#yunelescobar

[juliovillanueva]

Felicitaciones Yunel 1,500 hits #YunelEscobar #Baseball

[boxscorebests]

May 11, 2015: Yunel Escobar

Earlier in the season, we commented on National’s third baseman Yunel Escobar having 5 singles in a game. Clearly, he enjoyed the feeling, because exactly one week later he did it again. With another 5-5 performance against the Diamondbacks Monday night, Escobar becomes the first player this season with multiple 5 hit games and just the fourth player since 2000 with multiple 5 single games in one season, joining Nomar Garciaparra, Ichiro Suzuki, and Juan Pierre, pretty good company to be in. He also became the first third baseman to have multiple 5 hitters since Adam Kennedy in 2009. He has done all of this by mid-May, so if he can eke out another great game, he could start reaching some even more impressive “first since...” stats.

[boxscorebests]

May 4, 2015: Yunel Escobar

Who needs power, anyway? The Nationals’ fill-in third baseman for the injured Anthony Rendon, Yunel Escobar, whacked 5 hits off the Marlins Monday, all singles. This was the third five-hit game in the majors this season and the first of Escobar’s career. It is also the first 5 single game since last September, when the Giants’ Joe Panik managed the incredible feat of going 5-5 with no runs scored or driven in. Escobar at least managed to score once and drive in a pair, both on his game winning hit in the bottom of the 8th, completing the Nationals’ comeback from down 4-2 entering the inning.

[thealley-oop]

Walk Off Swag - It’s about time that we have our first walk off home run of the year. Yunel Escobar gets the pitch at the bottom of the 10th and delivers. I love the Gatorade bath and the way he slid into home-plate. 

[fromapriltooctober]

I am so disappointed, Yunel.

By now, you know the story. I have zero interest in arguing over the meaning of The Word, or The Context, or what transpired at the press conference. If you want to spin your wheels debating those issues, please hop on over to Twitter, where there are plenty of experts just waiting to educate you!

Here’s the thing: I can see all sides of this issue. I acknowledge that words are multi-faceted. Maybe the word wasn’t meant as “faggot.” Maybe it was.  I’ve heard enough of this ridiculous argument that this wouldn’t be an issue if it weren’t for Google translate. REALLY?! (Seth and Amy style) That was an absolutely reasonable first step of the investigation process, and one that all of us would have taken. Hello, 2012! Welcome to the internet, people: it has lots of answers. What should James (or anyone else) have done? Gone to the library to consult a  dusty Cuban slang dictionary? Give me a break. And if you’ve been paying attention, you know that plenty of Spanish-speakers have confirmed that “faggot” is one meaning/interpretation of the word, so WHY ARE WE STILL DEBATING THIS? Either way, it’s become crystal clear that the word SOMETIMES carries a derogatory connotation, so Yunel SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN ANOTHER WORD. For now, let’s all accept that we’ll never know anything about his motivations or beliefs, and move on.

If you follow me on Twitter, you’re likely aware of my abiding love for Yunel. In addition to being a fan of his baseball style, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet him several times. He has been wonderful to me; kind, friendly and gracious. I have immense respect for him. He has exhibited tremendous perseverance and has overcome countless hurdles to get to where he is today. He left his home and everything that was familiar to him to pursue his dream of playing major league baseball, with no security and no guarantee of success. Summary: dude is LEGIT. I was happy to see him find his niche with the Blue Jays after struggling in Atlanta, and have openly scoffed at those who suggest he is or ever was a “clubhouse cancer”. This is not the Yunel I have come to know.

James shares my admiration of Yunel. Before posting the photo, he reached out to me to discuss the potential implications. I told him that the decision was his to make. Neither of us could have predicted the magnitude of the photo’s impact.

Let me tell you a few things about James.

James is a lifelong Blue Jays fan and first-time season ticket holder who is lucky enough to have one of the best seats in the house. I’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible opportunity for interaction that he has with the players. They recognise him. They acknowledge him. They pose for his pictures. They toss him balls and batting gloves. They even engage him in conversation. James and the Blue Jays have a friendly rapport that many fans can only dream of. (Hate on, haters.)

James knows that he’s privileged. He has documented this remarkable year by taking fantastic, professional-calibre photographs at every game. He is gracious enough to share his personal photos and stories with fans who may never have the chance to sit where he does. He appreciates and revels in every second of the experience. He is truly living the Blue Jays Fan’s dream.

James knew that he was risking all of the above by posting the photo. He knew that there would be a backlash. He knew that this would likely ruin his relationship with the players. He knew fans would be angry. He chose to raise the issue of equality to the potential detriment of his ability to enjoy baseball, one of his greatest joys in life. If that isn’t selfless, I don’t know what is.

You’re welcome to your own opinion about whether or not James should have done what he did. I believe the photo would have come out anyway, as it was all over multiple photo news sources prior to James posting it on flickr. Don’t shoot the messenger.

I’m not one to rock the boat. I would NOT have had the courage to do what James did, and I have immense respect for him for calling attention to a critically important issue that affects so many. 

I’m disappointed that the backlash against James has reached the point that he feels uncomfortable attending the last homestand of the season. This is a person who supports and defends the Jays even in their darkest hour. A person who stands up in support of Ricky Romero every time he walks off the field with his tail between his legs. A person who would never utter a “boo” against his team, EVER.  A person who shuts down inappropriate hecklers. A true fan who was simply trying to do the right thing in a lose-lose situation. To the people who say he just wanted his 15 minutes: INCORRECT. If he had wanted that, he would have sent the photo to a major news agency, and would have reaped significant financial gain from it (which he did NOT, FYI). He is a person who backs up what he believes with action.

Now, let’s talk about Yunel. Oh, Yunel. My Yuni.

I am so disappointed. I am in disbelief that someone I so admire exhibited such ignorance. I’m dismayed that he was foolish enough to broadcast that multi-dimensional word to an international audience. I'm confused as to why someone who has overcome so much to live the life he wants to live would not recognise and be sensitive to that struggle in others. I’m heartbroken that he is now embarrassed and shamed, because I truly believe he is a good person who made a catastrophic error in judgment. I choose to believe that this was a mistake, because the alternative is that he is hateful, and that’s not a reality I’m prepared to accept. That is not the player and person I’ve come to know and love.

This scandal has further marred an already devastating baseball season. Just when it seems like it can’t get any worse, it somehow does. The antics of our Bad News Blue Jays had become almost comical, but this latest crisis is anything but. For many of us Blue Jays fans, the SkyDome is our happy place. It’s the place where we feel most content, comfortable and at peace. It’s an escape from the stress and monotony of real life. That’s certainly what it is for me. As someone who has spent just shy of 300 hours (and counting) at the SkyDome this summer, this IS personal for me. I can tolerate a team of ill-prepared minor leaguers. I can tolerate loss after disappointing loss. I cannot tolerate hatred. There is no place for it in my happy place. It saddens me deeply that James has also lost his happy place.

We all make mistakes. Yunel’s was a particularly catastrophic one. He should have known better and I believe he does. I am prepared to give Yunel the benefit of the doubt and the chance to redeem himself.  I sincerely hope that he will take this opportunity prove that he is not a bigot and give me a reason to proudly wear my Escobar jersey at the SkyDome once again.