You know, sabermetrics is about trying to discover the truths hidden within this great game. They've won seven of nine and are tied with the Yankees for first in the division. And that makes the Jays a formidable threat in the AL East. ![]() He's locked in again, much like the past two seasons. After striking out in 21 percent of his plate appearances in April, he's fanned in just 11 percent of his PAs in May. That's four multihomer games for Encarnacion in May, giving him 11 for the month and 13 for the year. He homered twice more on Wednesday in another Toronto win, lining a 2-0 meatball from Clay Buchholz over the Monster in the second inning and then a 1-0 curveball to left-center in the third. He homered twice in Tuesday's win over the Red Sox, blasting two rockets over the Green Monster. He adjusted his swing and became a beast, blasting 42 home runs in 2012 and 36 last year, when he walked more times than he struck out.Īnyway, that's a long way of getting to this: After a slow start, Encarnacion is scorching hot at the plate right now. That's how Encarnacion remained with the Blue Jays even after leaving them. So the Blue Jays brought Encarnacion back again, signing him as a free agent for $2.5 million for 2011 with a $3.5 million club option for 2012. would look nice as a DH hitting between Donaldson and Brandon Moss. The A's eventually ended up with Josh Donaldson as their third baseman, so it worked out for them in the long run, although E.E. Such is life we all make mistakes, even Beane. They did offer a contract to Kevin Kouzmanoff. A few weeks later, when it was deadline time to offer 2011 contracts, the A's balked. ![]() Sound like a familiar story? The Blue Jays certainly didn't want him, at least not for $6 million. There was a time when nobody wanted Encarnacion, now one of the best hitters in baseball. Maybe you knew this already maybe you forgot. GM Billy Beane said he wanted some right-handed power. The Blue Jays non-tendered Encarnacion, worried about a potential $6 million salary via arbitration and a wrist injury that had forced him to miss time. He hit five home runs the final four games of the season. Hoffpauir wasn't any good, and Encarnacion was soon back with the Blue Jays in early July. Remember, the Blue Jays were 38-32 when all this stuff began.Īnyway, that didn't last long. He was also just a few months younger than Encarnacion. He wasn't really a third baseman, having played primarily second base in the minors. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays were playing a guy named Jarrett Hoffpauir at third base. That doesn't say much for a player's future.Įncarnacion was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas. He was 27 years old and nobody wanted him. But the other 29 teams all passed on Encarnacion. Think the Mariners could have taken a chance on a guy like that? Their first baseman at the time was Casey Kotchman, hitting. But Anthopoulos was right no team claimed Encarnacion. He even said so: "With respect to the performance and the salary of the player, I would say it's unlikely." Plus, general manager Alex Anthopoulos was pretty sure that Encarnacion, who was set to make about $2.7 million the rest of the season, wouldn't get claimed on waivers. They had analytics guys in their front office. 167 batting average on balls in play, which suggested he had been hitting into some bad luck when he wasn't hitting the ball over the fence. I mean, the batting average wasn't great, but he was still slugging. They designated Encarnacion for assignment, which means they had 10 days to trade him, release him or outright him to the minors if he cleared waivers. Richmond had posted a 5.57 ERA in 2009, but, hey, maybe the Blue Jays were desperate for pitching help. (Remember when the AL East was the best division in baseball?) They needed space on the 40-man roster for a pitcher named Scott Richmond, who was ready to return from the 60-day disabled list. The Jays were 38-32, 5½ games out in the tough AL East. 200 with nine home runs for the Blue Jays in 37 games. No, let's go back to June 21, 2010, when Encarnacion was hitting. Not to Cincinnati, where Encarnacion reached the big leagues but never won over the Reds' front office, in part because he was a lousy third baseman, in part because of an incident early in the 2007 when he didn't run out a pop fly, in part because they couldn't move him to first base with Joey Votto around. Not to Texas, where Encarnacion began his professional career. ![]() You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĮdwin Encarnacion: One of baseball's bestĪs good as the Oakland A's lineup is right now, imagine this: They could have had Edwin Encarnacion in it as well.īefore we get there, however, let's back up a bit.
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