Reusse slams the Twins

[mikelink45]

He is right on - especially his comments about bringing in the new young players.  Can we have a latino coach of maybe 2 -3?  Allen as pitching coach - wow there is something to be pleased with.  No accountability.  Sorry, but this column only reminds me of the real frustration of fans for this team and the lack of hope we have as we look to see things turn around.  

[KirbyDome89]

 

I can't believe you think conditioning and weight has zero impact on a player.  IMO, everyone has room for improvement and pushing them to try and reach the peak is the job of the management and coaches.  If a player doesn't even try to improve or change, that blame fall on him.

 

Even Big Papi learned that lesson and hopefully this year Sano will learn the lesson.  If not, we are in for more disappointment.

 

http://www.startribune.com/at-40-and-near-retirement-big-papi-ortiz-looks-back-on-career/372810781/

 

PATRICK REUSSE

 

FORT MYERS, FLA. – David Ortiz was having lunch at a table outside the Boston Red Sox spring training clubhouse. It was a paper plate dominated by avocado, with white rice and a few small pieces of chicken.

“One year, when I was 34 or so, I was 20 [pounds] over, and I got on this diet,” Ortiz said. “I take care of myself. I have to do it.

“Look at this plate. Do you think this is what I want to eat?”

He poked some avocado with his fork and said: “Eat good to hit good.”

Feel free to look through the thread at my previous comments. I said Sano was in shape and there was no need to drop 10 lbs. Go ahead and quote Ruesse, he's an old school blow hard who takes it upon himself to find criticism where there should be none. I also find it funny that before Sano it was Mauer, a player on a HOF trajectory, who was the recipient of Reusse's vitriol. Then along came Sano. Last year he just misses out on ROY and this year he's 1 or 2 in nearly every offensive category before he is injured but apparently he's lazy? Maybe Reusse and some fans just dislike good players.....

[KGB]

 

Feel free to look through the thread at my previous comments. I said Sano was in shape and there was no need to drop 10 lbs. Go ahead and quote Ruesse, he's an old school blow hard who takes it upon himself to find criticism where there should be none. I also find it funny that before Sano it was Mauer, a player on a HOF trajectory, who was the recipient of Reusse's vitriol. Then along came Sano. Last year he just misses out on ROY and this year he's 1 or 2 in nearly every offensive category before he is injured but apparently he's lazy? Maybe Reusse and some fans just dislike good players.....

I guess we'll have to disagree on Sano coming into camp in shape to play.  We'll also have to disagree on people disliking good players.  I'm not just blown away with what a player might be, I like to see players reach their full potential and that sometimes requires looking at the positive and negatives.  Mauer has HOF talent, but it's doubtful that he will be a HOF player.  Maybe it's time to consider that some of the items you consider negative about Mauer in the beginning of his career, was just fair analysis and adopting some of them might have lead to a first-ballot HOF player.  Sano has HOF potential, I just hope 10 years from now we are not about what could have been a great career because we were afraid of dealing with issues at the beginning of his career.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Where in any of my statements have I stated that his weight would make him better or worse at anything?  My point has always been that his bosses asked him to do something and he didn't.  That's my issue, that's my point.  That is on Sano.  I doubt it was his idea to play RF, so obviously that isn't on him.  He's not a competent RF, some of that is on him because it doesn't appear that he worked on it as much as he should have.  That being said, he's clearly out of position there.  Most of the people that didn't like the move to start with, me included, didn't like it because we didn't believe that he could play at an acceptable level in RF.  That's on the team.  

In fairness this was the first time you've mentioned the work ethic aspect so I had to assume the issue of blame for performance dealt with the weight. I can't say I agree with either so IMO there isn't anything to put on Sano but I can say I definitely was part of the skeptical crew also. 

[wsnydes]

 

In fairness this was the first time you've mentioned the work ethic aspect so I had to assume the issue of blame for performance dealt with the weight. I can't say I agree with either so IMO there isn't anything to put on Sano but I can say I definitely was part of the skeptical crew also. 

I never mentioned anything other than him ignoring team management.  I'm not sure how you can say that doing so, right or wrong, is not on him.  I'm also not sure how you think that weight has zero impact on ability.

 

For the record, I do not believe that losing 10 pounds suddenly makes Sano a competent right fielder.  I do not believe that he is out of shape, however I do believe that he could be in better shape.  I do not believe that he is necessarily lazy.  I believe that he felt that he could manage his weight and improve his fielding in RF by himself.  I feel that is misguided at best.  The way to learn a position you've never played before is to work with coaches and play it in game situations.  Staying with his winter ball team instead of leaving early was a mistake, and this is reinforced by how he showed up in the spring.  I do believe that he could be better all around if he were to lose the weight, but I don't believe it would be a significant difference - but one I would have liked to see regardless.  He is obviously not suited for the outfield, that is squarely on the team (which we agree on), but I do think he could have done more to do what the team had asked him to do.

 

Since each of us is entitled to our own opinion, we may be at the point where we are going to have to agree to disagree.

[KirbyDome89]

 

I guess we'll have to disagree on Sano coming into camp in shape to play.  We'll also have to disagree on people disliking good players.  I'm not just blown away with what a player might be, I like to see players reach their full potential and that sometimes requires looking at the positive and negatives.  Mauer has HOF talent, but it's doubtful that he will be a HOF player.  Maybe it's time to consider that some of the items you consider negative about Mauer in the beginning of his career, was just fair analysis and adopting some of them might have lead to a first-ballot HOF player.  Sano has HOF potential, I just hope 10 years from now we are not about what could have been a great career because we were afraid of dealing with issues at the beginning of his career.

Yep I think its an agree to disagree situation. IMO there are no perfect players, everybody has a flaw or aspect of their game that could improve. Ceilings are subjective and placed on players before they've even seen MiLB competition. I find it annoying that writers like Reusse choose to hyperfocus on a flaw in a great players game in order to justify some childish vendetta he has. Hopefully Sano does have a HOF shot in 10 years. At that point our only worry is whether or not he's still a Twin ha.

[DaveW]

I hope Ruesse writes another column about sending Chargois down after one appearance, albeit a really bad one.

 

The theme should be a team with a 19-43 record, with no patience to let prospects break in as big leaguers. Truly unbelievable.

Meh, it sounds like they didn't really want to call him up in the first place, but needed a warm body. I would have kept him up for at least one more game after that rough appearance though, show the kid a little confidence.

[Dantes929]

 

I read the article and it was pretty critical, as Reusse can be.   I also agree that he is a baseball guy first.   I think like many people he is embarrassed that he got fooled from last years Twins' season.

 

 

There is always the possibility that this season is fooling people.   It is quite possible that this season is fooling people into thinking Dozier, Santana, Gibson and Plouffe are washed up, that Buxton, Sano, Sano and Berrios are busts and that just because they are losing in droves now they always will be.   Losing begets losing.    How much is psychological and how much is talent?    IMO the talent this year is better than it was last year so the dismal results this season are more of an anomaly than the limited success of last year.    If the next 100 games are as bad then I will revise my opinion.

[wsnydes]

 

There is always the possibility that this season is fooling people.   It is quite possible that this season is fooling people into thinking Dozier, Santana, Gibson and Plouffe are washed up, that Buxton, Sano, Sano and Berrios are busts and that just because they are losing in droves now they always will be.   Losing begets losing.    How much is psychological and how much is talent?    IMO the talent this year is better than it was last year so the dismal results this season are more of an anomaly than the limited success of last year.    If the next 100 games are as bad then I will revise my opinion.

All fair points.

 

I'd just like to see Dozier and Plouffe moved to free up space and playing time for prospects and to move Sano to 3B where he should have been all along.  I don't think they're washed up at all.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Meh, it sounds like they didn't really want to call him up in the first place, but needed a warm body. I would have kept him up for at least one more game after that rough appearance though, show the kid a little confidence.

 

Terry is in charge, if he didn't want Chargois up, he should not have called him up. He's a grown up. He's the decision maker. No one made him call up Chargois. If there are 40 man issues, well, who is that on, exactly, if not Ryan?

[KirbyDome89]

 

I never mentioned anything other than him ignoring team management.  I'm not sure how you can say that doing so, right or wrong, is not on him.  I'm also not sure how you think that weight has zero impact on ability.

 

For the record, I do not believe that losing 10 pounds suddenly makes Sano a competent right fielder.  I do not believe that he is out of shape, however I do believe that he could be in better shape.  I do not believe that he is necessarily lazy.  I believe that he felt that he could manage his weight and improve his fielding in RF by himself.  I feel that is misguided at best.  The way to learn a position you've never played before is to work with coaches and play it in game situations.  Staying with his winter ball team instead of leaving early was a mistake, and this is reinforced by how he showed up in the spring.  I do believe that he could be better all around if he were to lose the weight, but I don't believe it would be a significant difference - but one I would have liked to see regardless.  He is obviously not suited for the outfield, that is squarely on the team (which we agree on), but I do think he could have done more to do what the team had asked him to do.

 

Since each of us is entitled to our own opinion, we may be at the point where we are going to have to agree to disagree.

Both aspects were previously mentioned and I commented on each. I said Sano's current weight has 0 impact because he's in baseball shape. Like I said IMO the weight and offseason prep aren't the reason for the struggle on the field. If there are no negative consequences of the request then there isn't any blame to assign to Sano. So yep, chalk it up to fundamental disagreement. 

[Ncgo4]

I am a huge fan of Sano. I really think he must be a major part of any Twins resurgence. Given that he did not physically prepare himself for his first full season is a very troublesome development. He let himself down, he let his team down and he let down his many fans.

 

It would not be crazy to think that if he weighed 30 lbs less he might not have injured himself running to first base.

[Vanimal46]

I don't know about that. Hamstring injuries can happen to anyone, whether you're 100 lbs or 300 lbs.... 

[kwazie71]

IMO, Sano will never sign a long term contract with the Twins, that was all but assured when he signed with Roc Nation last summer, or before, I can't remember. As much as I would love for him to be a cornerstone with the Twins, he will not commit to putting in the hard work necessary to be a "good" ball player and is merely buying his time before he gets a big contract. He will become Ortiz, Bautista, or something similar and I, quite frankly, hope he isn't in a Twins uniform when he does. I'll take as many Buxtons, Berrios, and Kepler type prospects and use the Rosarios,  and Sano's, as trade bait for better pitching and quality defensive players. I'm also glad Arcia is gone, hope he's had enough humble pie to turn his career around someplace else but his production will never live up to his elitist attitude. 

[Everyday Eddy]

 

IMO, Sano will never sign a long term contract with the Twins, that was all but assured when he signed with Roc Nation last summer, or before, I can't remember. As much as I would love for him to be a cornerstone with the Twins, he will not commit to putting in the hard work necessary to be a "good" ball player and is merely buying his time before he gets a big contract. He will become Ortiz, Bautista, or something similar and I, quite frankly, hope he isn't in a Twins uniform when he does. I'll take as many Buxtons, Berrios, and Kepler type prospects and use the Rosarios,  and Sano's, as trade bait for better pitching and quality defensive players. I'm also glad Arcia is gone, hope he's had enough humble pie to turn his career around someplace else but his production will never live up to his elitist attitude. 

 

This is the definition of "The Twins Way"

[Twodogs]

 

I don't know about that. Hamstring injuries can happen to anyone, whether you're 100 lbs or 300 lbs.... 

Yes and often times hamstring injuries are caused by more quad workouts and not enough hamstring workouts to counterbalance. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

 He will become Ortiz, Bautista, or something similar and I, quite frankly, hope he isn't in a Twins uniform when he does. 

Never cared for hall of fame types, myself either. 

[nicksaviking]

 

IMO, Sano will never sign a long term contract with the Twins, that was all but assured when he signed with Roc Nation last summer, or before, I can't remember. As much as I would love for him to be a cornerstone with the Twins, he will not commit to putting in the hard work necessary to be a "good" ball player and is merely buying his time before he gets a big contract. He will become Ortiz, Bautista, or something similar and I, quite frankly, hope he isn't in a Twins uniform when he does. I'll take as many Buxtons, Berrios, and Kepler type prospects and use the Rosarios,  and Sano's, as trade bait for better pitching and quality defensive players. I'm also glad Arcia is gone, hope he's had enough humble pie to turn his career around someplace else but his production will never live up to his elitist attitude. 

 

You make assumptions sound like facts. You, nor any of us here know anything about Miguel Sano, and frankly, I think it's a bit offensive to assume any of us know what's in his head; or any of these players' heads.

 

Sano is a 23-year-old. If he took his job seriously, he'd probably be about one of ten in the history of the world who ever did. People tend to change and re-examine what's important to them once they've learned a hard life lesson or two and realize that ability alone isn't going to make them their best selves, look at your examples of David Ortiz and Jose Bautista.

 

Speaking of, why in the world wouldn't you want one of those guys on your team?

[raindog]

 

He will become Ortiz, Bautista, or something similar and I, quite frankly, hope he isn't in a Twins uniform when he does.

Now that is something I never thought I would read.

[laloesch]

 

Pretty sure Sano weighed less compared to the end of last season -- I believe his reported weight "gain" was relative to last spring. Vargas, I have no idea.

 

 

That's incorrect.  He was around 283 back in April of this year and he certainly hasn't lost any weight from last season.  

[alarp33]

 

That's incorrect.  He was around 283 back in April of this year and he certainly hasn't lost any weight from last season.  

 

I'm curious if you were there when he stepped on a scale or how you have such certainty about what he has weighed, when

[laloesch]

 

I'm curious if you were there when he stepped on a scale or how you have such certainty about what he has weighed, when

 

 

Dude don't hate on me man for passing along the truth.

 

http://www.startribune.com/jack-morris-miguel-sano-is-around-280-pounds/374529411/

 

[jimmer]

 

Never cared for hall of fame types, myself either. 

Over-rated, the lot of um. :-)

[alarp33]

 

Dude don't hate on me man for passing along the truth.

 

http://www.startribune.com/jack-morris-miguel-sano-is-around-280-pounds/374529411/

 

I'm not "hating", dude.  I think we just have wildly different definitions of "truth".  Jack Morris calling him around 280 says nothing about what he was at the end of last year, or even what he actually was this spring. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

That's incorrect.  He was around 283 back in April of this year and he certainly hasn't lost any weight from last season.  

 

 

Dude don't hate on me man for passing along the truth.

 

http://www.startribune.com/jack-morris-miguel-sano-is-around-280-pounds/374529411/

 

I've got another link that says he dropped from 268 to 263 over the winter:

 

http://www.startribune.com/sano-not-exactly-downsized-but-ready-for-switch/367162191/

 

I think at best this is an unknown.

[jimmer]

 

Dude don't hate on me man for passing along the truth.

 

http://www.startribune.com/jack-morris-miguel-sano-is-around-280-pounds/374529411/

Good refresher on how that conversation went. I don' think it was hard to look at him and see that very little weight was lost and that he was way too big.

 

I did find it funny when Morris said this, 'I look at this team and I know they are going to score runs. I don't worry at all about that quite honestly. And I know the yare going to catch the ball.  Even with Miguel Sano in right field, they're going to catch the ball.' 

 

I sure didn't agree with that assessment when it was said.  And it's turned out to not be true.  Horrible in every stage of the game, to include just fundamental mishaps all over the place.

[alarp33]

 

Like you do?  Please.....I would trust someone close to the Twins organization, a hall of fame pitcher that helped them win a world series, before your version of the 'truth" any day of the week and twice on Sunday.  

 

No, I don't know what he weighs. Which is why I have not represented myself as knowing by writing statements like this; 

 

That's incorrect.  He was around 283 back in April of this year and he certainly hasn't lost any weight from last season.

 

PS: What does Jack Morris' world series have to do with Miguel Sano's weight, exactly?

 

[laloesch]

 

No, I don't know what he weighs. Which is why I have not represented myself as knowing by writing statements like this; 

 

That's incorrect.  He was around 283 back in April of this year and he certainly hasn't lost any weight from last season.

 

PS: What does Jack Morris' world series have to do with Miguel Sano's weight, exactly?

 

No, I don't know what he weighs. Which is why I have not represented myself as knowing by writing statements like this; 

 

That's incorrect.  He was around 283 back in April of this year and he certainly hasn't lost any weight from last season.

 

PS: What does Jack Morris' world series have to do with Miguel Sano's weight, exactly?

 

Yes, you did and you just did again.  

[alarp33]

 

Yes, you did and you just did again.  

 

Hmmm, definitely don't understand what you are saying, but have a good day!

[twinsnorth49]

Mod note, tone down the snark and personal attacks or warning points will be handed out.