Why is Sano a lineup lock?

[NoCryingInBaseball]

As each starting day rolls around each year, I take interest in roster projections. There hasn’t been a great deal of different opinions other than the 5th starter, DH, Relief pitching and bench. What I find curious is that Sano has been presumed as a lock at 3rd base by anyone putting together a roster projection.

I listened to Reusse interviewing Twins GM Thad Levine earlier this week and when he was answering a question about Polanco needing to show improvement at short stop, he provided an unsolicited comment about Sano. Levine stated that both Polanco and Sano need to be “complete players” and that “if they can’t, they won’t stay on the left side of the infield”. Considering that Sano has a lot to be desired both defensively and behind the plate…IMHO, the front office should do more than issue Sano idle threats.

 

 

 

As each starting day rolls around each year, I take interest in roster projections. There hasn’t been a great deal of different opinions other than the 5th starter, DH, Relief pitching and bench. What I find curious is that Sano has been presumed as a lock at 3rd base by anyone putting together a roster projection.

I listened to Reusse interviewing Twins GM Thad Levine earlier this week and when he was answering a question about Polanco needing to show improvement at short stop, he provided an unsolicited comment about Sano. Levine stated that both Polanco and Sano need to be “complete players” and that “if they can’t, they won’t stay on the left side of the infield”. Considering that Sano has a lot to be desired both defensively and behind the plate…IMHO, the front office should do more than issue Sano idle threats.

I have had my doubts about Sano for about a full year now.

• I questioned his seriousness as I watched him last spring from the right field stands at Hammond Field when he was attempting to play right field and he would interact and joke with Hispanic speaking fans in the stands during the game.

• Star Trib columnist Jim Souhan wrote this morning when discussing clubhouse chemistry wrote “Miguel Sano was once projected as a leader, but he spends most of his time on his phone”

• There clearly is not a shortage of comments posted or articles written about Sano’s inability to get serious about his weight. His “Sea Food Diet” hasn’t worked…he’s see’s food, he eats it!

• I watched Sano strike out 3 times today dropping his spring average below .200 with about half of those at bats with strike outs.

I recognize that Sano, along with Buxton, represents the Twins best prospects and hope for a future playoff caliber team, but that doesn’t mean that coaching staff and front office simply keep sending him out there as he continues to digress. Last year it was painful watching Buxton look terrible at the plate, but after a few visits to triple-A, he began to show improvement. Just saying that maybe Triple-A wouldn’t be the worst thing for Sano.

[Vanimal46]

Who exactly would take over 3B? I'll never understand the constant antagonizing of Sano... It's mind.boggling. to me.

[ThejacKmp]

I don't buy the jogging in talking to fans as evidence that he's not serious. Not everyone needs to be serious about baseball. Jokes are a part of the game, especially in spring training.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Sano is a lock for third base because he's a potential superstar and much more valuable at a defensive position, provided he can stick there.

 

He deserves an extended chance to succeed in the field before being relegated to DH duties.

 

As for the rest of the post, it's March 26th. I don't really care if Sano's batting average is .150 or .850. None of it matters in a week.

[theBOMisthebomb]

If he slacks and lollygags after the regular season starts and he doesn't post the numbers then we can talk about sending Sano to AAA.  The Twins should put up with his antics only if he is producing.  Sano should be on a shorter leash entering 2017 than he was entering 2016.  He still has superstar potential, it's just that it is seeming less of a lock as time passes.  

[DaveW]

Wowzers!

 

It's just spring training, it literally doesn't matter unless you are a non roster invite thing to make the roster or if you are battling for a roster spot.

[Bark's Lounge]

I do not understand the crunch on Sano.

 

Sano will be exponentially better than any replacement for him. I don't get it - it seems very stupid to me.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

He still has superstar potential, it's just that it is seeming less of a lock as time passes.  

Except it really doesn't.

 

Sano posted a 149 OPS+ his rookie season.

 

His sophomore season, the team jerked him around and basically put him in a position to fail. Maybe Sano shouldn't have been as bad as he was last season but there are plenty of reasons to just write off his struggles (new position, bad management, injuries, sophomore slump). And he still posted a 110 OPS+ so it's not as if he was out there making a fool of himself.

 

So we're left with one stellar partial season, one meh partial season that may or may not matter when all is said and done.

[drjim]

Would be nice if he struck out a little less.

 

But it would have to be a titanic disaster of a season to even consider sending him to AAA.

[jud6312]

I mean, really, what business does a 23-year-old KID having fun playing a game for a living? How dare he speak to and interact with fans. Forget Rochester, for that heinous crime he should be sold to the Sugarland Skeeters. 

 

Hopefully he gets his head screwed on straight before starting day or before I figure out what starting day is ... whichever comes first.

[Bark's Lounge]

I think fans of baseball have gotten spoiled, whether it is the tail end of Generation X or the Millennials. I feel like fans think Sano should be Babe Ruth or something. Outrageous expectations lead to ultimate disappointment.

 

I'm talking about baseball, but this does definitely bleed into other arenas of life. It is really burning us down, and I think people need to get off of their super hero complex of baseball players, put their heads on straight and see it how it is.

[jud6312]

OK, in all seriousness. Yes, the constant Ks are a concern, but if ends up with 30 HRs, 100 RBI, and plays passable/improving defense, I can deal with them. He's not likely to be a Triple Crown winner.

 

He's also not likely to be a Gold Glove winner, but all of those 3B that everyone seems to love so much for their defense - Koskie, Plouffe, etc. - were awful defensive players when they came up. But they worked - like professionals - to improve their craft to the point that they're now remembered as "good." From what I've seen, Sano's biggest problem is the throws, which I'm confident can be corrected.

 

As for his "diet," so long as they tie some rope to his back and float him down the street on Thanksgiving morning, I could care less. He moves around in the field well enough, he's not a huge liability on the basepaths and he's just always going to be a big guy ... we need to accept that. Also, he appears to be quite a bit lighter than last season, so that would seemingly poke holes in your dedication theory.

 

As I mentioned before - the KID is 23 for another month. Let's give him a full year and a position he knows before we start booking him a slow-moving flatbed to Rochester.

[Thrylos]

 

 

Why is Sano a lineup lock?

 

Same reason Kepler (check his spring numbers, btw) is a lineup lock: they are the best players in their positions and have some pretty darn high ceilings.

 

TR Screwed up enough with Sano, about time to let him play a position familiar to him and see what he can do.

[jud6312]

 

I think fans of baseball have gotten spoiled, whether it is the tail end of Generation X or the Millennials. I feel like fans think Sano should be Babe Ruth or something. Outrageous expectations lead to ultimate disappointment.

 

I'm talking about baseball, but this does definitely bleed into other arenas of life. It is really burning us down, and I think people need to get off of their super hero complex of baseball players, put their heads on straight and see it how it is.

Totally agree with you - and I'm at the end of the Gen Xers.

 

Think back to the '80s and '90s - if someone was up and contributing before their 21st birthday it was downright outrageous. I'm sure there are others, but only Gooden and Griffey are coming to mind.

 

Now, freaks of nature like Trout, Harper, Machado, Kershaw, JoFer, etc. coming up and not only contributing, but contributing at a HIGH level, irrational fans are chalking everyone that isn't an All Star or in MVP contention by their 23rd birthday, as a bust.

 

We're seeing a lot of young, generational talent come through right now, but just because others aren't doing their thing at that age it doesn't mean they won't.

[jud6312]

 

Same reason Kepler (check his spring numbers, btw) is a lineup lock: they are the best players in their positions and have some pretty darn high ceilings.

 

TR Screwed up enough with Sano, about time to let him play a position familiar to him and see what he can do.

Exactly!

 

We're talking about very young men with very high ceilings. If we're talking DanSan and JB Shuck, then by all means let's make the rope as short as possible. Potential and talent will get you continued opportunities and latitudes not afforded others (that's true in most professions). It's not until those things are proven to be non-existent or diminished that things change.

 

Let's let him/them sink or swim and not rehash Patrick's Strib column from this time last year.

[TheLeviathan]

We have bigger fish to fry.  And dozens of them at that.

[USAFChief]

Sano will be at third, and rightfully so. But if you're not concerned about him, you're not paying attention or don't want to.

 

He declined last year from the previous year, and looks awful this spring.

[Taildragger8791]

 

Totally agree with you - and I'm at the end of the Gen Xers.

 

Think back to the '80s and '90s - if someone was up and contributing before their 21st birthday it was downright outrageous. I'm sure there are others, but only Gooden and Griffey are coming to mind.

 

Now, freaks of nature like Trout, Harper, Machado, Kershaw, JoFer, etc. coming up and not only contributing, but contributing at a HIGH level, irrational fans are chalking everyone that isn't an All Star or in MVP contention by their 23rd birthday, as a bust.

 

We're seeing a lot of young, generational talent come through right now, but just because others aren't doing their thing at that age it doesn't mean they won't.

 

This is true. I also think part of the reason we see players coming up and performing at younger ages has to do with the amount of training and focus kids put on their sport of choice these days. Not to mention the number of teams they can play on nowadays. An 18-year old with pro prospects can be so much more developed than he would have been 20+ years ago.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Sano will be at third, and rightfully so. But if you're not concerned about him, you're not paying attention or don't want to.

He declined last year from the previous year, and looks awful this spring.

 

 

This.  He looks bad... exponentially bad I might add.  If things don't change, he's getting sent down, and it will be deserved. Today I saw a guy who was late on everything and very, VERY sluggish. That may be SSS, but he's been that way all spring.  The backup plan is Escobar btw.  You cannot keep throwing him out there if he's not performing... and if all we see is a guy more concerned about whatever, that's a problem. 

 

He has an enormous ceiling.  That's not up for debate, but right now, an AAAA guy could out perform him.  That, is a BIG problem.  Sano should have a short leash.  I'm hoping he understands that whatever is distracting him needs to be a distant memory by next week... and if he cannot...  well, I'll be right there saying he needs to go to Rochester.

[crapforks]

 

• Star Trib columnist Jim Souhan wrote this morning when discussing clubhouse chemistry wrote “Miguel Sano was once projected as a leader, but he spends most of his time on his phone”

Souhan saying Souhan things

[DaveW]

We have bigger fish to fry. And dozens of them at that.

Looking at the likely opening day 25 man roster and the first couple call ups it's not a stretch to say that the Twins have two dozen more question marks than Sano. Or pretty damn close to two dozen

[prouster]

 

Hispanic speaking fans

 

 

You are referring to Spanish. Along with French and Italian, it is one of the most widely spoken, read, and written Romance Languages. It derives from Latin, though gained prominence after the fall of the Roman Empire. It spread to modern day North, Central, and South America through the bloody process of Spanish colonization. It is now one of the major global languages, spoken and read by billions around the world.

[Bill Brown69]

I am concerned about Sano but I won't be worried until after the AS break as long as he stays healthy.

 

While he has never been my favorite prospect nobody can argue that he has the potential to hit 500+ homers. He does also have the potential to do a Ryan Howard and flame out.

[Ncgo4]

I certainly don't know what to expect from Sano this year. I have, however, admitted to myself for the very first time that he could turn out to be a colossal bust. His weight and attitude could evolve into the making of something akin to Delmon Young, but, i"Biggied"!

[KirbyDome89]

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/e0/e0a9a3d82274827346dad8eea5339e6517244be9b44299fd6a5d5da2372e2a96.jpg

 

Can they play actual baseball games before the "he is overweight and doesn't care," chatter starts up again?

 

No? 

 

Ok then....

 

[h2oface]

Seems a fitting expectation to think Sano could be/should be getting better and be more focused by now. 24 isn't that young anymore. Certainly improvement is expected.

[USAFChief]

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/e0/e0a9a3d82274827346dad8eea5339e6517244be9b44299fd6a5d5da2372e2a96.jpg

 

Can they play actual baseball games before the "he is overweight and doesn't care," chatter starts up again?

 

No?

 

Ok then....

I think we can have legitimate concerns about the K's, low batting average, and defensive shortcomings though.

 

Those have been there all along.

 

And for the record, there are reports out this spring that tend to validate past questions about weight.

[big dog]

Yeah, being overweight is not something that is supposed to be a topic at the end of March.  If they don't come to camp in shape, they ought to be getting there quickly.  Shape is relative, and as has been noted two million times, he's a big guy with a big frame, but that only goes so far.

 

It's great that he jokes around with fans, don't know why people would be concerned about that.

[KirbyDome89]

 

I think we can have legitimate concerns about the K's, low batting average, and defensive shortcomings though.

Those have been there all along.

And for the record, there are reports out this spring that tend to validate past questions about weight.

I'll grant you the concern about Ks and defense. Personally I wouldn't be too worried until a couple months in and he looks like last season, but it isn't crazy to be a little worried. 

 

I've gone off regarding the "weight issue," in past threads. To me it was just a cheap way to scapegoat what was a horrible decision by the organization and the fact that people are still beating that drum bothers me. 

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

 

I've read the comments, and man, you took a beating, No Crying. I thank you for your input, however maligned by most others it was. I think Chief's post is the best post because he says Sano is our third basemen, but it is also right to be concerned about him. It's not either/or.