Why is Espinosa in the line up and on the roster?

[Count Walewski]

I'm still hopeful that Danny can get healthy and develop into a serviceable MLB player like Jose Valentin.

[spidernat]

I'm still hopeful that Danny can get healthy and develop into a serviceable MLB player like Jose Valentin.

 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Zuck - we like making the same point.  I don't feel so bad cribbing your line ups when I start a game day thread.

[nfotiu]

The Nats record is significantly better when he starts.  His team genuinely likes him it seems.  I wonder if there is some chemistry added when he plays if you believe in that kind of thing

[mitlen]

Dear Santa,

Thank you for bringing Danny some joy.

Your friend,
mitlen

[spidernat]

The Nats record is significantly better when he starts.  His team genuinely likes him it seems.  I wonder if there is some chemistry added when he plays if you believe in that kind of thing

lol

[Mattionals]

Danny got quoted today saying that he is thinking about giving up hitting left handed entirely.  Let's see how this works out but at least the Nats know they have one hell of a platoon righty bat.

[Dave301]

Danny got quoted today saying that he is thinking about giving up hitting left handed entirely.  Let's see how this works out but at least the Nats know they have one hell of a platoon righty bat.

James Wagner ‏@JamesWagnerWP ·1m
Danny Espinosa says he's given thought to only batting righty but wanted team's input & time, like an offseason, to work on it if he does.

[whytev]

Danny got quoted today saying that he is thinking about giving up hitting left handed entirely.  Let's see how this works out but at least the Nats know they have one hell of a platoon righty bat.

He can't hit any worse right against righties.

[Optics]

He has these big games every once in a while that give you hope, but then goes right back to 0-4 with 3 Ks.

[Mathguy]

But those big games are against a lefty pitcher

He has these big games every once in a while that give you hope, but then goes right back to 0-4 with 3 Ks.

[mimontero88]

Danny got quoted today saying that he is thinking about giving up hitting left handed entirely.  Let's see how this works out but at least the Nats know they have one hell of a platoon righty bat.

That has frankly been long overdue.  He has too much of an uppercut in his swing from the left side and I can't imagine hitting coaches haven't worked with him on it (because it's painfully obvious).  An uppercut is great for golfing the occasional low ball out but if he cannot develop a level swing he's never going to hit much better than .200 from the left side and it seems like he just can't.  Would be very excited to see a RHB-only Espinosa moving forward.

[mimontero88]

As a point of emphasis here are Espinosa's slash lines from each side this year:

LHB:  .185/.244/.295/.539 (217 PA)
RHB:  .309/.385/.494/.878 (91 PA)

Those stats do not include tonight's game.  The difference is, frankly, astounding and always has been.  Here are the career splits:

LHB:  .214/.285/.365/.650 (1405 PA)
RHB:  .271/.344/.461/.804 (485 PA)

Seriously, a move like this could change his career.

[Optics]

The thing is, he's spent his entire life hitting righties from a lefty point of view. As bad as his #s are, they'd probably get WORSE if he were to only hit righty against righty pitching. The ball is only going to come from a tougher perspective.

[mimontero88]

The thing is, he's spent his entire life hitting righties from a lefty point of view. As bad as his #s are, they'd probably get WORSE if he were to only hit righty against righty pitching. The ball is only going to come from a tougher perspective.

He has a far superior swing from the right side.  His swing from the left side is almost comically bad.  I think it's almost impossible to think he would hit worse from the right side on the eye test alone.

[whytev]

He has a far superior swing from the right side.  His swing from the left side is almost comically bad.  I think it's almost impossible to think he would hit worse from the right side on the eye test alone.

Exactly. Eyes are one thing, form is another. And if his eyes were that good from the left side, he'd be grounding or popping out, not missing clean.

[ChiliPalmer14]

He bunts pretty well from the left side. 

[whytev]

He bunts pretty well from the left side.

I usually like his bunting but that unforgivable pop up last time with guys on...

[MorseTheHorse]

James Wagner ‏@JamesWagnerWP ·1m
Danny Espinosa says he's given thought to only batting righty but wanted team's input & time, like an offseason, to work on it if he does.

That's great news!  Good for you, Danny. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

James Wagner ‏@JamesWagnerWP ·1m
Danny Espinosa says he's given thought to only batting righty but wanted team's input & time, like an offseason, to work on it if he does.

It's funny, but Shane Victorino did it mid season last year due to an injury and his OBP took off. He also got hit a lot.  It was a combo of him not recognizing pitches were coming at him as quick and righties not being used to having him in the box as a righty.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

But those big games are against a lefty pitcher

  You get it.

[ChiliPalmer14]

I usually like his bunting but that unforgivable pop up last time with guys on...

Yeah, that was stuck in my memory, too.  Almost kept me from saying it at all. 

[Matugi]

As a point of emphasis here are Espinosa's slash lines from each side this year:

LHB:  .185/.244/.295/.539 (217 PA)
RHB:  .309/.385/.494/.878 (91 PA)

Those stats do not include tonight's game.  The difference is, frankly, astounding and always has been.  Here are the career splits:

LHB:  .214/.285/.365/.650 (1405 PA)
RHB:  .271/.344/.461/.804 (485 PA)

Seriously, a move like this could change his career.

I honestly wonder if it's a vision thing.  He takes more walks from the right side, too.

[HalfSmokes]

I'm starting to think he's just not as ambidextrous as he thinks he is

[WhiteWhale]

I'm starting to think he's just not as ambidextrous as he thinks he is