An Angels blog
Pearly Gates: An Angels Blog
Pearly Gates: An Angels Blog
Pearly Gates: An Angels Blog

Navigate

Pearly Gates is...

Quick Reference

BP Player Cards:

ESPN Player Cards:

Baseball Cube:

Baseball Reference:

Recent posts

Links

Archive

Contact

Monday, January 24, 2005

Scouting Report: Kelvim Escobar

Bio: 
Name:     Kelvim Jose Bolivar Escobar
Birthday: April 11, 1976 (28 on Opening Day) 
Height:   6-1
Weight:   195
Bats:     Right
Throws:   Right
Position: P
Acquired: Free Agent
Drafted:  n/a
Roster:   25-man
Contract: $6m
Stats (complete): 
YEAR(L)   G   GS  IP     H    R   ER  HR  BB  SO  H/9 W/9 K/9 W  L  ERA  WHIP
----------|---|---|------|----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--|--|----|---
2000(MLB) 43  24  180.0  186  118 107 26  85  142 9.3 4.3 7.1 10 15 5.35 1.51
2001(MLB) 59  11  126.0  93   51  49  8   52  121 6.6 3.7 8.6 6  8  3.50 1.15
2002(MLB) 76  0   78.0  75   39  37  10  44  85  8.7 5.1 9.8 5  7  4.27 1.53
2003(MLB) 41  26  180.1  189  94  86  15  78  159 9.4 3.9 7.9 13 9  4.29 1.48
2004(MLB) 33  33  208.1  192  91  91  21  76  191 8.3 3.3 8.3 11 12 3.93 1.29
----------|---|---|------|----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--|--|----|---
MLB TOTAL:334 134 1057.1 1038 560 523 105 470 935 8.8 4.0 7.9 69 67 4.45 1.43
Pitching:
Pitch selection: 1) fastball (mid 90s), 2) change, 3) split-finger, 4) cutter, 5) curve. Uses splitter as out pitch. Occasionally known to mix pitches too well - Angels pitching coach Buddy Black has pushed Escobar to limit his repertoire from game-to-game.

Added to the Angels' rotation in 2004 after seven seasons in Toronto, where he was stuck between the rotation and bullpen (even closing for the Jays in 2002). A fairly extreme ground-ball pitcher, he struggled on the hard turf of SkyDome. The switch to real grass and playing in front of a quality defensive infield did Escobar wonders. He dropped more than a hit an inning and posted a BAA (.244) that was nearly 30 points lower than the previous season. He also cut back on walks (.086 BB/BF, .101 career) while keeping his strikeouts (.217 K/BF) slightly above his career average (.202). Escobar was very quietly one of the best pitchers in the AL last season, finishing in the top ten in ERA, K, BAA and K/9.
Outlook:
Escobar's 2004 was no fluke. While his numbers improved in many key areas, none of his peripherals showed eye-popping jumps. As long as the defense behind him has the same kind of season (which is debatable, what without Kennedy and with questions on the left side), he will put up similar numbers in 2005. And if the offense can actually score him some runs this season, he should get some much deserved dap from the national press. Projected line: 14-9, 3.90 ERA.
See the complete list of scouting reports here.

Comments: