M. Sano - OF

[mnfanforlife]

Does anyone else get the feeling that this whole Miguel Sano moving to the outfield thing...could result in catastrophic player mismanagement? It doesn't sound like Sano ever intended to be switching positions.

 

 Imagine that Sano has a few "down" years in production, or gets injured a lot in the next few seasons. His value would be low enough that any team could make a swap for Sano, and the Twins would probably feel like a trade would be in the club's best interest?

[gunnarthor]

I think you're being a bit paranoid.  Sano isn't a delicate flower who is likely to be injured in the OF - he's a pretty good athlete.  Sure, he hasn't played the position before but he's not the first player who's been moved to a different position in the majors and he won't be the last.   I suspect he'll do well enough - esp if CF is manned by Buxton. 

 

As for the concern that he'll have a few down years and trade,  I suppose it's possible but I think it's unlikely.  And if he really struggles they have options on him.  But he seems like he has a better idea of hitting than guys like Delmon Young or Andy Marte. 

[Rosterman]

The question is do we think he would be a better third baseman than Plouffe, if the Twins decide in the next few months to sign Plouffe to a long-term deal (at this point, after arbitration, the Twins have to make that decision). Or will Sano be better off at first base? But then, can you park Park at first base in the near future.

 

Better yet, would we rather see Sano just be a designed hitter, shades of David Ortiz, for his entire career. And if he produces like David, he will be worth $300 million long-term for 15 years or so. Wow!

 

Is third base harder than the outfield, waiting for the ball to be hit your way, making perfect throws towards second or first? Would he be better running patterns in the outfield and making the occasional throw towards home plate? Do we NOT want him in the field at all?

[Thrylos]

Beaten. To. Death.

 

Let's see the kid play a single inning at the OF first and then we can speculate...

[mnfanforlife]

I just think the club may have ticked Sano off a bit with this whole move to the outfield thing. Much in the way the club asked Ortiz to collect singles to LF rather than try to pull for power. And Ortiz wasn't overly hyped like Sano, but turned out to be a first ballot HOF type of player. Lets hope the club doesnt mess it up with Sano

 

And, in my opinion, Sano has better tools for 3rd base than Trevor Plouffe. But he also has better tools than Trevor Plouffe for any position, based on his arm strength and atheticism compared to Plouffe's.

 

Could we really not find anything of value in trade for Plouffe this offseason?

[Bob Sacamento]

Not sure if it's been brought up but Sano at 6'4 260-270lbs would be one of the biggest if not the biggest outfielder in baseball today.  

[Linus]

Not sure if it's been brought up but Sano at 6'4 260-270lbs would be one of the biggest if not the biggest outfielder in baseball today.

Um, no I don't believe that has been brought up.

[zenser]

Sano could have a few "down" years in production or have injuries playing third base as well.  Maybe I am in the minority here, but I don't see Sano at third base long term anyway. 

[nicksaviking]

 

Not sure if it's been brought up but Sano at 6'4 260-270lbs would be one of the biggest if not the biggest outfielder in baseball today.  

 

Someone has to be the biggest.

 

I want him at 3B, but his size has very little to do with it.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Sano could have a few "down" years in production or have injuries playing third base as well.  Maybe I am in the minority here, but I don't see Sano at third base long term anyway. 

Long term, you're probably right.  But for the next ~5yrs he can still pass at 3B after that his frame and size is more ideal for 1B or DH (professional hitter).

[mnfanforlife]

.....Just read about Miguel Sano's lack of preparation for the transition to playing outfield in the MAJOR LEAGUES over the off-season. (thanks TwinkieTown) Looks like he really, really doesn't want to play outfield......

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Late game def replacement for Sano taking our best hitter out of the game is a scenario that I hope dosent hurt us. Let's hope he won't need one.

[Ncgo4]

The entire situation around Sano is a potential disaster.  First, there is no question he had a real exceptional half year in the majors, supported in large part by an uncany number of walks.  But the talk about him, in my opinion has gotten out of hand.  It's the responsibility of the Twins to manage these expectations and I haven't seen them do much of it.  

 

Secondly, they send him home to the Dominican Republic to play ball and get into better shape.  He leaves at 270 or something close to it and a few weeks later the pull him back State side because he only lost lost 5 tbs.  5 pounds...are you kidding me?

 

Finally, apparently after looking, mouths agape, at the scale they decide that he will not play 3rd base AT ALL.  In the mean time Miguel has apparently done nothing to prepare himself for the outfield.  Finally, they pay about $25 million for a DH, from Korea.  This either cuts Sano off of any chance to return to the role he was successful at last year or they pi**ed away $25 million.

 

I hope as much as anyone, that Sano turns into the Bullet Bill Bruton version of a right fielder and I hope he hits .300 and hits 40 dingers.  But this whole thing seems like a major lack of management by the Twins.

[Old Twins Cap]

This kid will be playing 1B in the not too distant future, and I'll bet he will be a good defender. 

 

But, for the next couple years, he will be messing around in RF.  Hope that he can play well out there.

 

He is 22 years old and a hell of an athlete.

 

Is that mismanagement?  No, it's about having Joe Mauer on a $23MM annual commitment.

 

 

[jimmer]

 

This kid will be playing 1B in the not too distant future, and I'll bet he will be a good defender. 

 

But, for the next couple years, he will be messing around in RF.  Hope that he can play well out there.

 

He is 22 years old and a hell of an athlete.

 

Is that mismanagement?  No, it's about having Joe Mauer on a $23MM annual commitment.

Yeah, this isn't yet another thing to blame on Mauer and/or his contract.

 

They could have decided to DH Sano or Mauer and play the other at 1B, while signing an OF (and not signing Park). That would have kept Sano out of the OF, by putting him at 1B or DH, while improving our OF defense instead of hurting it..

 

They could play him at 3B (if they thought he could play there like we were told for years).  If they decided he wasn't going to be able to stick at 3B in the majors they could have moved him awhile ago.

 

It's absolutely mismanagement.

[theBOMisthebomb]

This kid will be playing 1B in the not too distant future, and I'll bet he will be a good defender. 

 

But, for the next couple years, he will be messing around in RF.  Hope that he can play well out there.

 

He is 22 years old and a hell of an athlete.

 

Is that mismanagement?  No, it's about having Joe Mauer on a $23MM annual commitment.

This brings us back to the idea of benching or possibly platooning Joe Mauer. If Sano/Plouffe/Park turn out to be better options as the season progresses then we should look at Ol' Joe grabbing some bench. Let's hope Joe has a bounce back season but at what point does loyalty become stupidity in reference to Joe if we have better options?

[twinsnorth49]

This kid will be playing 1B in the not too distant future, and I'll bet he will be a good defender.

 

But, for the next couple years, he will be messing around in RF. Hope that he can play well out there.

 

He is 22 years old and a hell of an athlete.

 

Is that mismanagement? No, it's about having Joe Mauer on a $23MM annual commitment.

What's a thread without an obligatory Mauer shot?

[Shaitan]

He was signed as a SS. I wonder if he's mad at the Twins for moving him to 3B?

 

It's part of the job. Part of any job, really.

[Old Twins Cap]

 

What's a thread without an obligatory Mauer shot?

 

Not a shot at Mauer.   It's Twins management that negotiated, signed and refuses to deal with the impact of that contract.

[twinsnorth49]

Not a shot at Mauer. It's Twins management that negotiated, signed and refuses to deal with the impact of that contract.

Ok, I'll amend.

 

What's a thread without an obligatory Mauer contract shot?

[The Wise One]

If he has the same attitude about playing outfield as Delmon did it will be a bad move. He has to be driven to play well in the field regardless of where he plays otherwise he become a DH.   If the group forms a social bond, that would improve things. Most of the outfielders are young and Hispanic. It would add to the chemistry

[Blake]

 

Does anyone else get the feeling that this whole Miguel Sano moving to the outfield thing...could result in catastrophic player mismanagement? It doesn't sound like Sano ever intended to be switching positions.

 

 Imagine that Sano has a few "down" years in production, or gets injured a lot in the next few seasons. His value would be low enough that any team could make a swap for Sano, and the Twins would probably feel like a trade would be in the club's best interest?

 

 

Back when the late Harmon Killebrew was broadcasting Twins games, he mentioned a couple of times he thought the outfield was the better place for long term player health, because players don't have to do all the bending and twisting, etc., that infielders have to do.

 

We can speculate all we want about Sano's attitude and ability, but, in the end, we won't know anything until we actually see Sano play.

[BrianTrottier]

 

If he has the same attitude about playing outfield as Delmon did it will be a bad move. He has to be driven to play well in the field regardless of where he plays otherwise he become a DH.   If the group forms a social bond, that would improve things. Most of the outfielders are young and Hispanic. It would add to the chemistry

 

Why are people suddenly comparing Sano to Delmon? How are they remotely similar people?

[Craig Arko]

 

Why are people suddenly comparing Sano to Delmon? How are they remotely similar people?

Beats the heck out of me. Games can't come soon enough.

[tobi0040]

 

.....Just read about Miguel Sano's lack of preparation for the transition to playing outfield in the MAJOR LEAGUES over the off-season. (thanks TwinkieTown) Looks like he really, really doesn't want to play outfield......

 

Hopefully we Garza him right out of town

[tobi0040]

 

.....Just read about Miguel Sano's lack of preparation for the transition to playing outfield in the MAJOR LEAGUES over the off-season. (thanks TwinkieTown) Looks like he really, really doesn't want to play outfield......

 

Hopefully we Garza him right out of town

[formerly33]

"He makes adjustments well, and that's what we need. A lot of guys can't make the adjustment. Right away, when you tell him something, he'll apply it and get better at it. Even today at practice, you could tell he was implementing the stuff I showed him this morning. You can tell when a guy wants it, and when he doesn't. He's serious and wants to prove a lot of people wrong."

We may have a new lurker (or two) here on TD.

[twinsajsf]

_{Will someone please start another thread today about Sano moving to the outfield!?  And then another tomorrow, and the next day, and so on.  I just don't feel like this is being talked about or analyzed enough.  Personally, I feel like this is going to either be a terrific move or a complete disaster.  Or somewhere in between.} 

[Craig Arko]

PSA- Reposting hearsay does not magically turn it into truth, folks.

[Negativity Police]

 

Does anyone else get the feeling that this whole Miguel Sano moving to the outfield thing...could result in catastrophic player mismanagement? It doesn't sound like Sano ever intended to be switching positions.

 

 Imagine that Sano has a few "down" years in production, or gets injured a lot in the next few seasons. His value would be low enough that any team could make a swap for Sano, and the Twins would probably feel like a trade would be in the club's best interest?

Peeeeep! Peeeeeeeeeep! Put your hands where I can see 'em!