Article: Sano Won't See Outfield (Game) Action In Winter Ball

[Thrylos]

 

Wasn't Albert Belle a 3B when first signed?

 

Nah. He was drafted from LSU and played OF in College.   Jim Thome, on the other hand was a third baseman once upon a time

[Loosey]

I still hear on occasion about how great of an athlete Mauer still is.  Wouldn't moving him into a platoon role in the outfield/1B make more sense and give the team more flexibility?  Mauer can platoon with Rosario/Hicks in OF and at 1B platoon with Plouffe/Park while Sano plays 3rd/1st and DH.  I know it makes for an unstable consistent lineup this seems to in my head to make most sense. 

 

I do agree though that Mauer does seem to be the piece that is clogging everything up right now.

[gunnarthor]

 

I still hear on occasion about how great of an athlete Mauer still is.  Wouldn't moving him into a platoon role in the outfield/1B make more sense and give the team more flexibility?  Mauer can platoon with Rosario/Hicks in OF and at 1B platoon with Plouffe/Park while Sano plays 3rd/1st and DH.  I know it makes for an unstable consistent lineup this seems to in my head to make most sense. 

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Didn't Souhan suggest something like this a few weeks ago?  

 

In any event, I think something will have to change unless Mauer starts hitting.  The Twins can't keep putting him in the lineup if he's a .265/.330/.390 guy anymore.  

[Matt Kummer]

What happens with Mauer over the final 3 years of his contract is going to be one of the most compelling storylines with the Twins. He is now blocking younger players who have more upside. I think the potential Park signing is a sign the Twins understand that they can't just pencil Joe into the 3 spot and all will be OK. They need more.

 

Will we see a situation where someone gets traded and goes on to star for someone else, because the Twins are stuck/stubbornly committed to running Mauer out there as an everyday starter? Or will they get creative with roster construction by making him a complimentary piece?

[Madre Dos]

Congratulations to Miguel for being a finalist for the AL Rookie of the year.   Results to be announced on Friday.

[ThejacKmp]

People also forget that Plouffe has played 30 MLB games in right and left. That's not a ton but if Sano really can't hack it in the OF, he could make the transition out there. Cuddy moved from 3B to the OF so it's not impossible, especially with a nice arm. Not pretty but perhaps enough until Kepler is up and the Twins can trade him at the deadline or next offseason (if all goes well)?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

People also forget that Plouffe has played 30 MLB games in right and left.

I think the Twins are trying to forget that ever happened.

 

Cuddyer went to the OF at age 27 after being deemed a failure at 3B.

 

I don't think Plouffe is returning to the outfield.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I think the Twins are trying to forget that ever happened.

 

Cuddyer went to the OF at age 27 after being deemed a failure at 3B.

 

I don't think Plouffe is returning to the outfield.

 

Oh I hope not.  I cant see Plouffe being much better than Sano and Trevor is the better 3Bman.  But it does provide another option.

[ThejacKmp]

is

I think the Twins are trying to forget that ever happened.

 

Cuddyer went to the OF at age 27 after being deemed a failure at 3B.

 

I don't think Plouffe is returning to the outfield.

 

Also, I was looking at the stats for that time because I don't really remember Plouffe's outfield experiments (there were a lot of things in Twins Territory back then which I blocked out). He made one error and had three assists in 30 games, the latter of which speaks of a pretty good arm or guys running on him like crazy. His range was below average but not too far away from Cuddy's when he first started - and that was being thrown to the wolves with no time in the minors or spring training at the position. Plouffe is a bit older but you would think with some time working on it in spring training he might be a passable outfielder. Same thing with Mauer really.

 

It just seems like they should be working Plouffe (and Mauer) out there along with Sano. Keep your options open and what not.

[Halsey Hall]

I don't see any way Poof can play outfield.  He gets slower every time he gets out of bed.  We had a decent outfield last year and I'd hate to see that drop off a cliff. 

 

Neither should Sano be in the outfield, he's a third baseman.  So one of these guys has to go, and it's easy to see which one. 

[IndianaTwin]

Pujols (6-3, 230) played a bunch of OF after virtually no OF in the minors.

 

Miguel Cabrera (6-4, 240) played a bunch of OF after virtually no OF in the minors.

 

And Jim Rice (6-2, 200) was a toadstool.

 

Seems like it's at least a possibility for Sano. Going there for a time doesn't put him in the OF for the rest of his career.