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

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

They would blink an eye.  If he said that was the plan, they would be questioning Molitor on why they aren't having him take reps at 3B in spring training if they are planning for him to play there.

Sano has never played outfield before, that's all the justification you need to give him 100% of his reps there in early spring.

 

And you don't have to say the "plan" is to work him back in at 3B again later, but just leave the possibility open.  Heck, that would just be assumed if Molitor didn't basically squash it by calling him an emergency option only.  And no one would blink an eye -- he's played 3B throughout his pro career, of course he can be a backup option there.

 

The controversy, as we've seen, is precluding that possibility at such an early point.

 

There is nothing stopping them now from saying in April that Sano is getting more comfortable in RF so we are having him take some reps at 3B so he can fill in as necessary.

 

Sure, but that would be a reversal from their current position.  It sure didn't sound like Molitor was making a careless, off the cuff comment that he will soon reverse.

[clone52]

 

We all know about Arcia's track record.  If his track record was better, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

 

He's a potentially starting caliber player, and at least deserves spring training to win some extra playing time over Nunez.  Between him, and Kepler perhaps by midseason, and maybe even partial credit for Park or Vargas, it's quite possible a starting-caliber player will emerge from that group that could reduce our reliance on a utility player.

 

Fair enough.  If Arcia puts in the work in spring training and shows some maturity, I have no problem with that.

 

Molitor did just say he doesn't expect Sano to play 3B.  Expectations can change in a week or a month or 3 months from now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

But you're already putting someone who is much bigger than Arcia in RF in Sano -- someone who has never played there before

Good point.  It's still quite possible that Arcia over Sano in RF would actually improve our defense, potentially washing out any defensive advantage that Nunez has over Sano at 3B, leaving it strictly a comparison of their bats.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Molitor did just say he doesn't expect Sano to play 3B.  Expectations can change in a week or a month or 3 months from now.

Not quite.  Here is what he said:

 

 

"Unless something happens where either we made a huge mistake in judgment, which I don't think is going to happen, or injuries hit us hard and we have to do some shuffling. But I would hope to avoid that," Molitor said.

That's not an expectation that's going to change in a week or even a month.  That's a plan you are actively implementing and protecting.

[jokin]

 

Appeal to authority arguments aren't particularly fun ones.

 

And in this case, the "authority" doesn't even have good information, they've never seen Sano play the outfield.

 

I'm less disagreeing with their conclusion, and more disagreeing with their process and timing.

 

Thanks for posting so I didn't have to.  (And I don't think it is coincidence that we always end up being upset with both the "process" and the "timing."?-- And really, their "process" and "timing" in coming to the conclusion that Sano belongs in RF isn't that far removed from Gardy and Ryan putting Barlett out there a couple years ago.)

[clone52]

 

Not quite.  Here is what he said:

 

That's not an expectation that's going to change in a week or even a month.  That's a plan you are actively implementing and protecting.

 

Maybe their huge mistake in judgement is thinking Arcia is hopeless and finding out in Spring Training that he has rededicated himself and is ready to become David Ortiz.

[clone52]

 

Thanks for posting so I didn't have to.  (And I don't think it is coincidence that we always end up being upset with both the "process" and the "timing."?-- And really, their "process" and "timing" in coming to the conclusion that Sano belongs in RF isn't that far removed from Gardy and Ryan putting Barlett out there a couple years ago.)

 

Its nothing like putting Bartlett out there.  Their process is, we already have a solid 3B and we have plenty of question marks in the outfield.  Lets put Sano in RF so that at least we don't have a question mark about our OF offensive production.

 

Bartlett was put out there because we had no one else.  He was a question mark.  Its not like people were clamoring for him to be the everyday SS or something.

[Reider]

 

 

The biggest danger isn't somehow damaging Sano -- though it is frustrating to see a team focus on a player learning third base throughout his minor league career only to suddenly switch him to OF simply to keep a 2.5 WAR player. 

 

The biggest, rather, is the risk in losing someone like Arcia who has a ton of potential. And everybody on here knows that the moment the team puts him on waivers, someone else will pick him up and he will become the modern day version of David Ortiz. 

When I think of the next "David Ortiz" I think of Miguel Sano, not Oswaldo Arcia.

[TheLeviathan]

All I know on this Nunez/Sano/Plouffe issue is that I was told - repeatedly - by posters here that we HAD to keep Plouffe because otherwise we'd have to play Nunez if he got hurt.  So we just HAD to keep Plouffe and move Sano.

 

Sounds like Nunez is backing up third either way.  So why the hell isn't he backing up Sano and RF being manned by Fowler?

 

If Park busts....this organization is going to have a lot of 'splainin to do.  

[mazeville]

 

When I think of the next "David Ortiz" I think of Miguel Sano, not Oswaldo Arcia.

 

The point of the "next David Ortiz" comment is based not on potential - obviously, Sano has more potential than does Arcia -- but based on the ability to hit for power combined with the prospect of losing him.

 

If you recall, the Twins let Ortiz go and Boston signed him for some ridiculously cheap contract. He and his big bat played remarkably well in Boston and he became a hall of fame-caliber player. 

 

Am I saying Arcia is Ortiz? Not necessarily. But imagine what he would be like playing in Yankee stadium with that lefthanded bat of his. The point is that the Twins had better give Arcia every possible chance to earn a full-time job with the Twins because he damn well could find that potential somewhere else.

[h2oface]

First Sano is athletic enough to play outfield for the first time ever as his first position in the show, and now in the same breath he isn't athletic enough to play third now and then to keep him familiar with what he has always played and prepared for....... because that would confuse him? Hmmmmmmmm. 

 

Molitor said he's most concerned with Sano staying healthy....... "I think his body type concerns me in that, 'Are we going to be able to keep him on the field?'" Molitor said. "I wouldn't say he's an injury-prone guy, but he's a big-muscled guy. It's going to be a demanding thing for him to get out there and run around, and coming on and off the field nine times a day, it's going to be an adjustment. I think we're going to have to try to monitor him and how he's doing handling the demands of what being an outfielder is going to be."

 

Poor athletic Sano. Having to come on and off the field nine times a day. And god forbid that the game goes into extra innings. Can he possibly make that adjustment? I don't know how a 22 year old will manage. Such demands. 

[Reider]

 

The point of the "next David Ortiz" comment is based not on potential - obviously, Sano has more potential than does Arcia -- but based on the ability to hit for power combined with the prospect of losing him.

 

If you recall, the Twins let Ortiz go and Boston signed him for some ridiculously cheap contract. He and his big bat played remarkably well in Boston and he became a hall of fame-caliber player. 

 

Am I saying Arcia is Ortiz? Not necessarily. But imagine what he would be like playing in Yankee stadium with that lefthanded bat of his. The point is that the Twins had better give Arcia every possible chance to earn a full-time job with the Twins because he damn well could find that potential somewhere else.

 

Yes, I definitely recall the Twins letting David Ortiz slip away and I'm very much aware of the career he's had. It bothers me when players like David Ortiz, Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, Carlos Gomez etc.. are excelling elsewhere instead of with the Twins.

 

I agree with your point. I want to see Arcia have another opportunity to earn a job in the line up this year and I also want to see him earn one in a big way. Even though he only hit .199 in AAA last year, his MLB stats as a whole are decent. I'm not writing him off. I just think it's time for him to go out there and get the job done. He's had a few years to prove himself now.

[Riverbrian]

What does that even mean?

It means very little

 

Rhett reported it and you reported what Rhett reported.

 

I'm hoping Molitor actually said "Heard it's nice back in Minnesota... Maybe that groundhog was right"

 

and it was misheard as... "Sano will never play 3B as long as I'm drawing breath".

 

In the end... It's me and it means very little.

[mnfireman]

He was signed as a SS and moved to 3B as he matured and got bigger. He his now roughly 260 pounds, he could play LB or DE for the Vikings! At this point Plouffe is a better option at 3B, do not even kid yourself thinking otherwise. Personally I wouldn't put him in RF, that overhang can play like a bitch, but the team, and Sano himself, is much better with him in the OF, or if Park bombs, DH. As long as he can leave any defensive shortcomings in the field, he is the best corner OF option in the last 5 - 7 years or more.

[Riverbrian]

The original poster was absolute about it.  Molitor only said it "wasn't expected" that he'll play 3B.

 

Molitor had to say something when the reporter asks "Will Sano play 3b when Plouffe takes a day off?"

Young manager mistake if that is how he handled the question.

 

I'll forgive him because it's part of the learning curve.

 

It's like the 2nd year of marriage when you still think you can honestly answer questions from your wife.

 

Like when she asks "if she can have that last donut and you say sure and she throws the donut at you because you were supposed to care if she had another donut.

 

Not that that ever happened to me... I'm talking about other guys.

[jimmer]

I sometimes wonder how clearly someone needs to say something for people to just believe that's what they meant. People try so hard to lawyer people's words.  Happens all the time in regards to what Ryan and now with Molitor, at least when they say something unpopular or say something that just doesn't make sense.  

 

I'm not sure we have to here Molitor say live and on camera with his hand on the bible, after clearly hearing the question in it's entirety, that 'there is a zero percent chance he plays 3B even once this year so help me God' in order to finally believe that Molitor and the team are going to do everything humanly possible to keep Sano off 3B.  

 

The point is clear.  They have no intention at all of playing him at 3B this year.  That is their plan.  

[DaveW]

It means very little

 

Rhett reported it and you reported what Rhett reported.

 

I'm hoping Molitor actually said "Heard it's nice back in Minnesota... Maybe that groundhog was right"

 

and it was misheard as... "Sano will never play 3B as long as I'm drawing breath".

 

In the end... It's me and it means very little.

Ah ok, I got it

[Riverbrian]

Devils advocate here, but what if the other side of the coin becomes true, and Sano isn't a competent OF at all and becomes Arcia 2.0? Then do we force a Plouffe trade to get him back at 3rd? What if Park is lighting it up in the DH spot? Bench him to put Sano in at DH? Bench Mauer and put Sano at 1st? (this is said in jest...we all know Mauer wont get benched no matter what his level of play is)

I like that the Twins have depth this year... options to try no matter the scenerio. They need to slow down on the eliminating of options.

[DiscGolfer]

As long as Plouffe is on the team and healthy he's the third baseman.  Sano in right will be interesting for sure, I think this experiment only works with Buxton in center to cover the extra area that Sano can't get to.  It seems best to let Sano learn and get comfortable in right before moving him back to third.  I don't think this move should be viewed that Sano can't or never will play third ever again but until the position opens up you need to have his bat in the lineup somehow.

 

There doesn't seem to be much demand for third basemen right now so I wouldn't expect to see Plouffe get traded anytime soon.  Until they can get some good value back he should stay on the team.

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens late in a close game, do they pull Sano for better defense or leave him in there?

[Shane Wahl]

I am not reading the 10 pages since my last post. Anyway, I generally like the idea of loading up the OF with good defensive players, especially in TF. I dislike the idea of clogging up the OF too much (more than one slower player in the OF is one too many, for instance). I was hoping that the clogger would be Arcia, while Sano would stick at 3B. Trevor Plouffe is now in decline, but it would seem like the Twins might want him longer term now.

Then there's Kepler.

Look, I would just rather go young for real and then build with those guys playing together. This started in 2014 and should have been greatly expanded last year. 2016 should have been a done deal with a roster full of young guys with only a few 30-somethings.

Now this just looks like a year-to-year half-assing attempt going forward.

[Reider]

Sano is learning outfielding 101 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIaV6iyzIdA

[Reider]

 

 

As long as Plouffe is on the team and healthy he's the third baseman.  Sano in right will be interesting for sure, I think this experiment only works with Buxton in center to cover the extra area that Sano can't get to. 

 

Sano can move pretty good when he wants to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRjCDYp-BA

 

Buxton obviously has great speed and great range, but I don't think he's the only person who can play outfield with Sano. Guys like Santana and Mastroianni (not saying he belongs in the Majors) can cover some ground too. Buxton just happens to be the best player defensively and the guy we all want to see play.

 

Although I've never seen Sano play outfield, I'm not sure speed is actually going to be his biggest problem in the short term. I think there's going to be a learning curve with getting good reads / jumps on the ball and utilizing fundamentals properly (e.g. foot movement, taking proper routes to the ball etc..). If Sano can get a good jump on the ball and kick it into high gear, I think he'll be okay. But to get to that point is going to be one of the biggest challenges that he will face, at least early on.

 

 

[Craig Arko]

These questions, and many more, will start receiving defining answers beginning Tuesday. And we may even be able to see for ourselves on Wednesday, as that one is being televised.

 

About damn time.

[tobi0040]

 

Now this just looks like a year-to-year half-assing attempt going forward.

 

Yup, I would like to add onto this with"with little to no forethought into longer term roster and position succession planning"

 

No other sport offers you this type of predictability of roster and payroll implications, by player.  Yet we seem to really struggle with this.  It is as if we didn't know we had log jams of guys under control or contract when we bid on Park.   I keep reading "we didn't know we were going to win the post" for Park.   Okay, had we not bid we would not have won.   Or similar "we really need May in the pen right now".  We had all off-season to sign or trade for pen help.   It is as if we have no control over these things.

[tobi0040]

 

I sometimes wonder how clearly someone needs to say something for people to just believe that's what they meant. People try so hard to lawyer people's words.  Happens all the time in regards to what Ryan and now with Molitor, at least when they say something unpopular or say something that just doesn't make sense.  

 

 

 

There is a credibility issue at play here.  Should we have believed them when they said Sano is going to stick at 3B?  They literally have said that for six years, then on a dime he is moving to RF and will not play 3B unless the plane Plouffe, Nunez, and Escobar are on gets routed to another city on accident. 

[spinowner]

 

Yup, I would like to add onto this with"with little to no forethought into longer term roster and position succession planning"

 

No other sport offers you this type of predictability of roster and payroll implications, by player.  Yet we seem to really struggle with this.  It is as if we didn't know we had log jams of guys under control or contract when we bid on Park.   I keep reading "we didn't know we were going to win the post" for Park.   Okay, had we not bid we would not have won.   Or similar "we really need May in the pen right now".  We had all off-season to sign or trade for pen help.   It is as if we have no control over these things.

The predictability thing may be true for players who are already at the major league level but it's way not true for prospects. The Twins are a team with a number of prospects who are nearing the point of being major league ready, but we don't know who'll turn out to be Joe Mauer and who'll turn out to be Chris Parmelee. If Park, Arcia and Kepler all play well the log jam gets worse, but if they all fail to click then we're suddenly short of players.

[tobi0040]

 

The predictability thing may be true for players who are already at the major league level but it's way not true for prospects. The Twins are a team with a number of prospects who are nearing the point of being major league ready, but we don't know who'll turn out to be Joe Mauer and who'll turn out to be Chris Parmelee. If Park, Arcia and Kepler all play well the log jam gets worse, but if they all fail to click then we're suddenly short of players.

 

Well, this off-season the Twins knew Sano was going to be our best hitter. And they knew he wasn't sticking at 3B.  And they bid on Park.

 

We knew we had Nolasco, Ervin, and Hughes under contract.  And Gibson had a spot.  And they tendered Milone instead of maybe using that $4.5m on a reliever.   Then they moved May to the pen.

[howieramone2]

 

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?

Let's hope so.

[Oxtung]

 

Sano is learning outfielding 101 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIaV6iyzIdA

 

 

The best part of that video is not Sano but rather Arcia.  He's constantly giving Sano pointers.  It takes a big man to try and help the player taking your starting spot away.  

 

Bravo Mr. Arcia, bravo.

[darin617]

 

 

 

I would guess that the Twins have zero interest in Sano DHing at any point in the first four months of the season. His weight has been mentioned several times as a reason they don't want him DHing full time. 

So running to the outfield is the solution to keeping his weight in check?