A glowing article on pitch recognition.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/miguel-sanos-other-elite-skill/

 

Yeah I have to say i was extremely surprised that he had such great plate discipline last year.  Typically rookies have trouble there.  Seems like it is often times the last thing to come around.  I can't wait to see this guy again next year.

A nice trait to have, especially at such a young age.   Also a trait that's unlikely to get worse as he gains more experience.   This bodes well for Mr. Sano.

His discipline was ungodly for a rookie of his age.

I have high hopes this skill is going to allow him to adjust to whatever the league tries to throw at him in the future.

 

Hell, my biggest concern for him is protection in the lineup so people don't just pitch around him.

 

I have high hopes this skill is going to allow him to adjust to whatever the league tries to throw at him in the future.

 

Hell, my biggest concern for him is protection in the lineup so people don't just pitch around him.

It'd be nice if Arcia turned it around and became a good lefty bat behind Sano.

 

My hope is that Buxton can slot into either first or third, somebody else goes second, Sano cleanup, then surround Sano with an assortment of Dozier/Arcia/Plouffe.

 

That's a pretty solid lineup surrounding Sano in the short term. Nothing spectacular but enough to make pitchers wary of pitching around Miguel.

Sano shouldn't bat cleanup. He should

bat third. With someone like Dozier in front of him. (And whoever hits the best out of Park, Arcia, Arcia etc behind/in front)

 

Sano should come up in the first inning of every single game

Sano shouldn't bat cleanup. He should

bat third. With someone like Dozier in front of him. (And whoever hits the best out of Park, Arcia, Arcia etc behind/in front)

 

Sano should come up in the first inning of every single game

Yeah, I'd probably bat him third but I don't care too much if they bat him fourth, either.

 

If Buxton turns into an .800 OPS guy, then I'd probably move him to third and have Sano hit behind him but right now, the Twins are lacking a traditional third hitter.

Sano shouldn't bat cleanup. He should

bat third. With someone like Dozier in front of him. (And whoever hits the best out of Park, Arcia, Arcia etc behind/in front)

Sano should come up in the first inning of every single game

Concur. And no one behind him who hits into a million double plays, which is where you could put an Arcia (all or nothing) or Rosario (speedy).

Thanks for posting the link to the well done article. The young man is a beast!

Sano also faced the toughest collection of pitchers of anyone in the majors with over 250 at bats, according to a BP article several weeks ago. 

Concur. And no one behind him who hits into a million double plays, which is where you could put an Arcia (all or nothing) or Rosario (speedy).

I would like to see Molitor be bold with the lineup, as there won't be a lot of traditional LH options for the middle of the order. Mauer has little power, Rosario has moderate power and poor on base skills, and Arcia and Vargas are untested AND in a roster crunch.

It'd be nice if Arcia turned it around and became a good lefty bat behind Sano.

 

My hope is that Buxton can slot into either first or third, somebody else goes second, Sano cleanup, then surround Sano with an assortment of Dozier/Arcia/Plouffe.

 

That's a pretty solid lineup surrounding Sano in the short term. Nothing spectacular but enough to make pitchers wary of pitching around Miguel.

I'm hoping for Arcia as well. Plouffe lead the league in GIDP so I'd really prefer he be closer to 7 than 5 at this point.

Arcia hitting behind Sano? I have to wonder what that defensive alignment looks like. If that happened, it would either mean a. Arcia and Sano each in an outfield corner, b. Park really struggles and is sent to the minors, or c. Mauer or Plouffe is injured.

 

I'm not sure which of those possibilities is the best.

Edited February 2, 201610 yr by Boom Boom

 

I'm hoping for Arcia as well. Plouffe lead the league in GIDP so I'd really prefer he be closer to 7 than 5 at this point.

Yeah, I'd like to see Plouffe back at six, maybe seven, if possible.

 

I'm not even counting Park at this time because he's a mystery. Could be an .850 hitter, could be a .700 hitter.

 

Arcia hitting behind Sano? I have to wonder what that defensive alignment looks like. If that happened, it would either mean a. Arcia and Sano each in an outfield corner, b. Park really struggles and is sent to the minors, or c. Mauer or Plouffe is injured.

I'm not sure which of those possibilities is the best.

Given how many righties are on this roster, it shouldn't be hard to get Arcia into the lineup on a regular basis. When it's rolling, his bat against RHP is easily worth the defensive loss.

Thanks, Mike.  Nice article.  Sano was making those adjustments in minor league ball last year. 

Plate discipline is huge. Barry Bonds was juicing big time (even though it's never been officially acknowleged) but it's also pitch recognition that enabled him to hit so many home runs. He knew when to let it rip and he almost never needed to check his swing.

 

Arcia hitting behind Sano? I have to wonder what that defensive alignment looks like. If that happened, it would either mean a. Arcia and Sano each in an outfield corner, b. Park really struggles and is sent to the minors, or c. Mauer or Plouffe is injured.

I'm not sure which of those possibilities is the best.

 

 

c.

 

I pick c., with the exception of Plouffe.

Sano is an other-worldly talent. So happy to be able to watch him night in and night out.