Just let Sano rehab here in Minnesota

[USAFChief]

With Mauer out, Morrison will be playing first. DH is open, so Sano can DH here just as well as Rochester. Maybe wait an extra day or so to do the whole "five innings at 3rd base" rehab plan. 

 

What's the cost? They could use an extra hitter in the lineup. Starting Sunday.

[Vanimal46]

Had to save those roster spots on the 40 man for 25 pitchers... The lack of MLB ready bats in the organization is staggering.

[old nurse]

Sano hasn't seen major league pitching in over 4 weeks. It was mocked when Grossman said it wold take him 10 AB to get ready, now people expect Sano to do so with zero?

[USAFChief]

Sano hasn't seen major league pitching in over 4 weeks. It was mocked when Grossman said it wold take him 10 AB to get ready, now people expect Sano to do so with zero?

Rehab. Let him rehab in Minnesota. 20 PAs in Rochester won’t mean he’s seen major league pitching either.

 

The lineup needs help. Immediately. He might not provide it. Then again, he might.

[yarnivek1972]

Rehab. Let him rehab in Minnesota. 20 PAs in Rochester won’t mean he’s seen major league pitching either.

 

The lineup needs help. Immediately. He might not provide it. Then again, he might.

He wasn’t hitting MLB pitching when he was playing everyday. What makes you think he can do so after not seeing ANY pitching for a month?

[nater79a]

I say let Sano use the entire rehab limit in Rochester (20 days?)   Not because of the hamstring.  But to try and correct his 40% strikeout rate with better pitch recognition.

[Rhino and Compass]

Obviously, it was only one game and isn't predictive of anything or necessarily prove any of you wrong, but it IS a little funny that Jake Cave took the roster spot and hit a 2 run homer in his second at bat after this conversation started. 

[KirbyDome89]

Teams have guys go on rehab assignments to shake off any rust because they have quality MLB players filling in. MN can't say that for at least 1/3 of the lineup right now. In a perfect world Sano is able to get a few games in before returning to the Twins, but right now even a rusty Miguel is better than a good amount of what they're putting on the field. 

[ewen21]

 

Had to save those roster spots on the 40 man for 25 pitchers... The lack of MLB ready bats in the organization is staggering.

When people saw the lineup and saw names like Sano, Buxton, Dozier and Mauer almost everyone assumed all star caliber players.  That was a big mistake a lot of fans made.  Mauer is well past his prime and teetering on the edge.  Anyone should have understood that his postion in this game was fragile and that something career threatening or ending could happen at any time.  Dozier is a hot and cold player who specializes in solo home runs.  He is totally one-dimensional and really isn't qualified to be a leader.  What he is doing now should surprise no one.  We could hope for more, but this is Bad Dozier and we have seen this rerun.  Not only that, this is it for him as a Twin.  Buxton is just not a good offensive player.  When you see his name in the lineup card expect to see terrible at bats.  As cold as that sounds, what more can you say about slender guy who can't hit his weight?  This is now three seasons in a row with terrible starts.  How long before the pattern is acknowleged?  Something is very wrong with Buxton.

 

And then there is Sano.  He was impactful in 2015 and since then he has gone downhill gradually.  What is it with his lack of development?  I think when the Twins punished him for that home run trot years ago they overreacted, but I had a feeling it ran deeper than just that.  They suspended him to prove a point.  THe problem is, they really taught him nothing with that.  I guess they figured that would shake him up.  Well, it had the opposite effect.  Funny how the guy who benched him for the excessively long home run trot is now our first base coach.  

 

This team is all wrong.  The chemistry is non existent.  Molitor is in over his head and the longtime favorite sons in this organization are a big part of the problem.  Sano has fallen from grace and he isn't going to respond to negativity so you can bet your bottom dollar he is playing to get out of here.  The Twins have much of a chance of "straightening out" Sano as the Mets did Todd Harvey.  I am afraid this may be the path he is on right now.

[ewen21]

 

He wasn’t hitting MLB pitching when he was playing everyday. What makes you think he can do so after not seeing ANY pitching for a month?

 

He made it clear Sano might not provide help to the lineup, so the rationale was already explained.  As disappointed as I am in the guy he has the potential to start hitting home runs.  There isn't anything in the system that actually has hit at the major league level.  THat is basically the point and the problem.  There are not any answers in our system for this struggling offense. 

 

 

[old nurse]

 

Rehab. Let him rehab in Minnesota. 20 PAs in Rochester won’t mean he’s seen major league pitching either.

The lineup needs help. Immediately. He might not provide it. Then again, he might.

Game situations do not happen  in whatever rehab scenario occurs in Minnesota. You could be onto something, why bother with spring training when you must not need game situation practice to be reafy to play

 

[old nurse]

 

 

Teams have guys go on rehab assignments to shake off any rust because they have quality MLB players filling in. MN can't say that for at least 1/3 of the lineup right now. In a perfect world Sano is able to get a few games in before returning to the Twins, but right now even a rusty Miguel is better than a good amount of what they're putting on the field. 

I do not think Sano, or Escobar  to catcher would work.

[Mr. Brooks]

Obviously, it was only one game and isn't predictive of anything or necessarily prove any of you wrong, but it IS a little funny that Jake Cave took the roster spot and hit a 2 run homer in his second at bat after this conversation started.

Jake Cave took Mauer's roster spot.

[Platoon]

This isn't the worst idea I have read on TD. My only caveat would be that Sano is not on rehab to work his strained hammy back into shape with low level pressure. If he is cleared to run all out, then he could just as well be here DH'ing.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Jake Cave took Mauer's roster spot.

But Chief was advocating for Sano to take it instead.

[Mr. Brooks]

But Chief was advocating for Sano to take it instead.

Ah, it all makes sense now.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

My first reaction was, naw he’s too rusty. Then I stewed on it for a while, and came back and read the comments and found myself disagreeing with all of the dissenting opinions(my initial take) and agreeing with the assenters.

 

At the beginning of the season I wondered how Molitor was going to balance all of the first base/DH types. That is not an issue is it?

 

Mauer has been ok, but not exactly a guy you can’t live without. Morrison has improved ( low bar) but not good in any way.

 

The team needs Sano at DH and first base. Let the guy get a few games in at DH, get some reps in fielding drills/bp at first. In 5 games or so get him some games at first.

 

DFA Grossman to clear the spot for Sano. Send Adrianza to AAA when Mauer comes back, which may be 10 days, but the way this season has gone, longer is a distinct possibility.

[ttreadway]

Even as recent as 4 days ago I was advocating for optimism. After watching the game last night, my optimism is starting to dwindle. Our 6-9 batters pose very little threat, and with the exception of the occasional mistake or lucky swing, they’re not going to be difference makers any time soon. (They actually were the difference makers in last nights game, which makes me even less excited about our first five hitters right now). I don’t know how rusty Sano would be right now, but could it be a whole lot worse than the DH options we have available right now?

[USAFChief]

Mauer’s DL stint is what everyone is missing.

 

There’s DH ABs open. The rehab time can be done in Minnesota right now as easily as Rochester. Five innings at 3b as well.

 

And I’d rather have Buxton and Sano in the lineup than Grossman and Cave, ditto Sano (3b) and Escobar (SS) over Escobar and Adrianza.

[ewen21]

 

Mauer’s DL stint is what everyone is missing.

There’s DH ABs open. The rehab time can be done in Minnesota right now as easily as Rochester. Five innings at 3b as well.

And I’d rather have Buxton and Sano in the lineup than Grossman and Cave, ditto Sano (3b) and Escobar (SS) over Escobar and Adrianza.

THat was not missed on me and who really knows how long Joe is going to take?  FOr all we know right now this is the end for him

[gbg]

I don't really think Sano's hamstring is the focus of this rehab assignment. I think it's either his head or his heart.

 

It's possible (and this is conjecture, not based on any inside intelligence) that he could start mashing pretty quickly up here. And it's probably likely that his production out of the gate would be better than Grossman or Adrianza.

 

And I think Sano knows this. Or at least feels this. He's got to look at the Twins' lineup card right now and want to puke. He knows he's got more talent that what's up here. "So why am I not up there?" he might ask.

 

"Because you need to earn it. You need to channel that talent and not just get buy with it." Maybe that's the answer being given. Especially with the statements by Molitor that the rehab might be "really slow."

 

So it could be that the Twins are playing the long game with this one, hoping that, instead of handing him the position, making him work for it will kickstart a little more drive in him.

 

For a less Machiavellian approach - maybe giving him some success at AAA will give him a confidence boost. If he continued to struggle up here while getting over the injury, his confidence could take a long-term hit.

 

Either way, I think he's actually better served in the long run with some low-pressure rehabbing, even if it means some ugly lineups in the meantime.

[USAFChief]

It should be noted that while I am disappointed in Sano’s production this year, his OPS is .739. I see everyone fawning over Mauer, who’s OPS is .759.

 

There’s room for Sano, even a struggling one, in this lineup.

[Squirrel]

It should be noted that while I am disappointed in Sano’s production this year, his OPS is .739. I see everyone fawning over Mauer, who’s OPS is .759.

There’s room for Sano, even a struggling one, in this lineup.

I think it’s a good idea. I don’t think Molitor agrees based on his comments. I think that your idea would never be considered by him, or was considered and rejected.

[Riverbrian]

This is simultaneously a stupid idea and absolutely necessary. 

 

In the past 15 days:

 

Brian Dozier is an assumed leader of the team and he is leading the team off a cliff with a .646 OPS

 

Eduardo Escobar is no longer carrying the team. He appears to be taking a breather with .584 OPS 

 

Byron Buxton is not even a major league hitter right now. He is absolutely lost with a .255 OPS

 

Mitch Garver remains the backup catcher because? Defensive Issues I assume. 

 

Bobby Wilson has replaced Jason Castro as the starter or at least the guy who is getting more starts. .584 OPS

 

Ehire Adrianaza is being forced to play every day and he is failing to grab the opportunity with both hands. OPS .503

 

Gregoro Petit has hit the ball in his limited attempts but has also shown defensive issues in limited attempts and Molitor won't play him... based upon the fact that Molitor hasn't been playing him. 

 

This is everyone on the current 25 man roster who can hit from the right side of the plate.

 

This team can't wait for Sano while simultaneously waiting for everyone else. 

 

It needs Sano right now! 

 

 

 

 

[Thrylos]

 

Sano hasn't seen major league pitching in over 4 weeks. It was mocked when Grossman said it wold take him 10 AB to get ready, now people expect Sano to do so with zero?

 

I expect Sano in MN will produce better results with the rustiest of bats, than his current (effective) replacement, Ehire Adrianza who is hitting .196/.255/.217 for May.

[Mike Sixel]

Agree with Chief. Expect the front office to continue rolling with bad players instead.

[Jerr]

from Junior Member:

Junior Member:

Posted Today, 08:35 AM

I don't really think Sano's hamstring is the focus of this rehab assignment. I think it's either his head or his heart.

 

Me:

This is exactly why I have wanted to send Sano down to rehab. Twins are a mess right now and it's a good time to maybe turn Sano around.

And maybe "losing the MLB perks" will help, maybe not.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Mauer’s DL stint is what everyone is missing.

 

There’s DH ABs open. The rehab time can be done in Minnesota right now as easily as Rochester. Five innings at 3b as well.

 

And I’d rather have Buxton and Sano in the lineup than Grossman and Cave, ditto Sano (3b) and Escobar (SS) over Escobar and Adrianza.

DL or not, there’s room to improve over the production Mauer has provided.

[old nurse]

 

I expect Sano in MN will produce better results with the rustiest of bats, than his current (effective) replacement, Ehire Adrianza who is hitting .196/.255/.217 for May.

Sano has had a great two days in Rochester. That .429 OBP is great. Dang, he should have been leading off.

[ashbury]

Sano has had a great two days in Rochester. That .429 OBP is great. Dang, he should have been leading off.

Built on a BABIP of zero. Just wait 'til he normalizes!