Why Yunel Escobar is the Best

by Dave Barclay

I was looking at the Toronto Blue Jays' promotional schedule today, and my eyes lit up on two items in particular: every friday is Lester's Grand Slam Combo, which seems to indicate some kind of hot dog discount, and Sunday June 3rd is Yunel Escobar Bobblehead Day.

Yu guys, ever since Roy Halladay left Toronto, I had been holding my heart in my hand waiting to find another Blue Jay to give it to. I had some dalliances with Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and Kyle Drabek*, but when it came time to buy a new Jays shirsey this year, there was only one choice. Yunel Escobar.

Here are the reasons why Yunel Escobar is the best:

1) Yunel Escobar doesn't speak English all that well, which means he compensates by communicating nonverbally, which means a lot of smiling and pointing (see picture above). That makes me so happy.

2) Yunel Escobar got traded from the Atlanta Braves in a one-sided deal that demonstrated that Alex Anthopolous could get good young players from teams without giving up a lot. Alex Anthopolous is also the best.

3) Yunel Escobar's head is the perfect size and shape to bobble.

4) The Jays didn't sign Yu Darvish, but if they did, Darvish and Escobar could have published a book together called Yu, Yu, and You: How Two Blue Jays Can Change the Way You Think About Cuban-Iranian-Japanese Relations.

5) SURPRISE BUNT!!

6) The story told in this article from Sports Illustrated about Escobar's defection from Cuba.

7) The Atlanta Braves soured on Escobar but the Blue Jays get him, you know? It's different with us. Let's hug.

8) For a while the Toronto media was telling us Blue Jays fans that Yunel Escobar's name was pronounced Junel Escobar. During this period I came up with these nicknames for Junel Escobar: Junebug,  Juniper Tree, and Miss June. Unfortunately, it turned out that wasn't how you pronounce Yunel Escobar at all.

9) I own a shirsey now with Yunel Escobar's name and number on it.

I think I might call in sick to the podcast June 3rd. Or send Paul and Steve text messages that they can read aloud. Yunel!

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* My wife's parents gave me a Kyle Drabek jersey for my birthday last year, and I declared that because I had a Drabek Jersey, Drabek was my favourite player. I reserve the right, should he return to the major leagues, to make Kyle Drabek my co-favourite player again.