Article: Twins Reinstate Miguel Sano

[Cody Christie]

Besides the Twins, the rest of the AL playoff teams could be full of surprises this weekend. Can New York catch Boston and force a playoff game on Monday? Who will clinch home field advantage throughout the AL playoffs? Can the Indians pass the Dodgers for baseball's best record?

 

With a lot of drama still to be decided, the Twins created their own splash on Friday. Miguel Sano was reinstated from the disabled list.Minnesota will finish out the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against Detroit. The Twins have little to play for as they are locked into the second Wild Card spot. Tuesday night will likely see the Twins face off against the Yankees in New York.

 

Sano in the midst of his first All-Star season was a key cog for the Twins in the season's first half. In 111 games this season, he is hitting .267/.356/.514 with 28 home runs and 77 RBI.

 

He has been on the disabled list since August 19 with what has been called a stress reaction in his left shin. By activating him now, Sano is eligible for the playoff roster. Many thought he wouldn't be able to return during the regular season and it is not yet known if he will make an appearance against Detroit.

 

Things took a step in the right direction earlier this week when he took 60 swings at full intensity. This could allow him to be a pinch-hitter if the Twins make it past the Wild Card game. Falvey told the Pioneer Press, "Can I take that outcome? We haven't gotten into that level of conversation around something like that. At this point we wouldn't rule anything out.

 

If Sano does start again this season, it will likely be as a designated hitter.

 

What are your thoughts on Sano being reinstated? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[TNTwinsFan]

If they really want to have him ready to go for the Playoffs, he'll need as many at bats as he can get. DH him all 3 games and knock some of the rust off. On the other hand, I'm not sure what that would do to increase the risk of re-injuring himself. Where are those guys that do Risk Assessments for a living?!

[woolywoolhouse]

Worst case: this gives the Twins a right-handed pinch hitter (for when a club brings in a lefty to pitch to Max Kepler in the later innings) who isn't Ehire Adrianza or Mitch Garver. 

[ThejacKmp]

Was there ever any reason not to activate him? It seems like you lose nothing and gain everything.

 

Bring him for the WC. He's got to be more useful than Niko Goodrum (paper today said Twins were thinking about keeping 10 pitchers and Niko or 11 pitchers). No Niko, bring Sano. Like the bat off the bench.

[ToddlerHarmon]

A gimme for the wild card roster. DH him all weekend, with a speed limit running to first of Jim Thome MPH.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd DH him this weekend too. Heck, I'd DH him for the playoffs as well. It's not like we are putting a big bat on the bench by doing so.

[Mike Sixel]

wow.

 

*posted over from the, you know, first thread.....

[blindeke]

I'm looking forward to seeing Sano's Kirk Gibson impression.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Looks like he will have to be a loaded gun off the bench for WC.  Still can't run.   Looking like a Kirk Gibson moment in the making.  Can't see him making the LDS roster unless his leg improves to the point that he could actually DH.  

 

I hate to say it, but Grossman may be more valuable as a DH in any event.  He takes better at bats, lower strikeout % and ability to take a walk would be more valuable than a one-legged power hitter.  

 

I don't think the team can afford to give up a roster spot for LDS to a guy who will give you no more than one at bat per game. 

 

For the WC, I'll definitely take Sano - even as a decoy - to get inside the heads of Yankees pitchers and Girardi.  After that, he may be relegated to being a spectator the rest of the way.  

[Gold15]

" Can the Indians pass the Dodgers for baseball's best record?"

 

For whatever reason MLB.com says dodgers have already won that.

[Monkeypaws]

Hell of a wild card to be able to play. They should let him PH against the Tiger pen a couple times just to get that awkwardness out of the way. We have pinch runners galore if he actually gets a hit.

[DaveW]

He definitely should be on both rosters.

He can take Colon's spot for the LDS

[Rhino and Compass]

It would be a shame if he wasn't able to go. I'm sure the Twins are watching him, and will make sure he can hit in the cage at least. He's not coming back unless both he and the Twins are sure he'll play. I'm not going to second guess any decision that is made, honestly. Heck, the fact that the Twins are where they are tells me I should probably just keep my dang opinions to myself. 

[spinowner]

I have not seen the following issue addressed here or in the Strib's coverage of the Twins:

If it turns out he is physically not ready and the Twins choose not to place him on the postseason roster does that mean he has to be placed on the 10-day DL? And if so, does that mean he would be ineligible to play in any games until Oct.13?

 

[yarnivek1972]

I have not seen the following issue addressed here or in the Strib's coverage of the Twins:

If it turns out he is physically not ready and the Twins choose not to place him on the postseason roster does that mean he has to be placed on the 10-day DL? And if so, does that mean he would be ineligible to play in any games until Oct.13?

They would not have to put Sano on the DL to not include him on WC roster.

[spinowner]

 

They would not have to put Sano on the DL to not include him on WC roster.

I hope you're right. I know the postseason rosters are based on the 25-man as of Sept. 1. However, any player on the DL on that date can be activated and any player who was on the roster on that date can be replaced by a player who was on the DL. And any player on the 25-man on that date can be placed on the DL and any other player can be substituted. Since Sano was on the DL at that time I didn't know if activating him now would negate that bit of flexibility.

Edited September 30, 2017 by spinowner

[jimbo92107]

A healthy Sano adds pressure to a pitcher. He works counts, and can punish mistakes with loud home runs. Yes, you bring him back as a DH, pinch hitter, off the bench, and as an emergency replacement at 1B. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I hope you're right. I know the postseason rosters are based on the 25-man as of Sept. 1.

Not anymore, that rule changed a few years back. Anybody on the 40-man as of Sep. 1st is eligible.

 

The DL trick is actually based on the 60-day DL, it has nothing to do with the 10-day DL that Sano is on. And it has nothing to do with 25-man rosters, but rather adding guys who were in your org but weren't on the 40-man on Sep. 1st (i.e. Moya).

Edited September 30, 2017 by spycake

[DaveW]

Didn't see the game tonight, saw he had one at bat, no strike out...that's good right?

 

How did he look in at bat? What happened? Timing? Running out of box? Etc?

 

I gotta know!

[dbminn]

 

Didn't see the game tonight, saw he had one at bat, no strike out...that's good right?

How did he look in at bat? What happened? Timing? Running out of box? Etc?

I gotta know!

 

He took the first pitch, then hit a dribbler. Ran well to first. Looked like he limped a very little bit walking back to the dugout. All good. We were sitting behind home looking up the first base line.

[DocBauer]

Absolutely love So-long Sano! Big believer in him offensively and defensively and have been banging the drum for some time now. But the timing just stinks! THREE games to get ready and doesn't start Friday's game. No matter how talented, can he shake the rust off to actually help in a little over two games?

[h2oface]

Great to have Sano off the bench! He seems to have lost his eye and patience, though. It seems he hardly ever works walks, now. Grossman is valuable. Best to take Colon's spot. Colon is worthless. To not consider Colon's whole season for some lucky starts is a fool's gambit. I can't believe they are going to give him a start in the last two games. Hell, may as well give Perkin's or Turley a start instead of Colon.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

A lot of variables with the roster decisions to be made and a lot at stake.

[Darius]

Have him stand in on every bullpen session between now and the wild card game. DH him the rest of the regular season.

 

He's a difference maker. All it takes is one mistake, and the ball is in the seats.

[bighat]

I would not DH him in New York - unless the Twins DH him the next 2 games against the Tigers and he hammers the ball all over the place.

 

I prefer to use Sano as a pinch-hitter, or better yet, simply a threat.  The fact that the Twins have access to this guy is enough to scare another team.

 

Maybe a situation arises with men on 2nd and 3rd late in the game. The Yanks decide they'll pitch to Dozier, rather than walk him and have Sano come up with the bases loaded.  When Dozier hits a 3-run homer on a high fastball, the Twins can pull Sano back from the on-deck circle.

[jimmer]

 

I would not DH him in New York - unless the Twins DH him the next 2 games against the Tigers and he hammers the ball all over the place.

 

I prefer to use Sano as a pinch-hitter, or better yet, simply a threat.  The fact that the Twins have access to this guy is enough to scare another team.

 

Maybe a situation arises with men on 2nd and 3rd late in the game. The Yanks decide they'll pitch to Dozier, rather than walk him and have Sano come up with the bases loaded.  When Dozier hits a 3-run homer on a high fastball, the Twins can pull Sano back from the on-deck circle.

The Yankees aren't going to be scared by having Sano on the bench.  No team is.

 

He should DH both game this weekend.  If he seems to be on his game, then DH him for the Wild Card game.  If not, consider not even having him on the WC roster, cause as great of a hitter as he is, if he's not ready, he's not ready.

[Rosterman]

Hopefully he IS the DH for the final two games. As a bench bat he can be valuable. If his swing is back, he can DH.

 

You still need to see him run the bases.

 

Putting him in the field? Not a chance at this point.

 

But considering you need one starter and a bunch of arms for the wild card, and 4 starters at best and 7 bullpen arms, yes...add him to the playoff roster!

 

[yarnivek1972]

The Yankees aren't going to be scared by having Sano on the bench. No team is.

 

He should DH both game this weekend. If he seems to be on his game, then DH him for the Wild Card game. If not, consider not even having him on the WC roster, cause as great of a hitter as he is, if he's not ready, he's not ready.

There's very little downside to putting him on the WC roster. Unless the Twins for some reason plan on having more than 10 pitchers, he would take Goodrum's spot. All the other active position players will be on the roster. With 10 pitchers, the choice for the 15th position player is Goodrum or Sano.

[Old Twins Cap]

Nick-named him "Sano-man". 

 

Been trying to get s.now in there somehow.

[Mr. Brooks]

There's very little downside to putting him on the WC roster. Unless the Twins for some reason plan on having more than 10 pitchers, he would take Goodrum's spot. All the other active position players will be on the roster. With 10 pitchers, the choice for the 15th position player is Goodrum or Sano.

I think his point is that if he's ready to play he should be in the lineup, not on the bench.

 

I agree. I don't care if he hasn't seen live pitching in a decade, if he's healthy I want him in the lineup.