So for those that don't know, Albert Haynesworth was a huge NFL star. One of the best defensive linemen in the game and the Washington Redskins signed him to a 7 year 100 million dollar contract. A good deal of it was guaranteed. He was an absolute disaster in Washington, and according to many he took the money and quit on the team. He was famously unable to complete a conditioning test set up by coach Mike Shanahan. This test was akin to the kind of thing players do in Junior High and was later completed by Mike Golic, a 47 year old former defensive lineman and ESPN analyst.
In any case... is that going to happen to us with the Panda?
Look, I know it's only been 313 at bats, but Sandoval has looked terrible. Defense was a big part of how he was packaged to Red Sox fans and he's not doing well at that either. Ideally you give long term contracts to driven players, players like Pedroia who will do whatever it takes to win... and you really have to question the drive of someone who is as heavy as Sandoval is. Lest I get accused of taking a low blow, we know for a fact that Pablo Sandoval left the Giants because they wanted to put him on a weight regimen. He felt so disrespected by the team that he began his career with that he refused to consider their offer all because they wanted him to watch his weight? And we came along and committed 95 million to him?
I'll admit it, I'm overweight, and statistically speaking, a few of you are too, but we're not professional athletes. They are paid to maintain their bodies. I'm reminded of a video from 2010 where Jason Varitek had his chef/personal trainer come over in the morning, make him a healthy protein packed breakfast, kick his ass for several hours and then make him a healthy lunch. Varitek was 10 years older than Sandoval is now. He was already on the downside of his career and a huge hero in Boston but he worked tirelessly to get the most out of his body. Can you imagine Sandoval doing anything like this?
To recycle the article from before, I think this is a great quote from Ortiz:
As great and sensible as that sentiment is, Ortiz seems to be talking about maintenance. About doing what's needed to maintain his agility. Sandoval needs to reinvent his approach to fitness, and we signed him knowing specifically that he left the team that signed him as a kid in Venezuela and knows him best because they put pressure on him to do so.
No, the sky isn't falling but Sandoval has been in decline offensively every year after his magnificent 2011. Are we being dragged down by a player who, like Albert Haynesworth, took the money and won't do what's necessary to earn it?
In any case... is that going to happen to us with the Panda?
Look, I know it's only been 313 at bats, but Sandoval has looked terrible. Defense was a big part of how he was packaged to Red Sox fans and he's not doing well at that either. Ideally you give long term contracts to driven players, players like Pedroia who will do whatever it takes to win... and you really have to question the drive of someone who is as heavy as Sandoval is. Lest I get accused of taking a low blow, we know for a fact that Pablo Sandoval left the Giants because they wanted to put him on a weight regimen. He felt so disrespected by the team that he began his career with that he refused to consider their offer all because they wanted him to watch his weight? And we came along and committed 95 million to him?
I'll admit it, I'm overweight, and statistically speaking, a few of you are too, but we're not professional athletes. They are paid to maintain their bodies. I'm reminded of a video from 2010 where Jason Varitek had his chef/personal trainer come over in the morning, make him a healthy protein packed breakfast, kick his ass for several hours and then make him a healthy lunch. Varitek was 10 years older than Sandoval is now. He was already on the downside of his career and a huge hero in Boston but he worked tirelessly to get the most out of his body. Can you imagine Sandoval doing anything like this?
To recycle the article from before, I think this is a great quote from Ortiz:
"I've been getting after Pablo about that,'' Ortiz said. "Because Pablo is very agile, but he's 28 now. If he doesn't take care of himself, in a couple of years he could lose that agility overnight. So I'm talking to him about eating better, because if you want to stay in this game, you have to take care of yourself.''
As great and sensible as that sentiment is, Ortiz seems to be talking about maintenance. About doing what's needed to maintain his agility. Sandoval needs to reinvent his approach to fitness, and we signed him knowing specifically that he left the team that signed him as a kid in Venezuela and knows him best because they put pressure on him to do so.
No, the sky isn't falling but Sandoval has been in decline offensively every year after his magnificent 2011. Are we being dragged down by a player who, like Albert Haynesworth, took the money and won't do what's necessary to earn it?