Reusse column on Sano

[KGB]

 

What a crazy coincidence that Sano went on the DL just before Reusse's latest gem....

 

If Reusse was half as interested in holding the Twins accountable, as he is with tracking Sano's weight we might actually get some articles that answer questions about the bullpen being a dumpster fire, Phil Hughes getting early starts, why Tyler Kinley ever made the active roster, what the rationale was for letting Chargois go, why no 4th OFer was brought in, or what's going on with the bullpen usage. 

 

But then again, his "sources who know Sano much better than the media," might not be as willing to use him as a mouthpiece if those articles came out..... 

If only Reusse had written a article addressing this problem years ago - wait I think he did a couple years ago and everyone ripped into him for that article.  Too soon then, now just tired of hearing about it.

 

As far as holding the Twins responsible for the other issues, I think he did that pretty well in the article earlier this month.

 

http://www.startribune.com/twins-set-interesting-standard-for-this-is-how-we-baseball/481075601/

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

Reusse wasted a lot of space to write "Sano is still fat" again.

[USAFChief]

I want Sano to get in shape.

 

I also want Reusse an Souhan to stop recycling their material monthly.

I bet if Sano gets in shape, they’ll stop pointing out he isn’t.

[bird]

 

Gee.  Reusse writes yet another column about Sano's weight.

 

Unless the usual subjects are going to treat each overweight Twins' player the same way and start pointing them out, they would have zero credibility.

 

Nobody is daring to say that Lance Lynn might suck because he is fat.

However, Sano does not suck, despite what some people with access might want you to believe.

 

And Sano is hardly the Twins' biggest problem.  Columnists who might want to have some credibility should be searching for the biggest fish and start frying them...

 

 

Sano has been pathetic relative to expectations. He's whiffed in half his AB's and his offensive production is the only thing anemic about him. He's supposed to be powering this team to great things. He's injured, and the injury is lingering. Again.

 

Exactly how does writing about Sano's crappy start translate into zero credibility for the writer?   Is it because he opines that his lackluster performance is related to being overweight? Is that not a credible theory? 

 

Remember, Reusse is not exactly writing for you and me. He doesn't exactly hide his disdain for those of us lurking out here in the blogosphere.  I guess maybe there's some mutual disdain?

 

Writing about Sano's mostly self-inflicted troubles doesn't need to be tied to any other player. The team's 4th starter is sucking and some might reasonably theorize that Lynn's heft is the cause. Is it possible that this hasn't been brought up because he's one of many portly pitchers out there? Or because Lynn is a minor problem compared to Sano? And there's been plenty written about Buxton and his susceptibility to injury, so it lacks credibility to argue that Sano is being picked on. No one would be writing a thing about his fitness if he wasn't sucking.

 

And yeah, he's been pretty pathetic. I'm not sure what you're seeing in that regard to offer a different description regarding his performance.

 

If Sano isn't the biggest fish to fry, where does he rank on the list of disappointments? Third?

[Riverbrian]

 

Perhaps you misunderstood me. You can't pay a guy follow Sano outside the ballpark unless Sano is okay with it, and the guy can't actually accomplish anything unless Sano buys into his advice and guidance.

If Sano was willing to do that, we probably wouldn't be in the position of hiring such a guy.

 

I did misunderstand a bit. I took it as something that had already been attempted. 

 

No idea... if the Twins would offer such a concentrated dose of devolopment but if they don't they should look into it... when you consider the potential return. 

 

If Sano refuses... then you got a much larger personality issue to contend with and things will happen naturally that the Twins will have to factor into their future plans. 

[Riverbrian]

 

I just tend to ignore Pat Reusse's comments concerning weight. He dieted down by about 100 pounds a decade or so ago, and so IMO it's just a thing with him. Like how ex-smokers and ex-drinkers are often the most vociferous in their unsolicited advice to others. It doesn't make Reusse a bad person, but it's not productive either. I write it off and move on.

 

I honestly am not worried about his weight in the short term. I've seen Sano move... he can move. 25 year old's can physically handle these things better than someone who is 35. The weight issues will manifest themselves later and by that time he may be under contract with someone else. 

 

I'm just not ready to declare his DL time to weight without more information that connects the dots. A lot of the weight discussion is noise to me. 

[Riverbrian]

 

All I want Sano to do is to make the adjustments at the plate that are screamingly obvious...and have been so for some time.  Away, away, away..especially off-spead/breaking balls away.  He has been either unwilling or unable to do so.  I don't know which, and I don't care.  I just want to see him do it.

 

IMO, there is no correlation between his weight and his inability to make the adjustments.  Could there be a correlation between his conditioning and failure to make the adjustments if the issue is 'willingness'?  I suppose there could be.  Either way, he's a young person with a ton of potential that I want to see succeed for his sake, not mine.  He has always looked to me, and demonstrated on-field behavior, of someone who genuinely enjoys the game and his teammates.

 

This is where I am. The biggest Sano issue is plate discipline. That has nothing to do with weight. 

 

The pitcher is trying to make you swing at crap. Sano has to learn to quit taking the bait. If he can do that... his walk rate will go up and his K rate will go down and at that point... you can take that exit velocity and watch it drive his good numbers up. 

 

 

[KirbyDome89]

Nobody is talking about his weight if he's hitting like he did through the first ten games. 

 

Sano has played 20 games this year, and if others want to get on him for performing poorly in games 11-20 then have it, but it'd be nice if the weight wasn't used as a scapegoat. We gave Morrison an entire month of being ****; a couple rough weeks for Sano doesn't warrant an article like this.

[Shaitan]

 

I did misunderstand a bit. I took it as something that had already been attempted. 

 

No idea... if the Twins would offer such a concentrated dose of devolopment but if they don't they should look into it... when you consider the potential return. 

 

If Sano refuses... then you got a much larger personality issue to contend with and things will happen naturally that the Twins will have to factor into their future plans. 

 

He has every right to refuse. That's not a personality issue, it's a right to privacy.

 

Yes, conditioning is important to his job. That doesn't mean his employer should follow him around and monitor everything he does in his free time. 

[Riverbrian]

 

He has every right to refuse. That's not a personality issue, it's a right to privacy.

 

Yes, conditioning is important to his job. That doesn't mean his employer should follow him around and monitor everything he does in his free time. 

 

That's a pretty big leap from where I am... I wasn't suggesting that they shower together. 

 

CEO's have a lot of responsibility... they require secretaries to help keep them organized. I'll bet that Falvey and Lavine have a secretary. 

 

Same approach here but tailored to the needs of a ball player. So instead of making phone calls, organizing a schedule, filing documents. It's organizing a schedule, making sure he follows the schedule, Working out with him, meal planning, practice routines and the like. 

 

This wouldn't need to be close to a right to privacy issue. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

If only Reusse had written a article addressing this problem years ago - wait I think he did a couple years ago and everyone ripped into him for that article.  Too soon then, now just tired of hearing about it.

 

As far as holding the Twins responsible for the other issues, I think he did that pretty well in the article earlier this month.

 

http://www.startribune.com/twins-set-interesting-standard-for-this-is-how-we-baseball/481075601/

So because he's been beating this drum for two years now he's correct? 

 

That article you linked is nothing but a summary of how miserable the start of the year has been. It's a surface level observation of everything we as fans have already know. The only time he attempts to dig a little deeper than that is when he goes after Sano for his "rumored weight." 

 

Where is the article about why the Twins decided to DFA Chargois and not option him?

Where is the article about why the Twins didn't feel the need to add a 4th OFer and instead spent $$ on a LH 1B/DH when they already had a LH 1B/DH?

Where is the article about why the bullpen has been such a dumpster fire this season? 

Where is the article about why Tyler Kinley ever made the active roster? 

 

Reusse has no issue opining about Sano's psyche or his work ethic. There's no hesitation to link Sano's weight to either of those two, and subsequently point to it as the reason for poor performance. There's plenty of tangible evidence, something these Sano articles sorely lack, to write a column about any of the above, and we know he has no problem filling in the blanks with his opinion, yet we don't see any such columns. 

[KGB]

So because he's been beating this drum for two years now he's correct? 

 

That article you linked is nothing but a summary of how miserable the start of the year has been. It's a surface level observation of everything we as fans have already know. The only time he attempts to dig a little deeper than that is when he goes after Sano for his "rumored weight." 

 

 

Sano' s action are proving Reusse' s article from 2 years ago was correct not him beating the drum. I think it pretty obvious conclusion that Sano has a weight problem, we are clearly beyond a "rumor"

[TheLeviathan]

Is anyone lambasting Dozier about his .668 OPS after he went vegan this offseason?

 

I do think the team should be working with Sano behind the scenes to help make him a better player.  It'd be nice if Reusse found a way to say that without insinuating Parker Hageman was to blame. Or just said it in a way that wasn't so insulting.  Or hypocritical.  

 

But....whatever.  I'll keep rooting for Miguel and the Twins to get this right.  And I'll keep rooting for Dozier too, regardless of what dietary choices he makes.

[USAFChief]

I honestly am not worried about his weight in the short term. I've seen Sano move... he can move. 25 year old's can physically handle these things better than someone who is 35. The weight issues will manifest themselves later and by that time he may be under contract with someone else. 

 

I'm just not ready to declare his DL time to weight without more information that connects the dots. A lot of the weight discussion is noise to me.

 

Could weight not be related to performance? At the least, a factor reducing speed? A possible aggravating factor contributing to hamstring issues two seasons in a row? A bit less fluid swing, which contributes to the need to start the swing earlier, aggravating a susceptibility to breaking balls away? Reduced range at 3b?

[Linus]

I started a thread a bit ago wondering whether it was time to start worrying about Sano. My angst isn’t about his weight even though that probably isn’t great for his hamstrings etc. My concern is his hitting. I believe the league has adjusted to him and he can’t or won’t change. I think he is a worse hitter now than when he first came up

[TheLeviathan]

 

I started a thread a bit ago wondering whether it was time to start worrying about Sano. My angst isn’t about his weight even though that probably isn’t great for his hamstrings etc. My concern is his hitting. I believe the league has adjusted to him and he can’t or won’t change. I think he is a worse hitter now than when he first came up

 

That's fair....he's trending in the wrong direction.  And his physical fitness may be part of it.  It may be an adjustment he's failed to make.  It may just be small sample size at this point this year.

 

We need him to be a better hitter than a .730 OPS guy with sub-par defense.  That's for sure.

[ewen21]

 

Gee.  Reusse writes yet another column about Sano's weight.

 

Unless the usual subjects are going to treat each overweight Twins' player the same way and start pointing them out, they would have zero credibility.

 

Nobody is daring to say that Lance Lynn might suck because he is fat.

However, Sano does not suck, despite what some people with access might want you to believe.

 

And Sano is hardly the Twins' biggest problem.  Columnists who might want to have some credibility should be searching for the biggest fish and start frying them...

He has piled on Sano, for sure.  Yet at the same time he was earmarked early on as (possibly) a generational talent from his academy days in the DR.  We don't want this guy blowing his ride and he needs to understand (or not) that it takes the off season to do these things.  He can't just do whatever during the winter months.  The guy obviously needs some structure.

[ewen21]

 

I started a thread a bit ago wondering whether it was time to start worrying about Sano. My angst isn’t about his weight even though that probably isn’t great for his hamstrings etc. My concern is his hitting. I believe the league has adjusted to him and he can’t or won’t change. I think he is a worse hitter now than when he first came up

Your concerns were worthy.  At least I thought so.

 

Let's not mistake concerns for thinking the guy is going to fail.  I remain optimistic

[Vanimal46]

Your concerns were worthy. At least I thought so.

 

Let's not mistake concerns for thinking the guy is going to fail. I remain optimistic

I am optimistic as well. But, something or somebody has to get him to change his approach at the plate.

 

He's young enough where we can still dream of him being a .275/.900 OPS 35+ HR guy. If he continues doing what he's been doing, that potential is going to fade... It's crucial he reaches that potential. If he becomes an Adam Dunn that's not good enough for the team to contend.

[Riverbrian]

Could weight not be related to performance? At the least, a factor reducing speed? A possible aggravating factor contributing to hamstring issues two seasons in a row? A bit less fluid swing, which contributes to the need to start the swing earlier, aggravating a susceptibility to breaking balls away? Reduced range at 3b?

Yes

 

However it doesn’t mean it’s the cause.

[Richard Karn's Beard]

 

If this is about injury proneness, how tired are you about the Twins' centerfielder losing time to injury every season as well?  And why the pundits are saying nothing about it?

 

IMO I see Buck giving 100%.  The effort is there.  So that's more of a product of hustle.  Ok so maybe Sano doesn't become who everyone thought he could become.  Quite frankly I'm tired of his act.  The real question is this: If he picks up the pace and settles in to be even close to the player that people thought he might become...do you give him the money?  I say no.  I'd wait and try and sell high for prospects.  The sooner the better.  The Twins future doesn't rely on an overweight strikeout machine that occasionally hits a home run.  Championships don't revolve around those types of players.  They revolve around hustle, grit, talent and continuous development.  Miguel has the talent, but none of the other traits.  Buck has them all.     

[TheLeviathan]

 

IMO I see Buck giving 100%.  The effort is there.  So that's more of a product of hustle.  Ok so maybe Sano doesn't become who everyone thought he could become.  Quite frankly I'm tired of his act.  The real question is this: If he picks up the pace and settles in to be even close to the player that people thought he might become...do you give him the money?  I say no.  I'd wait and try and sell high for prospects.  The sooner the better.  The Twins future doesn't rely on an overweight strikeout machine that occasionally hits a home run.  Championships don't revolve around those types of players.  They revolve around hustle, grit, talent and continuous development.  Miguel has the talent, but none of the other traits.  Buck has them all.     

 

Byron Buxton has also had significantly less success in the majors and can't stay on the field.

 

We're talking about why Miguel Sano can't go back to being a huge success at the plate.  Buxton wishes he had a three month stretch like that.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Sano' s action are proving Reusse' s article from 2 years ago was correct not him beating the drum. I think it pretty obvious conclusion that Sano has a weight problem, we are clearly beyond a "rumor"

What actions? Is anybody, Reusse included, monitoring offseason workout programs? Honestly, what info is anybody using to diagnose this weight problem? 

 

The weight is an issue when he's on the DL, or not swinging the bat well, or coming into ST, yet it's crickets when he's hitting at even a modest level by his standards. Where was this thread a month ago when Sano hit 3 HRs in 5 games? 

[Doubles]

Buxton was one of the guys that carried the Twins in last season's second half- a pace that would have put him in the conversation for AL MVP if it occurred over the course of a full season- but let's not let that get in the way of the narrative. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

Buxton was one of the guys that carried the Twins in last season's second half- a pace that would have put him in the conversation for AL MVP if it occurred over the course of a full season- but let's not let that get in the way of the narrative. 

 

Byron Buxton was insane for 150 plate appearances.  That's it.  He was pretty good for another month.

 

Miguel did it for 250.  And was even better.  Then he did the same thing several other stretches of the last two years.  

 

And he has never been as putrid as Buxton has been for long stretches of seasons.  If we're going to go down the Sano vs. Buxton line....let's be real frank: Buxton has been worlds below Sano in his offensive contributions.

 

 

[Doubles]

 

The weight is an issue when he's on the DL, or not swinging the bat well, or coming into ST, yet it's crickets when he's hitting at even a modest level by his standards. Where was this thread a month ago when Sano hit 3 HRs in 5 games? 

Sano's, errrrr, 'level of conditioning' has been an issue for years now.  3 HRs in 5 games earlier this season notwithstanding, Sano was out of shape then, and is out of shape now.  

 

I want Sano to have the longest possible, successful career (as long as he plays for my favorite team, anyways) as much as anyone.  I want him to be svelte enough to be cat-like at 3rd base, I want him to hit 50 bombs, bat .300, and drive in 140.  Again, he hasn't hit 500 PAs since 2013.  Errrr, maybe he needs to make some adjustments to give him the best chance to stay on the field, I dunno.

 

'Can't help the club from the tub...'

[ewen21]

 

Yes

However it doesn’t mean it’s the cause.

Does it need to be THE cause?  It has been identified as an issue that has effected him adversely so that being the case should there not be an attempt on his part to rectify this situation?

 

 

[wavedog]

As I too feel slightly down on Sano maybe from too high expectations - I thought well let's compare his current 162 game average to the 162 game average for another noted Twin who was also known for being a little portly - Harmon Killebrew.    Yes, he played in a different era but I thought the comparison would be interesting.     They are pretty close in some areas except but notably different in plate discipline

 

                                  BA/OBP/SLG/OPS          HR/RBI/BB/SO           Career oWar/dWar

Miguel Sano             .252/.344/.493/.837            37/103/83/248                          7.5/-3.0

 

Harmon Killebrew     .256/.376/.509/.884           38/105/104/113                        71.5/-18.7

 

Looking at games played Harmon also stayed healthier - playing in significantly more games played each season.  Sano has not played in over 116 games in any season yet and Harmon had 2 seasons in his first full 14 years where he played less than 116 games - 113 and 100.

 

What do I take from all this?   I would like to see Sano have a little better plate discipline and stay healthier i.e. play more games.    If that requires getting in better shape than so be it.   Despite the significantly higher strikeouts which bother me too much - his average and slugging numbers are pretty close.     I feel a little bit better about Sano - nice to have that kind of power threat in the lineup.   

 

PS - I would also like to see Buxton healthier and has Buxton has no weight issues - he greatly improves our defense by not only his play but also not subjecting us to Grossman in the outfield.  

[mazeville]

The problem with this thread is that it's focused entirely on his weight, and not the real subject of the Reusse piece, which is Sano's swing and the deterioration in his performance. (Reusse calls him "baseball's Uncle Rico" because he keeps swinging for "them mountains.")

 

Even in this strikeout-prone era, Sano's swing-and-miss tendencies the past couple of years have been a problem. 

 

Sano in his limited playing time has a .739 OPS. He also had a .742 OPS in the second half of last year before he fouled a ball off of his shin and was out for the year. 

 

And while some people are bringing up Byron Buxton and his injuries -- which have been unfortunately numerous -- Buxton has immense value with his defense. Sano is a hitter. And if he's not hitting, he is a problem. He's basically Chase Headley right now, and has been since the all-star game last year. 

 

Whether it's weight or it's something else, something just isn't clicking with Sano right now. But man it's hard not seeing that performance and the seemingly minor injuries become year-enders and not wonder whether conditioning has something to do with it. The Twins clearly think this is an issue, or you would not be seeing pieces like this.

 

 

[ewen21]

 

Byron Buxton was insane for 150 plate appearances.  That's it.  He was pretty good for another month.

 

Miguel did it for 250.  And was even better.  Then he did the same thing several other stretches of the last two years.  

 

And he has never been as putrid as Buxton has been for long stretches of seasons.  If we're going to go down the Sano vs. Buxton line....let's be real frank: Buxton has been worlds below Sano in his offensive contributions.

 

Buxton is another issue altogether and what you are saying is entirely accurate.  He has not developed his offensive game.  Let's forget his speed and defense for just a moment here.  He has proven to be rather skittish and overmatched for extended periods of time.

 

Some concerning numbers for me are his April numbers.  They are atrocious.  Is this due to nerves?  He did say he was pressing last year.  Also, his numbers against the Yankees on the road are downright frightening:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/split_stats.cgi?full=1&params=oppon%7CNYY%7Cbuxtoby01%7Cbat%7CAB%7C

 

Nerves as well?  It is something palpable to me having watched every single one of his at bats there.

 

Again.....this is probably material for another thread.  I am more concerned about Buxton offensively than I am Buxton.  No question about that.  And for good reason