Twins Reinstate Miguel Sano

If they really want to have him ready to go for the Playoffs, he'll need as many at bats as he can get. DH him all 3 games and knock some of the rust off. On the other hand, I'm not sure what that would do to increase the risk of re-injuring himself. Where are those guys that do Risk Assessments for a living?!

Worst case: this gives the Twins a right-handed pinch hitter (for when a club brings in a lefty to pitch to Max Kepler in the later innings) who isn't Ehire Adrianza or Mitch Garver. 

A gimme for the wild card roster. DH him all weekend, with a speed limit running to first of Jim Thome MPH.

I'm looking forward to seeing Sano's Kirk Gibson impression.

Looks like he will have to be a loaded gun off the bench for WC.  Still can't run.   Looking like a Kirk Gibson moment in the making.  Can't see him making the LDS roster unless his leg improves to the point that he could actually DH.  

I hate to say it, but Grossman may be more valuable as a DH in any event.  He takes better at bats, lower strikeout % and ability to take a walk would be more valuable than a one-legged power hitter.  

I don't think the team can afford to give up a roster spot for LDS to a guy who will give you no more than one at bat per game. 

For the WC, I'll definitely take Sano - even as a decoy - to get inside the heads of Yankees pitchers and Girardi.  After that, he may be relegated to being a spectator the rest of the way.  

" Can the Indians pass the Dodgers for baseball's best record?"

For whatever reason MLB.com says dodgers have already won that.

Hell of a wild card to be able to play. They should let him PH against the Tiger pen a couple times just to get that awkwardness out of the way. We have pinch runners galore if he actually gets a hit.

It would be a shame if he wasn't able to go. I'm sure the Twins are watching him, and will make sure he can hit in the cage at least. He's not coming back unless both he and the Twins are sure he'll play. I'm not going to second guess any decision that is made, honestly. Heck, the fact that the Twins are where they are tells me I should probably just keep my dang opinions to myself. 

I have not seen the following issue addressed here or in the Strib's coverage of the Twins:

If it turns out he is physically not ready and the Twins choose not to place him on the postseason roster does that mean he has to be placed on the 10-day DL? And if so, does that mean he would be ineligible to play in any games until Oct.13?

They would not have to put Sano on the DL to not include him on WC roster.

A healthy Sano adds pressure to a pitcher. He works counts, and can punish mistakes with loud home runs. Yes, you bring him back as a DH, pinch hitter, off the bench, and as an emergency replacement at 1B. 

Didn't see the game tonight, saw he had one at bat, no strike out...that's good right?

How did he look in at bat? What happened? Timing? Running out of box? Etc?

I gotta know!

He took the first pitch, then hit a dribbler. Ran well to first. Looked like he limped a very little bit walking back to the dugout. All good. We were sitting behind home looking up the first base line.

Have him stand in on every bullpen session between now and the wild card game. DH him the rest of the regular season.

He's a difference maker. All it takes is one mistake, and the ball is in the seats.

I would not DH him in New York - unless the Twins DH him the next 2 games against the Tigers and he hammers the ball all over the place.

I prefer to use Sano as a pinch-hitter, or better yet, simply a threat.  The fact that the Twins have access to this guy is enough to scare another team.

Maybe a situation arises with men on 2nd and 3rd late in the game. The Yanks decide they'll pitch to Dozier, rather than walk him and have Sano come up with the bases loaded.  When Dozier hits a 3-run homer on a high fastball, the Twins can pull Sano back from the on-deck circle.

I would not DH him in New York - unless the Twins DH him the next 2 games against the Tigers and he hammers the ball all over the place.

 

I prefer to use Sano as a pinch-hitter, or better yet, simply a threat.  The fact that the Twins have access to this guy is enough to scare another team.

 

Maybe a situation arises with men on 2nd and 3rd late in the game. The Yanks decide they'll pitch to Dozier, rather than walk him and have Sano come up with the bases loaded.  When Dozier hits a 3-run homer on a high fastball, the Twins can pull Sano back from the on-deck circle.

The Yankees aren't going to be scared by having Sano on the bench.  No team is.

He should DH both game this weekend.  If he seems to be on his game, then DH him for the Wild Card game.  If not, consider not even having him on the WC roster, cause as great of a hitter as he is, if he's not ready, he's not ready.

Hopefully he IS the DH for the final two games. As a bench bat he can be valuable. If his swing is back, he can DH.

You still need to see him run the bases.

Putting him in the field? Not a chance at this point.

But considering you need one starter and a bunch of arms for the wild card, and 4 starters at best and 7 bullpen arms, yes...add him to the playoff roster!

The Yankees aren't going to be scared by having Sano on the bench. No team is.

 

He should DH both game this weekend. If he seems to be on his game, then DH him for the Wild Card game. If not, consider not even having him on the WC roster, cause as great of a hitter as he is, if he's not ready, he's not ready.

There's very little downside to putting him on the WC roster. Unless the Twins for some reason plan on having more than 10 pitchers, he would take Goodrum's spot. All the other active position players will be on the roster. With 10 pitchers, the choice for the 15th position player is Goodrum or Sano.

Nick-named him "Sano-man". 

Been trying to get s.now in there somehow.

There's very little downside to putting him on the WC roster. Unless the Twins for some reason plan on having more than 10 pitchers, he would take Goodrum's spot. All the other active position players will be on the roster. With 10 pitchers, the choice for the 15th position player is Goodrum or Sano.

I think his point is that if he's ready to play he should be in the lineup, not on the bench.

I agree. I don't care if he hasn't seen live pitching in a decade, if he's healthy I want him in the lineup.