Kuzul

The Tampa Bay Rays didn't add the big bat they really need on Tuesday, but they did make an improvement at shortstop.According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays have acquired Yunel Escobar from the Miami Marlins: #Rays indeed do have a deal to get SS Yunel Escobar from #Marlins for INF prospect Derek Dietrich— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 5, 2012 Escobar may not make Rays fans jump for joy, but he is an upgrade for a reasonable price. Dietrich hit .279 last season between High-A and Double-A, but he's built more like a third baseman, and Evan Longoria should be in the hot corner for the foreseeable future.Last season, the Rays played Ben Zobrist. Elliot Johnson and Sean Rodriguez at shortstop. Zobrist is the only guy who is ready to play every day out of that bunch, just not at shortstop.That makes Escobar a solid pickup, even if ...

Shortstop Yunel Escobar has been suspended for three games by the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Dan Shulman of ESPN.Shulman tweeted on Tuesday: The #bluejays have announced Yunel Escobar has been suspended for 3 gms beginning tonight. MLB and MLBPA on board according to team release.— Dan Shulman (@DShulman_ESPN) September 18, 2012  Escobar wore eye black labeled with a message in Spanish largely interpreted as a gay slur on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, per CBS Sports' Matt Snyder.As Toronto's starting shortstop, the 29-year-old from Cuba has hit .251 with nine home runs, 49 RBI and 55 runs and has added five stolen bases this season.It's certainly an unfortunate incident for baseball. Professional sports leagues in general (including, most notably, the NBA) have been trying to curb the use of gay slurs. They continue to be used far too loosely throughout sports and society, and you have to wonder what Escobar ...

The Blue Jays will be aggressive this offseason; with two huge first basemen hitting free agency there is no question GM Alex Anthopoulos will be inquiring on both Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols.  Both men will get big money, but it won’t be from the Jays.  I feel the price tag will be too large and the length of the contract beyond the Jays comfort zone to lock up either free agent.  The Blue Jays biggest target this offseason (assuming that Felix Hernandez will be kept off the trading block) will be Joey Votto.  Adam Lind, first baseman of the Jays in 2011, put up decent offensive statistics throughout the year, but a lowly OPS number of .295 is well below where it should be.  That would be a nice starting point for his batting average, let alone his OPS.  Granted he did slug 26 home runs and drove in ...

The Blue Jays home opener started big with Jose Bautista receiving his silver slugger award from last season. Then, the pre-game activities were even bigger as Roberto Alomar and Pat Gilleck were on hand to see their Hall of Fame banners unveiled in the rafters before they teamed up to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season. To make things even better, the night ended very big for the Jays as well, as they pulled off a 13-3 shellacking of the Minnesota Twins in front of their home fans. They were carried by some solid pitching from Ricky Romero as he picked up the win in 6.1 innings pitched, allowing only three runs and striking out seven. However, if you rewind back to the first inning it becomes quite clear that the Jays won this game because they did the little things well, right from the beginning.  All ...

Before we get to my subject for the article, we’re going to take a look at Rockies stud shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. In 2007, he broke out and put his name on the map by hitting .291/.359/.479, 24 home runs, and stealing 7 bases. He battled injuries and a nasty slump in 2008, playing just 101 games and managing a .263/.332/.401 line with eight homers and 46 RBI. The next year, Tulowitzki got back on the map again, belting 32 home runs, swiping 20 bags, and hitting .297/.377/.552 with a .930 OPS. Heading into the 2010 season, many wondered whether Tulowitzki was the injury prone clunker from 2008 or the super stud from 2007 and 2009. With stand-out seasons in 2007, and 2009, the more savvy fantasy baseball owners decided he was the stud player, and in 2010 Tulo improved his slash line to .315/.381/.568 while blasting 27 long balls and driving in 95, providing ...

When Alex Anthopoulos traded Alex Gonzalez to the Atlanta Braves for Yunel Escobar, the majority of Jays’ fans were fine with it.  Gonzalez on average will give you 16 HR and 70 RBI.  Escobar on the other hand, had a great 2009; 14 HR, 76 RBI, .299 BA, .377 OBP.  Not bad for a third year player in only his second full season commanding the middle infield.  Technically, not much difference when comparing the numbers, only that Anthopoulos traded for a much younger player, one whose skills and ability looked to be ready to blossom.  Trouble is, Escobar seemed to regress in 2010.  Escobar was playing in a pitchers park – Turner Field – while Gonzalez was in the friendly confines of the Rogers Centre.  Unfortunately, Escobar’s number pre-and-post trade were extremely underwhelming and beg one to ask why?  The “shortstop of the future” showed signs of life when arriving in ...

Alex Anthopolous took over the General Manager position of the Toronto Blue Jays on October 3, 2009 from the publicly ridiculed J.P. Ricciardi.  He inherited a team in complete disarray; the Jays had failed to reach the postseason since 1993, the same year that they defeated the Phillies in the World Series.  Anthopolous has plans to change that, and he plans for it to change sometime around 2012. The Jays have made headlines since the hiring, due in large part to great free-agent signings and trades.  Anthopolous began his flurry of transactions in November 2009 with the resigning of the sure-handed John McDonald.  The next day, he signed veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez.  Gonzalez proved to be worth more to the team later on in the season when the trade deadline was approaching. In December, Anthopolous began to restock a depleted farm system.  He pulled off a major blockbuster, sending ace Roy ...

Eric Chavez is nowhere near the player he was in his heyday with the Oakland Athletics, but this former Gold Glover from Cali could add the “intangibles” to a young Toronto Blue Jays infield.  Reports are surfacing that Chavez has been working out in Arizona and his health appears to be as good as it has been in years. I have my doubts that Chavez would be willing to become a Jay in what would obviously be a limited role, yet his experience and knowledge is something every player in their infield could benefit from, especially the newbies joining the club in spring training.  Third base is obviously up for grabs.  The question remains whether the job is Edwin Encarnacion’s to lose or if he will be splitting time with Jose Bautista.  The hot corner is another spot that will eventually become home for Yunel Escobar, ...

The American League Gold Glove awards were announced on Tuesday and there were some old standards and a couple newer ones.  Ichiro Suzuki, that ever-consistent star for the Seattle Mariners, won his 10th Gold Glove award for his outfield prowess. Sure to spark debate is Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees winning his fifth Gold Glove for his work in the 2010 season.   It is often argued by followers of advanced baseball statistics that not only is Jeter not the top defensive shortstop, he is not even in the top echelon anymore. This, of course, would be disputed by his teammates and various coaches and general managers who have seen him perform over the years, as he is held in the highest regard for both his play and his leadership. But respecting his game and his historical contributions is one thing, and giving him the honour of the winning the top defensive ...

When the Blue Jays started the season, it came as a bit of a surprise that the manager Cito Gaston projected that the Jays lineup would live and die by the home run. Gaston suggested that his lineup was packed full of potential 20 home run hitters."Bautista has a chance to hit maybe 20-25 home runs because he's done it before," Gaston said. "Then, of course, you've got Hill, you've got Lind and Vernon who hit 20 home runs the year before."Then you've got (Lyle) Overbay you hope can hit you 20 and you have (Edwin) Encarnacion; he might hit 20. "You're talking about the first six hitters. If (Travis) Snider makes the club, he might do it, too. I think this club right now, the strength is the hitters."After all, Adam Lind and Aaron Hill were the only two hitters ...