Report: Pablo Sandoval Smashes Bat On Table After Confronting Reporter Over Negative Article
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's been a difficult spring training for Pablo Sandoval, whose arrival at Fort Myers prompted media hysteria regarding his weight, and the frustration reportedly came to a head this week.
According to Fangraphs' David Laurila, the high-priced Red Sox third baseman confronted a reporter about a story which Sandoval did not like.
Was told that Pablo Sandoval blew up at reporter yesterday for citing declining defensive stats in article. Slammed table w/ bat during rant
— David Laurila (@DavidLaurilaQA) March 16, 2016
Sandoval has committed three errors this spring already, which ties him for third-most in baseball. Last year, he committed 15 errors on 293 total chances, and his resulting .949 fielding percentage ranked him 18th in MLB among qualified third basemen.
The advanced metrics were no kinder. Per Fangraphs, he accounted for negative-11 defensive runs saved, and his UZR/150 was negative-21.9. That was the second-worst UZR/150 in all of baseball (Pedro Alvarez owned that crown with a negative-26.4), and the runs saved number was 11th-worst in MLB and fourth-worst among infielders. By contrast, third basemen Adrian Beltre and Nolan Arenado each finished last year with 18 defensive runs saved, with Beltre (13.0), Matt Duffy (12.7) and Evan Longoria (12.3) leading the way in UZR/150 for third basemen.
On Monday, Sandoval said he hadn't lost any confidence in his ability to play defense.
"Yeah. I've been getting good confidence," he said, noting that he's been working with Brian Butterfield on his first step. "I'm going to work hard no matter what the situation. If I make an error; if I don't make an error. Playing good defense; playing bad defense. I'm just gonna work hard every day, go on the field to maintain my workout to be better and better."