Danny Espinosa Same Old Same Old Watch 2014

[spidernat]

and that AB on opening day to save us the game was pretty awesome.

That fish grows an extra 6" every time the story is told.

[EdStroud]

[sph274]

so do we think he sucks now? he didnt look very good last night. i am not completely sold on this espinosa revival, kinda like how im not sold on the idea that Justin Smoak is a 1.030 OPS hitter.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

SPH, it took me a second to figure out that this was a joke on your part.  Yes, there are day to day panic monkeys out there, so harping on the 2 Ks and a few stranded runners as if this reveals that his last 100 or so PAs since the start of a spring is a mirage.  He has 3 Ks in 16 PAs since the start of the season, and 12 in about 75 PAs since the start of the spring.   Seems like a changed approach.  I'd like to see a few more hard hit balls dropping in, but he's making much more contact and genreally it isn't weak. 

[Slateman]

He clearly cannot hit from the right side.

[rbw5t]

They're small sample sizes of course, but last week he really looked calm and comfortable at the plate, and was making hard line drive contact despite the controlled swing.  Last night I thought he looked like the same old Danny, swinging out of his shoes and just looking a little out of control.  I'd hate to a regression to his old ways so soon, especially since he seemed to be having success with the new approach.  Maybe it was just a bad night, and it's really too early to tell anything either way.

[pazzo83]

He clearly cannot hit from the right side.

Yea his swing looked like crap last night from the right side.  Totally lost that short, compact nature that was giving him success earlier.

[welch]

They're small sample sizes of course, but last week he really looked calm and comfortable at the plate, and was making hard line drive contact despite the controlled swing.  Last night I thought he looked like the same old Danny, swinging out of his shoes and just looking a little out of control.  I'd hate to a regression to his old ways so soon, especially since he seemed to be having success with the new approach.  Maybe it was just a bad night, and it's really too early to tell anything either way.

I think we see the same thing. I hope it's just Danny's right-hand swing...hope he's not falling back into swing-from-the-heels "home run Danny". Or than Williams will speak sternly.

[Ray D]

I hope it's just Danny's right-hand swing...hope he's not falling back into swing-from-the-heels "home run Danny".

I thought it was his left-hand swing that was "from the heels".

[Slateman]

I thought it was his left-hand swing that was "from the heels".

It was. That's what's odd about last night. Perhaps we're putting too much stock in a game. But Danny was always a better hitter against lefties.

[Slateman]

An extra base hit!!

[mimontero88]

Now hitting .294/.333/.471 for what it's worth though obviously the sample size is tiny (18 PA)

.375/.444/.625 from the left side and .222/.222/.333 from the right side which is a bit odd since, as a lot of you guys have already pointed out, he has generally been better from the right side over the course of his career.

Career splits:
LHB vs. RHP:  .221/.294/.380
RHB vs. LHP:  .261/.332/.450

As the season goes along we'll get a better idea of whether he has really improved from the left side of the plate but, if he has, that's a great weapon to have.

[Mattionals]

As the season goes along we'll get a better idea of whether he has really improved from the left side of the plate but, if he has, that's a great weapon to trade.

Fixed that for you.

[Smithian]

Zimmerman/Espinosa platoon?

[Slateman]

Eh, more like a late inning substitution.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

6 to 8 weeks of starting.  If he shows anything, then we'll either have a trade chip or something we can use when ALR's contract is up.

[Smithian]

6 to 8 weeks of starting.  If he shows anything, then we'll either have a trade chip or something we can use when ALR's contract is up.

Or he'll be sent back to Syracuse never to be seen again.

Hoping he shows an elite glove and serviceable bat. We don't need a Silver Slugger, we need someone who can fit a team that first and foremost focuses on pitching and defense.

[welch]

And Zach Walters is with the team. This is depth: missing three of eight starting players including the one catcher who hits, missing number 4 starting pitcher.

I hope "the wise sports entertainers" insist that the team is finished. As Tug McGraw shouted after every win late in 1973: "You gotta believe!

[TigerFan]

Too many replacements.  You cant  start a AAA heavy team in the bigs and expect to beat MLB teams.  Just doesn't happen.  Gotta get healthy. 

[welch]

The kids just have to hold things down. Span will be back in two weeks. (I'm giving him an extra week). Espinosa will play 2B like he owns it. If he reverts to the big home run swing, then Zack Walters takes over. I saw Souza and Burns in Harrisburg...something special about his expression when he came off the field...like: "We're going to win this, period".

By August, Sousa might be a steady player somewhere in the OF. He hits hard and runs hard. We used to call his sort of player a "gamer".

[imref]

By August, Sousa might be a steady player somewhere in the OF. He hits hard and runs hard. We used to call his sort of player a "gamer".

Frandsden.

[PC]

Too many replacements.  Youc cant ant start a AAA heavy team in the bigs and expect to beat MLB teams.  Just doesn't happen.  Gotta get healthy. 

We did in 2012.  From that perspective, 2014 looks a lot like 2012.

[2k6nats]

Too many replacements.  Youc cant ant start a AAA heavy team in the bigs and expect to beat MLB teams.  Just doesn't happen.  Gotta get healthy. 

If you look around the majors, injuries are plaguing most all teams, and will continue to throughout the season.  We have good depth, the biggest point of concern has to be our catching; Lobaton's a good defensive catcher, but is struggling at the plate, and Leon has an OPS below the Mendoza line right now.

[Ray D]

What's the mendoza number for OPS?

[NJ Ave]

What's the mendoza number for OPS?

I'd say .700, although you can be a good player at an important defensive position down to .650.

But under .700, you can't hit in my opinion. .260/.320/.380.