Sano - RF or LF?

[strumdatjaguar]

And don't nobody say:  "I don't know!"  "Third Base!!!!"   Presuming Buxton or Santana starts the season in CF, it seems that Rosario is better suited to play LF, since he's already been successful there and because he has better speed to cover that bigger LF area at Target Field.   Therefore, the Twins should be experimenting (if at all) with Sano in RF, where he would have less ground to cover.  I suspect that he'd have the arm to keep runners from going first to third, since he apparently had the arm to play third base.  So, can someone tell me why he'd be better suited to play LF rather than RF????????????

[Brock Beauchamp]

I suspect he starts in right for the reasons you listed but really, it could go either direction depending whether they decide to put Rosario in left or center.

[nicksaviking]

Only reason for LF would be because he's never played OF and the RF wall could cause issues.

 

Still, as Hunter showed last year, Target Field's RF is the best fit for a guy with limited range. RF is so small it's rarely an issue.

[Thrylos]

 

.  So, can someone tell me why he'd be better suited to play LF rather than RF????????????

 

in 1000 words:

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

At the BH Park press conference, Ryan said RF. Molitor thought LF because he's played on that side of the diamond. 

 

I read that Molitor was asked this question at a Twins Caravan event, and he said that Sano would most likely be playing RF.

 

I think that's the right answer. I want Rosario in LF because there is so much more room to cover. 

[nytwinsfan]

3B

[Hrbowski]

DH...just kidding.

[USAFChief]

RF.

 

But the difference in playing RF and LF is small, if there even is a difference.

 

So ultimately, it's a non factor.

[USAFChief]

in 1000 words:

 

How many times in a year does a batted ball contact the overhang? 10?

 

And why would Rosario be better at dealing with those that do?

[Winston Smith]

More right handed hitters more balls hit to left field more chances to screw up.

 

DH or 3b!

[Rosterman]

But where do we play Arcia?

 

[Thrylos]

 

How many times in a year does a batted ball contact the overhang? 10?

And why would Rosario be better at dealing with those that do?

 

probably more.  And I don't care about balls that hit the overhang.  I care about misjudged balls because of it that end up with him hitting the wall...

[tvagle]

 

But where do we play Arcia?

...In Milwaukee

 

(after the trade that is  )

[tvagle]

Let's just fast forward to the trade deadline...and start the year with the lineup we will have after Aug 1st

(Plouffe will be an Angel then...do you really think Yunel Escobar and Scioscia will co-exist?)

 

C - Murphy

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

3B - Sano

SS - Escobar

LF - Rosario

CF - Buxton

RF - Kepler

 

I can stand serviceable D at 3B when it's attached to 30 HR's not 20

 

Keeping Plouffe is not only blocking Sano but also Kepler...I'm ready to win with the prospects we don't ever trade

 

Let's Go!

[tvagle]

 

probably more.  And I don't care about balls that hit the overhang.  I care about misjudged balls because of it that end up with him hitting the wall...

...or  Dozier...Buxton...

[DocBauer]

Love...love...love Tvagles post. But for now, the answer is clearly RF. With his arm, and decent athleticism, he can afford to play a step or two back, and a step or two towards the foul line.

 

I'd rather see a ball hit in front of him than something over his head or in the corner. Plus, Rosario and Kepler can legitimately cover 3/4 of the OF.

[Kwak]

RF.  Remember, only half of the games are played in Target Field.

[jay]

RF. Like others said, see Torii. And, see 70 grade arm.

 

Interestingly, a Sano to RF and comps to Giancarlo from 2012: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/10/21/3533532/miguel-sano-the-next-giancarlo-stanton

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't have the numbers in front of me, so correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't more balls hit to LF then RF in general?  If so, I'd put the better defender in LF.

[Platoon]

I don't think the balls hitting the right field overhang is as much of an issue, as that they might hit it. It seems to cause OF to get caught in no mans land. Visiting OF included, and some pretty decent ones. Since 3B was excluded as an answer, I will go with RF. His arm would play well there, after he catches up to the ball. As for the Molitor/Ryan confusion. I am sure that after Molly said LF, Terry called him and said, "Hi this is Terry Ryan. Surely you remember me? Just wanted to let you know you mistakenly said that Sano was going to LF. It's easy to get the R and L confused. I should know, I have such a difficult time spelling Mientkiewicz!"

[jay]

 

I don't have the numbers in front of me, so correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't more balls hit to LF then RF in general?  If so, I'd put the better defender in LF.

 

Fairly even actually.  You can find data to point slightly either way depending on how you qualify it (any ball in zone, catchable opportunities, etc.).  Dave Cameron looked at this and basically found... it really doesn't matter.  http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/does-outfield-alignment-actually-matter/

 

Also, for all the consternation about putting Sano in the OF in the first place... this is kind of funny.  http://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/19/2373025/joe-mauer-outfield-minnesota-twins

[EddieMatthews]

I still don't believe the Twins are serious about Sano in the outfield.  RF in Target Field has a high wall and a tight corner, meaning lots of tricky caroms.  And as Kwak stated, half of the games are played in other parks.  Each outfield in every stadium has unique characteristics to master.

 

Third base is third base in every ballpark.  It's 90 feet between the base and 120 feet to first.  Sano will be a liability in the outfield and manageable at third.  

 

If outfield was that easy for a player to learn, then wny did Willingham and Arcia have so many difficulties.

 

As Tvagle posted, let's play the lineup that we expect on August 1.  I still expect the Twins to bundle Plouffe and Nolasco in a trade.  This solves several problems, making room for Duffey and Berrios, putting a power hitter with average at 3B, and getting the outfielders of the future on the field. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Fairly even actually.  You can find data to point slightly either way depending on how you qualify it (any ball in zone, catchable opportunities, etc.).  Dave Cameron looked at this and basically found... it really doesn't matter.  http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/does-outfield-alignment-actually-matter/

 

Also, for all the consternation about putting Sano in the OF in the first place... this is kind of funny.  http://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/19/2373025/joe-mauer-outfield-minnesota-twins

It's only funny in the sense that it's hard to tell if you and the original writer are serious or not. As many of the commenters of the original article pointed out. God bless the writer, he is probably a poster here, but three cans o' corn don't prove anything, imo

[spinowner]

At the major league level the least important defensive position is left field. Right field requires a stronger arm and the decision about which base to throw to is a bigger factor because of the longer distance to third base. As others have mentioned, right field at Target Field is smaller than left field but playing the wall in right field requires more skill than in left, especially for someone with no outfield experience. If you have a corner outfielder with limited range you can always slightly shift the other two outfielders. I'll also ask the corollary question: Is it better to have Sano at third and Plouffe in the outfield instead? (Probably not, but it should still be considered.) If Sano truly needs to play outfield I'd be inclined to go with left field but I'll certainly defer to the judgement of real baseball people like Ryan and Molitor.

 

Edited to add: I'm aware that many rank first base as less important defensively than left field but I happen to disagree. To wit, picture Josh Willingham or Delmon Young trying to play first base.

[jay]

It's only funny in the sense that it's hard to tell if you and the original writer are serious or not. As many of the commenters of the original article pointed out. God bless the writer, he is probably a poster here, but three cans o' corn don't prove anything, imo

Of course it doesn't prove anything. I can't speak for the original writer, but I'd say the funnier part is how big of a deal has been made about it.

 

Expectations are so low, I don't see how he doesn't meet them in either corner.

[Blackjack]

My concern is seeing the two best prospects that the Twins have had in years/the future of the franchise, Byron 'I think I'm Superman and should catch every ball' Buxton and Miguel 'I'm built like a NFL linebacker' Sano in the same outfield. You know who is going to win that battle when they collide. I'd rather see someone with more experience beside Buxton.

[Mike Sixel]

RF....why move Rosario?

[gmarais66]

I don't think it really matters. People keep saying he's fast for his size, but I envision his coverage to be somewhere in the Arcia/Willingham range. However, Arcia has far more experience in the outfield, so Sano, will probably not even be that good. He'll probably cover a bit more ground than Willingham, so he's got that going for him.