Berardino: Sano working to take on 3B

[Seth Stohs]

http://www.twincities.com/2017/02/22/minnesota-twins-miguel-sano-working-to-put-down-roots-at-third/

 

Miguel Sano says he lost 15 pounds this offseason and is now at 271 pounds. Last year at spring training, he was working to learn the outfield. This year, with Trevor Plouffe no longer manning the hot corner, the position is his.

 

He'll have to prove it's the right spot for him, but he and Gene Glynn will put in the work and believe that he can do it. 

 

 

“He’s one of the best I’ve seen at coming in on a ball,” Glynn said. “He’s not afraid to barehand it. He’s good out of the glove, too. I think that’s a play any third baseman reacts to. We’re trying to cover as much ground as we can, depending upon the depth we’re at.”

 

[jimmer]

Lost 15 pounds and is still 271 LBs.

[Halsey Hall]

He is solid with timber for legs but quicker than he looks because of his size.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Lost 15 pounds and is still 271 LBs.

Yes, that was perplexing.

[clutterheart]

He's got just a few youthful years at 3rd then he moves to 1B/DH where his +300lbs won't hurt him

[Pardon My Dinger]

If discgolfer is still kickin', he better make a beer run, because this thread is going to be 'athletic' as all get out.

[Riverbrian]

His 286 pounds last year didn't appear to be that much of a problem at 3B. 

 

To me it seemed to be concentration related the majority of the time. 

 

He made some real incredible plays and made some T-Ball Level type boots. 

 

It's going to be interesting to see what happens in 2017. 

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Yes, that was perplexing.

The article says: Reporting to camp at 271 pounds after giving up alcohol and shedding 15 pounds, by his count, Sano would like to head north as light at 265."

 

In other words, he had weighed 286.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

 

His 286 pounds last year didn't appear to be that much of a problem at 3B last year. 

 

To me it seemed to be concentration related the majority of the time. 

 

He made some real incredible plays and made some T-Ball Level type boots. 

 

It's going to be interesting to see what happens in 2017. 

You mean (among other errors0 the dropped popups. How many? Two or three? Solidly absurd. He'll have to "see the ball all the way into his glove" this year, among other spring training cliches. Go Sano, baby.

[Pardon My Dinger]

The article says: Reporting to camp at 271 pounds after giving up alcohol and shedding 15 pounds, by his count, Sano would like to head north as light at 265."

 

In other words, he had weighed 286.

Troubling.

[jimmer]

 

The article says: Reporting to camp at 271 pounds after giving up alcohol and shedding 15 pounds, by his count, Sano would like to head north as light at 265."

 

In other words, he had weighed 286.

yeah, although not clear, that is what I meant. He let himself get to 286, only lost 15 pounds, and is now sitting at 271 as he tries to tackle the hot corner.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Glynn also noted how well Sano lays out for a ball. There is value in that. Due to all his core injuries Plouffe has been unable to dive for a ball in years.

[jimmer]

 

Glynn also noted how well Sano lays out for a ball. There is value in that. Due to all his core injuries Plouffe has been unable to dive for a ball in years.

Well, that's good, cause his lack of foot range may require a lot of diving.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Well, that's good, cause his lack of foot range may require a lot of diving.

Whatever you mean by foot range, Plouffe is now with the A's so its irrelevant.

[jimmer]

 

Whatever you mean by foot range, 

lateral movement

[DocBauer]

He's tall, broad shouldered and muscular and wears his weight well. He has a cannon for an arm. He charges the ball well. In his "youth" he was a SS. Getting had had hands of stone until he became one of the top 3B. Koskie was too tall and too stiff before he became the same. A year and a half, roughly, in to his career Sano finally gets to concentrate on playing 3B daily.

 

His ultimate position could be 1B, his body changing, abuse diving for balls etc, but give him a real chance. He has the potential to be solid to good for several years.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

lateral movement

oh and I think you meant Sano, not Plouffe. Ha.

 

Sano's size will most likely catch up to him. For now he moves real well. At third base his step and lunge is more than adequate.

[jimmer]

 

oh and I think you meant Sano, not Plouffe. Ha.

Sano's size will most likely catch up to him. For now he moves real well. At third base his step and lunge is more than adequate.

I did mean Sano, yes.  And for a 3B, I didn't see him moving well last year at 3B (or the year before) with the exception of coming in well on slow rollers and just slowly hit balls in general.

[Taildragger8791]

286 is awfully high for any athlete under 7'0" that doesn't have a position listed as OL or DL. Even if that were pure muscle (unlikely) it would be unnecessary for a baseball player. At some point more muscle is just getting in the way.

 

Miguel Cabrera was reportedly up to 285 and got down to 255-260 when he had to switch back to 3rd. He managed to do okay. If Sano at his age and athleticism can get down to 260 and stay there then he shouldn't be too physically limited. It'll come down to technique and skill more than anything.

[jimmer]

 

 

 

Miguel Cabrera was reportedly up to 285 and got down to 255-260 when he had to switch back to 3rd. He managed to do okay. If Sano at his age and athleticism can get down to 260 and stay there then he shouldn't be too physically limited. It'll come down to technique and skill more than anything.

When you talk about when Cabrera moved back to 3B, do you mean in 2012 and 2013 where he had -22 DRS combined and an average -15 UZR? :-)

[Danchat]

So Sano was weighing around 286 pounds when he was playing RF last season?! That's like the Vikings playing a defensive tackle at safety.

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I did mean Sano, yes.  And for a 3B, I didn't see him moving well last year at 3B (or the year before) with the exception of coming in well on slow rollers and just slowly hit balls in general.

Sano moves well. The video clips are out there and frequently posted on these threads, whether posters care to acknowledge it or not.

[jimmer]

 

Sano moves well. The video clips are out there and frequently posted on these threads, whether posters care to acknowledge it or not.

Why would anyone purposely WANT to think/say he doesn't move well if they think he does? If you and others believe he moves well, fine.  When comparing him to other 3Bs, I don't think he does at all.  We'll see how it goes. No one wants him to fail.

 

I also hope he learned how to track and catch easy infield flies.

[TheLeviathan]

Just the title of this thread makes me happy.

 

Good-bye stupidity of Sano in the outfield.  That alone has that feel of a fresh season springing new optimism.

 

I hope he develops as a fielder, I'll be rooting for him, but for now thank god sanity has retaken the team's decision making.

[jimmer]

 

Just the title of this thread makes me happy.

 

Good-bye stupidity of Sano in the outfield.  That alone has that feel of a fresh season springing new optimism.

 

I hope he develops as a fielder, I'll be rooting for him, but for now thank god sanity has retaken the team's decision making.

Yeah, him not being in the OF is a good thing, though didn't they mention they haven't ruled out playing OF some?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Why would anyone purposely WANT to think/say he doesn't move well if he does? If you and others believe he moves well, fine.  When comparing him to other 3Bs, I don't think he does at all.  We'll see how it goes. No one wants him to fail.

 

I also hope he learned how to track and catch easy infield flies.

I think a lot of that was maturity, and there's no way to know until you run him out there in games. Maybe he continues to make difficult plays, but botch some easy plays, and the Twins finish well under .500, which is what most people expect, and if it happens that way again I think we probably have this same conversation about Sano again a year from now.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Here is Sano's math equation:  3B - LF= MVP2B

[Thrylos]

 

Lost 15 pounds and is still 271 LBs.

 

About the same height and weight as Jarred Allen.  Any questions?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

286 is awfully high for any athlete under 7'0" that doesn't have a position listed as OL or DL. Even if that were pure muscle (unlikely) it would be unnecessary for a baseball player. At some point more muscle is just getting in the way.

 

Miguel Cabrera was reportedly up to 285 and got down to 255-260 when he had to switch back to 3rd. He managed to do okay. If Sano at his age and athleticism can get down to 260 and stay there then he shouldn't be too physically limited. It'll come down to technique and skill more than anything.

both Miguels at their heaviest. I might be biased, but I think Sano looks more svelt... ok, maybe not that big of a difference. I'm still optimistic Sano can be adequate fielding wise at 3rd for a few years

[TheLeviathan]

I would agree that Cabrera's 280 is not the same as Sano's 280.  I would bet body fat percentage would back me up.

 

Sano is always going to have a high weight number because the dude is just thick with muscle.