Panda slimmed down?

[tzill]

All about the San Francisco Giants : SFGate: San Francisco Giants : The Splash


Interesting. I'm going to ST for the first time in years this March, so I'll report back what I see.

 

[SFGRTB]

It says in there that he could be "our new free agent" if he comes back to form, which I completely agree with. If he goes back to atleast average, it could be big. But if he goes back near his 09' numbers, this offense becomes dangerous. Puting Pablo between Posey and Huff, you go R-S-L (remember, Pablo CRUSHED lefties in 09'), teams will have a hard time matching up pitchers with us.

I too am going to spring training. What week are you going?

 

[tzill]

It says in there that he could be "our new free agent" if he comes back to form, which I completely agree with. If he goes back to atleast average, it could be big. But if he goes back near his 09' numbers, this offense becomes dangerous. Puting Pablo between Posey and Huff, you go R-S-L (remember, Pablo CRUSHED lefties in 09'), teams will have a hard time matching up pitchers with us.

I too am going to spring training. What week are you going?

We're still finalizing the details, but it looks like on or around the 15th.

 

[CameronFrye]

Just remember that last year Sandoval went through Operation: Panda (or whatever it was called) and everyone was talking about how he lost 25 pounds and was in the best shape of his life. But then he had four weeks between then end of his training and the start of spring training and came back looking like the same old Panda. So let's temper our expectations until fat boy proves he is serious about keeping in shape.

Don't get me wrong here, I am not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer nor am I trying to say that we would be fools for getting excited. I am just trying to say that instead of penciling him into an everyday position at 3B with a .300 BA, 25 HR and 95 RBI batting cleanup, let's aim lower and hope he exceeds our expectations.

 

[calsnowskier]

Just remember that last year Sandoval went through Operation: Panda (or whatever it was called) and everyone was talking about how he lost 25 pounds and was in the best shape of his life. But then he had four weeks between then end of his training and the start of spring training and came back looking like the same old Panda. So let's temper our expectations until fat boy proves he is serious about keeping in shape.

Don't get me wrong here, I am not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer nor am I trying to say that we would be fools for getting excited. I am just trying to say that instead of penciling him into an everyday position at 3B with a .300 BA, 25 HR and 95 RBI batting cleanup, let's aim lower and hope he exceeds our expectations.

You are absolutely right, we have to expect little from him.

However, last year was a year of hell for him. He went through a nasty divorce, had to battle for custody of his kids, and his career tanked. I HOPE that now that his personal issues are taken care of, he can work on the career issues.

Last off-season, he was coming off a huge season by almost anyone's standards. He was 21 years old and the entire organization was puddy in his hands. He could do no wrong.

He found in 2010 that he can do wrong. Let's hope he learned it too, and will act accordingly.

 

[tzill]

Just remember that last year Sandoval went through Operation: Panda (or whatever it was called) and everyone was talking about how he lost 25 pounds and was in the best shape of his life. But then he had four weeks between then end of his training and the start of spring training and came back looking like the same old Panda. So let's temper our expectations until fat boy proves he is serious about keeping in shape.

Don't get me wrong here, I am not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer nor am I trying to say that we would be fools for getting excited. I am just trying to say that instead of penciling him into an everyday position at 3B with a .300 BA, 25 HR and 95 RBI batting cleanup, let's aim lower and hope he exceeds our expectations.

I hear what you're saying, Cam. But this year it seems that his attitude is different -- he could well end up in Fresno if he doesn't get it together and DeRosa is on the roster as insurance. He chose to stay in AZ instead of San Diego so that he could be close to a workout guru. If he does report in shape next month, I don't think 300/350/480 with 20 HR and 80 RBI is unreasonable at all.

 

[calsnowskier]

There are the eyesight issues as well, that we do not talk about much here. I do not know how much credence to put in these stories, but it is definitely a potential issue as well...

 

[Heathbar012]

There are the eyesight issues as well, that we do not talk about much here. I do not know how much credence to put in these stories, but it is definitely a potential issue as well...

Get him some Sabo goggles! You can even put Panda eye lenses on them. I smell a marketing opportunity.