Sano to 3rd

[Mike Sixel]

If it is 6 weeks.....I'd certainly consider moving Sano, and putting Arcia in RF.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

If it is 6 weeks.....I'd certainly consider moving Sano, and putting Arcia in RF.

Yep. Put the best team on the field and that means both Sano and Arcia swing the bat on a daily basis.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yep. Put the best team on the field and that means both Sano and Arcia swing the bat on a daily basis.

 

I think so.....I want Kepler in AAA for more at bats, and give Rosario another month or so.

[Doubles]

 Sano hasn't taken any ground balls at 3B since he reported to camp.     And now people are clamoring for him to be moved to a position 100 feet away from home plate where balls come off the bat like missiles?

 

Errrr, no.    I don't think so.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

while I'd prefer Sano at 3rd, it seems management wants him viewed as a RF, and I would doubt Molly would do anything to sidetrack Sano's RF "progression".

[Dantes929]

 

Might be worth while keeping Arcia's bat in the lineup as well.  Could put him in RF and Sano at 3B.

Then do what with Nunez?   Nunez hot streak is probably a short term thing but I would ride it while it exists.    I don't want to bench Dozier for a long time.  Santana would be all right at third.  My vote once Nunez cools off would be Polanco.    Those that think Sano has been jerked around and want him at 3rd aren't going to be any happier moving him to third now where he probably fails and then moved back to the outfield when Plouffe returns.   This really sucks for Plouffe and the Twins.   Plouffe was starting to heat up.

[Mike Sixel]

Again, I ONLY move him if this is for 6+ weeks.......no way I'd move Sano for less than that.

 

and no, Santana is not an option. I'm not convinced he can hit at all.......nor can he field in the infield. 

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

 Sano hasn't taken any ground balls at 3B since he reported to camp.     And now people are clamoring for him to be moved to a position 100 feet away from home plate where balls come off the bat like missiles?

 

Errrr, no.    I don't think so.

Bad at RF or 3B? At least this would get another power left-handed young bat in the lineup in Arcia. Best way to see what we have. 

 

Sure, he hasn't taken ground balls at 3b, but I bet he is at this point still more comfortable at 3b than RF falling out of bed. He might not be good at it, but we likely won't ever find a position for him that he will be good at other than DH, and maybe 1B if that spot ever opens for him.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Little birdie told me that Sano's taking grounders.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Little birdie told me that Sano's taking grounders.

I hope you have good little birdie connections. I think if Plouffe is out anything more than a few days you should try to get Sano in to third at least occasionally. I mean, he's played the position, right?

[Pardon My Dinger]

I hope you have good little birdie connections. I think if Plouffe is out anything more than a few days you should try to get Sano in to third at least occasionally. I mean, he's played the position, right?

I speak for the birds.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I speak for the birds.

Didn't mean to put worms in your mouth--I mean, words in your mouth....

[Pardon My Dinger]

Didn't mean to put worms in your mouth--I mean, words in your mouth....

I got birds in my mouth.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I got birds in my mouth.

And..I got nothing.

[rghrbek]

 

Little birdie told me that Sano's taking grounders.

This has been confirmed, heard it on the FAN, he's taking infield

[Bark's Lounge]

 

I got birds in my mouth.

I like your style. Nice.

[Craig Arko]

Sano to 3rd? That's a long throw from RF but I'm sure he can make it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

This has been confirmed, heard it on the FAN, he's taking infield

Huh. Interesting. Plouffe must be in pretty bad shape to alter course in one day.

[jimmer]

I wish I was allowed to comment about this.

[jorgenswest]

The Twins would have been wise to have Sano taking ground balls in the spring. They also would have been wise to have Mauer or Park taking some balls in the outfield. Positional flexibility will always be an asset over a long season. Molitor may learn as a manager to stay away from absolutes like Sano is a right fielder or Santana is our shortstop. He can think and hope but he should know the season is too long and unpredictable to state absolutely.

 

It is incredibly difficult to project recovery time, so they ought to have Sano start taking ground balls now. It is not going to mess him up. It is simply extra work taking ground balls. Cuddyer said it perfect on the broadcast when he spoke about not thinking of himself as a third basemen or right fielder but rather a team member ready to help the team wherever needed.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

The Twins would have been wise to have Sano taking ground balls in the spring. They also would have been wise to have Mauer or Park taking some balls in the outfield. Positional flexibility will always be an asset over a long season.

Yep. I didn't understand the Twins' hardline stance on Sano in the OF. There was a good chance this would happen at some point in the season.

[Mr. Brooks]

Huh. Interesting. Plouffe must be in pretty bad shape to alter course in one day.

Mollie said he took grounders at 3b today to be ready for an emergency only.

Rosario did the same at 2b.

[jokin]

Yeah, maybe he's not quite as redundant as some claimed a few days ago.

 

Nunez has a moderately high floor and can provide injury stability to a bench that badly needed stability... Well, here we are, 15 days into the season and the team already needs that injury stability because two guys have gone down in the past week.

 

I feel like a broken record but I'll say it again: the baseball season is really, really long, folks.

Yep, despite opinions to the contrary, the 25th man on any team is often called upon to step up and take the best advantage of an opportunity. Nunez has turned out to be a pretty valuable "last man on the bench."

[Brock Beauchamp]

Trevor to the DL. Details unspecified.

[kab21]

 

You are correct, they are not 100% identical. But to say Santana's best role on the team is backup CF isn't really making a strong case for him to stay on the team. Kepler and Rosario can back up CF. Again, I have nothing personal against Danny Santana by the way, I just see him as a logical cut at some point.

I didn't say that it was his only role.  With Santana on the DL and an OF'er up the team now only has one backup IF'er and Plouffe is expected to be out for several days but he isn't on the DL.  That results in zero backup IF'ers which is exactly what I meant by guys getting injured and missing a game or two.

 

This is the reason that it is important to have 2 guys that can play the IF positions well on a bench. These kind of minor injuries happen all the time and having a bench of Arcia, Quentin, backup C and a utility IF (with a 1B playing DH) is very risky.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I didn't say that it was his only role.  With Santana on the DL and an OF'er up the team now only has one backup IF'er and Plouffe is expected to be out for several days but he isn't on the DL.  That results in zero backup IF'ers which is exactly what I meant by guys getting injured and missing a game or two.

 

This is the reason that it is important to have 2 guys that can play the IF positions well on a bench. These kind of minor injuries happen all the time and having a bench of Arcia, Quentin, backup C and a utility IF (with a 1B playing DH) is very risky.

I think we are just disagreeing on the value of Santana at this point. I feel we already have 2 guys who can back up those positions before Santana even enters the conversation. Sano and Nunez at 3B now that Plouffe is out, and Nunez and Polanco for middle infield if necessary. 

 

[kab21]

 

I think we are just disagreeing on the value of Santana at this point. I feel we already have 2 guys who can back up those positions before Santana even enters the conversation. Sano and Nunez at 3B now that Plouffe is out, and Nunez and Polanco for middle infield if necessary. 

Sano hasn't taken an infield grounder all spring (according to some) and Polanco has been in AAA. Neither is an option until Plouffe is DL'd and Polanco is called up.  

[dxpavelka]

 

Then do what with Nunez?   Nunez hot streak is probably a short term thing but I would ride it while it exists.    I don't want to bench Dozier for a long time.  Santana would be all right at third.  My vote once Nunez cools off would be Polanco.    Those that think Sano has been jerked around and want him at 3rd aren't going to be any happier moving him to third now where he probably fails and then moved back to the outfield when Plouffe returns.   This really sucks for Plouffe and the Twins.   Plouffe was starting to heat up.

If I had a guy who I anticipated being the cornerstone of my offense for the next decade and a half I'd put him at the defensive position where he's most comfortable (over 90% of his career minor league starts) for the next 5 years, slide him to the other corner for the 5 years after that and let him DH after 10 years.  Done deal.  No learning a new position or getting hurt playing the OF.  It's only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt with a 270 pound guy roaming the OF.

[KGB]

Scouting reports like this might be why Sano isn't at third:

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25230686/twins-reportedly-calling-up-miguel-sano-five-things-to-know

 

Sano has a good arm from third base, but his glove is questionable and the word is he could struggle with errors to begin his big-league career. He's made 15 errors in 63 games at third base in Double-A, giving him an awful .911 fielding percentage. So it could get real rough at the hot corner for him.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/137518304/scouting-profile-minnesotas-miguel-sano

 

Sano's footwork, agility and reactions are slow at third base. While his strong arm can make up for a tick on the clock if he's late to a ball, he may ultimately profile best as a first baseman.

[chopper0080]

The Twins need to stick to their plan regardless if I personally like it.  Moving Sano from the outfield to 3B would be a kneejerk reaction IMO.  The plan was the outfield.  He needs to stay in the outfield.  This kid is dealing with enough already.