Miguel Sano Appreciation Thread

[spinowner]

 

On pace for 54 big ones so far. Keeping in mind that all three were absolute smashes, and he's got a couple close calls mixed in as well, I don't see why that pace shouldn't hold up. Honestly. 

And these blasts have happened in April. Wait till you get a game in 90º humid air that's much less dense than what they are playing in now. There will be a few 500-footers, and I'm not exaggerating.

[Darius]

He's playing like an MVP candidate right now.

 

At this point, they just need to do whatever it takes to keep this guy healthy. Anytime he move with any urgency I get soft tissue anxiety.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

On pace for 54 big ones so far. Keeping in mind that all three were absolute smashes, and he's got a couple close calls mixed in as well, I don't see why that pace shouldn't hold up. Honestly. 

50 is a big number. The way that baseball is currently, that will be extremely difficult. I think Chris Davis is the only guy to hit 50 in this current decade in a hitter friendly ball park... I cannot remember.

 

40 is realistic. The pitchers seem a bit different when they face Sano, rather than our other hitters. I could see him getting 130BB's and hitting 35ish HR's, but 40 is in play. Those would be Super Breakout Years of course.

 

Saying that, I hope he hits 54 and you can give me a swirley or a pie in the face.

 

The man is strong like King Kong and it looks like he is having fun. Except for that run down in Chicago, he has held his own defensively. I am impressed.

 

After 1.5 weeks into the season - Sano and Santana are our MVP's. Honorable mention Castro and the Bullpen.

 

Edit: Jose Bautista 54HR in 2010.

[Guest]

He's playing like an MVP candidate right now.

At this point, they just need to do whatever it takes to keep this guy healthy. Anytime he move with any urgency I get soft tissue anxiety.

Gotta say it: thank you again, Bill Smith, wherever you are.

[Pardon My Dinger]

And these blasts have happened in April. Wait till you get a game in 90º humid air that's much less dense than what they are playing in now. There will be a few 500-footers, and I'm not exaggerating.

Sing it, brother. I'm with you.

[John Kelsey]

Highest OPS in the majors right now among qualified hitters: http://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/sort/OPS/order/true

[DaveW]

Yeah he's playing like an MVP for sure. I also love the fact that he is hitting (for power as well) up the middle. He isn't just some dead pull hitter, which is going to help continue to reduce his strikeouts etc

 

We could be looking at something real real real special.

 

Also he looks fine at 3B.

[ashbury]

Also he looks fine at 3B.

Lack of errors is not a good way to judge a defender, but 2 errors in 12 chances so far in 2017 doesn't sound totally copacetic to me.

[Linus]

The bomb he hit yesterday was right of center. He doesn't have to pull to get power which makes him really dangerous

[Vanimal46]

Another moon shot HR to left field last night.... AND a nice defensive play too! 

[Vanimal46]

I know this video quality kind of sucks... but it's the only one I've seen so far on YouTube showing off his rocket arm yesterday. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5DXuu_weRA&feature=youtu.be&a

[drjim]

That was such a majestic bomb.

[bird]

We may need to prepare ourselves for a season-long crescendo of free passes to the man.

 

Be for real, Mr. Vargas. You too, Mr. Park.

[Loosey]

Can we just back up a dump truck full of money to his house tomorrow and buy out a few years of free agency?  At this rate he really might end up getting a $50M/yr contract if he continues to play like this the next 4 years.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Can we just back up a dump truck full of money to his house tomorrow and buy out a few years of free agency?  At this rate he really might end up getting a $50M/yr contract if he continues to play like this the next 4 years.

I don't think he'll ever pull down that kind of money. He'll get paid for sure but his defensive liability is going to manifest at some point, probably before he hits free agency.

 

The guy is holding down third base capably right now but I'm skeptical he will be able to stay there through his prime.

[DaveW]

His defense is irrelevant if he is putting up a 1.000 ops

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

His defense is irrelevant if he is putting up a 1.000 ops

It's not entirely irrelevant. $50m a season is Mike Trout money. Would you pay the same for Trout in his prime that you would to Miguel Cabrera in his prime? I wouldn't. Trout's up the middle defense transforms him from "first ballot Hall of Famer" into a "once every 50 years" player.

 

Trout is basically the 21st century Willie Mays whereas Sano might be Killebrew or someone of that ilk.

[70charger]

 

It's not entirely irrelevant. $50m a season is Mike Trout money. Would you pay the same for Trout in his prime that you would to Miguel Cabrera in his prime? I wouldn't. Trout's up the middle defense transforms him from "first ballot Hall of Famer" into a "once every 50 years" player.

 

Trout is basically the 21st century Willie Mays whereas Sano might be Killebrew or someone of that ilk.

 

On the other hand, I'd overpay a Killebrew to keep him around through his prime and for a long time.

 

Sano might "only" be worth $40 million and not $50 million on the field, but 1) what the hell do I care if the Pohlads have to pony up more? and 2) he's probably worth more than his on-field production if he becomes a superstar face of the franchise type.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

On the other hand, I'd overpay a Killebrew to keep him around through his prime and for a long time.

 

Sano might "only" be worth $40 million and not $50 million on the field, but 1) what the hell do I care if the Pohlads have to pony up more? and 2) he's probably worth more than his on-field production if he becomes a superstar face of the franchise type.

Don't confuse my unwillingness to pay Sano league-leading money with my willingness to pay him lots and lots of money.

 

But his position and defensive acumen will be a knock against his pay, just like any other contract. You negotiate down based on player weakness.

 

Whereas you can't do that to Trout, seeing how he has no weaknesses and, as far as I can tell, is not actually a mortal man.

[70charger]

I get it. I also completely agree that not only is defense not "irrelevant," but probably should impact pay in a perfect world. But in the real world, the Twins don't have a shot at free agent Trout, do they? If locking up home grown Sano requires an overpay, I say go for it. At least it's something our team can actually do.

 

Ultimately I think we're mostly in agreement here. The only question is more how much of an overpay are you able to stomach?

[DaveW]

It's not entirely irrelevant. $50m a season is Mike Trout money. Would you pay the same for Trout in his prime that you would to Miguel Cabrera in his prime? I wouldn't. Trout's up the middle defense transforms him from "first ballot Hall of Famer" into a "once every 50 years" player.

 

Trout is basically the 21st century Willie Mays whereas Sano might be Killebrew or someone of that ilk.

I'm not talking about $50 million a year. Just in general.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I'm not talking about $50 million a year. Just in general.

 

then you are low.

 

He's getting more than 20MM  a year, easy, if healthy. Easy.

[Vanimal46]

Per Aaron Gleeman on Twitter:

 

 

Fewest games to reach 50 career homers in Twins history:

219 Miguel Sano

245 Jimmie Hall

274 Justin Morneau

283 Tom Brunansky

[Vanimal46]

Per Dustin Morse on Twitter:

Miguel Sano's rankings in the AL:

 

Avg. Exit Velocity 98.8 - 1st
OBP .443 - 1st
wOBA .465 - 1st
Slug. .686 - 2nd

 

Sano is on pace for 50 HR!

[Pardon My Dinger]

I'm 29. Haven't been around as most of you old farts, but Miguel Sano is probably the best Twin I've seen in all my years of fandom. Maybe Santana...but Sano is special.

[Pardon My Dinger]

*Johan, obviously.

[Pardon My Dinger]

**the first Johan Santana.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Sano is headed to the All Star game and having a legit MVP season. Erv is pitching like an ace. The Twins are still in first place. It would be awful for the front office to continue sitting on their hands and do nothing about this bullpen.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I'm 29. Haven't been around as most of you old farts, but Miguel Sano is probably the best Twin I've seen in all my years of fandom. Maybe Santana...but Sano is special.

Well, there is that Kirby Puckett guy.....

[HitInAPinch]

Two things on my Twins Checklist:

1. Start running those highly thought of MiLB relief pitchers through the MLB.  Need to separate the contenders from the pretenders
2. Make darn sure that Sano stays rested.  We've seen what happened earlier this year.