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I love how the Jays are hiring alumni to tutor their young players

This past weekend former Blue Jays shortstop Tony Fernandez was in Toronto with former teammate Lloyd Moseby for a sports memorbilia show.  When asked how he felt he compared with current Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar, Fernandez replied that they both play a very similar game.  He then went on to say that the Blue Jays have hired him to coach Escobar one-on-one in the offseason.  An American citizen now,  Fernandez currently lives in Florida near where Escobar resides.

Fernandez declined to elaborate further on what he would be coaching Escobar on specifically.

http://mopupduty.com/index.php/tony-fer ... -offseason

Fernandez was my favourite player growing up. OH YEAH!

Just how awesome is this picture!

Well, one of the things he'll try to do is get Escobar out of that 'glove tap' habit he has. Don't know if they can be eliminated, but can cost him on the close plays.

SharoneWright wrote:Just how awesome is this picture!

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Can't go wrong with Tony coaching Yunel.

I hope Tony makes the HOF one day. He always gets overlooked because he played for many teams but he's up there with the best of them.

Tony Fernandez was built in a laboratory out of pure win. This can only be positive.

Before he cracked his elbow, he was the best defensive shortstop I've ever seen. Better than Smith. Another player once said he was like an Oz who stayed on his feet, and I think that was apt...I've never seen anyone with that kind of range. Basically any ball middle-left was in play. Vacuum. Unbelievable.

I've sometimes looked for video of just him playing D early on, hard to find, but if you haven't seen him before the elbow, try and take a look. It's a treat. Every ground ball to his side had you holding your breath, waiting for another stunner.

Harry Palmer wrote:Before he cracked his elbow, he was the best defensive shortstop I've ever seen. Better than Smith. Another player once said he was like an Oz who stayed on his feet, and I think that was apt...I've never seen anyone with that kind of range. Basically any ball middle-left was in play. Vacuum. Unbelievable.

I've sometimes looked for video of just him playing D early on, hard to find, but if you haven't seen him before the elbow, try and take a look. It's a treat. Every ground ball to his side had you holding your breath, waiting for another stunner.

Geez, I was paying attention during this era, but I never clued into that. Watching my beloved Spos play the Cards in the early 80s, there was one play where Smith chased down a ground ball up the middle in centre field, and threw to first from the turf. The Expo batter just made it in before the throw, but Duke Snider (the colour guy and former Dodger great) still said it was the "best defensive play he's ever seen in his life".

The Wizard of Oz was something special. The pregame cartwheel backflip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztz0NLY_MLI. Raising his batting average after signing the big contract. He represented everything great about baseball. I never thought of Tony F. that way. But I'll take your word for it, Harry.

^
Harry's not wrong. But Tony's nickname was "glass". Both because of his smooth fielding, and unfortunately due to his fragility. His elbow didn't stand a chance going down on the hard surface/seem at Exhibition Stadium and it doomed our playoff chances that year (along with Whitt's injury).

Jesus Tony was one of the best all around shortstops of the past 30 years in baseball. Very few of those better offensively could match him defensively, and few of those better defensively were as good as him offensively. Tony's ablility to barehand a ball going into leftfield, then throwing across his body, while leaping away from the throw was frankly stunning in all it's glory... a play very very few people could ever pull off.

He probably won't get in to the HOF on the regular balloting but I see him being a veteran committee selection in another 20 years.

i still believe escobar could be our lead off hitter for years to come...he had all the tools alright speed, power and just has to hit like he did his first 3 years...imo he'll be much better next year once he gets more adapted great pick up by AA

U_Mad wrote:i still believe escobar could be our lead off hitter for years to come...he had all the tools alright speed, power and just has to hit like he did his first 3 years...imo he'll be much better next year once he gets more adapted great pick up by AA

I agree. He is the poor mans Carl Crawford. With some work on his hitting mechanics there is no way you can rule out him hitting .300 with 380+ OB% with maybe 10 stolen bases and 10 HR