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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Early tip: More pop from Yunel
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Yunel Escobar shook my hand this morning, and I’m still having trouble holding a pen 30 minutes later.
That’s only a minor exaggeration.
We’ve already spent more than enough time commenting on the improved strength and conditioning of several Braves during this offseason, but please allow me just one more case. It’s worth it.
Because the Braves shortstop is ripped. Seriously. If there is a shortstop as strong, other than perhaps Miguel Tejada, I’m not aware of him.
And I wasn’t the only person who noticed how much muscle Escobar added since October. You know how when you shake someone’s hand sometimes and they get all fingers, but you can usually adjust and recover to make it a real handshake and not quite so embarrassing?
Reliever Blaine Boyer said he shook Escobar’s hand this morning and had that happen, only he couldn’t get his fingers out to adjust. Escobar squeezed and Boyer said he just about broke his fingers. I’m sure Boyer was exaggerating, too, but you get the point.
2B Kelly Johnson saw Escobar today for the first time since October and sent to give him a friendly hug. Kelly said when he put his left arm over Escobar’s shoulder, he noticed immediately how much bigger his back and shoulders were.
What does this mean? It means Bad News for the Toros.
OK, it’s early and I’m only on my third cup of coffee. Don’t even know why I thought of that line, but I did. Let the kids play. Let them play….
But anyway, what it means is, take Escobar in your fantasy league and pencil him in for 45 doubles and 12-15 homers.
I know, I know, he only totaled 46 doubles and 10 homers in 836 career at-bats in the minors. So what?
This is not the same player who struggled at times to adjust in the minors, who was uncomfortable at times, who had some attitude problems while adjusting to life in the U.S. and what was expected of him in the minors.
He’s developed, mentally and physically. The mental-maturity part occurred last season, when Escobar was called up to the majors, where he felt he belonged. Then he showed he did, indeed, belong.
Bullpen coach Eddie Perez, the wise former Braves catcher who’s like an unofficial mentor/advisor to a lot of the young Latin players, worried about Escobar after being around him during the 2006 season in the minors and seeing his temper and immaturity.
But last spring Perez quickly noticed a difference, and by midseason he was convinced it was a real change in Escobar. He made no waves in the Braves clubhouse, and his new teammates all liked and admired him.
Of course, there was plenty to like on the field. He hit .326 with 25 doubles and five homers in 319 major-league at-bats, with a .385 OBP (higher than any of his three seasons in the minors) and a .456 slugging percentage.
And he only got better after other teams developed scouting reports on him, unlike so many rookies who have their weaknesses exploited the second or third time a pitcher faces them.
Called up to the majors the beginning of June, Escobar hit .305 with a .345 OBP and .760 OPS in 82 at-bats that month.
Then he hit .328 with a .375 OBP and .754 OPS in 58 at-bats in July.
Then hit a gaudy .352 with a .405 OBP and .891 OPS in 105 at-bats in August.
He finished by hitting .311 with a .407 OBP and .907 OPS in 74 at-bats in September.
He had 20 extra-base hits in 179 at-bats during those last two months, while playing in a platoon at second base with Johnson or filling in for injured shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Now he’s not going to have to bounce between positions, and presumably not between spots in the batting order. The shortstop job is Escobar’s, the Braves having so much confidence in his ability to excel as a full-time SS that they were willing to trade quiet leader Renteria to Detroit.
Escobar hit .355 with an .870 OPS vs. lefties last season, and .303 with an .811 OPS vs. righties. Had 148 at-bats vs. lefties, 178 at-bats vs. righties. He can hit ‘em both, in other words.
As a leadoff hitter, he hit .351 with a .400 OBP in 151 at-bats. Obviously he’s a candidate for the full-time leadoff job. If manager Bobby Cox has already decided between Escobar or K.J. for the leadoff spot, he isn’t saying.
(Johnson hit .268 with 29 extra-base hits, a .372 OBP and a .441 slugging percentage in 306 at-bats as the leadoff man, so it’s not like this is an easy choice. Maybe he’ll even use both of them in the role, in some combination.)
As for my projection of 12-15 homers, don’t scoff. Cox said if Escobar wanted to hit for power, he could hit a lot more than that. But he’s got a line-drive stroke that serves him perfectly, driving balls to every part of the park.
I just happen to believe that quite a few more of them are going to clear the fences this season, with that added muscle and that comfort level. Not that he wasn’t comfortable the day he got here. Escobar has the swagger, for sure.
“He’s going to hit for power,” Johnson said. “I think it’ll be that right-center, Giles-back-in-the-day power. It’s gonna come. His [Escobar’s] hands … he’s got the best hands here. Stays inside the ball, consistently. He’s going to to add that pop.”
Braves officials got a lot of laughs — after getting over their initial disbelief — from an SI.com scouting report on the Braves that portrayed Escobar as some fringe major leaguer, a utility infielder they called him, who got lucky and/or peaked last season. Yes, peaked his first season, apparently.
The article mentioned that the Braves could cut their losses early and go with Brent Lillibridge at shortstop. As far as we know, this was meant to be a serious “scouting report.”
Let me assure you: Escobar is the shortstop, and will be all season, barring injury. And if he’s a utility infielder, well, the Braves would love to have a lineup with that kind of utility player at about five or six positions.
Lillibridge can be a “frontline shortstop” in the majors, according to Braves GM Frank Wren. He’s got that much talent, offensively and defensively. But I just don’t see a spot at shortstop on this team anytime soon.
The Braves really believe the cannon-armed Escobar can be an All-Star caliber player very soon.
Fortunately for Lillibridge, he (Lillibridge) can play several positions, including the outfield. And plenty of teams would line up to trade for him, if the Braves decide they’d like to fill another need by using him in a deal. Not that I’ve heard that’s going to happen or is even being considered. But anything can happen quickly in this business, as you know.
By the way, Lillibridge’s wrist is healed and he’s cleared to do everything in camp. He spent part of the morning, before this first full-squad workout, working with Johnson, Escobar and several young Braves middle infielders on double plays.
And he still looks about 12.
“Which is amazing,” Johnson said, when I asked him about Lillbridge’s boyish appearance. “Because he’s married and went to college and all, and he still looks so young. But he’s really athletic. He can play.”
OK, time to watch some of this workout. Braves are doing it without Cox, who’s away for his mother-in-law’s funeral.
Right now Terry Pendleton and Glenn Hubbard just finished hitting grounders to infielders on the main field. Wren, team prez John Schuerholz and chairman Terry McGuirk are all down there on the field.
Now it’s time for batting practice, and Mark Teixiera, Chipper Jones and Jeff Francoeur are in the first group, and Rafael Soriano is on the mound. I’m headed down to the field.
Spring has officially sprung.
”JUST A WAVE, NOT THE WATER” by Butch Hancock
Thirst is not the answer, oceans come and go
I loved her seven seas worth, Lord I loved her so
But she let me down so easy, one slow drop at a time
I would’ve killed myself but it made no sense
Committing suicide in self defense
But I lost everything I brought her
When she said Babe, you’re just a wave, you’re not the water
Centuries ago we were living on the gold coast
She was still in love with a long, gone, cold ghost
I was only trying to turn back the tide of her tears
I felt like an endless ocean, rolling through the fog
Full emotion drifting like a weather beaten log
I even thought that I out-thought her
Till she said babe, you’re just a wave, you’re not the water
I said someday we’ll love again, then you’ll know the score
I’ve taught you everything I know and maybe even more
That’s true she said, more than you ever will
I’ve said I’ve been your raging river, precious African queen
I’ve shown you everything that I’ve ever seen
But she knew more than I had taught her
When she said babe, you’re just a wave, you’re not the water
Well I followed her far and wide with all of my will
Water on the move, you know it never stands still
And I moved every muscle, just to prove it can be done
Then up some old sad river, where snow white lilies float
I came to her for mercy, but I hardly rocked the boat
She seemed surprised that I have caught her
But she said babe, you’re just a wave, you’re not the water
She said babe, you’re just a wave, you’re not the water
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