Twins Cut Miguel Sano’s Winter Season Short

Maybe it's just me, but Sano looks like he's pushing 3 bills in that HR clip.

I wonder if the trade market for third basemen like Plouffe may have played a role. While it remains to be seen, the A's seemingly didn't get much for Brett Lawrie -- who is very similar to Plouffe. It could be that the Twins started to realize that during the winter meetings and decided they actually need to get Sano ready for outfield play.

That's quite possible. Plus he will be throwing the football around with Perry, and you know Perry will have his eyes on Sano's weight. He'll be on the scale a few times a day. That and the fact that other Twins will be there working out can't help but get his mind on the season and off of winter ball.  Perkins is there now and will be til around Jan 21st. I can't help but wonder how many 100's of miles Sano will put on between now and the start of camp. 

Maybe it's just me, but Sano looks like he's pushing 3 bills in that HR clip.

Given the overall quality of that video, I wouldn't trust it for information on the actual shape of a person.

Another possibility is a number of players including Santanna last year have been dinged for performance enhancers while taking something they "knew nothing" about in their home country.

So we have a guy who actually wants to continue to get better, play more baseball, work on his swing, his 3rd base defense etc in the offseason, instead of shutting him down we should be commending him for his effort. Instead, poor roster management has lead us to shutting him down so we can monitor him for a diet in order to have him be something he is not (an OF)

Except he has only played 15 games, missed 10 games while attending a trade show in Chicago and apparently took advantage of the opportunity to eat some pizza there.   Does that look like a guy working on his game or a guy on vacation playing in a beer league a couple times a week?   Roster management will probably work just fine if Sano comes in at around 250 lbs.    Not so well if he comes in at 300 and then you will be criticizing the Twins for not keeping tabs on one of their best players or insisting that he get in shape.    300 pounds really doesn't play that well at 3rd base or at the plate either.     

Twins say it was entirely Sano's decision. Sano told DR media that it was Twins. Interesting.

 

Someone else referenced this, speculating that someone other than Ryan made the call. That's possible. Another possibility is that there was some confusion translating the original report (I'm assuming a Spanish language publication) into English.

In any case, I really don't think this is the emergency some people see it as. It's December. They want Sano to rest. So what?

If he's hitting 10 bombs a year because he can't get off the trainers table, all we'll hear here is "why didn't management take care of him?"  Perhaps putting him in the OF is the best way to make Sano think about pushing away from the buffet table one plate sooner.  "Hey, I'd better stay under 300lbs if I have to run 50 feet."

Putting him in the OF is also a way of making a potentially once in a generation type of hitter overthink the defensive part of the game at the potential expense of his offensive game.  Leave him at the spot he's comfortable at.  If somebody needs to move let it be Plouffe.  It would only increase his eventual trade value.

Putting him in the OF is also a way of making a potentially once in a generation type of hitter overthink the defensive part of the game at the potential expense of his offensive game.  Leave him at the spot he's comfortable at.  If somebody needs to move let it be Plouffe.  It would only increase his eventual trade value.

I really don't think there's any reason to believe this. It's not as if standing in RF will make Sano suddenly forget how to swing a bat. Remember, he wasn't at third base when he was playing as the DH. Some people say they feel uncomfortable if they don't play defense. I don't think it affected Sano at all.

There is also a contemporary, glaring comparison we could make. Miguel Cabrera has rotated positions throughout his career (3B, 1B, DH, and yes, LF). I don't know. I think he's a pretty good hitter. Thinking more broadly, I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make regarding the affect playing outfield has on one's offensive performance. Are you speaking generally or about Sano in particular? Is it that OF isn't Sano's "native" position? Because there are some pretty good hitters who have played OF. Trout. Bonds. Griffey Jr. Mays. Ruth. Etc.

He did just have Tommy John surgery 20 months ago. Rest makes sense to me, even if he's not a pitcher.

Sano is obviously a HUGE (no pun intended)foundation of this franchise moving forward.  It makes sense that knowing publicly they have stated they want him playing in the outfield next season that the process of the transition starts sooner rather than later.  My guess is that they want him to drop some weight so his body is able to hold up along with covering more ground in the outfield.  I would think he will also play some 3rd along with DH'ing.  I can for see Trevor spelling Joe at 1st on days Joe DH'S and Sano coming in to play 3rd on a few of those occasions.  

Darn. My buddies and I are going to the DR on New Years for a week and I was hoping to see Sano in the Winter League playoffs.

In that video... a 4x3 aspect ratio recording stretched to fit in a 16x9 format, he looks downright fat, but it is distorted. Everyone in the video would look that way. 

Sano should be working out with Berrios! For that matter, so should Mauer and Perkins! No need to be playing Dominican ball. I think this is great. I don't know why they don't have a fitness camp where the boys can go to get personal training and diet et al during the off season. The Twins should even have a guy that can go to where he is to be involved daily.