Carlos Santana vs. Carlos Santana: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!

[RandBalls Stu]

One is a veteran rock star. The other is a veteran baseball player. It’s easy to get confused here in Twins Territory, but this Twins Daily exclusive guide will help you be a smarter fan.

Image courtesy of Flickr/ANSPressSocietyNews

The Twins signed free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year deal this week. Almost immediately, a bunch of wisenheimers and jackanapes began making jokes about Santana bringing his guitar with him, due to the 38-year-old veteran sharing a name with the legendary rock guitarist.

While we here at Twins Daily appreciate good humor, there’s no time for jokes with spring training just around the corner. It’s important for every fan to know the difference between Carlos Santana the baseball player and Carlos Santana the rock star. That’s why we created this handy guide to help you be a better, smarter fan.

• Played much of his career with Cleveland, has also had stints with Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee: This Carlos Santana.
• Played on the Grammy-winning 1999 hit “Smooth,” by Santana ft. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty: The Other Carlos Santana.
• Has 301 career home runs: This Carlos Santana.
• Had a real home run with “Smooth,” the 1999 Grammy-award winning collaboration ft. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty: The Other Carlos Santana.
• Will make $5.25 million this year: This Carlos Santana.
• Will make $5.25 million in royalties this year with his melodic, tasteful guitar licks on 1999’s “Smooth,” a duet with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas: The Other Carlos Santana.
• 2023 Walk-Up Song was “El Trote,” by Rochy RD and Yanco Bars: This Carlos Santana.
• 2023 Most Streamed Song that has Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty in a featured role was “Smooth,” by Carlos Santana ft. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty: The Other Carlos Santana.
• Uses wooden instrument to create joy by hitting dingers: This Carlos Santana.
• Uses wooden instrument to create joy by playing his smash 1999 single “Smooth,” ft. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty: The Other Carlos Santana.
• Distance from the midday sun is 93 million miles: This Carlos Santana.
• Distance from the midday sun is seven inches (fairly described as “a hot one”), as noted in the first verse of “Smooth,” a collaboration ft. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty: The Other Carlos Santana.
• All-Star Game participant (2019): This Carlos Santana.
• All Star Grammy participant (1999): The Other Carlos Santana.
• Did not collaborate with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty on “Smooth,” his 1999 comeback single: This Carlos Santana.
• Did collaborate with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty on “Smooth,” his 1999 comeback single: The Other Carlos Santana.

As you can see, there are a whole lot of differences between these two superstars! And remember, if you need a handy mnemonic device to tell them apart, think TOWERS ART CRITICS:

The One Who Excellently Recorded Smooth, A Rob Thomas Collaboration, Really Isn’t Twins Infielder Carlos Santana

Let's don't forget about it.

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[Doctor Wu]

Oye Como Va !!

[nclahammer]

Thank you RandBalls Stu, I needed this.

[CRF]

I know the difference, and I believe we signed the wrong one. 

[chinmusic]

Reminiscent of last years Donovan Leitch vs Donovan Solano🙂

[Doctor Wu]

On another musical/baseball note, I read about the "Innings Festival" in Tempe, Arizona later this month. In addition to "normal" musical acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimmy Eat World, and Greta Van Fleet, there is an "MLB Legends" portion of the show featuring Ryan Dempster, Jake Peavy, Matt Kemp, Luis Gonzalez, Bret Saberhagen, Dave Stewart, Dontrelle Willis, and Eric Gagne, Presumably they will be playing guitars and other instruments.

[Riverbrian]

Gregg Rolie read the article... dropped his pants and said... "Feature This". 

[JD-TWINS]

The “Other One” would routinely sell out the ballpark!

Been listening since Abraxas, roughly 1971. My college age brother had a copy and got scolded by our Mom for having it in the house around his 9 year old brother. An interesting, artful jacket cover!

Hoping “this one” gives us a small dose of the guitar player’s success.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

and here I was excited for our first baseman at the end of a Friday night game to trot out to a stage in the CF batters eye and rip off some delicious licks playing 1999’s smash hit “Smooth”

[Brandon]

Too bad the value seeking Twins couldn’t get 2 Carlos Santana’s for the price of 1?

The Twins should have a Carlos Santana bobble head night and give out a bobble head of the One who collaborated with Rob Thomas on that 1999 hit “Smooth”. That would be hilarious.  

[USAFChief]

Another way to tell them apart: one is old enough to have been at Woodstock.

...

Actually, forget that. Doesn't work.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Wouldn't it be nice if one of the two Carlos Santanas would be featured in a postgame Target Field concert this summer?  That could be a lot of fun on a lot of different levels!

[MNBearCat]

Ok, but which one recorded the Grammy-winning 1999 hit “Smooth,” by Santana ft. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty!?!?!?

[Cris E]

I was pretty sure I had them right and then I see this.  The streams were crossed and now I'm wrecked again.

 

[NatteringNabob]

Either way, all we ask of both is that they give us their heart.

Make it real, or else forget about it. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Wait .. there two of 'em?

 

I thought he was just a good switch hitter....

 

Did we clear enough roster spots for this signing?

 

I can't tell if i'm in the middle of a live version of a Comedy of Errors?

 

Maybe we can take a page from th Gondoliers, and have them play as one person until we sort this out...

[Guest]

"One is a vegetarian rock star. The other is a vegetarian baseball player. It’s easy to get confused here in Twins Territory,"

It sure is !!  Great stuff , as usual ,,,, 

[gil4]

9 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Another way to tell them apart: one is old enough to have been at Woodstock.

...

Actually, forget that. Doesn't work.

Yeah, I was going to say "and the other plays guitar."

[USAFChief]

34 minutes ago, gil4 said:

Yeah, I was going to say "and the other plays guitar."

I wish I had thought of that.