Eduardo Escobar is again in Queens with the Los Angeles Angels and he’s as comfortable as ever.
Happy is the default setting for the previous Mets third baseman. Escobar has at all times maintained an upbeat perspective and was a favourite within the clubhouse throughout his tenure with the Mets. Even when the membership referred to as up prime prospect Brett Baty to supplant the struggling Escobar within the lineup in April, the veteran infielder was gracious in his dealings with Baty, his teammates and the media.
That tenure ended abruptly in late June when the Mets traded Escobar in the midst of a recreation. Escobar was getting espresso within the kitchen of the customer’s locker room at Citizen’s Bank Park when supervisor Buck Showalter referred to as him into his workplace to ship the information that nobody noticed coming.
“He said, ‘We traded you,’” Escobar instructed the Daily News this weekend at Citi Field. “It was really tough being traded during the game. I didn’t get an opportunity to say goodbye to my friends and whatever. I respect the decision they made to trade me, but during the game, I was really surprised.”
Escobar was enjoying a utility position with Baty taking on at third base, however even this position was restricted. By that time, the Mets simply didn’t have a spot for him. Sometimes he performed at third, he was used at second base a number of instances and at shortstop for one inning. Without constant enjoying time, it was robust for him to indicate a lot on the plate, although he had improved by the point the Mets traded him, hitting .318 with a .830 OPS and one dwelling run over his last 18 video games earlier than going to Anaheim.
Escobar was within the second 12 months of a two-year contract. A switch-hitter with the power to play a number of positions on an expiring contract made him a main commerce candidate. The Mets, seeing how skinny their system was when it got here to pitching, made a transfer for 2 low-level pitchers, right-handers Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux.
Escobar understood that it was a baseball choice, however he didn’t wish to depart. The most troublesome half was leaving the teammates who had been serving to the Venezuelan research for his U.S. citizenship check.
“The team over there, they really helped me. Everybody helped me a lot,” Escobar stated. “I was so sad.”
Escobar was acquired to exchange Gio Urshela at third base, however then the Angels acquired veteran third baseman Mike Moustakas in a commerce with the Colorado Rockies.
Once once more, Escobar was is and not using a spot and restricted to a utility position. Despite the challenges, he’s taken all of it in stride.
“I’m playing third base, first base and second base,” Escobar stated. “I’m always ready to play where the manager needs me.”
Escobar has settled into Southern California, discovering a home in Orange County massive sufficient for his 165-pound St. Bernard, Picañero. He even added one other St. Bernard to the combo, a pet named Esmerelda.
Escobar additionally handed the naturalization check, fulfilling a lifelong dream of turning into an American citizen. He took the check shortly after the commerce, leaving the crew for a number of days to take action. When he returned, his new teammates celebrated the accomplishment. Manager Phil Nevin gave Escobar a bottle of wine. His teammates gave him a bottle of whiskey. Everyone waived American flags. Escobar was touched.
“It was something beautiful and I’m so appreciative of that,” Escobar stated. “I didn’t get to celebrate with the Mets, but I celebrated with my new teammates.”
The Mets welcomed again Escobar with a tribute video on the scoreboard Friday night time, exhibiting a clip of the 34-year-old singing Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” He laughed as he tipped his cap within the dugout.
“It shows you how good of a person you are when everybody takes care of you and no matter where you play, you have people who respect you,” Escobar stated.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com