Sano won't play 3B AT ALL this year.

[DaveW]

Sweet.

 

[howieramone2]

No doubt Molly and staff worked with him and no way he can play 3B in The Show. Out of 80 games last season he played 8-10 at 3B? Alex Gordon, Cuddyer, Lonnie someone for the Indians, same deal with them. No need to gamble the season by sitting back and watching him put up 20-25 errors before making a move.

[gunnarthor]

Yeah, this seems like a made up reason to bitch.  It was pretty clear the Twins don't think he's going to be a third baseman and it doesn't make much sense to have him worry about playing third while learning a new position.

 

It also didn't make sense for the Twins to throw him straight into the OF in his year back from TJ surgery.  They're handling this all right. 

[DaveW]

 

No doubt Molly and staff worked with him and no way he can play 3B in The Show. Out of 80 games last season he played 8-10 at 3B? Alex Gordon, Cuddyer, Lonnie someone for the Indians, same deal with them. No need to gamble the season by sitting back and watching him put up 20-25 errors before making a move.

Yet they continued to play him at 3B all through the minors, and in his time in "the show" he actually performed pretty well at 3B, not to mention scouts across the board said he could stick at 3B fora  few years at least.

[DaveW]

 

 

It also didn't make sense for the Twins to throw him straight into the OF in his year back from TJ surgery.  They're handling this all right. 

Last time I checked third baseman have to make long hard throws as well.. not to mention if the "arm" was truly a concern at all after TJ surgery then he would have been playing exclusively as a DH.

If they didn't think he had a future at 3B they wouldn't have played him at 3B in the majors and the minors last year.

 

It seriously comes down to them accommodating Trevor Plouffe.

[D. Hocking]

 

Yeah, this seems like a made up reason to bitch. 

 

I am ready for spring training to really get going so we have some semi-legitimate reasons to bitch.  I feel like some of the off-season discussions have played themselves out for now....

 

If the Twins had some serious reservations, it makes even more sense why they did not go out of their way to trade Trevor.

[drjim]

Reminds me of the apocryphal quote about Americans-

 

They always do the right thing after they've exhausted all other options.

[USAFChief]

Yeah, this seems like a made up reason to bitch.  It was pretty clear the Twins don't think he's going to be a third baseman and it doesn't make much sense to have him worry about playing third while learning a new position.

 

It also didn't make sense for the Twins to throw him straight into the OF in his year back from TJ surgery.  They're handling this all right.

 

Paragraph 1: maybe, but why not move him earlier?

 

Paragraph 2: playing RF is harder on his arm than playing third base?? No. That can't be part of any reasoning.

[Vanimal46]

Next up, Trevor Plouffe signs a 3 year extension. Will be 3B for foreseeable future. OHH BOY!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveW]

I still think this team can win 85-87 games if everything breaks right. Just frustrated in this choice.

[drjim]

 

Paragraph 1: maybe, but why not move him earlier?

Paragraph 2: playing RF is harder on his arm than playing third base?? No. That can't be part of any reasoning.

 

Earlier than the start of spring training?

[USAFChief]

Earlier than the start of spring training?

Uh, yeah? If they decided Sano can't play third, surely that decision wasn't made over the offseason, right?

[Squirrel]

 

Last time I checked third baseman have to make long hard throws as well.. not to mention if the "arm" was truly a concern at all after TJ surgery then he would have been playing exclusively as a DH.

If they didn't think he had a future at 3B they wouldn't have played him at 3B in the majors and the minors last year.

 

It seriously comes down to them accommodating Trevor Plouffe.

I don't think it comes down to that at all. Maybe this is them trying to accommodate Sano and his weight issues. I'm not sure outfield is better, but I don't think 3rd base is and I think they have concerns with putting 'Sandoval light' there. And yeah, why not sooner? I have no idea and would like to know, as I think that's the question.

[Seth Stohs]

Yup, they definitely need some games. I don't feel like this is news. For the foreseeable future he is a RF. The Twins are committed to that... It says nothing about their belief in his ability to play 3B. Guys can come up playing one position, but at the end, it's about finding an opportunity. For Sano right now that's right field. 

 

If Plouffe were to be traded in July, the situation changes. But if Sano is going to be the right fielder, he needs as many reps and as much time out there as they can get him. 

[drjim]

Uh, yeah? If they decided Sano can't play third, surely that decision wasn't made over the offseason, right?

It was first decided in November. Earlier than that?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Uh, yeah? If they decided Sano can't play third, surely that decision wasn't made over the offseason, right?

 

They've never said that he can't play 3B. I'm sure they believe he can. But we also know that he can't play it as well as Plouffe. It's really that simple.

[drjim]

They've never said that he can't play 3B. I'm sure they believe he can. But we also know that he can't play it as well as Plouffe. It's really that simple.

I think their actions clearly show they don't think he play third.

[DaveW]

I don't think it comes down to that at all. Maybe this is them trying to accommodate Sano and his weight issues. I'm not sure outfield is better, but I don't think 3rd base is and I think they have concerns with putting 'Sandoval light' there. And yeah, why not sooner? I have no idea and would like to know, as I think that's the question.

It should be noted that Pablo Sandoval has been just fine at 3B. Sano has been fine as well.

 

I don't get why you can't still give Sano reps in case of a plouffe trade or injury, now if plouffe gets hurt for a lengthy period of time we are looking at Nunez or Santana in the lineup every day. Yeesh

[USAFChief]

I think their actions clearly show they don't think he play third.

I agree, but I don't see how they came to that conclusion over the winter. What changed?

[Seth Stohs]

 

I think their actions clearly show they don't think he play third.

 

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The 3B trade market (Freese still available, A's return for Lawrie, Reds return for Frazier)meant that the Twins would not get a great return for Plouffe, so they're wisely keeping a very good defensive SS who can hit 20 HR and drive in runs. 

 

No one is saying Sano is better at third base than Plouffe, so Sano moves. We didn't hear much about that possibility until around the Winter Meetings which is when we started hearing that the Twins would keep Plouffe. 

[Squirrel]

I agree, but I don't see how they came to that conclusion over the winter. What changed?

Maybe they concluded it during last season and waited for the winter to make the change. Don't know why unless they just didn't want to hamper his time up? I have no idea. Just guesses.

[drjim]

 

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The 3B trade market (Freese still available, A's return for Lawrie, Reds return for Frazier)meant that the Twins would not get a great return for Plouffe, so they're wisely keeping a very good defensive SS who can hit 20 HR and drive in runs. 

 

No one is saying Sano is better at third base than Plouffe, so Sano moves. We didn't hear much about that possibility until around the Winter Meetings which is when we started hearing that the Twins would keep Plouffe. 

 

That was my theory too, but maybe they were actually telling the truth when they said they never shopped Plouffe because they never intended on having Sano play third.

[drjim]

 

I agree, but I don't see how they came to that conclusion over the winter. What changed?

 

I don't know, they did more or less announce it in November, so I assume it was probably strongly considered for a while before that. My speculation would be maybe there just wasn't consensus for a while and they wanted to exhaust all options. If he could stick at 3B at all he would obviously have more value.

 

I would have had him play OF the second half of last year personally.

[Shane Wahl]

Falling over themselves to make sure Trevor Plouffe never leaves the team. Pretty silly. I don't understand the notion that he cannot play 3B, but can transition to the OF.

[Seth Stohs]

 

That was my theory too, but maybe they were actually telling the truth when they said they never shopped Plouffe because they never intended on having Sano play third.

 

Also a possibility of course.

 

My main point would just be that with Plouffe and Sano on the same roster, they are only saying that Plouffe is a better 3B option than Sano, not that they don't think that Sano can play 3B. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Falling over themselves to make sure Trevor Plouffe never leaves the team. Pretty silly. I don't understand the notion that he cannot play 3B, but can transition to the OF.

 

No one has said he can't play 3B.

[drjim]

 

Falling over themselves to make sure Trevor Plouffe never leaves the team. Pretty silly. I don't understand the notion that he cannot play 3B, but can transition to the OF.

 

OF is much easier than 3B.

[TheLeviathan]

So much for all those "versatility" arguments I kept hearing.

 

Is this team incapable of determining positions for guys in the minors or are we doomed to these Plouffe/Dozier/Sano decisions forever?

[Dr. Evil]

I will say this about Plouffe, he has been improving. To me he seems like a stand up guy as well.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yup, they definitely need some games. I don't feel like this is news. For the foreseeable future he is a RF. The Twins are committed to that... It says nothing about their belief in his ability to play 3B. Guys can come up playing one position, but at the end, it's about finding an opportunity. For Sano right now that's right field.

 

If Plouffe were to be traded in July, the situation changes. But if Sano is going to be the right fielder, he needs as many reps and as much time out there as they can get him.

If that's the case, don't say anything. Punt on the question, mumble something about "lots of options" and then move on to the next reporter.

 

Saying this in February makes no sense.