Operation Panda

[Upton]

Pablo Sandoval strips down to his shorts and steps on the scale inside the gym at the Giants' minor-league complex. It is Wednesday, weigh-in day.

"Five pounds!'' he says, his face lighting up. He high-fives Giants conditioning and strength coach Ben Potenziano and Pablo's 28-year-old brother, Michael.

It is Day 11 of Sandoval's personal conditioning camp - a three-week project Potenziano and head trainer Dave Groeschner have dubbed "Operation Panda.'' They even had T-shirts printed up with the words "Operation Panda: Discipline-Hard Work -Perseverance.''

--------

For the first time in his life, Sandoval is lifting weights. He's eating vegetables. He is meeting every Wednesday while he's in Scottsdale with a nutrition professor from Arizona State University, who is teaching him about healthy food choices and portion control. He and his brother, who Sandoval brought with him for motivation and support, are eating catered meals - delivered to the Giants complex every morning in a cooler -- of low-cal entrees like broiled chicken or salmon, and lots of salads, veggies and fruits.

There is no going out to restaurants or bars. The strongest beverage in Sandoval's diet right now is green tea. Mostly he drinks water - 12 to 15 bottles a day. In the evening, after eating their prepared meals, the Sandoval brothers take a walk on a bike path near their rented apartment or play basketball to keep their metabolism up.

With the five pounds he lost during the past week, Sandoval has lost 10 pounds so far, on his way toward his goal of slimming down and building muscle for the 2010 season.


http://sfgiants.mlblogs.com/

Nice to see that the Giants and the best third baseman in the NL are following through with the conditioning program that was promised at the end of the year. For the main obstacle to the Panda remaining at the top is his weight.

[TZ]

1. LOL

He's a good thirdbase man but until he gets into better shape, there's no way you can say he's a better third baseman than say Ryan Zimmerman! There's a reason Zimmerman is winning awards, and being on THE WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL kind of proves the point.

[Upton]

2. Hmm..lets see here

BA

Zimmerman-.292
Sandoval-.330

HR

Zimmerman-33
Sandoval-25

RBI

Zimmerman-106
Sandoval-90

OBP

Zimmerman-.364
Sandoval-.387

Slugging %

Zimmerman-.525
Sandoval-.556

OPS

Zimmerman-.888
Sandoval-.943

Fielding %

Zimmerman-.963
Sandoval-.960

As you can see, Pablo matches up awful well in the offensive categories and their fielding percentages are almost identical. I think the Panda can lay claim to being the best third baseman in the NL quite comfortably.

[TZ]

3. LOL.

Yet somehow Zimmerman gets all the attention on a team that is never competitive and is NEVER on national TV...:think:

[Kingofalldems]

4. That's a great story

Zimmerman makes plays Sandoval only dreams of making. On edit: Just read an article out today that the Giants are after D Uggla with the express purpose of moving him to third and moving Sandoval to first. Now why would they move the leagues greatest 3rd basemen if in fact he is so great?

[TZ]

5. Oh SNAP!

Okay Upton...answer that one...:rofl:

[Upton]

6. I can assure you

the Giants are not looking at Uggla for his fielding.

As for Pablo, he not only plays first (26 games last year) and third, but he catches (3 games) too. However, he's a big man, it would make much more sense to eventually move the Panda to first permanently.

I posted the stats, Zimmerman versus the Panda, Pablo stacks up very well against a guy that you and TZ have anointed the best all around third baseman in baseball.

[hughee99]

7. Zimmerman (2.97) has the 2nd highest range factor

of everyday NL 3rd baseman behind only Andy Laroche. Sandoval's (2.32) is the 2nd lowest ahead of only Geoff Blum.

[Upton]

8. Admittedly

range is going to be a problem for a guy listed at 245 but who was bigger than that by the end of last season. That's why the Giants are having Operation Panda..

However, Sandoval also had the highest BA of any starting third baseman in MLB..

[hughee99]

12. He'd also have the highest BA of any first baseman in MLB.

I think a move to 1st is probably in his future, leaner or not.

[madinmaryland]

9. Andy LaRoche from the Pirates is a better 3rd baseman than Sandoval??

:rofl:

[hughee99]

10. Defensively, anyway.

[Upton]

13. If you're going just by range factor

then LaRoche is a better third baseman than Zimmerman too..

[inthebrain]

11. All season long I've been telling Upton that Sandoval is a big fat loser

Upton denied it, "He ain't fat, he's big boned!!!"

Now the big fat loser says he's a big fat loser.

[Upton]

14. How's Little Davey doing anyway..

did he ever get rid of that nagging headache?

[inthebrain]

15. Last I heard

How's Fat Ass Panda doing getting rid of two of his seven chins?

Once again, Upton proves what a complete douche of a sports fan he is. Rooting for and mocking players for getting beaned in the head like that is the domain of complete asshole scumbag fans. They give any sport and any given fanbase a bad name.

Congrats, Upton!!!! You rep Frisco well!!!!!

[Onceuponalife]

16. He's eating vegetables for the first time??

:rofl:

[Onceuponalife]

17. I guess beer doesn't count as a vegetable

:rofl:

[Upton]

18. He's lifting weights for the first time

you'll see next spring...the Giants will have a new leaner meaner Panda, while your pathetic playoff choking Dodgers* (oh, I know..at least they made it there lol)are stuck with a roided up left fielder..

[madinmaryland]

19. You are the expert on being "stuck with a roided up left fielder"..

Classic, upton!

:rofl:

[Onceuponalife]

20. He never disappoints, does he?

:silly:

[inthebrain]

21. Aren't we due for another visit from Douche #2?

[Upton]

22. Need I remind you..

that Bonds, unlike your hero Manny*, was never suspended by MLB...

He hasn't even played for the Giants since 2007.

You've got the dirty team, not me....my, how things have changed..

Dodgers*

:rofl:

[madinmaryland]

23. Thank$ to $elig, Bond$ was never suspended. You really are a douche

if you believe anything else.

[Auggie]

24. UPDATE: Sandoval gains most the weight (10 lbs) back during winter ball

BRUCE JENKINS, SFGATE.COM / 01-16-10

"... Pablo Sandoval's weight is going to be an issue for the rest of his life (he lost 10 pounds through a rigorous conditioning program in Arizona, then gained most of it back when he returned home to play in the Venezuelan winter league). Many scouts around the National League can't figure out why the Giants simply don't stick him at first base and leave him there."

SOURCE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/15/SP1E1BIPGB.DTL

-----------------------------------

I post this not to be mean or funny -- just to underscore how tough it is to keep the weight off even for a 20-something athlete.

[trumad]

25. LOL---10 pounds

Is that it?

[Auggie]

27. Yeah -- 10 pounds. That was it.

I guess it was considered a good beginning back in November towards getting him slimmed down a little. He has a ways to go obviously.

[Upton]

26. Sabean says not to worry

Panda will be at 250 by opening day. Yeah sure.

At the moment, I'm much more concerned about continuing with Sabean as GM than with Panda's weight.

[Upton]

28. Operation Panda Update!!!

A rumor made the rounds that when Pablo Sandoval went to Venezuela to play winter ball, he regained the 12 or 13 pounds he lost during Camp Panda in Arizona in the fall.

"No chance," Sandoval said Tuesday. One had to take his word that he gained 1 pound, because there was no weigh-in during Sandoval's appearance at the annual Santa Clara County Hot Stove fundraising dinner in San Jose.

To the naked eye, Sandoval looked pretty good in a striped dress shirt. Was he svelte? No, but that is not the goal. Slimmer and more muscular? Yes.

-----

Sandoval returned to Arizona last week to resume the grueling workouts that began at Camp Panda in November and pledges to continue them through spring training to get in better shape. His goal weight is said to be 250 pounds, and Sandoval admitted he is not there yet.

Groeschner feared a big weight gain in Venezuela when Sandoval was left to fend at the dinner table without the nutritional prepackaged meals he was given at Camp Panda. Sandoval said he was good - mostly.

"I was still eating the same portions," he said, "except Sunday. I went away from the diet."

And what South American delicacies did he consume when he went off the plan?

"Hamburgers and hot dogs from stands in the street," he said.

At Tuesday's dinner (baked chicken, rice and veggies, if you must know), master of ceremonies Ted Robinson only half-jokingly referred to Sandoval as the Giants' "money train." When team executive Bobby Evans came to the dais, he looked at Sandoval and said, "He's all right. He's done good."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/26/SP0L1BNSVI.DTL#ixzz0dqSioTzK


Looks like those tales of Pablo's weight gain might have been a bit over hyped...

[Auggie]

29. I'm glad you posted that

The rumor was reported by Bruce Jenkins of the S.F. Chronicle which led me to believe it was credible when I posted it.

[Onceuponalife]

30. All kidding aside he's a great hitter

No question of that. But only a moderately good third baseman, not great. How can you admit that the comparison stats with Zimmerman kind of even out and then say that one is better than the other? Only a partisan would say that. But that's all right; we know you can only be a partisan when it comes to your team. You're incapable of being fair when looking at players of other teams. Personally, I love the fact that I can count on Casey Blake to make perfect throws to first base 99% of the time. Does he have the greatest range or the best offensive stats of all third basemen? No, but then again I don't feel the need for my players to be better than everyone else. I just want them to win consistently and on that point I have no complaints. I think you have very deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Thus, you need all your players to be better than everyone else, even when they clearly are not.

[Onceuponalife]

31. He dropped the puck at the Shark Tank tonight

Didn't look any thinner to me.

[Upton]

32. What do you mean?

He doesn't look that bad..



In fact, I think he definitely looks thinner...Yep, the Giants are going to have a lean, mean RBI hittiing Panda to beat up on the Dodgers* this coming year.

Too bad, maybe Vicente Padilla can get him out..:rofl:

[Onceuponalife]

33. Yeah, he doesn't look that bad next to big, muscular Rob Blake

in full pads.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Upton]

34. I wasn't comparing Pablo to Blake

I was recalling how he looked last year....different sized images, but you get the idea... there's little doubt the Panda looks thinner.

[Onceuponalife]

35. Sorry, I watched him at the Sharks game

and to me he doesn't look much thinner. What is his current weight?

[Upton]

36. His target weight

for opening day is 250, so one can assume he's probably around 255-260 right now...

Check it out, this enlarged image leaves little doubt that Operation Panda is paying major dividends.

[Upton]

37. Panda Update!!!!

Pablo is now down to 253 lbs, only 3 off his target weight of 250. Remember, he finished last season at a reported 277. At the beginning of spring training he was still at 262.

Now, the Panda is on the verge of a great achievement. In all fairness, one has to think he wouldn't have been able to accomplish all this if not for being instilled with the values of the great Giants organization..

[Kingofalldems]

38. Awesome! He's the greatest third baseman ever!

Wow!

[Upton]

39. Pablo has lost 24 lbs since last season..

no it doesn't make him the greatest third baseman ever (though he is better than Ryan Zimmerman) but he should be congratulated. It can't be easy losing that kind of weight..

[Forkboy]

41. "It can't be easy losing that kind of weight.."

Yeah, a multi-millionaire with top flight physical trainers guiding his every move...that had to have been real hard.

It's cool he did it, but your fawning is embarrassing....

[hughee99]

40. If he's instilled with the values of the Giants, does that mean he'll only get to 251

and come up short of his goal.

[madinmaryland]

42. "the values of the great Giants organization"...

that condones the use of steroids.

Douche!

[Upton]

43. I can only assume

you're referring to Bonds...got a REAL hangup about Barry don't you?..whatever... Nevertheless, I think it may be necessary to remind you that Bonds has not been a member of the Giants going on 3 years now..

And if you want to get down on organizations for condoning the use of steroids...then you're going to have to go after all 30 of them. Because during the steroid era every single team had players using at one time or another while management turned it's back.

[trumad]

44. Sorry Cboy...

You defended this guy tooth and nail.... and guess what----he's forever your baggage.

Douche

[madinmaryland]

45. Just a few weeks ago you were yakking about how Bonds was going in as

a Giant.

HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A GIANT. You own him!

[Onceuponalife]

46. or the values of Jenny Craig

:eyes: