Boston Red Sox fans could be forgiven for feeling confused at present, after a bizarre chain of events and an interview with third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Returning to preseason after a disastrous 2015, Sandoval indulged in some bizarre rhetoric as he seemed to deny all of the issues that besieged him in 2015 and claimed that he had nothing to prove in the new season.
What can fans expect from Sandoval in the new season? This breakdown in communication seems odd to say the last, although it appeared as though Sandoval was in complete denial about the trials and tribulations that he faced last season. Perhaps he was too busy watching the Super Bowl, playing his favorite games at the Euro Palace or maybe even down his local casino to win money for real, to monitor his weight. His failure to regulate his off-season fitness and stubborn refusal to accept last years’ flaws hint at a less than stable state of mind.
This may be a little unfair, however, as while Sandoval struggled to accept the magnitude of his struggles he did at least confirm that he is returning to switch-hitting in 2016. He stopped this after going 2-41 as a right-hander, and confessed to losing his confidence as the season progressed. Perhaps this lack of confidence in his swing and overall game has inspired Sandoval’s tough and stoic approach to the new season, as he looks to put 2015 behind and start afresh with a positive attitude.
Another day in the Life of Red Sox’ Fans
To recap, Sandoval suffered a horrendous season as his weight spiralled out of control throughout 2015. He endured his worst season in the big leagues, delivering .245/.292/.366 slash line and earning the unenviable tag as the lowest-ranked third baseman in the majors (among qualifiers). After a bout of pneumonia mercifully brought his season to an end, manager John Farrell, coach Tony Lovullo and the clubs’ president of baseball operations all mandated Sandoval to lose weight along with his teammate Hanley Ramirez.
So far, so straightforward you would assume, even though the precise amount of weight that Sandoval was mandated to lose remained unclear. The situation seemed even clearer when Farrell reported that Sandoval reported for the new season approximately 20 pounds lighter than in 2015, and all seemed well until the man himself took center stage.
When addressing media, Sandoval initially commented that he had not been mandated to lose any weight at all. This seemed bizarre given the previous conversations with the Red Sox’ management, with three senior members confirming that they had set Sandoval strict dieting goals and measures. “I don’t weigh in at all,” was Sandoval’s succinct dismissal of any claims that he had been asked to lose weight during the off-season, with the third baseman conforming that he had not measured himself since last October.