Article: Escobar Needs To Be Everyday Shortstop

[Nick Nelson]

With the trade deadline less than 10 days away, our coverage of potential targets at positions of need has been ramping up here at Twins Daily. Recently we looked at relievers and catchers. Yesterday, Seth eyed the shortstop market and Jeremy wrote about a long-shot deal for Troy Tulowitzki.

 

Personally, I see shortstop as a much less urgent need than the other two positions mentioned. For one thing, there are legit prospects in the system, namely Jorge Polanco and Nick Gordon, and that isn't true at catcher. Secondly, they have a decent option at shortstop on the roster right now. He just hasn't been playing much, inexplicably.When the Twins optioned Danny Santana to Triple-A in early June, they were making a commitment to Eduardo Escobar at shortstop. Escobar was a very productive starter at the position for Minnesota in 2014, and Paul Molitor had shown a clear affinity for the 26-year-old infielder over the first two months of 2015, regularly inserting him into the lineup as left fielder or even DH with no openings available in the infield.

 

Swapping out Santana for Escobar looked like a win-win, providing a moderate upgrade at short while also allowing Molitor to use more offensive-oriented options in the spots where he'd previously been plugging Escobar.

 

And the switch worked well. Escobar, who had struggled with the stick in April and May, started to find a groove, batting .303/.343/.485 in his first seven games after Santana's demotion. Slashing liners all over the field, Escobar flashed the kind of ability that he had in 2014, beginning to validate the immense faith Molitor had shown in his bat early on. The hot streak helped raise Escobar's OPS to where it currently sits at .684; while that might not seem at all impressive on the surface, it is above the average mark for a major-league shortstop, and more than 100 points higher than the player he replaced.

 

Yet, when Byron Buxton went down with an injury in late June, Santana was recalled and immediately handed the reins at short despite Escobar's success as a fill-in.

 

Since stepping back in, Santana has continued to hit poorly – .236/.263/.364 with 14 strikeouts and one unintentional walk in 18 games – and even more perturbingly, he has been sloppy defensively. The 24-year-old has committed 15 errors this year, more than all but three MLB shortstops (and those three have all played about 30 more games). Even when he hasn't been charged with errors, there have been countless miscues and hiccups. While Santana clearly has all the physical tools to be a good shortstop, he is far too prone to mistakes, backing up the reputation that came along with him from the minors.

 

Nevertheless, he has continued to play over the more sure-handed Escobar, who has started only five of Minnesota's 16 games in July.

 

Escobar was back in the lineup on Tuesday night, making just his second start at shortstop since the fourth of July. The smart money is on him sticking there, especially after what we saw from Santana in Oakland over the weekend.

 

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[DocBauer]

There comes a time when the player with lesser talent simply becomes the better player due to consistency. Despite a disappointing year, Escobar has still shown greater flashes of production and consistency than Santana. He deserves to be given the job at this point.

[mumoo13]

What should be done with Santana? Polanco needs to be at AAA, so should Santana be a bench player or go to AA?

[nytwinsfan]

Yes, agreed. Not much to add.

[hybridbear]

 

mumoo13, on 22 Jul 2015 - 01:29 AM, said:

What should be done with Santana? Polanco needs to be at AAA, so should Santana be a bench player or go to AA?

AA to figure out how to play better defense & hit consistently.

[Kwak]

Escobar as SS?  That shows that SS is a higher priority now.  Last night's game won't be in his "highlight reel".

[Brock Beauchamp]

Escobar as SS? That shows that SS is a higher priority now. Last night's game won't be in his "highlight reel".

if Escobar continues starting, shortstop will no longer be a negative WAR position. Catcher will likely remain a negative WAR position until Suzuki is replaced.

 

Which position is a higher priority again?

[HitInAPinch]

 

What should be done with Santana? Polanco needs to be at AAA, so should Santana be a bench player or go to AA?

 

Back to centerfield, where he was successful last year?

 

From what I've read about Polanco, his arm plays out much better at second base.

[Shane Wahl]

Short of Tulo, the Twins either need to move Escobar to SS or call up Polanco and hope for the best at SS. Santana needs to be in AAA. At SS (though they should give Beresford another chance there too) if no Polanco, or all over if Polanco is still there. Danny Santana's ceiling might just be a super utility player. It's possible that he ends up hitting as well as Escobar, but with much better speed. That would be good.

 

Right now, his *basement* as a MLB SS is really, really low.

[USAFChief]

"When the Twins optioned Danny Santana to Triple-A in early June, they were making a commitment to Eduardo Escobar at shortstop"

 

They were?

 

He didnt start three consecutive games at SS during Santana’s absence. (He still hasn't, all year.)

 

I think it's pretty clear the Twins don't view Escobar as capable of playing SS every day. FWIW, I concur.

 

If he gets the job, my guess is he won't hold it. Santana has been disappointing, no doubt...but I think he's got a better chance of being a good SS than Escobar.

[Loosey]

I completely agree.  Escobar at least for the rest of this year makes the most sense at SS.  An in-house option to make SS "not a black hole" anymore.  Tulo would be cool, but the chances of that happening are minimal in my opinion mainly due to the cost in dollars and prospects it would take.  So just plug in Escobar this year and hope Polanco can take over next year.

[Kwak]

 

if Escobar continues starting, shortstop will no longer be a negative WAR position. Catcher will likely remain a negative WAR position until Suzuki is replaced.

Which position is a higher priority again?

SS

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Escobar is a much better option than Santana right now.

 

Escobar looked clumsy last night, but so did every other infielder. At least Escobar has competitive at bats and worked that leadoff walk last night in the 6th when the game was still close.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

SS

That doesn't make sense any way you look at it. Escobar has been an average shortstop (or better) whenever he gets the chance to start. Kurt Suzuki has been below replacement level for most of the season and is 31 years old.

 

Even if Escobar fails, the Twins have other players to fill in at short. I'm not much of a fan of any of them, but they exist.

 

The Twins options at catcher are:

 

Kurt Suzuki.

[jun]

 

Escobar as SS?  That shows that SS is a higher priority now.  Last night's game won't be in his "highlight reel".

Last night's game won't be in any Twins players' "highlight reel"

[DaveW]

Escobar has zero range and his bat is falling back to earth. He shouldn't be starting anywhere. Period.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Escobar has zero range and his bat is falling back to earth. He shouldn't be starting anywhere. Period.

 

If your option is him or Santana, yes, yes he should.....

[Kwak]

 

That doesn't make sense any way you look at it. Escobar has been an average shortstop (or better) whenever he gets the chance to start. Kurt Suzuki has been below replacement level for most of the season and is 31 years old.

 

Even if Escobar fails, the Twins have other players to fill in at short. I'm not much of a fan of any of them, but they exist.

 

The Twins options at catcher are:

 

Kurt Suzuki.

Most teams suffer offensively at Catcher.  On a relative basis the Twins aren't hurt as badly as they are at SS.  Defensively, well to put it mildly the position isn't up to snuff.  Suzuki is at least competent at C, whereas SS has been disappointing to say the least.

 

Pitch framing by Suzuki?  It doesn't seem to have been a concern this season.  The bullpen failures aren't as a result of "poor pitch framing"--just "poor pitching".  My point:  on a relative match-up basis (position vs position) I am convinced the Twins suffer more at SS than Catcher.  Sadly, I suspect the position the Twins are "worst" in comparison to others--is 1B.

[Nick Nelson]

 

I think it's pretty clear the Twins don't view Escobar as capable of playing SS every day. FWIW, I concur.

If he gets the job, my guess is he won't hold it. Santana has been disappointing, no doubt...but I think he's got a better chance of being a good SS than Escobar.

See, I don't get that at all. Escobar's a very solid defensive shortstop, albeit not a Gold Glover. What don't you like about his game?

[Nick Nelson]

 

Escobar has zero range and his bat is falling back to earth. He shouldn't be starting anywhere. Period.

Zero range?? Did you see the grounder he got to in the hole last night? Would have been one of the best infield plays the Twins have made all year if Mauer could've scooped the (admittedly tough) short hop.

[USAFChief]

See, I don't get that at all. Escobar's a very solid defensive shortstop, albeit not a Gold Glover. What don't you like about his game?

He has poor range, a mediocre arm, and a lack of athleticism. I don't see him as "very solid."

 

In my opinion, of course. I've been wrong before. On the other hand, it's clear the Twins have been reluctant to give him an extended run at SS.

[twinsnorth49]

 

Zero range?? Did you see the grounder he got to in the hole last night? Would have been one of the best infield plays the Twins have made all year if Mauer could've scooped the (admittedly tough) short hop.

It was a nice play, I thought he could have got to Freese's 2 hopper up the middle. Dozier came almost as close. 

 

I don't think his arm is much of an issue, I think it's his best asset.

[Steve Lein]

 

I completely agree.  Escobar at least for the rest of this year makes the most sense at SS.  An in-house option to make SS "not a black hole" anymore.  Tulo would be cool, but the chances of that happening are minimal in my opinion mainly due to the cost in dollars and prospects it would take.  So just plug in Escobar this year and hope Polanco can take over next year.

 

To be quite honest, if there's talks happening with the Rockies about a SS, I might have more interest in Trevor Story than Troy Tulowitzki. I don't really think the Rockies want or will move Tulo, which blocks Story, and he'd certainly be a lot cheaper on what is sent to Colorado.

 

Definite questions about Story's bat, but he brings some thump and might be better defensively than Tulo in the long term as well.

[TheLeviathan]

 

See, I don't get that at all. Escobar's a very solid defensive shortstop, albeit not a Gold Glover. What don't you like about his game?

 

Chief's point was about what the Twins thought of him.  It's hard to make the case the Twins want him at SS when they repeatedly chose to play Nunez there instead.

[markos]

 

Most teams suffer offensively at Catcher.  On a relative basis the Twins aren't hurt as badly as they are at SS.  Defensively, well to put it mildly the position isn't up to snuff.  Suzuki is at least competent at C, whereas SS has been disappointing to say the least.

 

Pitch framing by Suzuki?  It doesn't seem to have been a concern this season.  The bullpen failures aren't as a result of "poor pitch framing"--just "poor pitching".  My point:  on a relative match-up basis (position vs position) I am convinced the Twins suffer more at SS than Catcher.  Sadly, I suspect the position the Twins are "worst" in comparison to others--is 1B.

Baseball reference has a nifty table that shows where each team is ranked compared to the "average" WAR for each position, and how far away they are from average. SS is the worst position for the Twins.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2015.shtml

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Baseball reference has a nifty table that shows where each team is ranked compared to the "average" WAR for each position, and how far away they are from average. SS is the worst position for the Twins.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2015.shtml

That's what happens when the team continues to run out a -1.7 WAR player when they have a better option riding the pine.

[jimmer]

 

Back to centerfield, where he was successful last year?

 

From what I've read about Polanco, his arm plays out much better at second base.

While I applaud Santana being such a team player and going out there to CF and giving his all, he was horrible out there.  His offense, with a BABIP over .400, was predictably unsustainable and he came back down to earth. 

[DaveW]

 

See, I don't get that at all. Escobar's a very solid defensive shortstop,

No he isn't.

[DaveW]

 

Zero range?? Did you see the grounder he got to in the hole last night? Would have been one of the best infield plays the Twins have made all year if Mauer could've scooped the (admittedly tough) short hop.

75% of the SS in my beer league wood bat league would have gotten that one. Any average major league SS would have gotten it no problem and made a good throw to beat him out by 4 steps.

 

[DaveW]

 

He has poor range, a mediocre arm, and a lack of athleticism. I don't see him as "very solid."

In my opinion, of course. I've been wrong before. On the other hand, it's clear the Twins have been reluctant to give him an extended run at SS.

It's almost as if his previous franchise also didn't want to play him at SS, so at this point we have numerous professional baseball front office people who clearly think he can't handle playing SS along with the majority of fans, on the other side we have a small but vocal minority saying that Escobar is good defensively at SS.

 

I wonder who is right?