Enter the Rendon - Grin for the Win

[Displaced Bucco]

Our substitute second baseman until Espi gets back is OPSing over .800. watisthisidonteven

FIFY   

[More of #34]

If we want to win this year, we win with Rendon.

[welch]

If we want to win this year, we win with Rendon.

And next. Espinosa is a good fielder who cannot hit. He strikes out almost 200 times a season. That is dismal. When healthy, he hits 15 home runs. That makes him a current-day Norm Zauchin, and somewhat less of a hitter than Don Lock...who was expendable. (Casey: "You can look 'em up")

[WashingtonWizards23]

rendon is a pretty good fielder also. and his bat will hopefully be the spark that we need to wake up our offense

[Minty Fresh]

rendon is a pretty good fielder also. and his bat will hopefully be the spark that we need to wake up our offense

Agree on the bat, I am concerned that so many people think he can just "pick up" another position at the Major League level.  Hopefully he can but I have a feeling plugging him in at 2B will bite us in the ass a couple of times.  Hopefully not in crucial situations.

[HalfSmokes]

Agree on the bat, I am concerned that so many people think he can just "pick up" another position at the Major League level.  Hopefully he can but I have a feeling plugging him in at 2B will bite us in the ass a couple of times.  Hopefully not in crucial situations.

I'll take a couple of defensive lapses over 0-4 any day

[OldChelsea]

Currently batting 203 points above the Espinosa Line.

[NatsAllThe Way]

rendon is a pretty good fielder also. and his bat will hopefully be the spark that we need to wake up our offense

I don't think it will be enough.  Yesterday he had 3 hits and we were shutout.  We need him and a couple of Mickey Mantles.

[Slateman]

Currently batting 203 points above the Espinosa Line.

[PC]

I'll take a couple of defensive lapses over 0-4 with 3 strikeouts any day

FTFY

[Woodleygrrl]

Currently batting 203 points above the Espinosa Line.

Favorite stat of the day. 

[Optics]

Espinosa serves no purpose other than as a late game defensive sub/pinch runner. He should never be asked to swing a bat again.

[Slateman]

Espinosa serves no purpose other than as a late game defensive sub/pinch runner. He should never be asked to swing a bat again.

Eh, I could see him regaining his old form at some point. Ideally, Laroche would go on the DL, Zim would move to first, Rendon to third, and 2011 Espinosa would come back to the plate. Then we could trade him in the offseason for a decent number 5 starter.

[Minty Fresh]

I'll take a couple of defensive lapses over 0-4 any day

Depends on the situation.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'll take a couple of defensive lapses over 0-4 any day

Bill Buckner was 0-5 with an HBP in game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

[PC]

Bill Buckner was 0-5 with an HBP in game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

If he'd been 4-5 then THE defensive lapse might not have mattered.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

he was the #3 hitter that game, hitting behind Wade Boggs, so you might be right.

[Optics]

Eh, I could see him regaining his old form at some point. Ideally, Laroche would go on the DL, Zim would move to first, Rendon to third, and 2011 Espinosa would come back to the plate. Then we could trade him in the offseason for a decent number 5 starter.

I'd be fine with Espi if he returned to 2011 form where he was nearly a 20/20 player and hit like .250 I think?

But he's regressed since then. The league has figured him out and he hasn't adjusted.

[Slateman]

I'd be fine with Espi if he returned to 2011 form where he was nearly a 20/20 player and hit like .250 I think?

But he's regressed since then. The league has figured him out and he hasn't adjusted.

He hit .236, but posted an OBP of .326. Remember, we went in to that season talking about how if he coudl cut down on the strikeouts, he'd be a .250-.260 hitter with 20 home run pop. Oh ... those were the good days.

I'm not giving up on Danny, but he has to realize that he's already lost his job and in order to even compete to get it back, he's got to be 100% healthy. His shoulder needs surgery. Get it now. Get healthy. Spend the offseason working on your approach at the plate. I don't think he'll ever be a .260+ hitter, but if he can hit in the .240-.250 range with that home run power, he has value.

[welch]

He hit .236, but posted an OBP of .326. Remember, we went in to that season talking about how if he coudl cut down on the strikeouts, he'd be a .250-.260 hitter with 20 home run pop. Oh ... those were the good days.

I'm not giving up on Danny, but he has to realize that he's already lost his job and in order to even compete to get it back, he's got to be 100% healthy. His shoulder needs surgery. Get it now. Get healthy. Spend the offseason working on your approach at the plate. I don't think he'll ever be a .260+ hitter, but if he can hit in the .240-.250 range with that home run power, he has value.

...and he hit .236 with a streak at the end of the year that lifted him from about .200, where he'd been most of the year.

I think we've seen Espi-the-hitter, and he strikes out.

[mimontero88]

I've never been a big Espinosa guy for the same reason I'm not a big Morse guy.  Too many Ks.  Too many Ks + power = Mark Reynolds.  I don't want Mark Reynolds.  That said, Espi absolutely has value if he can produce at the levels he typically does when healthy.  He should get the rotator cuff repaired.

[HalfSmokes]

Barring injury or massive regression,  he's not starting for this team again,  and I like pinch hitters who can put the ball in play,  hopefully they can get something for him

[Smithian]

I'll take a couple of defensive lapses over 0-4 any day

You'll take a batter giving up 2 outs over 0-4? That awful play in the field.

We're taking this "Offense! Not defense!" a bit far.

On topic, Rendon is my homie

[Baseball is Life]

Grindon showed a nice arm last night when he gunned down fat Howard straying off third.

[mimontero88]

I'll take a couple of defensive lapses over 0-4 any day

I gotta admit I stared at this post for close to a minute in awe that a baseball fan would rather see a player commit multiple errors in a single game than go 0-4.  Honestly I'm speechless and don't even know how to respond to that.