Article: Miguel Sano Relegated to First Base Already? You Must be Joking.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2262-Miguel-Sano-Relegated-to-First-Base-Already-You-Must-be-Joking

[Twins Daily Admin]

Don't forget Chris Parmelee and Trevor Plouffe on that first baseman list.

 

Yeah, it's silly to move him yet. It's silly to move him before he shows he can't in the majors. But I wouldn't be shocked if he is moved prior to the end of 2015, and maybe at the end of 2014. I'm getting a lot of mixed reviews on his D. He seems to be capable of making incredible plays, but maybe a bit inconsistent?

[Thegrin]

If Miguel Cabrera can play 3rd base on a Pennant winning team, Miguel Sano certainly can.

[TheLeviathan]

Given how rare it is to find an elite third baseman...you only move him to first in an complete emergency.

[Seth Stohs]

I think you absolutely keep him at 3B. Reports I've been given and some others, he's probably already as good defensively as Plouffe. Is it great? No. Can he, at age 20, improve? Of course. He'll be fine.

[CharacterGroove]

This seems a little out of the blue.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't get this. He's being pushed by no one and it's much easier to find a 1B who can mash on the FA market than it is a 3B. I get that his defense may never be stellar, but he's 20... Defense can and will improve, and I'll sacrifice a bit with the glove for a kid that can absolutely mash at that position. Good hitting 3B aren't nearly as easy to find as people think.

[Shane Wahl]

Well that "move Mauer to 3rd" crowd is going to need to move Sano somewhere by June-ish, so . . .

 

But in reality, I would hope that Sano pushes Plouffe to where he should be--platooning *somewhere* with Parmelee.

[Boom Boom]

Admittedly I haven't seen Sano play 3rd more than a couple clips. When you're comparing him to Plouffe, though, it seems like Trevor's fielding % is inflated a bit. He doesn't get hit with an error for being out of position (which he is frequently).

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Given how rare it is to find an elite third baseman...you only move him to first in an complete emergency.

 

Sano should try to play 3rd, but I would say elite third basemen really aren't rare anymore. In fact, I'd say elite first basemen are rarer. Right now, there is a big talent wave at the hot corner. Miguel Cabrera, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Adrian Beltre, David Wright, and Evan Longoria are all at an elite level. Then there's a good group below them with Seager, Uribe, Arenado, Headley, Prado, Lawrie, Alvarez, and Zimmerman. That's 15/30 starters playing at a high level at 3rd base with 6 of them being elite.

At first base, I'd only say Votto, Goldschmitt, and Davis are playing elite. That's 6 to 3 favoring 3rd. There's a quite a few good first basemen below them though. Swisher, Napoli, Craig, Trumbo, Freeman, Encarnacion, Belt, and Gonzalez add 8 more for 11/30.

There's quite a few more great athletes playing 3rd base in the minors too and I think the trend will continue for some time. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some more Kris Bryant types being drafted high. What's most interesting to look at is that every elite third baseman is on a contender (except David Wright).

[Corntopper]

Many infielders who later became thought of as having very good or great gloves made a lot of errors in the minor leagues. Koskie's milb fielding percentage was .924. Gaetti's was .925. George Brett's was .910. Twice Gaetti had more than 30 errors in a minor league season. Sano's fielding percentage this year is .930.

[Bob Sacamento]

Admittedly I haven't seen Sano play 3rd more than a couple clips. When you're comparing him to Plouffe, though, it seems like Trevor's fielding % is inflated a bit. He doesn't get hit with an error for being out of position (which he is frequently).

Living in Ft. Myers I've got to see Sano play in the GCL, instructs (watching him work with Molitor every morning was kinda cool) and the FSL. He has definitely gotten better, less brick hands and more accurate throws. He'll never be an elite defender but should be at least adequate to stay there. The player I liken him to defensively would be Aramis Ramirez.

[ashbury]

I'm getting a lot of mixed reviews on his D. He seems to be capable of making incredible plays, but maybe a bit inconsistent?

 

That was the book on Florimon before this year, wasn't it? Maturity can sometimes smooth out the rough edges.

[ashbury]

This seems a little out of the blue.

 

If you are referring to a specific post, please report it rather than try to police it yourself in the thread. I already deleted one post above yours for violating Comments Policy on insulting individuals, which may have been what you referred to, and another one was close to the edge.

 

/ edit - and then someone else coming after CharacterGroove's comment made me delete their post, apparently feeling that since moderation this morning hadn't been instantaneous, it was open season on personal attacks. Remember that the Comments Policy item asking for respect includes everyone, not just posters here. And Andrew's article is about Sano, not about a journalist, so staying on-topic is another reason to tone down the rhetoric.

[Teflon]

American League third basemen had 6,168 chances in 20,285 innings last year. This works out to 2.73 chances per game. Based on the actual opportunities for making plays at 3B, some might be overvaluing the value of defense at this position.

 

On second thought - given the Twins pitchers' inability to strike out batters, I'll concede that this number is probably 10% more significant for us right now than for other teams.

[kab21]

I hope everyone actually read the article and realize that this is only the opinion of Tom Powers and not the org. So far Sano is showing that he can at least play the position and Plouffe has done nothing to show that he should be part of the long term plans at 3B. After Plouffe there is almost nothing at 3B for the Twins. Romero isn't a starter and Harrison's defense is just as suspect as Sano's.

 

If the Twins had an .800+ OPS average or better fielding 3Bman that was part of the long term plans then Sano would likely be ticketed to 1B. but, umm, yeah...

[Jdosen]

Not that I think he should be moved off 3B by any means, but if the Twins were to have Sano make a change, wouldn't it behoove them to move him to RF, where his incredible arm strength wouldn't be wasted?

[cmathewson]

Well that "move Mauer to 3rd" crowd is going to need to move Sano somewhere by June-ish, so . . .

 

But in reality, I would hope that Sano pushes Plouffe to where he should be--platooning *somewhere* with Parmelee.

 

Mauer belongs at first. He could win a gold glove over there.

[jokin]

Mauer belongs at first. He could win a gold glove over there.

 

That would be great, but a Gold Glove at first base doesn't mean too much, really. It certainly won't justify the contract. We need a power hitter there who can catch throws somewhat consistently.

[70charger]

Not that I think he should be moved off 3B by any means, but if the Twins were to have Sano make a change, wouldn't it behoove them to move him to RF, where his incredible arm strength wouldn't be wasted?

 

This does seem like a better idea. Not that awesome athleticism is required for RF, but almost no athleticism is required for 1B. (Hell, if Prince Fielder can do it, my 2 year old niece probably could.) By all accounts, Sano is quick, fast, and athletic. Why waste him at 1B?

 

Of course, you're also right that this assumes he'd be moved off 3B. I don't think we're there yet.

[Shane Wahl]

That would be great, but a Gold Glove at first base doesn't mean too much, really. It certainly won't justify the contract. We need a power hitter there who can catch throws somewhat consistently.

 

Is a power hitter at first that necessary if you have one at third?

 

I know you are being flip, but "catch throws somewhat consistently" does not sound good in the slightest. I can see Mauer being Morneau-esque at scooping throws, he has good height, and he is quicker than Morneau. Mauer has made some good plays in his time at first. I don't want to sit here and undervalue defense at first and overvalue defense at third.

[jokin]

Is a power hitter at first that necessary if you have one at third?

 

I know you are being flip, but "catch throws somewhat consistently" does not sound good in the slightest. I can see Mauer being Morneau-esque at scooping throws, he has good height, and he is quicker than Morneau. Mauer has made some good plays in his time at first. I don't want to sit here and undervalue defense at first and overvalue defense at third.

 

My comments were partly based, and dependent upon how long the Twins play the waiting game on Sano next year, and how long it takes for Sano to reliably establish himself in the field and at the plate as the Twins starting Third Baseman.

 

And hey, the Detroit Tigers have done quite well with power hitters at both First and Third, and their defense at those positions ranks near the worst in all of baseball.

 

And we can't ignore the reality that a Mark Grace+ at 1B can never be worth $23M/yr.

[Mave]

If Miguel Cabrera can play 3rd base on a Pennant winning team, Miguel Sano certainly can.

 

Seconded.

 

One more for you: Pablo. Sandoval. World Series Champion.

[IdahoPilgrim]

And we can't ignore the reality that a Mark Grace+ at 1B can never be worth $23M/yr.

 

In your view, is there a position that does justify the $23M/yr contract?

 

In my view the answer is No, so I've stopped worrying about what position best fits Mauer's contract. I think we should play him where he can do the most good and just accept the money is a sunk cost that can't be changed.

 

My own sense is, if you do have a power-hitting 1B, then Mauer can alternate being catching and DHing. If you don't have a power-hitting 1B, then Mauer should play first to reduce injury risk.