Berardino: Sano working to take on 3B

[laloesch]

 

But I think Reusse and Jack Morris had him at 280. But everyone thought they were crazy.

 

I remember those comments.  A lot of people were throwing Morris under the bus for saying that.

[ashbury]

I continue to have this working theory that Sano is afraid of the ball. The following video is in RF, where admittedly he was a fish out of water, but I swear I have seen similar behavior on routine bouncers at 3B (I just didn't put my hands on an example):

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM7TRebtkJA

 

He gets in the vicinity of the ball but not in front of it, and then sticks his glove out. The commentators speculate about the lights, but it looked like he tracked the ball OK but just didn't want to put himself in front of it.

 

This fits with the profile that he can be excellent coming in on slow rollers and firing the ball to first base. There's no risk of getting hit in the beak on such plays.

 

He's seemingly happiest when the ball can't be gotten in front of. Then, there's no lack of effort on his part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb904799gHA

 

It seems like a preposterous theory to attach to a major league player, and maybe there is a more accurate description to be had than "afraid of the ball", but I'm sticking with it until I see some new evidence.

 

/ This has been me doing my terrible impression of Parker Hageman.

[Steve Lein]

 

I continue to have this working theory that Sano is afraid of the ball. The following video is in RF, where admittedly he was a fish out of water, but I swear I have seen similar behavior on routine bouncers at 3B:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM7TRebtkJA

 

He gets in the vicinity of the ball but not in front of it, and then sticks his glove out. The commentators speculate about the lights, but it looked like he tracked the ball OK but just didn't want to put himself in front of it.

 

All of this stems from him not being familiar with the position of outfield. These aren't plays he's ever made. He had no idea how to position himself or make those plays. That's why you get hesitation, that's why he looks tentative.

 

[Doomtints]

 

And our former third baseman had none of that.

 

Touche.

[Doomtints]

 

Even by your understanding of what the tools are, it's still my opinion Sano has them. One other quick nitpick: I'm not expecting Sano to be great in the field.

 

You think he has all of the necessary tools to play 3B, but you don't think he will be good at it?

[Doomtints]

 

If he can be a passable defender at 3rd, you have a 1B/ DH bat slotted in at 3rd allowing 1B and DH to be filled by similarly potent bats.  As for tools he has an absolute cannon arm and has shown passable range up the line/ in the hole, its worth every error to see if he can stick there (especially in what will be another down year)  to be able to slot his bat in a more premium defensive position. 

 

And what happens to his bat when he is on the DL due to an injury from playing 3B?

[DaveW]

 

And what happens to his bat when he is on the DL due to an injury from playing 3B?

What injury would that be? Other than a ball to the face, a 3B isn't more likely to get injured more than nearly any other player (OF by far is the most "dangerous" when it comes to injuries...I guess catching as well, but you get the point)

[Willihammer]

 

What injury would that be? Other than a ball to the face, a 3B isn't more likely to get injured more than nearly any other player (OF by far is the most "dangerous" when it comes to injuries...I guess catching as well, but you get the point)

Elbow?

[Doomtints]

 

What injury would that be? Other than a ball to the face, a 3B isn't more likely to get injured more than nearly any other player (OF by far is the most "dangerous" when it comes to injuries...I guess catching as well, but you get the point)

 

Tommy John.

Balls bouncing off the top of his head.

 

The Twins may as well dress him up as a rodeo clown out there.

[DaveW]

 

Elbow?

Do a lot of third basemen develop elbow problems? (honest question)

[Dr. Evil]

I read a story that 75 pounds of Sano's weight is heart. I read it shortly after I wrote it down.

 

In all seriousness though, for his frame, I'm not too concerned about the weight level he is at. Just my opinion.

[Pardon My Dinger]

It's not 100% clear where the alcohol angle came from, but it might be from Sano himself to the reporter, or maybe it was provided as background by a coach. For me, it's a pretty illuminating piece of information - in fact, close to a red flag. If Sano has come to a realization that liquid carbs of this type are a major factor regarding his weight, this is a potentially complex problem that will not easily go permanently away. If Sano has not embraced the view, and yet it's correct in the view of someone qualified to judge, then it's that much harder.

 

It's often been said semi-jokingly of a prospect that "only two things stand between this guy and major league stardom: a knife, and a fork." I wonder how often the actual obstacle is a bottle opener.

 

I hope the writer didn't include this tidbit just to get a rise out of people, because in that case it worked.

My concern as well.

[DaveW]

I wouldn't read too much into the beer/losing weight thing.

 

Beer (especially non light beer) is the definition of empty carbs. I switched to light beer (and non beer drinks) about 9 months ago and lost almost 10 pounds in a couple months (albeit I did eat better as well, but cutting out "non" light beer definitely helped) and I'm not even a big guy like Sano (6'3 185)

 

If anything I think it shows maturity on his end and not a "drinking" or "larger" problem.

 

Adults drink, 95% can handle it, nothing Sano has done suggests he is in the 5%

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm with Dave on this one.  Giving up alcohol doesn't mean you have a problem. I make it a point to do that every spring, in large part because I want to cut back on those empty carbs to shed my holiday weight. Not many 22 year olds think that way I might add. 

[LaBombo]

 

286 is awfully high for any athlete under 7'0" that doesn't have a position listed as OL or DL.

 

 

I loved this even more after it reminded me of one of the classic Norm entrance quips on Cheers:

 

Sam:  " Whaddaya up to, Norm?"

 

Norm:  "My ideal weight, if I were eleven feet tall".

 

Only the Twins could have a feel-good piece written about how a player weighed just a bowling ball shy of three bills in the off season.