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KC Royals: Alcides Escobar Offensive Blackout

By Alec Tilson

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The Kansas City Royals have now lost eight of their last ten games, and the team’s everyday shortstop has just two extra-base hits in his last 21 games.

KC Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar has always been a glove-first player, but his recent offensive struggles are officially concerning.

In 28 games in August, Escobar didn’t record a double. He batted in three runs and hit .197/.246/.239.

Shortly after, he was dropped from lead-off to the nine-hole in the batting order, and it didn’t help.

In 11 games and 43 at-bats in September (entering last night), Escobar has scored one run. (Stats via ESPN.com)

He’s a 28-year-old playing in his sixth full Major League season. He understands the game. He almost always makes a winning play at some point in a game.

His ambush approach has become more pronounced through this stretch, and it seems he’s seeing more and more off-speed pitches as a result.

Yet as odd as it may sound at this point, Escobar is not a guy to worry about.

He’s one of the best competitors on the team, he plays Gold Glove defense at a premium position and, as long as he’s not on crutches, he’s going to play that night.

Escobar literally might love baseball more than anyone on the team. That’s based on nothing but the way he plays the game.

He’s played in roughly 900 of his last 942 games over the past five seasons.

I would not be surprised if Escobar is somewhere coaching baseball the day after he retires. Nor would it surprise me if he’s golfing everyday and drinking margaritas at a swim-up bar – but you catch my drift.

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That, and he’s right in the thick of his prime.

He’s a 28-year-old playing in his sixth full Major League season. He understands the game. He almost always makes a winning play at some point in a game.

This season, he’s striking out less and he’s walking more than he did in 2014.

Granted he hardly ever draws a walk, but he’s also one of the toughest guys in the game to strike out, posting a 10.7 K% this year. He swings at everything, but he also makes contact with almost everything.

He’s got one of the oddest offense-defense combinations in the game, but in a five- or seven-game series, I’ll take Escobar as my shortstop anytime.

Also keep in mind, in the postseason last year, Escobar hit for a .292 average, posted five doubles, one home run and five RBI. When he’s providing stellar defense at shortstop, you’ll live with those offensive numbers.

Escobar’s offense has bottomed out this season, and it’s absolutely contributing to this Royals slump.

In the grand scheme of things, however, the Royals are 84-59 on September 15, and Alcides Escobar is an All-Star shortstop.

Let’s fry the bigger fish before we drop Escobar in the oil.

Next: Is The Pressure Sinking In For The KC Royals?

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