What's Up With Kepler and Sano?

[Parker Hageman]

Yesterday Tom Froemming wrote a solid article on Rocco Baldelli's management style and how it may shape the clubhouse culture for the better. Meanwhile, during yesterday's slugfest in Anaheim FSN cameras caught Max Kepler and Miguel Sano bumping shoulders and then jawing some as they walked separate ways.

 

Thanks to SkorNorth's Ramie Makhlouf this clip gained a little steam on Twitter:

 

 

My amateur lip-reading skills sees Kepler saying "everyone gets a hit" or something to that extent as he brushes past Sano. Sano turns then says something back at Kepler. Is there something more ominous behind this interaction? Maybe. Overreacting and reading too much into a short clip without context? Almost definitely.

 

Historically, the Twins. like all teams, are no strangers to in-fighting. There was the infamous Dan Gladden-Steve Lombardozzi incident of 1987 when, according to Al Newman, Gladden "beat the s---" out of Lombardozzi at Gladden's home following an altercation on a team flight. Or in 2005 when Torii Hunter took a swing at Justin Morneau (“It’s really no different than fighting with your brothers,” said Hunter at that time.) Or the Jose Mijares-Delmon Young dust-up. Over the course of 162-game season and living in close quarters, these types of things happen.

 

I doubt Kepler and Sano will join those ranks -- after all, winning cures everything, right?

[Thrylos]

Kepler gets consecutive looks from Polanco, Sano, and Astudillo.  Wonder if he was talking in German.  That would make people turn his heads trying to figure out what the hey is going on.

 

Over reaction.

[scottz]

Curiously following this thread. It might not be something, but it doesn't look like nothing, whatever it is.

[blindeke]

Must we?

[jkcarew]

You're kidding, right? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go with yes.

[Squirrel]

Parker, are you trolling?

[Parker Hageman]

 

Parker, are you trolling?

 

I'm not trolling. Just bringing some conversation that started on twitter into our universe here. 

 

Frankly, I'm with everyone else -- nothing to see here -- but I also wanted to talk about the glorious Gladden/Lombo story. 

[Squirrel]

 

I'm not trolling. Just bringing some conversation that started on twitter into our universe here. 

 

Frankly, I'm with everyone else -- nothing to see here -- but I also wanted to remember the glorious Gladden/Lombo story. 

Of course I was jesting. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks, 'Ooouuu ... that looks like something, wonder what gives', but the pragmatist says, 'Eh.'

[ashbury]

Kepler gets consecutive looks from Polanco, Sano, and Astudillo.  Wonder if he was talking in German.  That would make people turn his heads trying to figure out what the hey is going on.

 

Over reaction.

Kepler's mother is American, he was doubtless fluent in English since childhood (his speech is unaccented), and he's been state-side for, what, nine years now?

 

I would be shocked if he mutters anything in German in the dugout.

[TFRazor]

We've got a bunch of mid-20s guys jammed into a small space. They're all hyped up on adrenaline and they're all competitive. I'd be more worried if there wasn't a couple of spats that happen in the dugout from time to time. Tells me they all want to win.

[Doomtints]

If anything, Sano is wondering what Kepler is talking about.

 

Big deal.

[prouster]

Kepler's mother is American, he was doubtless fluent in English since childhood (his speech is unaccented), and he's been state-side for, what, nine years now?

 

I would be shocked if he mutters anything in German in the dugout.

I’m assuming German is probably his native language, since that’s where he grew up. A lot of people will slip into their native languages consciously or unconsciously in testy or irritating moments no matter how well or long they’ve been speaking another.

 

In any case, this is a far cry from Barry Bonds & Jeff Kent.

[MNT1996]

Fake drama manufactured by people who look for any negative when things are going good...delete

[tarheeltwinsfan]

"We need to kill the idea that Sano is a bad clubhouse presence."  wrote Brock Beauchamp 5-10-19 in response to my question: "Is anyone else worried that the addition of Sano to the lineup may upset the existing major league leading chemistry?"  Brock had a point. But maybe so did I. 

[ashbury]

I’m assuming German is probably his native language, since that’s where he grew up. A lot of people will slip into their native languages consciously or unconsciously in testy or irritating moments no matter how well or long they’ve been speaking another.

A good interview question for Max would be which language he curses in when he stubs his toe in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom.

 

I think he's really really more bi-lingual than fans are brought to believe, with this Der Schlager marketing and so forth. Listen to his interviews. He speaks 'Murican.

[wsnydes]

 

A good interview question for Max would be which language he curses in when he stubs his toe in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom.

I'm not fluent in it and I've never been to France, but when this happens to me I'm most definitely speaking French...

[SomeGuy]

I don't see them "brush shoulders." Sano clearly gives him a pat on the back as he walked by, it was almost a quick hug.

 

I don't think its anything between the two, I bet whatever he said was directed at himself. More context would be nice, what part of the game was it? Was it right after Kepler's weak pop out in the 1st?

 

[TheLeviathan]

Alex Trebek: The question to this video.

 

Contestant: What is..."A twitter controversy that tells you that your team is doing well?"

[twinsnorth49]

Kepler

"Everyone eat"

 

Sano

"When"!!

 

Troubling.

[mickeymental]

no doubt the answer will be found on the grassy knoll.

[Riverbrian]

I work in an office with 25 people. 

 

Nobody ever goes behind anyone's back. Nobody ever points fingers at people directly. Nobody ever gets mad at anyone else. 

 

I find this video clip to be completely out of the realm of normal.    

[SomeGuy]

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1133722698838941699

 

Notice the bro hug on the right.

[luckylager]

 

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1133722698838941699

 

Notice the bro hug on the right.

That's a choke hold. 

[Han Joelo]

Come on techno dudes.  Doctor this video with some fake audio, and put it on facebook or imagefolio or something.  But funny.  Make it funny.  Like the Bad Lip Reading Videos.  

 

If you haven't seen those:  https://youtu.be/U9t-slLl30E  My personal favorite, titled "Seagulls" something something.

 

And here is a Bad Lip Reading of MLB  I've seen the NFL ones, but haven't caught this one.  Will watch in a bit, after the kids go to P.E.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The hostility is palpable

 

 

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1133722698838941699/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Ftwins

[Blake]

 

I work in an office with 25 people. 

 

Nobody ever goes behind anyone's back. Nobody ever points fingers at people directly. Nobody ever gets mad at anyone else. 

 

I find this video clip to be completely out of the realm of normal.    

Personally, I find no joy in gossip. Much more fun to say it right to their face and wait for a reaction.

[Doomtints]

Culture starts at the top.

[nicksaviking]

 

Kepler's mother is American, he was doubtless fluent in English since childhood (his speech is unaccented), and he's been state-side for, what, nine years now?

 

I would be shocked if he mutters anything in German in the dugout.

 

Yet because he's German and lived there most of his live, I'm willing to bet everyone thinks it's fun to make German jokes and bust out their best German curse words around him.

[Riverbrian]

 

Personally, I find no joy in gossip. Much more fun to say it right to their face and wait for a reaction.

 

My sense of humor is dry. So... the reactions I get are a lost stare while they ponder if I'm serious. 

[Riverbrian]

 

The hostility is palpable

 

 

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1133722698838941699/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Ftwins

 

Clearly we have a problem with the other 11 players on the roster.