The mystery of Edwin Encarnacion

Edwin Encarnacion has
two homers this year
off Carl Pavano and
two off Francisco Liriano.

Toronto third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has 20 home runs this season. It only seems as if all 20 came against the Twins.

He's played six games vs. Minnesota this season and bopped five homers —and six other hits for a .522 batting average. I don't know if it's a flawed scouting report, lousy execution or bad luck, but the rest of the American League isn't having any trouble with him.

He hit five homers in three games against Arizona back during interleague play, so half his long balls have come in nine games.

The thing that worries me here is that Encarnacion has hit the Twins well in spring training. This raises the possibility of Craig Monroe Syndrome —that the Twins will mistake their problems with Encarnacion as evidence that the man's a really good hitter and acquire him.

He's not only not that good, he's not good, period.