Sano= Early MVP favorite?

[DaveW]

I say yes. Dude is absolutely playing out of his mind right now, I have never seen a player hit it as consistently hard as he does. His single earlier in the game might have been the hardest hit single I have ever seen.

[spinowner]

Obviously it's very early but I say yes as well. I'll quibble and say he's not playing out of his mind. He's simply playing like he can.

[Loosey]

I say yes because I don't think we have even seen his best yet.  If this is his high level norm, imagine what can happen when he peaks for months at time.  7 HR in April with a .320 average and 1.100 OPS is fantastic.  I think he can/will have similar average and greater OPS in months with even more HRs.

[DaveW]

Obviously it's very early but I say yes as well. I'll quibble and say he's not playing out of his mind. He's simply playing like he can.

Road trip I would say he was playing out of his mind

 

But yes overall I think he can be a .950+ ops, 30-40 hr type guy yearly. Everything else is just extra gravy.

[bluechipper]

I'd say a close second. Mike Trout still has him in batting average and slugging. Sano has him in RBI, and they have the same amount of HRs and same OBP.

[Turd Furgeson]

Mike Trout is just too good. It'd be very difficult to win an MVP over Trout if you're not a very good defensive player. 

[Willihammer]

Molitor should give him an off day, honestly. He hasn't had one yet. Gotta keep this guy healthy and feeling good and then yeah over a full season of AB's maybe he's in the MVP conversation.

[TNTwinsFan]

One of these days they are going to stop pitching to him.

[DaveW]

One of these days they are going to stop pitching to him.

Eventually:

Buxton

Dozier

Sano

Kepler (or swap Dozier and Kepler)

 

Give him a little protection at least.

[Loosey]

 

Molitor should give him an off day, honestly. He hasn't had one yet. Gotta keep this guy healthy and feeling good and then yeah over a full season of AB's maybe he's in the MVP conversation.

He doesn't need one yet.  With the rain outs and scheduled off days these guys have been getting days off.  Once the heat picks up and the off days are few and far between I think he will get a day here and there.

[DaveW]

Sano needs to be playing 155+ games (assuming healthy)

I don't think he needs any days off really at this stage, maybe think about DHing him once a week against LHP (toss in Grossman for Rosario)

[glunn]

While we are at it, Santana appears to be leading the majors in ERA and tied for the lead in wins. If the season ended today, I think that he would have an argument for Cy Young.

 

I know, SSS, but Santana is off to a very strong start.

[Brandon Warne]

Not unless Mike Trout or Francisco Lindor somehow evaporate into thin air.

[Brandon Warne]

 

While we are at it, Santana appears to be leading the majors in ERA and tied for the lead in wins. If the season ended today, I think that he would have an argument for Cy Young.

 

I know, SSS, but Santana is off to a very strong start.

 

Chris Sale has been head and shoulders better than Santana, who is off to a great start.

[DaveW]

Yeah Santana has been amazing (and even more impressive leads the league in ERA since July 1st)

 

I do think santana has a better chance to regress though (older, career numbers etc) but still even then? A solid #2 hopefully.

 

I think though IMO: the odds of Sano winning MVP? 20% at this stage?

 

Santana Cy Young? 1-2%

 

Doesn't mean that Santana still hasn't been a sorely sorely needed stabilizing front end guy for the last 10 months.

 

You never know though....keeps things fun for sure, and if both play at MVP and cy young level throughout the year? This team will remain in the "hunt" for a wild card spot most likely into sept at least.

[DaveW]

Chris Sale has been head and shoulders better than Santana, who is off to a great start.

Not better results though.

 

Santana: best ERA and best WHIp

 

I'd obv rather have Sale (duh!), but the results have been there so far for Santana where you can't say Sale has been so much "better"

[Pardon My Dinger]

I would like to say yes. However, I don't want to get my hopes up. Still early. Trout still lives. 

[kab21]

This is another example of why Piscotty and Yelich are not comparables for Sano.

One of the other issues for Sano winning MVP is that the Twins also need to win games. It isn't impossible for an MVP to come from a losing team but it rarely happens.

Can you name them without cheating? Quiz below with teams and years.

https://www.sporcle.com/games/lukemaltais/mlb-mvp-winners-for-a-losing-team

[HitInAPinch]

Ah, I love the smell of hyperbole in the morning!    

 

The work put in by Sano, Rosario and now Buxton is starting to pay off.  Kepler and Polanco, IDK. It just seems more natural to them.

 

In the end, it's still a rebuild in progress.  I'd still like to see management bring up more MiLB players (specifically pitchers) and see what they can do in the MLB. Sometimes, you just gotta rip of the band-aids.

 

At the very least, Sano et al, have peaked my interest in the next 129 games.

[HitInAPinch]

 

This is another example of why Piscotty and Yelich are not comparables for Sano.

One of the other issues for Sano winning MVP is that the Twins also need to win games. It isn't impossible for an MVP to come from a losing team but it rarely happens.

Can you name them without cheating? Quiz below with teams and years.

https://www.sporcle.com/games/lukemaltais/mlb-mvp-winners-for-a-losing-team

I remember Andre Dawson winning the MVP while playing for a horrible Cubs team.  That's about it...

[glunn]

 

Yeah Santana has been amazing (and even more impressive leads the league in ERA since July 1st)

Santana Cy Young? 1-2%

 

I am thinking 5% if the current outfield can stay healthy. 

[Ncgo4]

Sano has no chance at MVP, unless he puts up some other worldly numbers (50 HR'S, 120 RBI's, etc). The voters will not overlook the fact the he plays for a crappy team. After 1 month, Sano has spectacular numbers and the starting pitching staff has a top 5 ERA and even so the team is a whopping 1 game over .500. This is not going to end as well as it has started IMHO. That will prevent Any Twin from getting full recognition for his accomplishments.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Molitor should give him an off day, honestly. He hasn't had one yet. Gotta keep this guy healthy and feeling good and then yeah over a full season of AB's maybe he's in the MVP conversation.

After today (Monday May 1), Sano will have played 23 games over 29 days. Plenty of off days so far, I am glad Molitor hasn't sat him yet.

 

Looking ahead at the schedule, he honestly may not need one until June, and we will have a better idea of where we stand in the race by then too.

[drjim]

He's still due for a league mandated day off any time now. He'll be fine.

[Willihammer]

 

After today (Monday May 1), Sano will have played 23 games over 29 days. Plenty of off days so far, I am glad Molitor hasn't sat him yet.

Looking ahead at the schedule, he honestly may not need one until June, and we will have a better idea of where we stand in the race by then too.

Yes, and the games thus far have been mostly divisional, not the best timing.

My MN sports reflex of we can't have nice things is kicking in, that's all. Just want the guy to stay on the field!

[Brock Beauchamp]

LOL

 

Sano has a .450 BABIP.

 

I guess that's what happens when the ball comes off your bat at 198mph.

[DaveW]

 

This is another example of why Piscotty and Yelich are not comparables for Sano.

One of the other issues for Sano winning MVP is that the Twins also need to win games. It isn't impossible for an MVP to come from a losing team but it rarely happens.

Can you name them without cheating? Quiz below with teams and years.

https://www.sporcle.com/games/lukemaltais/mlb-mvp-winners-for-a-losing-team

Sano is the type of player who can take a 70 win team and make them an 81 win team. I'd argue that he has been the main (if not only) reason they have won 4 games already this year.

The Twins don't need to make the playoffs even to have him be considered, just stick around "in the hunt" where they are at least playing some meaningful games in early-mid Sept.

Trout (his main competition) isn't exactly on a great team this year anyways.

[DaveW]

I will also say: it's really fun to see guys like Sano, Judge and Gallo all have strong years. All three have had the haters say: "Oh well they strike out to much to ever be effective" and all three guys are having very good years.

Gallo= Adam Dunn
Sano= Killebrew (please!!!)
Judge= I have no idea who to compare him to potentially, never seen anyone like him.

[Mike Sixel]

 

One of these days they are going to stop pitching to him.

 

Why? They still pitch to Trout, and Harper, and Machado, and, and, and. Teams don't just pitch around a great hitter and put him on base for free. Other than Bonds, I'm not sure they ever really did.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Sano is the type of player who can take a 70 win team and make them an 81 win team. I'd argue that he has been the main (if not only) reason they have won 4 games already this year.

The Twins don't need to make the playoffs even to have him be considered, just stick around "in the hunt" where they are at least playing some meaningful games in early-mid Sept.

Trout (his main competition) isn't exactly on a great team this year anyways.

 

 

11 WAR? No chance.

 

I do think he has a shot at MVP, btw. But, the voters will need Trout fatigue, and the SS's will have to play worse than they did last year.