Let's Cut Miguel Sanó Some Slack

While I am as frustrated as anyone with the enigma that is Mr. Sano he has become the fans whipping boy at a level that is patently unfair. Examples: He's massively overweight (he shed 25 pounds), he doesn't care (see weight loss), he's terrible defensively (he isn't.) Admittedly many at bats are brutal, but given his propensity to start slowly he was harmed more than most by the abbreviated ST, umpires have the widest zone and the most liberal interpretation of "checked swing" when he's in the box, criticized for ripping a ball 108MPH because Grossman's inept and vilified for the base running fiasco last night when the blame rests with the 3B coach. And the Twins haven't had anything resembling a decent hitting coach since 2019 (so a couple of still formative years.) So yes, I will continue to cut him some slack if only perhaps because a number that screams at me: Through age 28 season 161 HR, Nelson Cruz 55 HR. Incidentally his at bats have produced 2 of the last 5 victories, Patience does have an expiration date. I'm just not quite there yet.

Problem is, the Twins can't afford to have a rally-killing hole in their lineup for two months, even if Sano gets red hot later. Sano's notorious early cold spell was one of the reasons that the team fell profoundly out of contention before the halfway point of last season. 

For that reason I would get rid of Sano, replacing him with a high-average hitter like Kirilloff or Miranda. Late in a tied game with two outs and a runner on second, I'd rather have untested rookie Miranda at the plate than Sano. Kirilloff for sure, if his hand is okay. 

Always excuses for Sano. 

I'm old school and the advanced metrics make my head explode. When I read articles like this and see all the little letters infront of Big letters and numbers...well. For me way too much. I don't understand any of it and honestly, I really don't care to. BUT, like loud obnoxious music all the time at games, metrics are here to stay. I won't call them garbage, I'll just call them 'too much for my liking'. OK, thats off my chest.

Sano--I think its time to move on from him. He's never going to change. However, right now, probably not the best time to single him out when our superstar Correa is just as bad, if not worse; and Polanco is dead at the plate too. Gotta think the latter two will eventually come around. Sano is who he is. He'll crush a few, he'll miss a lot more. And he will give you so-so D at first base. Probably not tradable. Probably the last year in Minnesota, barring a total epiphany

9 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

By what measure is he not terrible at defense? Just search the internet, it's clear he's terrible. 

It is on the internet, it has to be true!?

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

. If you have evidenced he's good, let's see it. 

Your evidence he not first; oh yes, it's on the net, it must be true,?

Sano is not capable of learning. At the end of last year they changed  the way he hit. They made him wait on the ball till it got further in on the plate. This gave him a better look at the pitch. And made him follow the ball with his eyes longer. It worked well. His second half was good. He has a quick bat and more than enough power to wait. He forgot everything  he was taught.

13 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

By what measure is he not terrible at defense? Just search the internet, it's clear he's terrible. 

My eyes tell me what the internet cannot. Try it sometime.

My suggestion is to eliminate the last two words in the title of your article.

It's not that Sano isn't a competent MLB player; he is. He just isn't good enough to be the 1B/middle of the order bat on a contending MLB team. He's plenty good enough to start for a .500 team, but I don't want to be that. A contending team can't wait 2 months for a guy to heat up to slightly above average. We should always be evaluating players on whether they can contribute to a team contending for a championship. If they can, they stay. If they can't, you look for an upgrade. They play until you find that upgrade but you don't stop looking. Simple as that.

Sano just isn't good enough to be what we need - a solid 1B/DH who hits in the middle of a good lineup. I wouldn't cut him slack, I'd look for his replacement. Weirdly enough, we may have found his replacement in Arraez and/or Kirilloff.   

At this point he is what he is. Why are people surprised when he goes through a prolonged slump?  Soon enough he is going to hit 5 homers in 5 games and people will write articles that he has finally figured it out. Then he will slump again. My guess is it’s his last season as a Twin. 

I would not be considering cutting him just yet.  There are a lot of great players really slumping this year.  Whit Merrifield who is normally steady has a wRC+ of 7.  Franmill Reyes, 11, Bobby Dalbec is at 30, Joey Votto 42, Marcus Semien 42, and Randy Arozarena 55.  Eddie Rosario has been the worst hitter in the league at -20 wRC+.  Correa had been pretty bad too, but he sure looks like he is out of his funk. 

On the other hand, they just don't need him if Kirilloff can stay healthy and Trevor Larnach is for real.  They are going to let this play out for another month at least so buckle your seat belts.