Ryan: Sano to the OF

[Twins33]

Mike Berardino tweeted (a lot) that Sano ended the season at 268 lbs.

[jimmer]

 

Twins Website roster lists Sano at 6-4 260 and Arcia at 6-0 225. If you add 4" to your height and 35# to your weight, are you then too heavy to play LF/RF? I don't think so.

Well Sano ended the season at 268, so it's over 10 pounds per inch. Even at 260, it's a hair under 9 pounds per inch.

 

And how well does Arcia play the OF? How much ground does he cover?  Not well and not much.  And he's played in the OF his whole professional career.  Not sure I'd use Arcia as a point in Sano's favor for playing OF.  

 

With the players who have played in the OF these last few years for the Twins, especially the corners, I don't think Corner OF defense is a priority. Running out guys like Willingham, Arcia, Hunter (etc) and now possibly a close to 270 LB IF with no time as an OF as a professional ballplayer certainly doesn't suggest corner OF defense is any kind of priority. Neither was getting rid of Hicks.

[David HK]

This makes me steamed, if it's truly the plan.  Why in the hell take the kid, who's been playing only that position, and force him to deal with even more adjustments at the ML level?  Poof has already spent time in the OF, and years in the majors.  That adjustment would be far easier for him.  Besides, who in blazes thinks Poof is a good 3B in the first place?!?  My bet is Sano would be at least as good a defender over there, and by gum, it's a power spot!  

If you're keeping Poof, get him the hell out in the pasture, and get the kid at the hot corner, where he's already been playing.  FFS.

[David HK]

 

Not many right now, but Dmitri Young was 6'-2" 295# and Walter Young was 6'-5" 320#.

Sheesh!  Those guys are more like a D-line!

[sane09]

Well Sano ended the season at 268, so it's almost 10 pounds per inch.

And how well does Arcia play the OF? How much ground does he cover?  Not well and not much.  And he's played in the OF his whole professional career.  Not sure I'd use Arcia as a point in Sano's favor for playing OF.

Sano ended the season as a DH with a leg injury which prevented him from running, (conditioning or otherwise)or even playing any defense. Not a good weight maintenance situation.

The reason I used Arcia as a comparison is:

1) His height and weight were from the same source as Sano's height and weight and

2)Arcia is one of the other choices as a starting OF if Sano doesn't switch to OF.

[David HK]

 

Right now, if the plan isn't Sano in RF, who IS in RF?

What?

[glunn]

 

Wellllll....... just because you play someone in the outfield, it doesn't necessarily mean they were able to play outfield, at least well. Delmon Young played the outfield. Chris Colabello played first and outfield. Escobar played in the outfield. It truly is an unknown at this point, and just chatter. I don't remember Harmon to be a monster outfielder 1962-64 in his 26-28 year old seasons. But at the plate he had three great years - some of the best of his career, but I was only 7-9 years old, and he could do nothing wrong in my eyes. I would hate to see Sano never have the chance to see how well he would do and how fast he might improve at third base.

 

I think that we will get to see Sano at third base once Plouffe is elsewhere.  In the meantime, I am hopeful that, as in the case of Killebrew, Sano's natural focus and tenacity will allow him to be decent in the outfield.  Sight unseen, I would expect that he could be better out there than Arcia.

[jimmer]

 

Sano ended the season as a DH with a leg injury which prevented him from running, (conditioning or otherwise)or even playing any defense. Not a good weight maintenance situation.
The reason I used Arcia as a comparison is:
1) His height and weight were from the same source as Sano's height and weight and
2)Arcia is one of the other choices as a starting OF if Sano doesn't switch to OF.

You pointed out Arcia's height and weight and then Sano's and then said you didn't think adding 4 inches and 35 pounds made it so Sano couldn't play OF. That comment suggests Arcia plays OF at a passable level at his height and weight and therefore Sano could to at his height and wweight.  But Arcia doesn't play passable defense.

 

Even before the injury at the end of the season, you think, before that, at 6 foot 4, 260, he had good weight maintenance?  You think the weight contributed to the injury?

 

All this is premature anyway.  We have no idea if Park will even cut it right away (or ever). Sano may be DHing to start the season or soon into the season anyway.

[sane09]

Even before the injury at the end of the season, you think, before that, at 6 foot 4, 260, he had good weight maintenance?  You think the weight contributed to the injury?

I think DH'ing-only contributed to his weight gain before the injury; then MAY HAVE contributed to the injury; which then contributed to his weight gain after the injury.

I think that I just confused myself.

[jimmer]

 

I think DH'ing-only contributed to his weight gain before the injury; then MAY HAVE contributed to the injury; which then contributed to his weight gain after the injury.
I think that I just confused myself.

Do you think that 6 foot 4, 260 is showing good weight management?  Hasn't he been getting heavier and heavier even before his latest injury?

 

I notice notice a few people pointing out a couple OF that were as heavy (or heavier) as Sano is and saying well they did it he can too.  They don't point out the multitude of ones who couldn't.  It's like pointing out Randy Johnson when talking about Meyer.

[glunn]

 

This makes me steamed, if it's truly the plan.  Why in the hell take the kid, who's been playing only that position, and force him to deal with even more adjustments at the ML level?  Poof has already spent time in the OF, and years in the majors.  That adjustment would be far easier for him.  Besides, who in blazes thinks Poof is a good 3B in the first place?!?  My bet is Sano would be at least as good a defender over there, and by gum, it's a power spot!  

If you're keeping Poof, get him the hell out in the pasture, and get the kid at the hot corner, where he's already been playing.  FFS.

 

Maybe there are potential silver linings here.  

 

If Sano makes an error at 3B this could get in his head and affect his hitting.  If Sano makes an error in the outfield, then he will have a great excuse and it may be easier to shake it off.  

 

Maybe it is karmic that Sano will follow in Killebrew's footsteps, starting at OF and moving to 3B while hitting towering home runs along the way.  This is not scientific, but it seems to me that the great players of all time can sometimes thrive under adversities like position changes, like the time that Kareem was injured and Magic played center.

 

Also imagine Sano using his rocket of an arm to nail baserunners from 350 feet away.

 

Sano in the OF could be bad, but it also might be good.

[sane09]

Do you think that 6 foot 4, 260 is showing good weight management?  Hasn't he been getting heavier and heavier even before his latest injury?

 

I notice notice a few people pointing out a couple OF that were as heavy (or heavier) as Sano is and saying well they did it he can too.  They don't point out the multitude of ones who couldn't.  It's like pointing out Randy Johnson when talking about Meyer.

Good question which I can't answer. I wonder what his weight was, when he played 3B regularly at AA.

I think what they REALLY mean is "It's POSSIBLE that Sano can play OF as well as the other fat kids".

[sane09]

In BOTH BA 2014 and 2015 Prospect Reports, Sano is listed at 6'3" 232#. He missed playing in 2014, and started late in 2015.

If he reports to ST at 6'4" 275#, we have a problem at 3B AND OF!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Killebrew comparison is the best one I've heard. I truly have nothing against Plouffe. I just want to see Buxton and Sano be the next Puckett and Hrbek playing their natural positions!

[maxisagod]

 

The mid-year thing makes sense.  Kepler may have emerged, we can see Sano in the OF, Park vs. MLB pitchers, etc.  I

 

I don't see how Mauer or Ryan play into it though.  Mauer is the 1B and not moving to catcher and Ryan will take time from Kurt if he performs. 

True there isn't a direct connection. You don't trade Hicks for a catcher, call Ryan a potential starter and then trade Plouffe for a catcher a few weeks later (unless it's an elite, too stupid to pass up and couldn't plan for talent). A Plouffe for MLB catching deal only happens after Ryan gets a shot. So if Kurt gets hurt, Ryan gets a lot of at-bats, and if by June or July it's clear Ryan is NOT a starting catcher then you can entertain a trade like that. Mauer is just a question mark to some, if he stops playing regularly Pouffe could get more at bats at 1st base then last year, and then trading Plouffe is less likely. Even with Vargas, Park, and Kepler in the fold, TR would want more "Veterans" in the lin up.

[kab21]

 

In BOTH BA 2014 and 2015 Prospect Reports, Sano is listed at 6'3" 232#. He missed playing in 2014, and started late in 2015.

If he reports to ST at 6'4" 275#, we have a problem at 3B AND OF!

I think everyone knew that Sano would end up in the 260-280 range.  This isn't a surprise. 

 

The Killebrew comparison is the best one I've heard. I truly have nothing against Plouffe. I just want to see Buxton and Sano be the next Puckett and Hrbek playing their natural positions!

Sano's natural position isn't 3B.  260-280 lb players don't naturally play 3B.  They just try to survive the season there without doing too much defensive damage there.  Kind of like the year (or two) that the Tigers put MCab at 3B with Prince/VMart at 1B/DH.  They ended that because of the damage MCab was doing.

[David HK]

 

In BOTH BA 2014 and 2015 Prospect Reports, Sano is listed at 6'3" 232#. He missed playing in 2014, and started late in 2015.

If he reports to ST at 6'4" 275#, we have a problem at 3B AND OF!

Heh... maybe then he can play both-- at the same time!

[USAFChief]

What?

I don't think the Twins are overflowing with good, proven OFers to open 2016.

 

Who do you think should be in RF opening day?

[sane09]

I don't think the Twins are overflowing with good, proven OFers to open 2016.

 

Who do you think should be in RF opening day?

If Buxton is full of confidence with his hitting at that time, Sano in LF, Buxton in CF and Rosario in RF. If not, "Come on down, let's make a deal!".

[Major League Ready]

 

I have no idea what the exact number. But the guy is fit.

 

Right.  That's the point.  There are hard opinions being formed here because of a weight listed on the Twins website.   We have partial or poor information on a number of things.  #1 on that list of things is what likelihood the Twins staff puts on Sano being able to play 3B.  Without that information, it is pretty hard to judge these other moves.  

[David HK]

 

I don't think the Twins are overflowing with good, proven OFers to open 2016.

Who do you think should be in RF opening day?

Aww. Chief--  I was hoping somebody would take the Abbot and Costello bait!   Whaddya doing trying to be sensical?    Besides, I forgot What's already on 2nd, anyway.

[USAFChief]

 

Aww. Chief--  I was hoping somebody would take the Abbot and Costello bait!   Whaddya doing trying to be sensical?    Besides, I forgot What's already on 2nd, anyway.

I Don't Know...what I was thinking.

 

 

[ashbury]

I Don't Know...what I was thinking.

I Don't Give A Darn what you were thinking.

[TheLeviathan]

The reality is that moving Sano to RF pretty much means Arcia isn't starting and is likely finished with the team.  I would rather go with

 

Sano, Park, Vargas, Arcia, and Kepler for 3B/DH/RF

 

than 

 

Plouffe, Sano, Park and a strong likelihood of Arcia's career being over.

 

Plouffe is a fine player, but people are wildly overrating his contributions.  (Which is what Winston was getting at earlier IMO)

[Shane Wahl]

 

All it will take is one injury to Sano/Park/Plouffe/Mauer to make this a moot point. I'd put the over/under of that happening to at least one of them (cough Mauer cough) at 90%.

No. Mauer? Why? What on earth would indicate that these days.

[Shane Wahl]

 

The reality is that moving Sano to RF pretty much means Arcia isn't starting and is likely finished with the team.  I would rather go with

 

Sano, Park, Vargas, Arcia, and Kepler for 3B/DH/RF

 

than 

 

Plouffe, Sano, Park and a strong likelihood of Arcia's career being over.

 

Plouffe is a fine player, but people are wildly overrating his contributions.  (Which is what Winston was getting at earlier IMO)

 

This is so correct.

[Shane Wahl]

 

I am, at this point, not saying anything "yea" or "nay" to the prospect of Sano moving to the OF. But, just for the sake of argument, (since it's been mentioned a time or two here and there), those of us a bit older may remember the likes of Danny Tartabull and Gary Sheffield. Tartabull was a HS SS I do believe, who moved to 2B fairly quickly, and then the OF, while Sheffield was also a SS who moved to 3B and then the OF. Both moved very successfully overall, offensively and defensively. More recently, Alex Gordon was drafted and initially developed as a 3B before  being moved to the OF.

 

Just a few examples to toss out there of top picks, top prospects, top bats who transitioned from the infield to the OF.

 

Sheff was terrible defensively.

[Shane Wahl]

I really think this "weight management" talk is overblown. And it borders on something else . . . .

 

That isn't the problem. Sano's bat should not be tampered with by learning a new position when there is ZERO reason for him to do so, other than some atrocious love affair with Trevor Plouffe, a player clearly declining.

[jimmer]

What do you think it 'borders on'?

 

In regards to athletes overall, not Sano in particular, I find it weird how these guys' job is to play sports yet some of them get so out of shape, some early in their careers. They play all year, then they have 4-5 months off and they are athletes. Get in shape and stay in shape.

 

One thing I admired about guys like Jeter and Torii is the fact that they kept themselves in shape,

 

Now, in regards to Sano, I'm not sure he's actually fat. He looks muscular with a little baby fat that hopefully goes awAy, but I doubt his body fat is even in the 20s. Either way though, it's a lot to move in a spacious outfield and he's already having leg issues which won't be helped by playing the OF.

[Platoon]

This is a quote from Molitor in this morning Trib:

 

(Can) a large man (260-plus pounds) with zero ex­peri­ence han­dle a new po­si­tion? Coach Butch Da­vis worked with him in the out­field oc­ca­sion­al­ly last sea­son, Mo­li­tor said, “to help him get com­fort­a­ble read­ing balls, tak­ing angles. It’s a re­al­ly small foun­da­tion that he has, but if the guy is as ath­let­ic as we think he is, you hope he can catch the rou­tine fly ball".

 

So expectations have been set, the bar is high! The only problem with this theory, is that I watched a baseball game once, where someone hit an "unroutine" fly ball!