Article: Why Miguel Sano's Strikeouts Are Not a Problem

[Riverbrian]

Keep working with him.

 

But yeah... Arraez and Marwin can play a little 3B from time to time until he comes around.

 

I watched him last night and never felt like he was going to put the ball in play. He was more off than normal.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

he swung through everything last night. In the zone, out of the zone. Fastballs. Breaking balls. Changes ups. Warm up pitches. Pitchers tossing balls underhand to umpires asking for a new ball. Pitches thrown in the bullpen. Even his warm up swings in the on deck circle drew air.

Yeah, pretty much this. His plate appearances last night were brutal.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

Yeah, pretty much this. His plate appearances last night were brutal.

 

And he struggled against fastballs in the zone - like, couldn't even make contact struggled.

[Brock Beauchamp]

And he struggled against fastballs in the zone - like, couldn't even make contact struggled.

Yeah, it didn’t matter where the pitcher threw the ball, Miguel was going to miss it.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

Yeah, it didn’t matter where the pitcher threw the ball, Miguel was going to miss it.

 

Particularly in one AB that I recall, he was missing low 90's fastballs...badly. Like, it wasn't like he was facing Chapman or Hicks or anyone that was throwing upper 90's. He just had no absolute idea at the plate last night.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Particularly in one AB that I recall, he was missing low 90's fastballs...badly. Like, it wasn't like he was facing Chapman or Hicks or anyone that was throwing upper 90's. He just had no absolute idea at the plate last night.

Yeah, that’s the PA that really stuck with me last night.

[howeda7]

 

he swung through everything last night. In the zone, out of the zone. Fastballs. Breaking balls. Changes ups. Warm up pitches. Pitchers tossing balls underhand to umpires asking for a new ball. Pitches thrown in the bullpen. Even his warm up swings in the on deck circle drew air.

I literally tell him he's not allowed to swing until he's taken a called strike or he has a 2-0 count.

Edited June 19, 2019 by howeda7

[Dman]

 

he swung through everything last night. In the zone, out of the zone. Fastballs. Breaking balls. Changes ups. Warm up pitches. Pitchers tossing balls underhand to umpires asking for a new ball. Pitches thrown in the bullpen. Even his warm up swings in the on deck circle drew air.

 I totally agree with that assessment.  I just wanted to him hit the ball.  Didn't even care if was an out just show me you can hit the darn ball.  He could not do it.  That is one of the poorer batting performances I have ever seen. Probably a good time to sit him.

 

I don't know what it is but he does seem to get his fair share of tough calls each at bat.  I thought he was maybe getting better a few weeks back as he was taking more pitches and having longer at bats.  Recently though it feels like he is back to swinging at everything which is fine if he could actually hit the ball. 

 

Part of working the count is getting a good pitch to hit.  Use a little reverse psychology on the pitcher and don't swing at anything one or two at bats and then just when they think you won't swing start swinging. I don't know but doing something different has to be better than getting the same result every time.

Edited June 19, 2019 by Dman

[Twins33]

This is what gets me

 

I don't remember if it was here I read it or elsewhere but someone said they don't trust him in high leverage situations and I completely agree. Even more so after seeing the stats. When he's up in an important situation I always am waiting for which kind of K it will be (looking, swinging and my favorite the check swing K). I never think he's going to homer or do anything good.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

This is what gets me

I don't remember if it was here I read it or elsewhere but someone said they don't trust him in high leverage situations and I completely agree. Even more so after seeing the stats. When he's up in an important situation I always am waiting for which kind of K it will be (looking, swinging and my favorite the check swing K). I never think he's going to homer or do anything good.

 

Oh, this definitely passes the "eye test" as well. Stats are a good way to just quantify this.

[MVP Nick Punto]

To shill my post from the game thread:

 

Also, following the game while driving last night (while I was parked, kids. don't phone and drive), I almost had a heart attack when Sano stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 8th with 2 outs and a man on 3rd, right? Was there ANYBODY we had available to pinch there? I don't care if they'd never played 3rd before; it's suicide to put Sano in with 2 outs when you need a hit, especially late (lol) in a tie game. Nobody on or less than 2 outs, okay, but NOT WITH RISP & 2 OUTS!!!!!!!!

[jkcarew]

Twins continue to be in a position where they can be patient with Sano. By patient, I mean play him, continue to work with him, and see how/if he improves. It's hard after a performance that ugly. But, he's had seasons where he's been great in leverage situations as well. 

[Platoon]

I am convinced the Sox walked Kepler unintentionally, intentionally one time, and should have done it twice to get to Sano. Obviously the last Kepler AB that was not an option. While the upside for Sano v La Tortugas is considerable, no one will convince me that Twins at the current time are not a better team with The Turtle at third base and Sano in either the Twins dugout, or Rochesters. Last night should have put a fork in the theory that strike outs are simply just another out!

Edited June 19, 2019 by Platoon

[Tomj14]

 

 I totally agree with that assessment.  I just wanted to him hit the ball.  Didn't even care if was an out just show me you can hit the darn ball.  He could not do it.  That is one of the poorer batting performances I have ever seen. Probably a good time to sit him.

 

I don't know what it is but he does seem to get his fair share of tough calls each at bat.  I thought he was maybe getting better a few weeks back as he was taking more pitches and having longer at bats.  Recently though it feels like he is back to swinging at everything which is fine if he could actually hit the ball. 

 

Part of working the count is getting a good pitch to hit.  Use a little reverse psychology on the pitcher and don't swing at anything one or two at bats and then just when they think you won't swing start swinging. I don't know but doing something different has to be better than getting the same result every time.

Well to give him some credit, he did pop out to "short" third base.

[Doomtints]

When he struggled in the past his timing was all off, he either looked like he was ahead or behind on his swings. This is how he has looked this week.

[Dman]

 

Well to give him some credit, he did pop out to "short" third base.

 

My bad I missed that. 

[Tomj14]

 

To shill my post from the game thread:

Also, following the game while driving last night (while I was parked, kids. don't phone and drive), I almost had a heart attack when Sano stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 8th with 2 outs and a man on 3rd, right? Was there ANYBODY we had available to pinch there? I don't care if they'd never played 3rd before; it's suicide to put Sano in with 2 outs when you need a hit, especially late (lol) in a tie game. Nobody on or less than 2 outs, okay, but NOT WITH RISP & 2 OUTS!!!!!!!!

Was watching that at bat with my son, and I said to him, first pitch curve low and outside, then 2 high fast balls and he will K. I was wrong, it took three high fastballs, one that was even too high for him to swing at.

I like Sano, but he seems to fallen into the same trap as Buxton when he goes bad, also in a 0 - 2 or 1 - 2 count.

Edited June 19, 2019 by Tomj14

[lukeduke1980]

 

When he struggled in the past his timing was all off, he either looked like he was ahead or behind on his swings. This is how he has looked this week.

I think he's been fed so many sliders that a belt high fastball surprises him and he can't catch up with it.