Should Sano Get Demoted?

[stringer bell]

Yes, considering Sano's total body of work as a hitter says more All-Star than AAA. I do believe the Twins brass has a point about not taking defense seriously. I haven't counted his reps and probably none of us know exactly how much time and diligence Sano has for being a good defender. What we know is that he's never been very good in the minors as a third baseman, he was a (near) disaster when switched to right field, and he's been poor when switching back in midseason to third base. We've seen enough good plays at third to believe he has the skills to be satisfactory or better, but we've seen mistakes that would make an Appie League manager shake his head.

 

Offensively, Sano was the team MVP last season in a half season of work. He's been pitched differently and better since September of last year and his numbers since then remind one of Dave Kingman or Mark Reynolds more than Big Papi or the Big Hurt. Would a trip to the minors help his offense? I think it could, but this young man is extremely talented and should do better than Kennys Vargas or Oswaldo Arcia.

 

In summary, I think that since Sano has come off the DL and returned primarily to third base, we've seen a player with great talent either demonstrate he can't play a defensive position or not work hard enough to have one and we've seen someone regarded as one of the future great hitters be considerably less than great. He had a fine series in Tampa despite a couple key strikeouts in the middle game. Perhaps this talk of demotion has lit a fire under the big fella.

[dbminn]

Sano has responded to the demotion talk (my earlier comment included: "I wouldn't mind seeing him sent down"). His last few games have proven two things. Sano:

• Lost his focus for a while.
• Has the talent to respond in a couple of days.

Please stay focused, Miguel

 

[magiklair]

 

This thread needs to be archived forever.
39 home runs in his first 159 big league games.

 

I agree, you can't argue with those numbers.. Other teams would look at us and laugh..

[drivlikejehu]

 

Sano has responded to the demotion talk (my earlier comment included: "I wouldn't mind seeing him sent down"). His last few games have proven two things. Sano:

• Lost his focus for a while.
• Has the talent to respond in a couple of days.

Please stay focused, Miguel

 

Not at all. What actually happened is that he had a good couple games, just like he has had many times before.

 

What it proved was nothing, except to reinforce that the demotion talk was unjustifiable, irrational, and just basically wrong in every conceivable way.

[magiklair]

He maybe wouldn't have been so bad at 3B if it wasn't for the half baked idea of sending him out in the outfield..

[DaveW]

 

He maybe wouldn't have been so bad at 3B if it wasn't for the half baked idea of sending him out in the outfield..

Honestly pretty much the entire on field staff with the exception of Guardado is pretty terrible as well, I'd like to see how Sano would respond/improve his game with a decent coaching staff.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Sano has responded to the demotion talk (my earlier comment included: "I wouldn't mind seeing him sent down"). His last few games have proven two things. Sano:

• Lost his focus for a while.
• Has the talent to respond in a couple of days.

Please stay focused, Miguel

 

It has proven it? Wow.

[Craig Arko]

 

It has proven it? Wow.

By TD standards of evidence.