Souhan on Sano

[Doubles]

 

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. 

 

This pretty much sums up where I stand on this.  Especially the part about most commenters not even reading the article before posting about it.  

[Sssuperdave]

 

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.

 

This wasn't directed at me, but I'm happy to reply with a lot of specifics. All quotes are taken from Souhan's article...

 

"But there are those in the Twins organization who are concerned with Sano's weight..."

 

This sentence fragment encapsulates Souhan's lazy reporting perfectly. He makes a sweeping generalization with an appeal to authority without including any actual specifics. He doesn't have a single quote here, or anywhere in the whole article for that matter. Good reporting would have at least an anonymous quote, and better reporting would have had an on-the-record quote. Throwing out a statement like that without even an anonymous quote is lazy reporting. Perhaps none of his sources would give him a quote, in which case he shouldn't have written it.

 

"According to my information, Sano's weight has gradually risen all season and is now well above 260 pounds..."

 

This one makes me want to vomit. According to my information?!?! What is this, a gossip column? Again, lazy reporting. What is his "information" based on? Was he snooping at his medical records? Did he get it from someone on the team? Will they say something on record about it? If not, will they say something anonymously? If not, don't write it. Period.

 

"Pablo Sandoval comes to mind..."

 

Have you actually looked at Miguel Sano and Pablo Sandoval? This is very poor and lazy comparison. It's like Souhan thought to himself... "who's a third basemen known for being overweight? Sandoval... here we go." Miguel Cabrera would be a better (but still not very good) comparison, but that wouldn't fit Souhan's narrative because Cabrera is a 2-time MVP with a hall of fame caliber career.

 

"When you’re built like Buxton, dietary discipline is an option.

When you’re built like Sano, dietary discipline is a necessity."

 

Okay, this is a nice turn of a phrase, but look at the actual content. I couldn't disagree more. Right now Buxton's #1 asset is his speed. If he gains 30 pounds his #1 asset is neutralized, and it's questionable whether he's even a big leaguer. Sano's #1 asset is power. If he gains 30 pounds he'll probably hit just as many home runs, but as a DH instead of at third. I'm not saying it's fine for Sano to gain 30 pounds, but I am saying that it would probably hurt his game less than it would hurt Buxton's. In my opinion Souhan is making a lazy and illogical argument because it sounds impressive.

 

 

"This isn’t about work ethic, and it certainly isn’t about weight shaming. It’s about diet. Sano’s bulk simply makes him even more vulnerable than most ballplayers to the pitfalls of the big-league lifestyle.

 

Food is everywhere, and young players often eat the worst of what is available.

 

I’ve seen clubhouse attendants carrying in large bags of fast food before games. The lifestyle dictates that players are often up late, while hungry and with lots of money to spend"

 

What is the point of this section? Taken in context and reading between the lines Souhan is saying Sano is surrounded by junk food and is gaining weight, so he must be making poor dietary decisions. Note that I said "reading between the lines;" I wouldn't have to read between the lines if Souhan would actually say something specific and meaningful instead of speaking in generalities and making implications. He claims that this is not about weight shaming, but "and it certainly isn't about weight shaming" is the only sentence in the article that doesn't feel like weight shaming. 

 

 

"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."

 

Okay, now most of this paragraph I can agree is probably logically accurate. He probably would have more energy, run better, etc. at 250 than at 280. However, once again Souhan takes a lazy approach to it. If this is so self-evident, than can't he at least get one quote on it? Maybe the team physician?  Maybe a trainer? Maybe a coach? Maybe even his neighbor who is a physician?
 

I could keep going, but I think I've made my point.

 

 

 

[Squirrel]

This pretty much sums up where I stand on this. Especially the part about most commenters not even reading the article before posting about it.

My issue is that it isn't an article so much as an opinion piece and his speculations are just that. Do we know what Sano's diet is? He's being critical without knowing much. The 'article' itself was filled with 'mights' and 'maybes' without any research to back his opinion that there is a correlation between this injury and Sano's weight. There was no reference to any medical research nor quotes from any medical professionals. And the article achieves all the clicks from those who further speculate that Sano is out of shape, shortening his career, the Twins have no control over him, Sano lacks discipline and a proper work ethic ... issues that many conclude is so without one iota bit of personal knowledge of Sano's actual habits. It was a lazy, hatchet job, imo.

[DaveW]

Souhan is a clown, the fact that he and others of his ilk still have jobs are a big reason why newspapers are on their way out.

 

Strib won't be around in ten years, book it. Hopefully Russo and Randball land on their feet.

[KirbyDome89]

 

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. 

This isn't an isolated article about Sano's weight. There were multiple threads devoted to different articles last season as well so I'll give most posters the benefit of the doubt and assume they read the article, and I can't speak for everybody but personally I'm tired of columnists using his weight as a boogeyman of sorts. He struggled in RF because of his weight, he "struggled," at the plate last season because of his weight, and now he's injured because of his weight....

 

Maybe if he lost a few pounds Molitor would stop bunting. Can't wait to read that column....

[jimmer]

 

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.

Yeah, that paragraph is hard to argue with.

[Doubles]

"Sano possesses Hall of Fame talent, and he works at the game. He has improved dramatically at third base and he takes intelligent at-bats.

 

This isn’t about work ethic, and it certainly isn’t about weight shaming. It’s about diet. Sano’s bulk simply makes him even more vulnerable than most ballplayers to the pitfalls of the big-league lifestyle."

 

These paragraphs sound more like cautionary words to me than a hatchet-job.  

 

[Doubles]

 

My issue is that it isn't an article so much as an opinion piece and his speculations are just that. Do we know what Sano's diet is? He's being critical without knowing much. The 'article' itself was filled with 'mights' and 'maybes' without any research to back his opinion that there is a correlation between this injury and Sano's weight. There was no reference to any medical research nor quotes from any medical professionals. And the article achieves all the clicks from those who further speculate that Sano is out of shape, shortening his career, the Twins have no control over him, Sano lacks discipline and a proper work ethic ... issues that many conclude is so without one iota bit of personal knowledge of Sano's actual habits. It was a lazy, hatchet job, imo.

 

I can hear part of this argument.  Yes, there is some opinion here.  But there are also a lot of compliments paid to Sano, as well.  Sano's talent and work ethic are both praised.  I guess I am just not as offended by suggesting that a bit of 'dietary discipline' could eventually be standing in Sano's path on the way to greatness.  And if the organization has none of the same concerns, I'd be very surprised, if not disappointed.

[Squirrel]

I can hear part of this argument. Yes, there is some opinion here. But there are also a lot of compliments paid to Sano, as well. Sano's talent and work ethic are both praised. I guess I am just not as offended by suggesting that a bit of 'dietary discipline' could eventually be standing in Sano's path on the way to greatness. And if the organization has none of the same concerns, I'd be very surprised, if not disappointed.

And again, you are basing this on first-hand knowledge of exactly what his diet is or are you making a very broad assumption based on what, his appearance? And if there were an actual issue and the FO IS concerned I'm glad they choose not to make it public. But my issues are the conclusions being drawn here by Souhan and you on no first-hand information. If you can come back and show us recent reports of Sano's actual dietary malfeasance, yes, then we'd all have something actual to talk about.

[Doubles]

 

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!

 

Sorry Seth.  I hate 'contrarian for contrarian's sake' more than anyone.  I can assure you that's now what I'm angling at here.

[Doubles]

 

And again, you are basing this on first-hand knowledge of exactly what his diet is or are you making a very broad assumption based on what, his appearance? And if there were an actual issue and the FO IS concerned I'm glad they choose not to make it public. But my issues are the conclusions being drawn here by Souhan and you on no first-hand information. If you can come back and show us recent reports of Sano's actual dietary malfeasance, yes, then we'd all have something actual to talk about.

 

I totally get what you're saying.  I also agree with you on being glad the FO hasn't gone public if they have any of these concerns.  Few worse ways to go about isolating a player, especially one of your essential building blocks, than calling him out for that.

 

"According to my information, Sano’s weight has gradually risen all season and is now well above 260 pounds, which is the number listed on the Twins roster. He might be 20 to 25 pounds heavier than that."

 

I'm not really sure what could be considered 'proof' or 'first-hand info' that Sano's weight has gone up since the season started.  Do we really expect a columnist to say, "According to members of the team's training staff..."  I can almost guarantee it would get back to the FO who sold out Sano.  Maybe that's another issue at play here, anyways.  

 

I'm taking Souhan at his word that Sano's weight has increased over this season.  And if true, that should be a concern.  What Souhan does know first-hand is the lifestyle of a major leaguer.  It is drastically different than most people would know, and many of those differences are not necessarily healthy.  

 

 

[Squirrel]

I totally get what you're saying. I also agree with you on being glad the FO hasn't gone public if they have any of these concerns. Few worse ways to go about isolating a player, especially one of your essential building blocks, than calling him out for that.

 

"According to my information, Sano’s weight has gradually risen all season and is now well above 260 pounds, which is the number listed on the Twins roster. He might be 20 to 25 pounds heavier than that."

 

I'm not really sure what could be considered 'proof' or 'first-hand info' that Sano's weight has gone up since the season started. Do we really expect a columnist to say, "According to members of the team's training staff..." I can almost guarantee it would get back to the FO who sold out Sano. Maybe that's another issue at play here, anyways.

 

I'm taking Souhan at his word that Sano's weight has increased over this season. And if true, that should be a concern. What Souhan does know first-hand is the lifestyle of a major leaguer. It is drastically different than most people would know, and many of those differences are not necessarily healthy.

That's not my point. The point is the false conclusions people are making on this especially that this correlates to his recent injury. There was absolutely nothing in Souhans opinion piece that gave any kind of evidence of this let alone that he even did ANY research on this. He's not an MD and provided nothing that this injury was weight related which was his implication.

[Blake]

I want to know just how much Sano has had to eat, or drink, in order for his weight to climb as Souhan has claimed.

 

I've read in a couple of places that ballplayers tend to start the season a bit overweight because the grind of a season tends to take weight off.

 

Also, I seem to recall Ray Miller (remember him?) started weigh-ins during his one and only spring training as manager. From what I remember, that didn't go down well with the players.

 

Sano is what he is. From what I've read about Sano, the kid thoroughly enjoys the game, works hard and is an asset in the clubhouse. Maybe at some point someone will have to sit Sano down and discuss the his weight. Or, Sano will figure it out on his own. As of right now, Sano is fine and should be left alone.

 

Souhan definitely mailed it in with that one.

 

 

[Doubles]

That's not my point. The point is the false conclusions people are making on this especially that this correlates to his recent injury. There was absolutely nothing in Souhans opinion piece that gave any kind of evidence of this let alone that he even did ANY research on this. He's not an MD and provided nothing that this injury was weight related which was his implication.

He didn't say the injury was weight-related. He said the recovery may be. There's a bit of a difference.

 

"The injury was caused by a foul ball. His recovery might be affected by the amount of man that shin must support."

 

I just don't see the level of salaciousness or whatever you want to call it that many other people are seeing. Guess we'll just agree to disagree.

[Squirrel]

He didn't say the injury was weight-related. He said the recovery may be. There's a bit of a difference.

 

"The injury was caused by a foul ball. His recovery might be affected by the amount of man that shin must support."

 

I just don't see the level of salaciousness or whatever you want to call it that many other people are seeing. Guess we'll just agree to disagree.

I think it comes with Souhan's history. And okay, his recovery might be affected. Again it opens a door to comments and supposition on Sano unnecessarily, imo. And again, a couple of phone calls and a little bit of research goes a long way, something Souhan didn't bother with. That's why I referred to the piece as lazy. But yes, agree to disagree is where we are at.

[Shaitan]

Not to defend Souhan in any way. In fact, I refuse to click over to the article because I despise his work so much I don't want to direct web traffic to it.

 

But for the record I'd like to point out that he's a columnist, not a reporter. Big distinction. His job is to write opinion pieces. 

 

And with columnists, the more inflammatory they get, the better for traffic. 

[Doubles]

Sano's weight has been a thing for a while now. The surprising Twins season, and especially Sano's good season, can make it easy to forget that. Sano has far surpassed my expectations as a third baseman. The guy is a flat-out athlete.

 

Are we all in agreement that Mauer was more valuable behind the plate than he is at first base? While an eventual switch to first was probably inevitable, that move was hastened by his concussion issues. There has been plenty talk of Sano eventually moving to first base. The only reason for that to happen anytime soon would be if his weight cut down on his agility and compromised his ability to play third base. I think Sano has more value at third base than he does first. Would be a shame if he had to be moved from a key defensive spot that he excels at because of something that is within his control.

 

Again, I'd be surprised and frankly disappointed if Sano's size was of zero concern to the Twins front office.

[nicksaviking]

Honestly, Souhan seemed a bit restrained in this one. The piece didn't seem very inflammatory to me, simply the topic is a touchy subject.

 

I think he was presumptuous, as usual; everything is going to be simple speculation when it comes to weight discussions. However he didn't seem to have his torch and pitchfork out in this article. His verbiage in this one in fact almost seemed sensitive. It was unnecessary but rather benign.

 

And for the record, I typically have a hard time stomaching Souhan.

[Sssuperdave]

 

Sano's weight has been a thing for a while now. The surprising Twins season, and especially Sano's good season, can make it easy to forget that. Sano has far surpassed my expectations as a third baseman. The guy is a flat-out athlete.

Are we all in agreement that Mauer was more valuable behind the plate than he is at first base? While an eventual switch to first was probably inevitable, that move was hastened by his concussion issues. There has been plenty talk of Sano eventually moving to first base. The only reason for that to happen anytime soon would be if his weight cut down on his agility and compromised his ability to play third base. I think Sano has more value at third base than he does first. Would be a shame if he had to be moved from a key defensive spot that he excels at because of something that is within his control.

Again, I'd be surprised and frankly disappointed if Sano's size was of zero concern to the Twins front office.

 

I agree that Sano would be more valuable at 3rd than 1st, and would also be surprised and disappointed if his size was of zero concern to the FO. I'm confident it is a concern for them, and I hope and expect they have very specific strength and conditioning goals for every single player in the organization. 

 

I think there's a lot more agreement than disagreement specifically about Sano's weight. I think very few people believe he is a better player at 280 than at 250, and most people believe he would be a better player at 250 than 280.

 

The beef I have is with Souhan bringing this issue up the day after Sano sustains in injury unrelated to his weight, and writing a puff piece about it without a single quote, seemingly because it will generate clicks. Sano's diet, weight and conditioning are between him and the team. If he or the team is open to disclosing any of the plan or their concerns to Souhan then it would be perfectly appropriate to write an article about it. If they aren't interested in talking about it, then in my opinion the article becomes a hatchet job.

[Blackjack]

 

 

And with columnists, the more inflammatory they get, the better for traffic. 

 

BINGO!!!!

[Loosey]

Did Souhan have Sano stand on a scale for him to make the determination that he is 280+ lbs now?  I haven't seen a discernable difference in his size since spring training, especially not 20-30 lbs difference.  Additionally, even if he is that weight, who cares.  He hits well and plays 3rd base better than expected.  He gets one leg injury (due to a foul ball) and Souhan fires his take cannon about it being caused by his weight.  The guy's a hack.

[twinsnorth49]

Lots of 2+2=5 in the column, like most of the drivel Souhan writes.

 

Pretty much no supporting medical science to back up what he's claiming. Pretty shallow and uneducated piece really, not worth the effort.

[twinsnorth49]

If only he were more agile

 

 

https://www.mlb.com/video/sanos-leaping-grab-at-third/c-1608922583

 

https://www.mlb.com/video/sanos-great-diving-stop/c-1585316683

[Doubles]

Thanks for taking the time to put together a response very much like what I had in mind when I requested what people didn't like about the column.  My apologies- I should have responded to this sooner.  

 

Please see my responses in bold below:

 

 

This wasn't directed at me, but I'm happy to reply with a lot of specifics. All quotes are taken from Souhan's article...

 

"But there are those in the Twins organization who are concerned with Sano's weight..."

 

This sentence fragment encapsulates Souhan's lazy reporting perfectly. He makes a sweeping generalization with an appeal to authority without including any actual specifics. He doesn't have a single quote here, or anywhere in the whole article for that matter. Good reporting would have at least an anonymous quote, and better reporting would have had an on-the-record quote. Throwing out a statement like that without even an anonymous quote is lazy reporting. Perhaps none of his sources would give him a quote, in which case he shouldn't have written it.

 

He's saying he's heard of concerns from people inside the organization.  I'm not a journalist major by any means, but is a quote- anonymous or otherwise- necessary?  I honestly don't know.  And if there was a specific quote- either anonymous or attributed- wouldn't that put someone's job security in question?  I'd sure think so.  Regardless, the point still stands:  There is concern within the organization about Sano's weight.  Again, it would be a red flag is there was no concern about Sano's, and all players' physical condition for that matter.

 

"According to my information, Sano's weight has gradually risen all season and is now well above 260 pounds..."

 

This one makes me want to vomit. According to my information?!?! What is this, a gossip column? Again, lazy reporting. What is his "information" based on? Was he snooping at his medical records? Did he get it from someone on the team? Will they say something on record about it? If not, will they say something anonymously? If not, don't write it. Period.

 

Pretty much same as above.  

 

"Pablo Sandoval comes to mind..."

 

Have you actually looked at Miguel Sano and Pablo Sandoval? This is very poor and lazy comparison. It's like Souhan thought to himself... "who's a third basemen known for being overweight? Sandoval... here we go." Miguel Cabrera would be a better (but still not very good) comparison, but that wouldn't fit Souhan's narrative because Cabrera is a 2-time MVP with a hall of fame caliber career.  

 

When it comes to larger human beings in baseball, Cabrera and Panda are probably the best and worst-case scenarios.  

 

"When you’re built like Buxton, dietary discipline is an option.

When you’re built like Sano, dietary discipline is a necessity."

 

Okay, this is a nice turn of a phrase, but look at the actual content. I couldn't disagree more. Right now Buxton's #1 asset is his speed. If he gains 30 pounds his #1 asset is neutralized, and it's questionable whether he's even a big leaguer. Sano's #1 asset is power. If he gains 30 pounds he'll probably hit just as many home runs, but as a DH instead of at third. I'm not saying it's fine for Sano to gain 30 pounds, but I am saying that it would probably hurt his game less than it would hurt Buxton's. In my opinion Souhan is making a lazy and illogical argument because it sounds impressive.

 

This is reading a bit too much into something, in my opinion.  Look at their builds.  Sano is a large human being, and regardless of his nutrition or conditioning, probably always will be.  Buxton is built like a thoroughbred.  He probably has to work to keep weight on, or at the least is probably far less susceptible to fluctuations the way a person of Sano's build would probably be.  Yes, I'm being presumptuous here, but I reserve the right to be so. 

 

"This isn’t about work ethic, and it certainly isn’t about weight shaming. It’s about diet. Sano’s bulk simply makes him even more vulnerable than most ballplayers to the pitfalls of the big-league lifestyle.

 

Food is everywhere, and young players often eat the worst of what is available.

 

I’ve seen clubhouse attendants carrying in large bags of fast food before games. The lifestyle dictates that players are often up late, while hungry and with lots of money to spend"

 

What is the point of this section? Taken in context and reading between the lines Souhan is saying Sano is surrounded by junk food and is gaining weight, so he must be making poor dietary decisions. Note that I said "reading between the lines;" I wouldn't have to read between the lines if Souhan would actually say something specific and meaningful instead of speaking in generalities and making implications. He claims that this is not about weight shaming, but "and it certainly isn't about weight shaming" is the only sentence in the article that doesn't feel like weight shaming. 

 

Jim covered the Twins beat for several seasons.  He knows what an MLB player's lifestyle entails, and there's more to it than what most fans realize.  Weird sleep patterns, late-night meals / partying.  The unusual hours kept by this lifestyle affects some more than it does others.  I'd say players whose weight fluctuates would have to be more aware of this than those whose weight stays fairly steady.

 

"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."

 

Okay, now most of this paragraph I can agree is probably logically accurate. He probably would have more energy, run better, etc. at 250 than at 280. However, once again Souhan takes a lazy approach to it. If this is so self-evident, than can't he at least get one quote on it? Maybe the team physician?  Maybe a trainer? Maybe a coach? Maybe even his neighbor who is a physician?

 

The passage written above is just plain common sense, isn't it?  I mean do we really need medical evidence of the claims made?  I know I don't.
 

I could keep going, but I think I've made my point.

 

Well done, Sssupe.  Thanks for debating this with me.

 

 

 

 

[twinsnorth49]

Sort of ironic the much fitter Buxton has spent more time on the DL than the overweight guy at 3rd (TJS not withstanding, unless that was weight related). 

[DJSim22]

 

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.

Exactly the timing says it all imo.  Then again I find Souhan a windbag who should never have been promoted to columnist.

[DJSim22]

 

He didn't say the injury was weight-related. He said the recovery may be. There's a bit of a difference.

"The injury was caused by a foul ball. His recovery might be affected by the amount of man that shin must support."

I just don't see the level of salaciousness or whatever you want to call it that many other people are seeing. Guess we'll just agree to disagree.

 

I'd say look at his track record of writing.

 

Any one of us could have written this article, he phoned it in. 

 

[Rosterman]

Let's talk about the problem of David Ortiz and weight.

 

[whydidnt]

I can hear part of this argument.  Yes, there is some opinion here.  But there are also a lot of compliments paid to Sano, as well.  Sano's talent and work ethic are both praised.  I guess I am just not as offended by suggesting that a bit of 'dietary discipline' could eventually be standing in Sano's path on the way to greatness.  And if the organization has none of the same concerns, I'd be very surprised, if not disappointed.

These "compliments" are just passive aggressive ways of Souhan saying Sano is fat and lazy. He throws in some platitudes to soften the message, but the message is the same as it always is with Souhan: Sano is fat, lazy and doesn' t care. The fact that the article is published the day after he goes on the DL with a NON-WEIGHT related injury is all you need to know about his agenda. Everything else is just fluff to get you read his unsubstantiated hatchet job. I have no idea what Souhan gains from stories such as this, I suspect, nothing more tha what every other internet troll wants, and that's attention.

[drjim]

It probably would be beneficial if Sano lost 10-15, maybe 20 pounds. It's not going to get easier as he gets older.