And They Say Panda's Only Eat Bamboo...

[DOUGHBOYS]

I want to say right off the top of this post, that I like Pablo Sandoval.
To me, Sandoval is the fat, jovial kid that used to hang around us as kids. Everybody liked this kid because he posed no threat and seemingly didn't mind being the butt of overeating jokes.
Sandoval broke out for the Giants in a huge (pun intended) way his first season.
25/90/.330
During this first season, Sandoval was in baseball shape. A little pot belly and a big bat.

But, he enjoyed the fruits (and many other edibles) of his labor over the off season, and came into the next season, noticeably larger.
For old time players, it was ok to be, shall we say, plump. As long as one could hit or throw, hardly anything was said.
Mickey Lolich to Boog Powell to Rick Reuschel to Carlos Lee to Miguel Cabrera.
These guys seemed to keep their 'natural' chubbiness. More importantly, they kept their baseball skills.

Sandoval, thanks to his love of food and the Giants insistence of losing weight has become a mini-CC Sabathia. His weight fluctuates by many pounds, but no matter the fluctuation, like Sabathia, he was better before the weight roller coaster started.
2009 Was the year that Sandoval busted out. Since then, his weight has been THE subject of conversations about him, more than his play.
It was with this in mind, that I was floored that Sandoval will be asking for 100 million dollars over a five year contract.


Sandoval's ADP in the NFBC is 146. We know that fantasy baseball is different than real baseball. But still I wonder, how many of those players in front of Sandoval are making close to 20 million dollars a year.
Sandoval has already shown he does not play well with extra weight. And right now, at his lightest, he's showing that he's not very good as a light heavyweight either. He has to be just right.
Sandoval is one of those great clubhouse guys.
On the other hand, the Giants have won two World Championships during the last few years and hardly anybody mentions Sandoval as a key component of those teams.
As said before, I like Sandoval. The fear I would have as a General Manager in signing Sandoval is how many Big Macs, 20 million dollars would buy. Or even 10 million dollars. And the five year length could make Sandoval not as hungry to be at the right weight.
No matter my third base situation for 2015, I think I would give Sandoval a pass.
Both as a General Manager and as a fantasy owner.