Gushing Over the Glovework of Polanco and Sano

I enjoy seeing improvement, from players, coaches, and management.  This is an excellent example of a team effort to continue to grow, using mistakes and self-awareness as guideposts for improvement.  That is how you build a winner, imo.  You don't just push all the right buttons and then watch things magically unfold exactly as you have foreseen from the get-go (or, as in the case of some posters, hindsight.)  Adapt, improvise, and overcome.

Let's not forget Mauer's contribution. Polanco bounced throws even in the highlights, throws that some of the top defensive shortstops don't have to bounce. Polanco has done great this year both in the bat and on the field, but Mauer has contributed to his fielding prowess. 

 

Here's a question - what happens when Adrianza joins the team? I don't know how to read the fielding stats well but remember reading he was Andrellton Simmons like as a SS (or something like that). The issue was always his bat but he hit .254/.299/.381 for SF last year (in only 63 ABs), was on of our best hitters in ST and has hit in his rehab stint. We plucked him off waivers at a time when we had the number one waiver priority and it seems clear we will lose him if he's DFA'd. He's coming and soon - his rehab stint must be almost over and he's out of options. I see he played LF for Rochester last night after one game at 2B and one at SS, lead off all 3 games and was 6-12 with an OPS of 1.071. Clearly a replacement for Santana. Does anyone think they're going to try to find at least 3-4 days a week for him to play?  I do. At who's expense? All 3 IF positions with the starters getting days at DH/days off and Vargas or Grossman seeing more bench time? I think they are going to give him a chance to play to see if he can hit well enough to use his glove. He will play more than DanSan does now IMHO.  It will be interesting to see how they do it.   

With Adrianza getting a trial in the outfield, I think Danny Boy's days are clearly numbered.  It's entirely possible that he clears waivers and decides to report to Rochester.  He could try the open market, but if he clears waivers that should be a pretty clear indicator of what the market is.  I don't think it is all likely that the Twins try to work Adrianza into some kind of regular rotation.  He's simply not that good.  He's a back up.  Every team needs them.  

If it were up to me, I would try to put Adrianza on waivers and if he is claimed, pull him off.  If he clears, keep him in Rochester, but still let Danny go and call up someone like Palka or Hague or Shuck - you know, someone that might actually be able to NOT have a negative WAR.  Frankly, I'm more than fine with Escobar as the only back up middle infielder on the roster.  Worst case scenario, you still have Adrianza in AAA and Vielma who is on the 40 man.  But that's just me.

All I'm trying to say is there were plenty of legit reasons to be concerned about Polanco's ability to play the position. 

Polanco was rated the best defensive SS in the Florida League in 2014. So out of every prospect in that league, he was recognized by as the best SS they had.

Who wrote what in 2015-2016 that convinced so many that Polanco couldn't play SS, and convince them all so quickly, when there were no metrics to back it up? I want that kind of power.

(But I have to say, if this came from KLaw I will be very disappointed in everyone for falling for him once again.)

They've been an amazing surprise. Sano in RF made his entire season a loss. Not deeming Polanco a SS set him back a year. Horrible miscalculations by the previous regime. The definition of incompetence.

If it were up to me, I would try to put Adrianza on waivers and if he is claimed, pull him off. 

I could be wrong but I don't think you can pull a player off waivers in this situation. It would be considered irrevocable waivers and if someone claimed him, he'd be gone.

Do we know which coach(es) worked with Polanco and Sano on their defense? Teams identify pitching coaches and batting coaches, but seemingly leave defense to whoever has a spare moment during workouts. I know that's not really the case. Molitor was a middle infielder, so has it been him?

Sano worked with former MLB'er Fernando Tatis during the off-season. Hitting, fielding and if I recall correctly, diet and conditioning as well. The biggest thing:  Sano initiated this.

The dreadlocks, I have no answer for that.    

Polanco: Molitor credited third-base coach Gene Glynn with working with Polanco on his defense in Spring Training.  Comment from Molitor from a week ago:  

"There haven't been many mistakes. Polanco has done a really nice job at improving his athleticism to make athletic plays, like improving on the run on plays to the five-hole. He's not overthinking those plays and making nice spin plays over the middle."

I'm a big Polanco fan and happy that he is playing well. Still believe his best position is 2nd but love his overall game.

Polanco, Vielma, Gordon and Polacios; the Twins suddenly are deep at a position that was a wasteland for years.

Mientkiewicz and his staff saw a lot of Polanco at SS. Their input should have had significant weight in the decision to play him at 2B exclusively in AAA last year. Let's hope the assessment of that staff was wrong. Any implication that someone outside the organization might influence that decision is inconceivable.

Let's also hope that they still are heavily invested in Gordon at SS. The future of the middle infield is Gordon and Polanco.