La Velle: Sano Lost 5 Pounds This Offseason

[Boom Boom]

I don't get the reasoning that "Sano can't be worse than Willingham" or "...worse than Delmon" or "...worse than Arcia." I mean, it's probably better to be shot in the shoulder than in the groin, but I'd rather have neither.

[alhweiner]

 

Mauer really could not buck this, as it would make him look selfish,.

Since when is "look selfish" a BAD thing?

[Halsey Hall]

I don't know how many pounds Sano lost, but he looks in good condition to me. 

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Since when is "look selfish" a BAD thing?

My sarcasm detector is wonky right now, please correct this for me.

[alhweiner]

 

My sarcasm detector is wonky right now, please correct this for me.

Yes, that was cynical sarcasm.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

 "While Ozzy has been scouted and in the not so distant past regarded quite favorable as an ideal RF"

 

Wow!

What are the odds of the words "ideal RF" being used to describe Arcia?

About the same odds as the words "fabulous haircut" being used to describe him.

I didn't say Ozzy was ideal but scouts, Baseball America, etc have in the past regarded Arcia as a good fit for right field. 

 

BA 2013:  He has lost some speed but runs well enough to stay in right field, where his strong, accurate arm is an asset. Arcia fits the right-field profile well,

 

BA 2013: Arcia has filled out considerably since he patrolled center field in Rookie ball, and he’s now strictly a strong-armed right fielder. He's a slightly below-average runner.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Yes, that was cynical sarcasm.

Thank you...I believed it to be, but was not positive. No coffee today.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I don't know how many pounds Sano lost, but he looks in good condition to me. 

Looking good and jovial as always

 

[BrianTrottier]

 

There was a very revealing interview on this topic yesterday, on ESPN 1500, with Twins' VP Mike Radcliff. He all but admitted it is going to be a rough transition and that there are going to be balls dropping in and glaring mistakes made by Sano, even in the regular season. He said he's never played outfield before and they have no idea what is going to happen. There is, however, a lot of hope and optimism, and we all know what that's worth. He said the dream is that he could eventually get some where near the level of an average outfielder. I don't know about anyone else, but this sounds like a train wreck, waiting to happen.

 

I didn't hear the interview or anything, but this sounds to me like it's probably your interpretation of what he said and perhaps not what was actually said.

[gmarais66]

 

I didn't hear the interview or anything, but this sounds to me like it's probably your interpretation of what he said and perhaps not what was actually said.

That's what he said... Go back and listen to the interview on ESPN 1500, from Mackey and Judd. Listen to hour 4 of the Monday, Feb. 1 broadcast.

 

http://www.1500espn.com/mackey-judd-ondemand/

[jimmer]

That's what he said... Go back and listen to the interview on ESPN 1500, from Mackey and Judd. Listen to hour 4 of the Monday, Feb. 1 broadcast.

 

http://www.1500espn.com/mackey-judd-ondemand/

Exactly. And Torii Hunter said basically the same thing.

[jay]

 

Looking good and jovial as always

Looks like a right fielder to me!

[alhweiner]

After Arcia, Parmelee, Willingham, Delmon, Escobar, Nunez, Colabello, Cuddyer, etc., the Twins defensive standards bar for corner outfielders has been set SO HIGH, that Sano can never live up to that tradition of excrement....uh...excellence

[tobi0040]

 

*Conspiracy Theory*

 

Park was signed to play DH, and some 1B, with no other spot to man. Plouffe was kept on purpose, but partly because there was nothing being offered that made us even marginally better. He plays 3B and 1B, with an outside chance of emergency OF corner. Sano WAS the DH, thought to be the incoming 3B, and many saw as a 1B any day soon, but now is being pushed to the OF. Mauer is 1B and DH. 

 

The best player here by far now and in the future is Sano. He will NOT be sitting or sharing time. Park was signed in the hopes of having major power, but is 1B and DH only. I really do feel that the Twins "hope" this configuration works out, but also very much believe that they know that this is a 50/50 shot of Sano working in the OF. 

 

With that being acknowledged, and if Park and Plouffe are performing better or on par with Mauer....could this be the Twins way of having their hand "forced" to sit Mauer if all the other guys are outperforming him and Sano is a flop in the OF? This would be a way for the team to not have the hard conversation of sitting him for someone of less significance. I could see Mauer, Plouffe, and Park all rotating or platooning to some degree. I think if Sano gets pushed back to 3B/1B/DH, that Mauer ends up in some sort of platoon with Mauer hitting against RHP's and sitting against LHP, with Plouffe and Park rotating of who sits and hits against RHP. 

 

Mauer really could not buck this, as it would make him look selfish, and it would wipe the Twins hands clean of having that conversation. Once the part time player role happens, it would be easier to wean him IF he does not hit..."IF"

 

Maybe, just maybe.

 

Mauer has 3/68 left I believe.  I just don't see how he is not in the lineup 140 times.  I would also be shocked if Park is outperforming him.

 

[gmarais66]

 

Exactly. And Torii Hunter said basically the same thing.

Here's the quote from Radcliff:

 

"I don't think we can sugarcoat this at all. There are going to be balls that fall in right field. There are going to be balls that go over his head. He's going to throw to the wrong base. That stuff is going to happen. He's never played outfield in his life. So, this is starting from ground zero. Our hope and belief with a lot of conviction he'll make up for that. He'll hit home runs and be an offensive force, and take care of business that way. There's going to be issues defensively. It's not just in spring training. This will be a project going well into the year, and we'll see about multiple years. He's not going to be great out of the chute."

 

"But his ability to actually have the skills of an outfielder - I don't - if he could become average anytime over the course of this year, that would be an amazing transformation...  This will have its rough moments, there's no doubt."

[tobi0040]

Here's the quote from Radcliff:

 

"I don't think we can sugarcoat this at all. There are going to be balls that fall in right field. There are going to be balls that go over his head. He's going to throw to the wrong base. That stuff is going to happen. He's never played outfield in his life. So, this is starting from ground zero. Our hope and belief with a lot of conviction he'll make up for that. He'll hit home runs and be an offensive force, and take care of business that way. There's going to be issues defensively. It's not just in spring training. This will be a project going well into the year, and we'll see about multiple years. He's not going to be great out of the chute."

 

"But his ability to actually have the skills of an outfielder - I don't - if he could become average anytime over the course of this year, that would be an amazing transformation... This will have its rough moments, there's no doubt."

Would have been nice to say that the Twins really put him in a bad position and that they plan to move guys around a bit in the minors.

 

Having an OF play balls correctly and throw to the right base are really minimal expectations.

[jimmer]

 

Here's the quote from Radcliff:

 

"I don't think we can sugarcoat this at all. There are going to be balls that fall in right field. There are going to be balls that go over his head. He's going to throw to the wrong base. That stuff is going to happen. He's never played outfield in his life. So, this is starting from ground zero. Our hope and belief with a lot of conviction he'll make up for that. He'll hit home runs and be an offensive force, and take care of business that way. There's going to be issues defensively. It's not just in spring training. This will be a project going well into the year, and we'll see about multiple years. He's not going to be great out of the chute."

 

"But his ability to actually have the skills of an outfielder - I don't - if he could become average anytime over the course of this year, that would be an amazing transformation...  This will have its rough moments, there's no doubt."

yeah, I agreed with you. I heard the same. and like I said, Hunter said similar things:

 

'"I'm going to spend a lot of time working with him, but he's very athletic for a big-framed guy," Hunter said. "To go to right field it's easier for him with the high wall. He can just play it off the wall because in left field, you need someone more athletic to jump up to rob home runs. I definitely think he has a good chance to cover some ground. But it's his first year in the outfield, so give him some grace and don't boo him too much because he'll have some tough times. But he's athletic enough to hold it down and be solid."'

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU0L4GOI5b8

 

The thing that Arcia does really well is make the sliding catch running to his glove side, towards the right field line. He can recognize the flight of the ball and attack it full bore (like he attacks pitches) and not have to worry about thinking or getting in anyone's way. This is why Arcia should be the right fielder, and not left field IMO. Granted, he doesn't make every catch. I didn't really see Hunter make these catches last year where he had to leave his feet. Sano is not likely to read or catch these balls, however good an athlete he is. Not saying he can't learn or doesn't do it in his off time. But in MLB games, I don't want him diving for anything except a ground ball, which he already knows how to do safely.

[TheLeviathan]

I can't wait to see the hack job people try on those quotes so they can spin them. It's clear the Twins expect him to handle it in the long term, but struggle mightily in the short term.

 

Which is a fair expectation, by the way.

[USAFChief]

I wonder if maybe we're looking at this backward...

 

Maybe the Twins aren't "accommodating" Plouffe. Maybe they've decided Sano isn't a third baseman, and are "accommodating" him by finding him a less demanding position.

[Boom Boom]

I wonder if maybe we're looking at this backward...

 

Maybe the Twins aren't "accommodating" Plouffe. Maybe they've decided Sano isn't a third baseman, and are "accommodating" him by finding him a less demanding position.

I could almost get behind this line of thinking if the Twins had said at any time that the reason they're moving Sano is because they don't think he's a third baseman long-term. But all they've said is that they're moving Sano because they're in love with Plouffe.

 

Still, if they really thought Sano couldn't hack it at third, the logical move would be to first.

[Platoon]

I wonder if maybe we're looking at this backward...

Maybe the Twins aren't "accommodating" Plouffe. Maybe they've decided Sano isn't a third baseman, and are "accommodating" him by finding him a less demanding position.

That's a possibility, but several things beg to differ. The timing is odd, without a single same of MiLB experience nor winter ball. The signing of Park. I saw Sano play third, he ain't Brooks Robinson. But he is very quick, great and accurate arm. But if they thought he couldn't play third, wait till they see him in RF. They could have easily used him at DH, and as a fill in at third, first, and if they wanted him to play OF, throw him out there. If they couldn't do it for a game, why a season. I don't think they ever expected to end up with Park. And lastly the history of this FO regarding beloved veterans.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I wonder if maybe we're looking at this backward...

 

Maybe the Twins aren't "accommodating" Plouffe. Maybe they've decided Sano isn't a third baseman, and are "accommodating" him by finding him a less demanding position.

It'd be great if this was the case but there's no reason for the Twins not to say so. The way they've handled it from the start is strange.

[tobi0040]

 

It'd be great if this was the case but there's no reason for the Twins not to say so. The way they've handled it from the start is strange.

 

Yeah, and everyone BUT the Twins have had serious doubts Sano could stick at 3B for years.  So again I ask, would it have killed the Twins to have him in LF for 20 games a year in the minors?   

 

Instead of saying, yeah we are going to throw a guy out on opening day and he is really going to hurt this team for awhile.  This seems incredibly simple and completely avoidable to me

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yeah, and everyone BUT the Twins have had serious doubts Sano could stick at 3B for years. So again I ask, would it have killed the Twins to have him in LF for 20 games a year in the minors?

 

Instead of saying, yeah we are going to throw a guy out on opening day and he is really going to hurt this team for awhile. This seems incredibly simple and completely avoidable to me

No arguments here. Even if this situation was unexpectedly dropped on the front office, why'd they pull Sano out of winter ball?

[Kwak]

 

I wonder if maybe we're looking at this backward...

Maybe the Twins aren't "accommodating" Plouffe. Maybe they've decided Sano isn't a third baseman, and are "accommodating" him by finding him a less demanding position.

I recall Sano was an "error-machine" at 3B as he progressed through the system, but [his fans] would remind all that this was a "new position", or "he's young", or "these are minor league fields" (and that his teammates are minor league players)--so he "will be 'fine' at 3B when he reaches the Twins".  Combine this with Ryan's statement concerning Plouffe "not being offered"--and it's more than reasonable to conclude that the Twins (shall I say) were not "whelmed" by Sano's defense at 3B.  But let's be blunt:  Sano was not signed for his defensive prowess (at any position) but for his hitting and especially power hitting. The present plan is to "get all of the bats in the line-up" by shifting people around.  

[alhweiner]

Even if this situation was unexpectedly dropped on the front office, why'd they pull Sano out of winter ball?

In order to concentrate on outfield position drills which are much valuable than game experience.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

In order to concentrate on outfield position drills which are much valuable than game experience.

Is that what happened, though? I thought he left to focus on getting in shape.

[alhweiner]

Is that what happened, though? I thought he left to focus on getting in shape.

I thought I read that, although I can't locate the source at this time.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I thought I read that, although I can't locate the source at this time.

You could be right, I'm legitimately curious about it.