Why not Mauer to left?

[Twinfan & Dad]

I still don't understand why you would risk a higher possibility of injury to your future star with Sano in the outfield and not consider someone like Mauer instead who is on the downside. Plouffe played some at 1st this past season so why not have Sano and Plouffe split time back and forth between 1st and 3rd? At least to start the season have Sano at 1st the majority of the time to see if he can handle it. Who would you rather see out of the lineup Sano or Mauer due to playing a position that they haven't played before? My assumption is that Sano will never be under 260 pounds and that is a lot of weight to lumber around in the outfield and risk further injury. In addition I think Mauer could play the outfield as well as Sano could.

[gunnarthor]

Mauer lost a foot race to first against CC Sabathia.  He cannot be an OFer.

I also think the risk of injury to Sano is being greatly exaggerated here.  He's big but he's in good shape.  I like him more out there than Mauer, for sure.

[drjim]

Sano is big, but he's also 22 and a good athlete who runs a little better than people seem to want to credit him for. He isn't going to disintegrate playing an OF corner.

 

I imagine he'll also DH a decent amount throughout the year to keep him fresh.

[jimmer]

We don't even know for sure if Park will be able to perform as a major leaguer.  I wouldn't count on him doing anything yet. Sano could stay as primary DH with Plouffe at 3B and Mauer staying at 1B.

[Boom Boom]

Because the Twins move young players around to accomodate veterans, not the other way around.

[Twinfan & Dad]

Josh Willingham and Michael Cuddyer are 2 outfielders that come to mind that were slow afoot that I can think of and I'm sure that there are many more. The question isn't how slow and how fast it's the future or the past. Mauer is at the end and Sano is our present and future. Park will will get at least 200 AB before they question their decision to sign so the DH arguement for Sano doesn't make sense.

[Linus]

We don't even know for sure if Park will be able to perform as a major leaguer. I wouldn't count on him doing anything yet. Sano could stay as primary DH with Plouffe at 3B and Mauer staying at 1B.

I think this is far more likely than what most people think.

[Thrylos]

I will wait to see Sano at the outfield in any game, before I would even discuss additional possibilities...

 

FWIW Mauer played a single game at RF in 2011 and did not look much worse than Dummit, Parmelee, Willingham, or Colabello out there...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Agree. If Mauer offered to move to right field, I bet the team would accommodate him. Between Sano, Plouffe, Park and Mauer, Mauer would probably have the most success out there (or do the least damage). Park's natural position is first base, too.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Mauer lost a foot race to first against CC Sabathia.

If Mauer had slid head-first on that play, he would have been safe.

[h2oface]

If Mauer is to move to the outfield, most problems of getting folks into the line up are solved. I would love to see Plouffe and Sano both take time at first and third. Sano is probably going to end up at first anyway, and I would much rather see him do the first and third dance than left/right field to third. Maybe the outfield will finally free Mauer's bat again. First isn't working.

[DuluthFan]

Simple answer is Mauer (& Plouffe) have seniority over Sano.

 

It is Sano's job to find a role and fit in on the team. If the Twins are going to field a playoff team with the current core group of players, Sano has to establish himself in a position that is up for grabs. Right now that is the outfield.

 

Both Mauer and Plouffe are experienced at their positions. By moving either player to a new position you weaken the overall defense while they try to learn the new position. While Sano has spent time at 3B, he is not better than Plouffe right now. The same goes for Mauer at 1B, Sano is not an upgrade defensively. If you move either player just to accommodate Sano, you weaken the overall defense.

 

Sure, Sano's defense in the outfield will be questionable at first. But it can't be much worse than Willingham, Arcia or Santana. By having only one player (Sano) learning a new position, you won't weaken the defense at two positions while both players learn new positions.

 

Mauer is only under contract for three more years, Plouffe only has two more years under arbitration before he is a free agent and Dozier is signed for two more years. If the Twins are going to try to get this core group of players to the playoffs, it will either be with Sano in the outfield or sitting on the bench. I prefer the outfield.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Sano is the fastest of the three (Mauer, Plouffe, Sano), the most athletic and the one most likely to adjust out there. It's an easy choice of the three.

[Hrbowski]

Mauer has all ready had a position switch, and whatever you may say, he is ranked higher than Hosmer on Fangraphs for defense at first base.

[puckstopper1]

 

^{Sano is the fastest of the three (Mauer, Plouffe, Sano), the most athletic and the one most likely to adjust out there. It's an easy choice of the three.}

 

^{This is logical, but I'm still very nervous about it!}

 

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

Mauer lost a foot race to first against CC Sabathia.  He cannot be an OFer.

I also think the risk of injury to Sano is being greatly exaggerated here.  He's big but he's in good shape.  I like him more out there than Mauer, for sure.

 

I agree.

How many of us could win a foot race with an NFL linebacker?

That's what Sano is built like.

 

[h2oface]

 

Mauer is only under contract for three more years, Plouffe only has two more years under arbitration before he is a free agent and Dozier is signed for two more years. If the Twins are going to try to get this core group of players to the playoffs, it will either be with Sano in the outfield or sitting on the bench. I prefer the outfield.

 

This core group of players are not the core that will get the Twins to the playoffs. Not even close. It is the core of new, young players that will bring the now average vets along with them, and hope the core of under contract/arb eligible holdover players don't prevent that by being in the line up and batting .230 to .260.

[Twinfan & Dad]

Sano is the fastest of the three (Mauer, Plouffe, Sano), the most athletic and the one most likely to adjust out there. It's an easy choice of the three.

 

 

I disagree with this type of reasoning protecting the old established and underperforming,untradeable players for our young core and future core players.The fastest, the youngest, the most able to adjust doesn't make sense. How about establishing our new young core into positions now and build around them. The days of Mauer leading this team are over and our young nucleus should be put into positions where they will lead the Twins to their next World Series.

[Thrylos]

 

I agree.

How many of us could win a foot race with an NFL linebacker?

That's what Sano is built like.

 

Nah.  He is build more like a defensive end.  Too big for a linebacker

[jorgenswest]

It is important that either Mauer or Park prepare to play a position other than 1B. Sano's bat needs to stay in the lineup and leg injuries similar to last year would push him to DH. The Twins can wait for that to happen and send Mauer or Park out to the OF with little preparation. Alternatively, they might plan for that eventuality and give Park or Mauer some time at a position other than 1B in the spring.

[dougkoebernick]

 

Sano is the fastest of the three (Mauer, Plouffe, Sano), the most athletic and the one most likely to adjust out there. It's an easy choice of the three.

Excellent analysis.

[DaveW]

I think Mauer should go back to catcher, amirite?

[Platoon]

I don't know if Sano can play OF, my guess is if he can it's going to be a long and painful experience. Plouffe has proven he can't, and I would imagine he loses a foot race to Mauer to boot. Mauer on the other hand is likely the best pure athlete of the three, albeit older. He was the number one QB in his class, he could have played D1 BB, and he was the best catcher in baseball, and likely could have pitched. I don't think who would be the better OF of the three is in dispute. An argument can be made for any alignment, and they will all have merit, and they will all have issues. I don't know how other teams do it, but I do think if the Twins continue to allow seniority, players sentiments, and personality issues to control their roster decisions, they are not going to get a result equal to the talent available in the orginisation. MLB is not high school ball, you don't have to worry about what someone's mom thinks!

[Twinfan & Dad]

In comparing stats for all MLB firstbasemen Mauer's stats put him in the middle of the pack. If the Twins are serious about contending they have to come up with a plan to get more production out of the position. Having him rotate from 1st to lf and some DH allows Sano, Plouffe and Park to spend some time at 1st. I guess I'm a little more optimistic on Park then some and want to keep Sano healthy for the entire year.

 

 

 

 

 

[Monkeypaws]

If Mauer continues to underperform, then he should grab some bench. Play him 120 games, with the rest of that time going to Sano and Park, assuming of course the latter are outplaying him.

 

 

[ALessKosherScott]

I think Mauer should go back to catcher, amirite?

I think he's finally ready to quarterback Florida State.

[Platoon]

I think he's finally ready to quarterback Florida State.

I wish he would replace Mitch Leidner!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I think Mauer should go back to catcher, amirite?

 

I think he's finally ready to quarterback Florida State.

 

No, just outfield, but thanks anyway.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Mauer has all ready had a position switch, and whatever you may say, he is ranked higher than Hosmer on Fangraphs for defense at first base.

Maybe Mauer can pick grounders and line shots better than Hosmer. I don't know. I do believe however that Mauer is still learning the position and has a ways to go before he gets good there. I'm sure other people disagree.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Mauer is the best 1B of the three, Plouffe is the best 3B of the three.

 

Sano is no going to magically injure himself because he's not playing 3B.

 

And hiding that cannon of an arm he has at 1B would be a waste of an asset.