Thread: Twins on FSN+ tonight, and a certain big name prospect is playing...

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Originally Posted by LaBombo

+1. It's been surprising and a little disappointing how quickly much of the media and fan base has treated Sano's possible move to first as a foregone conclusion. He's still pretty raw at third, but he's not the hopeless oaf he's been made out to be. He sure looks like he has the raw athletic ability to be better than some of the bruisers who've managed to man third in the majors.

I agree. He'll be good enough there if he works at it. Don't forget the abyss that has been the Twins hot corner for a decade plus. We're gonna quibble because this guy with more power than Conn-Ed will never win a Gold Glove? Christ! Last year's World Series opponents got there with a Panda Bear & a Sasquatch at 3B. I think Miguel Angel Sano will be fine.

for the reasons Nick listed I only consider it a bonus if Sano can stick at 3B. We will know more this year but if his bat keeps pushing for promotions and his defense is potentially holding up his big league callup by 1+ yrs then it becomes a difficult choice. The other issue is that I feel fairly certain that Sano's MLB time at 3B will be limited to 3-4 yrs. As he enters his late 20's and fills out his frame I just don't believe that he will be a 3Bman.

If the giants had other 3B options I think they would definitely move the Panda to 1B.

Originally Posted by kab21

for the reasons Nick listed I only consider it a bonus if Sano can stick at 3B. We will know more this year but if his bat keeps pushing for promotions and his defense is potentially holding up his big league callup by 1+ yrs then it becomes a difficult choice. The other issue is that I feel fairly certain that Sano's MLB time at 3B will be limited to 3-4 yrs. As he enters his late 20's and fills out his frame I just don't believe that he will be a 3Bman.

If the giants had other 3B options I think they would definitely move the Panda to 1B.

He was listed at 6'3", 190 in his pro debut. He's 6'4", 235-240 now. If he "fills out" much more, he may have to skip playing first and just go full-time DH.

Interesting that Sano's one plus defensive tool, the arm, would be almost entirely wasted at first, and yet it looks like nobody in this thread has mentioned right field.

At any rate, with another dreadful year on tap at the major league level and a growing amount of impatience among many of the faithful here, I'm sure there will be a hue and cry to move Sano to first to expedite his MLB debut unless his defense at 3rd improves drastically this year.

What are you talking about skipping first and going right to DH? That's silly. He might (probably will) end up in the 260-280 range but with his athleticism he should be able to handle that position especially compared to some of the stiffs that play it in the MLB. Handling the hot corner is significantly more difficult than 1B. He might be able to do it for a few years but long term he won't be there.

Arm is an overrated tool and wasting it isn't that big of an issue. He could certainly handle OF as well as parmelee, Willy, Delmon, Cuddyer or Kubel imo. The reason that nobody mentions OF is that the Twins have prospects everywhere in the OF. And those prospects all project as plus defenders aside from Arcia. At 1B the Twins have Parmelee and maybe a guy like Vargas.

Originally Posted by kab21

And those prospects all project as plus defenders aside from Arcia. At 1B the Twins have Parmelee and maybe a guy like Vargas.

Sano and Vargas as the future corner IFs? I think we need to ask Seth what the "Tigerbeat" version of the Tigers 1B/3B lineup has been like at Beloit and the Rookie Leagues...

You might be able to compare them to Prince/Miguel at single A but it's a long way to the majors from there. Vargas is interesting but I need to see a little more than 40 great games.

I forgot about another nice 1B (maybe 3B) prospect in Harrison. He has some nice potential but he is more like Matt moses at this point. He was a 1st rd pick that had decent tools and a nice swing IIRC. it just never worked out for him and he never did anything in the minors outside of a solid half season in ft myers. I remember at the time '06ish that there were some projecting him into the the Twins lineup in '08 or '09 the same way that many on here are projecting prospects. some will work out and some will disappoint.

Originally Posted by kab21

You might be able to compare them to Prince/Miguel at single A but it's a long way to the majors from there. Vargas is interesting but I need to see a little more than 40 great games.

I forgot about another nice 1B (maybe 3B) prospect in Harrison. He has some nice potential but he is more like Matt moses at this point. He was a 1st rd pick that had decent tools and a nice swing IIRC. it just never worked out for him and he never did anything in the minors outside of a solid half season in ft myers. I remember at the time '06ish that there were some projecting him into the the Twins lineup in '08 or '09 the same way that many on here are projecting prospects. some will work out and some will disappoint.

TR said something to the effect that they were waiting for him to develop big power (Harrison that is) and he emphasized that Harrison was a high draft choice (fr standing between the fields last week, standing next to the Twins' GM).

Originally Posted by LaBombo

He was listed at 6'3", 190 in his pro debut. He's 6'4", 235-240 now. If he "fills out" much more, he may have to skip playing first and just go full-time DH.

From seeing him in Thursday night's game, I think it's fair to say that Sano has completely filled out his frame. He has always been physically mature for his age, and I think it's safe to say he's done growing at 19, in terms of his frame. I suspect it will take a concerted effort on the part of he and the Twins training staff to prevent a mid-section expansion a la Fielder, Cabrera, Ortiz & others. But I think he showed the other night that he has the physical ability to play the hot corner. Obviously, fine-tuning his skills is required (as evidenced by his 42 errors at Beloit.) But I expect that the Twins' Brain Trust understands that as valuable as he can be at the plate, his worth increases exponentially if he can remain at 3rd base. I think it's safe to assume he will remain there until he absolutely proves that he is a liability. I seriously think we're still years away from that point.

No more of an authority on Sano than Terry Ryan said he is "too big". I think the team would like him to play about 20 lbs. lighter. He isn't a statue or a stiff, but he is close to growing out of being a third baseman.

I don't think you move Sano unless/until you absolutely, positively have to. If he can cut down the errors, I see no reason he won't be quick enough or agile enough to play 3b, at least until he gets on the wrong side of 30 or so. Having not seen him play much, it's hard to say if the errors are the normal type for minor league infielders (the kind that often go away with time and reps) or if he's just too clumsy, but he played SS growing up in the Dominican, so I doubt he's too clumsy. There have been lots of "big" 3bmen in the major leagues. Leave the kid alone and let him play 3b. If you have to move him later, that won't take much. It's his bat that's important anyway.

I know that most don't project Sano to hit for a high average but to me he looked like an extremely young Albert Puhols.

I actually think that Sano can hit for a decent average (.280-.290) despite last years low average.

I just want to make it completely clear but I don't think anyone has said to move him this year. The decision imo comes after the year where you assess the amount of time needed for his bat to reach the majors and the amount of time needed for his defense to be merely adequate at the MLB level. If the org thinks that it will take and extra year or two for the defense to be ready then you are faced with a difficult decision.

I really don't care what position Sano played as a young teenager where he was by far the best athlete on the field.

I also disagree with anyone that thinks he is done filling out at age 19 when he has put on 40+ lbs in 2 or so years. I also disagree with anyone that thinks he could be 20 lbs lighter. The kid is absolutely ripped and this is the body he was given. He's big and he's going to be big. It's not like he's the Panda or some other portly ballplayer.