Souhan on Sano

[Doubles]

Okay, I'll bite.

 

Lotta twitter bile being flung at Souhan based on his column on Sano & his weight. 

 

I'm curious to know specifically what people didn't like or took issue with about the article.  Let's hear it!

[Vanimal46]

Sigh..... This meme is getting really old. I also didn't realize Souhan got his M.D. to suggest an optimal weight that Sano should play at. 

[Doubles]

 

Sigh..... This meme is getting really old. I also didn't realize Souhan got his M.D. to suggest an optimal weight that Sano should play at. 

I'm not really here to take one side over the other.  

 

Are you saying that there wouldn't be much variance in Sano's performance if he played at 250 or 260 versus the 280+ that he's playing at now?  

[Celebrity Weddings!]

 

Are you saying that there wouldn't be much variance in Sano's performance if he played at 250 or 260 versus the 280+ that he's playing at now?  

 

I've got exactly the same medical credentials as Souhan, so I'll say it: yes, that's correct.

 

edited to add: I don't think people go hard enough on Souhan. We've got a pretty substantial community of people here that sit around and jibber jabber about baseball for free, and I'm totally confident that most of us have actually watched more innings of Twins baseball than him. Calcaterra's piece on this was a nice run-down of Souhan's recent-est sins in terms of lazy, hot take nonsense that shows zero empathy for the genuine pain that these people put themselves through for our amusement. Since his body doesn't seem to produce shame naturally, I hope he retires soon so we don't have to waste our time summoning it on his behalf.

[Vanimal46]

 

I'm not really here to take one side over the other.  

 

Are you saying that there wouldn't be much variance in Sano's performance if he played at 250 or 260 versus the 280+ that he's playing at now?  

 

I don't know. Does that extra 20 lbs. prevent him from hitting the ball as hard as he does? I'm just really tired of columnists' constant obsession with his weight. 

[gunnarthor]

Conditioning with Sano is always going to be an issue but I thought he looked pretty good this year.

[Shaitan]

If the STrib had a nickel for every time Souhan said something controversial (and often in poor taste)...

[Vanimal46]

 

Conditioning with Sano is always going to be an issue but I thought he looked pretty good this year.

 

Concur. Which makes this article questionable and unnecessary to post. 

[drjim]

 

I've got exactly the same medical credentials as Souhan, so I'll say it: yes, that's correct.

 

edited to add: I don't think people go hard enough on Souhan. We've got a pretty substantial community of people here that sit around and jibber jabber about baseball for free, and I'm totally confident that most of us have actually watched more innings of Twins baseball than him. Calcaterra's piece on this was a nice run-down of Souhan's recent-est sins in terms of lazy, hot take nonsense that shows zero empathy for the genuine pain that these people put themselves through for our amusement. Since his body doesn't seem to produce shame naturally, I hope he retires soon so we don't have to waste our time summoning it on his behalf.

 

I always thought it was more apathy with Souhan than not going hard enough. Unless it is linked in something like this, I wouldn't read one of his columns.

 

On a somewhat related note, he does a podcast with Roy Smalley that is actually pretty good (if you are naturally inclined to like Smalley).

[Doubles]

 

I don't know. Does that extra 20 lbs. prevent him from hitting the ball as hard as he does? I'm just really tired of columnists' constant obsession with his weight. 

I don't think anyone is saying carrying an extra 20 hinders Sano from hitting the ball his hardest.  From Souhan's column:

 

"Sano should play at about 260 pounds, if not 250. He would have more energy, would run better, would have a better chance of staying healthy and would remain powerful enough to hit the ball out to any field in any ballpark. He would also be able to remain at third base, where his strong arm is an asset."

 

I find that paragraph hard to disagree with.  Especially as it relates to Sano's chances of staying at third base.  Better conditioning = better agility = a better ballplayer.

[Celebrity Weddings!]

 

I always thought it was more apathy with Souhan than not going hard enough. Unless it is linked in something like this, I wouldn't read one of his columns.

 

That's a pretty reasonable explanation. And good on your guys who are smart enough to just ignore him.

[JustinCB]

 

Okay, I'll bite.

 

Lotta twitter bile being flung at Souhan based on his column on Sano & his weight. 

 

I'm curious to know specifically what people didn't like or took issue with about the article.  Let's hear it!

 

This is just straight up lazy "reporting."  Souhan has always been an idiot but he's just phoning it in now.  Ignore the troll.  He's moved into full Hartman mode at this point.

[Doubles]

 

This is just straight up lazy "reporting."  Souhan has always been an idiot but he's just phoning it in now.  Ignore the troll.  He's moved into full Hartman mode at this point.

This is very much a 'generalization.'  I very much respect your opinion, and your right to it.  But I asked for specifics people hated about the column.

[Craig Arko]

The kid fouled a ball off his leg. This relates to his weight how, exactly?

[Doubles]

 

The kid fouled a ball off his leg. This relates to his weight how, exactly?

 

"But there are those in the Twins organization who are concerned with Sano’s weight, whether or not it contributed to this injury."

 

 

[yarnivek1972]

 

If the STrib had a nickel for every time Souhan said something controversial (and often in poor taste)...

...they wouldn't be on the verge of chapter 11?

[D. Hocking]

 

This is just straight up lazy "reporting."  Souhan has always been an idiot but he's just phoning it in now.  Ignore the troll.  He's moved into full Hartman mode at this point.

 

We can only hope he retires about three decades or more  before he turns 95.

[VirginSturgeon]

The article really isn't that harsh on him, more just stating some long term concerns. If he has gained 20-25 pounds over the season I would be concerned if I was the Twins management for sure. On a side note though, it would be great if the Twins and even all the local teams refused to talk to Souhan and Hartman as they think they know it all. Reusse isn't far behind in terms of idiocy.

[Vanimal46]

 

"But there are those in the Twins organization who are concerned with Sano’s weight, whether or not it contributed to this injury."

 

I don't take much weight into that quote. I'll take Thad Levine's words over "those in the Twins organization." 

Levine has been thrilled with Sano this season, and didn't mention his weight once during his interview with Aaron Gleeman. 

 

 

 

I'm really encouraged with Miguel Sano. The first time I met him was at the opening of our Dominican academy this offseason. I came up to him and said, “Hey, listen. One of the benefits Derek and I have is the scouting reports in our heads of what our teams' thoughts were. Texas viewed you as a guy who should be a complete player. Which do you want to be? Do you want to be the guy who's going to mash and be known as the guy who can go to the Home Run Derby, or do you want to be known as the guy who's going to stand at third base and be an asset to us?” And he clearly wanted to be the two-way player. And I said, “I'm going to ask you every day in spring training, 'What have you done defensively today? I can see what you're doing offensively; I want to know what you're working on defensively.'”

And I will tell you, he wants to be great. This is a guy who has an amazing amount of energy, loves the game of baseball, is smiling from ear to ear. Leaders come in different shapes and forms, but I'll tell you, from an energy standpoint, this guy's love of the game is palpable and will get us through a 162-game season. That, and he also can hit the ball a very, very long way.

 

[Squirrel]

"But there are those in the Twins organization who are concerned with Sano’s weight, whether or not it contributed to this injury."

Okay. There. These are two separate issues that Souhan is suggesting/implying are related. He doesn't know that and neither do you. I mentioned this article to my trainer today who isn't a doctor but he said basically, "Uh, no. While most might draw that conclusion, no." Would he be better at a lower weight? Maybe. We don't know. Is he out of shape? I'd say not from what I've seen from him this year. Is this going to be an issue for Sano moving forward? Maybe. No two bodies are the same and to suggest he's the next Sandoval body-wise is Souhan drawing conclusions to support his agenda. That's my take.

[zenser]

I have been impressed with his agility at 3B.  He has made some pretty impressive plays at third this year.  On Friday, I witnessed two massive homers which, correct me if I am wrong, were both in the 10 longest homers at Target Field.  Would 20 pounds less help him?  Maybe.  Looks like he is doing fine now.  Would i monitor him in the offseason?  Yes.  I just wouldn't put myself in the "concerned" crowd.  

 

I don't like that other media picks this up and runs with it.  I saw an article on ESPNs rumor central that referenced this article. 

[Sssuperdave]

 

"But there are those in the Twins organization who are concerned with Sano’s weight, whether or not it contributed to this injury."

 

That's nice, but then why write the article a day after he gets injured? Souhan is obviously trying to make a splash, and I find it annoying. Ever since he slandered Slowey without even so much as an anonymous quote I've had no interest in his writing.

[Sssuperdave]

Remember Boof Bonser? He threw 273 innings with a 4.77 ERA and everyone said his weight was holding him back. So, he lost 30 pounds before the 2008 season and proceeded to post a 5.93 ERA, get demoted to the bullpen, and never post a positive WAR again. 

 

I'm not trying to compare Boof to Sano (although I guess I am by posting this in a Sano thread), but just want to point out that there are counterexamples to weights loss = better performance. Statistically speaking I'm sure that there's a negative correlation between being overweight and performing well, I'm just not convinced that any of us know what is best for Sano.

[yarnivek1972]

Okay. There. These are two separate issues that Souhan is suggesting/implying are related. He doesn't know that and neither do you. I mentioned this article to my trainer today who isn't a doctor but he said basically, "Uh, no. While most might draw that conclusion, no." Would he be better at a lower weight? Maybe. We don't know. Is he out of shape? I'd say not from what I've seen from him this year. Is this going to be an issue for Sano moving forward? Maybe. No two bodies are the same and to suggest he's the next Sandoval body-wise is Souhan drawing conclusions to support his agenda. That's my take.

He's no where close to Sandoval's body.

 

Sandoval might be 10-20 pounds lighter, but he's also 6 inches shorter.

[JustinCB]

 

This is very much a 'generalization.'  I very much respect your opinion, and your right to it.  But I asked for specifics people hated about the column.

 

How many examples would be required?  Happy to send links

[Seth Stohs]

I was impressed that nobody started a thread on that terrible article. I guess it had to happen. Feel free to not go there to read it... Ha!

[Craig Arko]

[KirbyDome89]

I guess if he can't blame Sano's weight for his performance this season then blaming an injury on it is the next logical step....

[Squirrel]

He's no where close to Sandoval's body.

 

Sandoval might be 10-20 pounds lighter, but he's also 6 inches shorter.

Right. But Souhan tried to make a correlation between the two and how their careers went/could go.

[dgwills]

 

I was impressed that nobody started a thread on that terrible article. I guess it had to happen. Feel free to not go there to read it... Ha!

I read the comments before the article and I'm pretty sure the commenters did not read the article. He praised Sano's talent and work ethic. He just states that a better diet would make Sano a better player and make injuries less common. This is not controversial at all. It is true for anyone with a physical job. I have had stints where I eat well and stints where I don't. I can feel an obvious difference.

It is Sano's choice and I'm not going to be upset if he chooses not to follow that advice. It's a lot harder to eat well when you're on the road all the time.