Braves can go with Kelly Johnson again (I think Kelly’s been better than anyone could have expected, and more than good enough to play the position on a championship team if surrounded by quality players at the other infield positions).
Braves would have a very strong and potent-hitting infield next season with Teixeira, Johnson, Escobar and Chipper Jones, provided Braves have a solid backup for Chipper (be it Willy Aybar or a more reliable, experienced veteran not named Woodward or Orr).
We can discuss the outfield later. But I just wanted to say, Escobar’s got to be in the lineup, and no, he’s not an outfielder. He’s not a 3B or 2B, though he can certainly play either position adequately. He’s a shortstop, and that’s where he needs to be next season. And the Braves had damn sure better not trade him. He’s too good. Better than Saltalamacchia, in my opinion. No question.
Just look at this stats, which are a big enough sampling now to hold up to skeptics who might say, wait until other teams get a look at him and learn to exploit his weaknesses. They’ve all gotten a look at him since his June arrival from the minors. And he’s hitting better now than ever.
For the season, he’s hit .322 with 18 doubles, five homers, 27 RBIs and a .380 on-base percentage and .442 slugging percentage in 80 games. That includes a .344 average and .400 OBP against lefties (.304/.364 vs. righties).
He’s hit equally well at home and on the road, and he’s hit well when the stakes are raised, batting .311 with nobody on base, .344 with runners on, and a robust .373 (19-for-51) with runners in scoring position (if only the same could be said for a couple other prominent Braves).
He’s hit .350 from the leadoff spot and .329 from the No. 8 spot. The only spot in the order he hasn’t hit particularly well from is No. 2 (.276 in 58 at-bats), which is where the Braves will need to come up with a replacement if they move Renteria, one of the very best No. 2 hitters in the game over the past decade.
Here’s what I was talking about when I mentioned Escobar is only getting better as the season has progressed.
In his past 60 games, he’s hit .343 with 14 doubles, four homers, 22 RBIs, 40 runs and an .875 OPS (.404 OBP).
In his past 20 games, he’s hit.350 (28-for-80) with six doubles, four homers, 19 runs, and a 1.028 OPS (.453 OBP).
It’s too bad we’re probably not going to get to see him hit in the postseason this year, because I think he could be like Renteria or a young Andruw Jones, a kid who thrives in his initial opportunity in those klieg lights.
Escobar is special, folks. Rue the one that got away (Salty) if you will, but the Braves kept the best one of the bunch. You can mark my words.
I think most of you probably realize that anyway, just by watching him. But I can tell you that the way he carries himself off the field has also impressed me. I heard stories about him having a bad attitude or whatever in the minors, but those were either overblown or he’s grown up or, hey, maybe he just realized he was too good to be in the minors and was anxious to get to The Show.
Regardless, he’s here now. And he’s going to become a star on this stage. And in this largely disappointing Braves season, he’s one reason for Braves Nation to have plenty of reason to believe in a brighter future.
Speaking of reasons to believe: Here’s a reason the Braves have little reason to believe they’ll make the playoffs this season. A reason they are 16-23 in one-run games, and a reason they are where they are today.
Mediocre to bad clutch hitting. I’m talking close-and-late hitting, which is hitting after the sixth inning of close games, “close” having a complicated definition you don’t want me to bore you with here.
Anyway, the Braves, as much as they rank among NL leaders in so many offensive categories, close-and-late hitting ain’t one of them.
(While I’m at it, let’s give a bit of due credit to an often-maligned Braves bullpen, which actually has the third-best ERA in the NL at 3.63 in the third-most innings, and which has done its part in a lot more close games than Braves hitters have. The Braves have a .228 opponents’ average in late-and-close games, some of that by starters, but much of it by relievers like Moylan and Soriano).
But back to the hitters.
Braves hitters have a .255 average in close-and-late situations, tied with the Nationals for seventh in the NL and a long way behind leaders St. Louis, Phillly and Chicago.
But it gets worse. The Braves’ .708 OPS in those situations is just ninth in the NL, far behind the likes of the Cards (.898), Phillies (.802), Brewers (.796) and Diamondbacks (.775).
The Braves’ best in those spots: Kelly Johnson (.338 average, .944 OPS), Renteria (.311 average, .895 OPS), Chipper (.290 average, .921 OPS), Francoeur (.289 average, .704 OPS).
Their worst: A. Jones (.230, .651 OPS), McCann (.233, .753 OPS), Harris (.239 average, .588 OPS).
Alright, enough hotel-room confinement. It’s a beautiful, almost fall-like day here, and I need to smoke a cigar outside my hotel before heading to lovely Shea. Tom, take us out:
”LONG WAY HOME” by Tom Waits
Well I stumbled in the darkness/I’m lost and alone
Though I said I’d go before us/And show the way back home
There’s a light up ahead/I can’t hold onto her arm
Forgive me pretty baby, but I always take the long way home
Money’s just something you throw/Off the back of a train
Got a head full of lightning/A hat full of rain
And I know that I said/I’d never do it again
And I love you pretty baby, but I always take the long way home
I put food on the table/And roof overhead
But I’d trade it all tomorrow/For the highway instead
Watch your back if I should tell you/Love’s the only thing I’ve ever known
One thing for sure pretty baby, I always take the long way home
You know I love you baby/More than the whole wide world
You are my woman/I know you are my pearl
Let’s go out past the party lights/Where we can finally be alone
Come with me and we can take the long way home
Come with me, together we can take the long way home
Come with me, together we can take the long way home
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