Escobar/JJ

[alwz4gbp]

I was on sportsbubbler earlier and Tom Hardicourt was praising Escobars "D", does anyone think that hes better than JJ? I think they should seriously look at switching Escobar to 2B while still in the minors and prepare him to take over for Rickie. If Rickie lives up to the hype, in a year or two, he should bring in quite a haul ,thus clearing the way for Escobar. Obviously JJ would be MUCH cheaper to sign long term than Rickie, so I say sign him now and solidify the SS position for years to come and let Escobar get used to 2B. If Escobars "D" is all that and a bag of chips, he and JJ would be a damn good "up the middle" combo.

 

JJ and Escobar combined will be cheaper than Rickie all by himself in a few years, and as we all know, the Crew has to watch the bottom line.

 

Your thoughts?

[trwi7]

I'd keep Weeks over Hardy. No way I move Escobar off SS, his glove is too good.

[DrWood]

if anyone would move to 2b, it would be hardy, not escobar.

this season should be a good test of how good weeks will be.

[bork]

There's a big thread on this in the Minor League forum

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/viewtopic.php?t=8727

[apirk]

I think it was BA magazine and they did a Brewers lineup in 5 years, and they had HArdy at 3B and Escobar at SS, which makes a lot of sense. I guess it all depends on who the Brewers decide to keep.

[joepepsi]

The difference between Escobar's defense and Hardy's can't possibly make up for those 26 homers and .463 slugging. Move those numbers to 3rd and you have an average hitting 3B, and a below average offensive ss. I realize it's hard to predict Escobar's offense at this stage of his career, but there is little to suggest he's anything more than one of the Alex Gonzalez'. That's not as good as the current set up of Hall at 3B and Hardy at ss.

[chadomac]

Maybe it's the fact that the rest of the infield was so bad, but Hardy was AWFUL on D at shortstop last year... I believe he was ranked 3rd from the bottom in the league. He's the one that's going to move to 3B or 2B if he's around when Escobar comes up.

[PlayerHader]

The difference between Escobar's defense and Hardy's can't possibly make up for those 26 homers and .463 slugging. Move those numbers to 3rd and you have an average hitting 3B, and a below average offensive ss. I realize it's hard to predict Escobar's offense at this stage of his career, but there is little to suggest he's anything more than one of the Alex Gonzalez'. That's not as good as the current set up of Hall at 3B and Hardy at ss.

This is ineffective thinking. You do realize whether you have an "average hitting 3B" and a "below average offensive SS" or an above average hitting shortstop and a good defensive 3B doesn't make a bit of difference when you are talking about the same players on the same team. Our offense with both Hardy and Escobar isn't any better with Hardy at SS. You're argument is flawed.

[bullox]

It's better if there is a better hitter than Escobar at 3rd while Hardy is at SS.

[crewcrazy]

Maybe it's the fact that the rest of the infield was so bad, but Hardy was AWFUL on D at shortstop last year... I believe he was ranked 3rd from the bottom in the league. He's the one that's going to move to 3B or 2B if he's around when Escobar comes up.

Having Ryan Braun to your right and Rickie Weeks to your left is going to make you look a lot worse than you actually are. That's not to say that I think Hardy is a Gold Glove shortstop, but I do think that he's a bit better than he showed last year when he was trying to cover for two bad defensive players.

 

[TooLiveBrew]

trying to cover for two bad defensive players...

 

... while injured.

[Team Canada]

There's a big thread on this in the Minor League forum

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/viewtopic.php?t=8727

As bork notes, there's some good discussion going on about this already.