Yunel Escobar "update"

by RehabReject on Jan 19, 2009 9:42 AM EST Comment 42 comments

I'm calling it an "update" because it's not really important or late-breaking OMG-type news.

I live in Miami and play in a Sunday baseball league with a bunch of Cubans. Among these Cubans is Joel Perez. He was one of the players that came on the raft with Yunel and was mentioned in that one article last year (The guy with the Yunel t-shirt)

Well, Yunel makes his home here in Miami and often works out with Joel and others on the team. Word is that Yunel has gotten bigger. The exact quote is "Escobar esta cuadradito". This means literally "Escobar is a little square". ... but it actually means "Escobar has put on muscle and looks very strong".

My inital reaction was to be grateful he wasn't traded. Sounds like he will put up big numbers this year. ..... then again, it might backfire like it did with FYF when he went all "country-strong" on us.

Anyhoo, don't be surprised to see Yunie sporting a few more pounds of muscle this spring.

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The Yunel shirt

Please tell me that if I went to Miami I could find one.

Funny thing, I am more optimistic about Escobar putting on muscle than Francoeur doing it. Francoeur did it with the express goal of being able to hit 30 homers. A guy with the obsessive work ethic of Escobar seems like he’s doing it because it will make him better, in generally everything. He was never a huge stolen base threat anyway, so may as well go for some additional power.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 19, 2009 9:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the shirt

I remember it had the initials M.D.B.L. .. (Miami Dade Baseball League). He sponsored a team a year ago and everyone on the team got a shirt like that.

anyway, I don’t think he’s looking to hit 30HRs or anything like that. It’s just a natural progression.

Braves

by RehabReject on Jan 19, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

see, I remember hearing a lot about this before last season too, and he didn’t exactly crush too many balls. Yes, I know, he played hurt all of 2008, but I think that a .290/.370/.440 line is probably the upper limit for 2009 production. Very valuable, but not a power hitter.

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 19, 2009 10:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’d be thrilled if he could put up an .800 OPS

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 19, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most definitely...

combine that with his stellar defense and you would have one of the top 5 shortstops in baseball. I just don’t buy that he’s going to come out of nowhere and hit 20 homers.

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 19, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, by no means. If he could hit 15 homers a season I would be shocked.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 19, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d be content with 15 homers and 40 doubles.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Putting on muscle...

doesn’t have the ominous ring that it might have had 8 to 10 years ago, does it?

My chief concern with Yunel bulking up is that he will become pull happy and he will get away from one of his great strengths as a hitter and that is going to the opposite field. He is quite a good player who should get better and better. I’m glad he is still here and not in SD.

by Mike de La Hoz on Jan 19, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is he prepping for a move to third? I do not want my shortstop to look like a linebacker?

MLB, ACC and national sports thoughts, from an idiot's point of view

by TheSportsIdiot on Jan 19, 2009 10:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't know bout that

Last I looked Arod, Cal, and Tejada were all pretty big SS’s and all have been multiple all stars. Arod’s defense was much better at SS than it will ever be at 3rd. If we do indeed try and move Yunel to 3rd it would be a move to aquire a SS who can leadoff and no I am not talking about Furcal he will be close to 35 by the time he is a free agent again. Furcal has been injury riddled the last 4-5 years and hasn’t played a full season in a while, I think he breaks down and ends up out of baseball by the end of his current deal.

by mauck98 on Jan 19, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets hope he doesn’t pull a frenchy with his new found bulk.

by Charmin519 on Jan 19, 2009 10:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That’s exactly what I thought when I read this.

"The only time the Mets win is in the offseason"

by Falconzfan284 on Jan 19, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d rather he got faster, but we will see what happens.

by Mike Kerns on Jan 19, 2009 11:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Could he be our Right handed power bat between chipper and McCann.

Probably not on Opening day but who knows?

by Charmin519 on Jan 19, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yunel actually has a pretty big frame, so this doesn’t surprise me. as the OP stated above, this is probably just the natural progression of things.

by brndn on Jan 19, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on the frame. Will be interesting to see the comparison…this one was taken 20 July 08

by Lizziebeth on Jan 19, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw him with Rome back in 05 when he first came over and he was rail thin. It’s amazing what an American diet can do for a guy. Not that he’s fat, but he’s finally getting worthwhile food and filling out like he should.

www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jan 19, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But will this affect his defense at all? I’d rather him keep up his excellent defense than add a few more home runs

by eaheckman10 on Jan 19, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree. As long as it doesnt take away from his range, its fine by me.

I remember when Betemit simply grew out of the shortstop position.

by mrsoprano on Jan 19, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This would be my concern as well

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 19, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have the solution

by the time Chipper retires, Furcal will be a free agent again. Wren can then move Yunel to third and make another run at Fookie. lol

Braves

by RehabReject on Jan 19, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have a nagging feeling that his defense is gonna drop a little bit, but his power will pick up to negate it.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m more worried about his back problems. Hopefully he doesn’t miss to many games this year.

by someguy917 on Jan 19, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’ll have to be more careful flipping the bat with all his extra strength, he might put a bat 5 rows deep…

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jan 19, 2009 1:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just hope he isn’t actually redondito.

by Tokyokie on Jan 19, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea

you already know yunel is going to be buff.
i would love to see this line up in 2009.
JOSH ANDERSON, KELLY JOHNSON, YUNEL ESCOBAR, CHIPPER JONES, BRIAN MCCANN, X- NADY, CASEY KOTCHMAN, JEFF FRANCOUER.
YUNEL HAS A CHANCE TO BE JUST LIKE HANLEY RAMIREZ,HE JUST NEEDS TO AVOID INJURYS. TO ME HE IS THE BEST SS IN THE GAME………………………….
I LOVE YUNEL AT SS. LETS SIGN HIM TO A 10 YEAR DEAL….

mikeey

by mikeey on Jan 19, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

YOU CAN TELL I AM EXCITED AND KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT CAUSE I USE ALLL CAPS

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 19, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yunel and Hanley are entirely different players. Hanley has outstanding power and speed for now. Yunel might one day hit 20 HR but I don’t believe his swing is geared to do that on an annual basis.

"Fools rush in where fools have been before"

by jeg on Jan 19, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

HEY! YOU! YES! YOU!

I just threw up in my mouth.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yunel at the bar

Funny story about Yunel. I was at a bar in Atlanta this past summer and whattyaknow there’s Mr Escobar. I tried talking to him but his English is fairly limited. He spent the whole evening walking up to girls asking “Sex?…Sex?” I guess when you’re a pro athlete, that kinda stuff probably works a lot.

by paulyicecubes on Jan 19, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

that is the coolest thing ive ever heard…. whenever i try that i get slapped.

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 19, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hahahahaha

It’s just that easy when you’re an athlete

by VictorW on Jan 19, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WHO WANTS TO SEX MUTOMBO

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 19, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 19, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't he married?

I realize to some people that doesn’t mean anything…..I’m just asking….I really thought he was.

by secondbass on Jan 19, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s divorced as of some point last season.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 19, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He will be married in no time with such good pick-up lines.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jan 19, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

gee....

…wonder what caused the divorce?

by sddbaker on Jan 19, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly she was embarrassed by his on-field antics.

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 19, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing about Yunel is that even though he doesn’t steal bases, he’s fast. A lot of stealing bases has to do with instincts and timing. Yunel’s groundball rate is something like 58%, which I think is higher than Ichiro Suzuki’s career number. It’ll be interesting to see how the extra muscle even helps him much at all since he puts so many balls on the ground.

by VictorW on Jan 19, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs