Article: Gushing Over the Glovework of Polanco and Sano

[Tom Froemming]

I’ll admit it. I was terrified of what Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco playing next to each other was going to look like on a daily basis. To be fair, both players had performed pretty terribly at their respective positions coming into 2017.

 

My most optimistic ray of hope was that at the very least maybe they could both just make all the routine plays. They’ve done that and much, much more over this first month of the season, and their efforts in the field are among the most positive developments so far in 2017.It’s not like either Polanco or Sano magically got better over the offseason. Both guys put in a lot of hard work. It’s clear Polanco put a ton of time on his footwork; getting his body set up in an advantageous position to make a good throw.

 

Sano is in phenomenal shape. He looks much trimmer than previous seasons, and it’s obvious he put in the effort to boost his flexibility and agility. He looks like a different guy out there.

 

Polanco has committed just one error in 168 innings at shortstop after averaging an error every 34.3 innings prior to this season. Sano has two errors in 149 innings at third base. He averaged an error every 30.2 innings coming into the year. Basically, they've combined for three errors over a span you would have expected them to commit 10.

 

Errors aren't the best way to evaluate defense, but it’s still pretty early to put much stock into advanced defensive metrics (which absolutely love Polanco, by the way), but these two are definitely passing the eye test.

 

Gushing over highlights is a lot more fun than crunching the numbers anyway. Here are just a few of my favorite defensive highlights from the suddenly solid left side of the infield, starting with "Polar" Polanco (he's just so cool).

 

 

This one may be my favorite. It's a great showcase of Polanco trying to prevent his momentum from carrying him toward left field. Even while trying to avoid Sano, he still manages to kind of whee-around to get the ball moving toward first. Since he doesn't have the greatest arm, it's key that he's able to get as much mustard on his throws as possible, or ...

 

 

 

... just get rid of the ball super quick. Nice scoop and you gotta love the turn and basically no-look throw. He didn't get a lot on the toss, but it was on target. That's the key.

 

 

This one was deeeeep in the hole. Again, notice how once Jorge has secured the ball once he gets his feet set. He didn't get a ton behind this throw, either, but it's on target. Nothing wrong with getting it over there on a bounce. Those long hops are easy pickin' for the first basemen, it's the short hops that are tricky.

 

 

I wanted to point this one out especially because we've always known Miguel had a cannon, but he's really struggled with popups in the past. This a high degree of difficulty catch right here, tracking the ball back and avoiding the tarp.

 

 

Ok, but really ... that arm. A great barehanded pickup and a laser beam over to first.

 

 

Another barehanded beauty. Throw is right on the money. He makes it look so natural, too. That's maybe the most striking thing about both Sano and Polanco, they look so much more comfortable in the field this year than in previous seasons.

 

The craziest part is there have been plenty more great plays by these two already this season. If you have a favorite that I've missed, please share in the comments.

 

Additional Notes

 

-Ervin Santana has held opposing hitters to a .116/.189/.188 line. That's not a typo.

 

-Expect to see Eduardo Escobar in the lineup Friday night. He’s 7-for-16 with a homer off Ian Kennedy.

 

-Joe Mauer vs. current Royals pitchers: .321/.392/.414. Career at Kauffman Stadium: .331/.422/.471.

 

-Kyle Gibson has been very good in five starts at KC, posting a 2.88 ERA and 1.107 WHIP, but Phil Hughes has an ugly 5.49 ERA and 1.488 WHIP in seven starts at Kauffman.

 

-Players with the most career PAs vs. Gibson: Eric Hosmer (.658 OPS in 37 PAs), Alcides Escobar (.801 OPS in 36 PAs) and Alex Gordon (.901 OPS in 36 PAs).

 

-Friday night, the Royals are giving out Rusty Kuntz bobble heads. I wonder if any Royals fans would be willing to swap for the Rocket Raccoon one the Twins are giving away on May 6.

 

-Michael Tonkin has pitched in just six games. He's on pace to make just 46 appearances.

 

-The Reds activated catcher Devin Mesoraco from the DL, but have decided to hang on to Stuart Turner, rolling with three catchers on their roster.

 

-The 2016 Twins didn't get their 10th win until May 15, their 11th win until May 21 and their 12th win until May 25.

 

-On this date a year ago, Brian Dozier was hitting .207/.289/.368.

 

-Buxton in the Rangers series: 3-for-7 with five walks. Scored twice, drove in a run and swiped a base.

 

-Joe Mauer (93.6) and Jorge Polanco (91.1) lead the league in contact percentage.

 

-Twins rank fifth in hard contact at 34.6 percent and have the second-lowest swing frequency at 43.1 percent.

 

-Kennys Vargas has a .372 OBP in 605 PAs at Triple A. He's drawn 100 walks in 146 games in Rochester. I think he's a much better hitter than he gets credit for.

 

-Fun fact: Nick Gordon was the youngest Opening Day SS in the Southern League and the third-youngest in all of AA.

 

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[Deduno Abides]

If Gordon starts playing 2B more often, that might say more about Polanco than about Vielma.

[Nick Nelson]

Good stuff. The left side of the infield has definitely been a very pleasant surprise. Big part of the reason the Twins are now 4th in defensive efficiency rating after finishing second-to-last in 2016.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Tom, that was great.

I think we're all much happier with the left side of the IF than we thought we'd be. 

Fun stat about Mauer & Polanco. If Mauer can get above that .254 BABIP he's sporting that would be very helpful.

[HitInAPinch]

Great article!  Sano's off-season commitment is really paying off.  Reps are important at any position.  Polanco is getting them consistently.

 

BTW:  Ozzie Smith didn't have a great arm.  Seemed OK  ;-)  

[ToddlerHarmon]

So good to see these two erase defensive doubts. If the last week or so of Rosario and Buxton continue, look what we have under 27 years old:

 

Grossman

Vargas

Sano

Polanco

Rosario

Buxton

Kepler

 

Yep, 7 starters. Dozier and Castro and Escobar with plenty of productive years left. And Garver, Gordon, Adrianza, Granite, and Palka on the brink. That's a solid lineup now and for years to come. Nice.

[ashbury]

Do we know which coach(es) worked with Polanco and Sano on their defense? Teams identify pitching coaches and batting coaches, but seemingly leave defense to whoever has a spare moment during workouts. I know that's not really the case. Molitor was a middle infielder, so has it been him?

[Riverbrian]

The defense thing always takes on a life of its own. 

 

Eventually people will feel better about Grossman in the OF. That may take awhile.

 

 

[nokomismod]

Great article and count me as one of the fans that is happy to eat my words about Sano and Polanco not being able to cut it at 3B and SS. If this can continue it puts the team in such a better place offensively in the years to come.

[mikelink45]

The Key for us is giving them steady time at one position - it took the Twins a long time to figure that out, and when they field good they are in a comfort zone that impacts their hitting too.   This is the best since Zoilo and Killebrew were on that side or Gaetti and Gagne.

[Doomtints]

The worry that many had over Polanco was ridiculous. It was literally based on nothing. I would love to know the original source that everyone aped on that one.

 

If people are no longer worried about Sano, that is equally ridiculous. He has mishandled a lot of plays and will continue to do so.

 

 

[ashbury]

The worry that many had over Polanco was ridiculous. It was literally based on nothing. I would love to know the original source that everyone aped on that one.

If people are no longer worried about Sano, that is equally ridiculous. He has mishandled a lot of plays and will continue to do so.

As I've said probably too often by now, I based my worry on personal observation at the back fields at spring training a couple years ago. He was scattering or short-hopping routine throws as often as making accurate ones. I was not optimistic he could improve by now - my concern was that his arm strength might have maxed out that that point. I am glad to see he has indeed improved - he's making major league plays, not merely routine ones. (BTW I am sure I, as just some guy on the Internet, am not the "original source" for anything whatsoever.)

 

And conversely, the mistakes Sano makes look correctable with experience, while his ability to come in on a slow roller and fire to first always told me he has all the tools needed to succeed. Improvement comes down to his commitment to work at it, which so far this year looks promising. He may not achieve complete reliability in time before his weight becomes the deciding factor some year, so that's the other worry for me.

[Doomtints]

 

As I've said too often by now, I based my worry on personal observation at the back fields at spring training a couple years ago. He was scattering or short-hopping throws as often as making accurate ones. I was not optimistic he could improve by now - my concern was that his arm strength might have maxed out that that point. I am glad to see he has indeed improved - he's making major league plays, not merely routine ones.

 

And conversely, the mistakes Sano makes look correctable with experience, while his ability to come in on a slow roller and fire to first tells me he has all the tools needed to succeed. Improvement comes down to his commitment, which so far this year looks promising. He may not achieve complete reliability in time before his weight becomes the deciding factor some year, so that's the other worry for me.

 

OK.

 

But if your eyes were wrong about Polanco, could they also be wrong about Sano?

 

Polanco is playing well just as some of us thought he would. There was nothing tangible that suggested he could not do the job. Sano is not fielding well, again, just as many of us thought he would. In fact, Sano's OF defense last year is showing up as being marginally better than his 3B defense is this year on the stat sheet -- and we all know the narrative around his OF defense.

[Brandon]

I think Taylor Rogers is the biggest beneficiary of their improved D so far based on videos above. Samtana is 2nd

[brvama]

It's great to see their progress defensively. IIRC Polanco was once considered an excellent fielding shortstop early in his career. One generally doesn't lose that. The arm doesn't worry me especially if you have a good defensive 1B. I think this improvement can be attributable in part to maturity, experience, repetition, and the comfort of knowing where you are going to play each day. i think we are seeing with the IF and OF a return to a very good defensive Twins team.

[ashbury]

OK.

 

But if your eyes were wrong about Polanco, could they also be wrong about Sano?

I have in the meantime gotten my bifocals fixed. It turned out that Polanco was throwing the ball straight and true to the first baseman the whole time.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Tom, that was great.

I think we're all much happier with the left side of the IF than we thought we'd be. 

Fun stat about Mauer & Polanco. If Mauer can get above that .254 BABIP he's sporting that would be very helpful.

One more Mauer fun stat: he has hit 29 balls 95+ MPH, per Baseball Savant. There are only 15 hitters who have 30 or more.

 

Do we know which coach(es) worked with Polanco and Sano on their defense? Teams identify pitching coaches and batting coaches, but seemingly leave defense to whoever has a spare moment during workouts. I know that's not really the case. Molitor was a middle infielder, so has it been him?

Derek Wetmore recently wrote a nice piece about the defensive turnaround in which he noted that Gene Glynn has been working a lot with Polanco.

 

Great article and count me as one of the fans that is happy to eat my words about Sano and Polanco not being able to cut it at 3B and SS. If this can continue it puts the team in such a better place offensively in the years to come.

For sure, I was under the impression these two would need to mirror over to the right side ASAP, with Polanco at 2B and Sano at 1B. That will probably still be where they end up as they age, but those moves seem to be years down the line now.

 

The worry that many had over Polanco was ridiculous. It was literally based on nothing. I would love to know the original source that everyone aped on that one.

 

If people are no longer worried about Sano, that is equally ridiculous. He has mishandled a lot of plays and will continue to do so.

Not being worried about Polanco would've been ridiculous. There were 38 players to log 300 or more innings at SS last year. Polanco ranked 37th in Defensive Runs Above Average and was dead last in UZR/150.

 

The Twins thought so highly of him as a shortstop that they took him off the position. It's not like he was pushed to 2B by Wilfredo Tovar. In 2014 he made 35 errors at SS and 28 in 2015. 

[Loosey]

I really don't know what some people expect and/or want from Sano at 3rd base.  Are people expecting gold glove caliber defense from him?  If so, you probably will be waiting awhile.  He has been making the plays he needs to make.  There of course are some plays that would be nice if he made but those hopefully will come in time.  

[Doomtints]

 

I have in the meantime gotten my bifocals fixed. It turned out that Polanco was throwing the ball straight and true to the first baseman the whole time.

 

I could use bifocals myself.

[Doomtints]

 

The Twins thought so highly of him as a shortstop that they took him off the position. 

 

Not sure who started this but it's not true. Polanco was never taken off of SS. You may want to pull up his stats and look. He played SS all through the minors and most of the games he played last year in the majors.

 

I see this repeated a lot and it's simply bizarre to me. Is there a Twins team in another dimension that everyone else is watching?

Edited April 28, 2017 by Doomtints

[jimmer]

My eyes must be completely out of whack.  Sano still looks huge (around the weight he was reported when he got to ST) and his fielding is still looking shaky.  Maybe he set the bar so very low, that any improvement looks massive to some, I don't know.  We already knew he could do well on slow hit balls that he could come in on, which is fine.  His range is still very limited.

[Trov]

Nice article, liked all the little tid bits at the end too.  My comment on the defense is both happy and very surprised.  Less so on Polanco, my guess for him the FO said, once Dozier was staying for the time being, "Polanco you will be playing SS and only SS so lets put in work."  Polanco signed same time as Sano and was supposed to be good defense, but when old FO kept swapping him at 2b it is not easy to get great at either side.  

 

For those who think the up the middle positions are are pretty much interchangeable, you never have played them.  I think Polanco was finally given the  confidence by the organization that he can play SS and maybe the new FO figured out new way to teach him.

 

In regards to Sano, I still not a huge fan of him at 3b, but he is at least adequate so far, that is best I can say for him is adequate.

[DaveW]

Sano is fine at 3rd base (which isn't that important of a defensive position at the end of the day anyways)

CF

SS

2B
C

 

are all more important. 3B/LF/RF/1B are all much less important.

[mazeville]

Good for these guys. Nice to see players work hard on their fielding like that. 

 

I never, ever, ever understood the rush to DH Sano by people in and out of the media, and even in the Twins organization. Doing so his rookie year was understandable - that's where the team had the opening.

 

But he never really had a chance to play his natural position in the majors before the second half of last year. And yet people simply wrote off his ability to play there. 

 

I think he's looked good at third. Will he be Nolan Arenado? Probably not. But he's done quite well at the position so far this year. He should get better with time, too. He still hasn't had a full year's worth of major league experience at the position.

[gheggs42]

Sano will be as good as he wants to be

[Tom Froemming]

 

Not sure who started this but it's not true. Polanco was never taken off of SS. You may want to pull up his stats and look. He played SS all through the minors and most of the games he played last year in the majors.

 

I see this repeated a lot and it's simply bizarre to me. Is there a Twins team in another dimension that everyone else is watching?

It's absolutely true, take a look at his minor league numbers. Polanco played 75 games for Rochester last season, not a single inning of which was at shortstop.

[wsnydes]

 

The defense thing always takes on a life of its own. 

 

Eventually people will feel better about Grossman in the OF. That may take awhile.

I think that the only way I'll be comfortable with that scenario is if it occurs during the pregame warm ups and only during the pregame warm ups.  

[Doomtints]

 

It's absolutely true, take a look at his minor league numbers. Polanco played 75 games for Rochester last season, not a single inning of which was at shortstop.

 

And he closed the season with the Twins organization playing 400 innings at shortstop....

 

I'm sure it occurred to you at some point that the Twins were trying him at 2B because they were planning to shop Dozier, and not because Polanco suddenly could not handle SS. Sometimes the narrative isn't "he sucks" -- there are numerous reasons a team can do things.

Edited April 28, 2017 by Doomtints

[Doomtints]

 

Sano will be as good as he wants to be

 

Truth.

[Tom Froemming]

 

And he closed the season with the Twins organization playing 400 innings at shortstop....

 

I'm sure it occurred to you at some point that the Twins were trying him at 2B because they were planning to shop Dozier, and not because Polanco suddenly could not handle SS. Sometimes the narrative isn't "he sucks" -- there are numerous reasons a team can do things.

All I'm trying to say is there were plenty of legit reasons to be concerned about Polanco's ability to play the position. Nobody "aped" on to some report. It's not a fabrication that they took him off SS in the minors. It happened. And it wasn't a narrative that said "he sucks," it was the data. 

 

His performance thus far has eased those concerns. Apparently you were always a believer. Congrats, you were right. Nicely done. I was wrong, and am very happy to admit that, but I take issue with you trying to suggest that it was ridiculous for anyone to have been concerned about Jorge's ability to play short or that those concerns were baseless.