Pablo Sandoval: An Inspired Kung Fu Panda Prepares for Spring Training

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is out to "shut mouths" of those who doubt him.

Sandoval burst onto the scene in August of 2008, when he was called up from the Giants' then-Double A affiliate, the Connecticut Defenders. During Sandoval's rookie season, he hit .345/.357/.490 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) with three home runs in 154 plate appearances.

Sandoval's next season—his first full season in the big leagues—he tore through the opposition, posting a .330/.387/.556 line with 25 home runs in 633 plate appearances. The Kung Fu Panda also finished the season voted seventh in the NL MVP race.

Given Pablo's All-Star caliber performance and the Giants' inability to post an above-average offense, the Giants were hoping for Sandoval to duplicate his 2009 performance in 2010.

But the Panda showed up for spring training overweight and out of shape and only gained more weight as the season went on. As one might expect, it had a detrimental effect on Sandoval's on-field performance.

In 2010, Sandoval hit .268/.323/.409 with 13 home runs in 616 plate appearances. Needless to say, it wasn't the sort of season at the plate that the Giants were hoping for from Sandoval.

Not only did the extra weight affect Sandoval at the plate, it also had adverse effects on his fielding. In 2010, Sandoval posted a UZR (ultimate zone rating) of 1.2, which ranked 13th among major league third basemen.

Entering 2011, the Giants made a publicized campaign called "Operation Panda," which was aimed at getting Sandoval into better shape during the offseason and shedding the extra pounds.

"Operation Panda" worked masterfully, with the third baseman losing 30-plus pounds, and more importantly, it led to results on the field for Sandoval. After a subpar 2010 season, Sandoval returned to 2009 form.

In 2011, Sandoval hit .315/.357/.552 and made his first All-Star appearance. He also hit 23 home runs, despite only playing in 117 games. Sandoval's 2011 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 5.5 matched his career high, which he also accomplished in 2009.

Sandoval also played the best defense of his career at third base in 2011. He posted a UZR of 12.3, second-best among major league third basemen, trailing only Placido Polanco.

But UZR is a cumulative statistic, so if a player plays substantially more games, then he's going to have a higher UZR than a player that misses significant time due to injury. UZR 150 normalizes for this and weighs it by giving a score had every player played in 150 games.

In UZR 150, Sandoval was the best third baseman in the major leagues in 2011.

Based on Sandoval's 2011 performance at the plate and in the field—compared to his 2010 performance at the plate and in the field—it's obvious that "Operation Panda" was a success.

If it isn't broken, then why fix it?

That's the philosophy the Giants are taking into this offseason. The organization wants Sandoval to continue to work hard this offseason and take off some of the weight that he inevitably gained during the rigorous 162-game schedule.

While Sandoval is still dedicated to staying in shape, he's growing tired of all of the talk surrounding his weight.

"I don't care what people say about me," Sandoval told liderendeportes.com in an interview Sunday. "I am going to shut their mouths when spring training begins. By that date, I should be in good form."

After Giants manager Bruce Bochy made mention of Sandoval looking a little bigger during an exhibition tournament in Taiwan during November, Sandoval has taken a more assertive approach to his weight, saying:

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"Just because of seven pounds, they say I am fat?" Sandoval asked the Spanish-language website. "Seven pounds are nothing. But people like to talk. I don't pay attention to those things. I am confident that I will do what I can on the field and always reach my goals."

"I'd like to see what the people who are talking about me say when they see me in perfect physical condition. I don't have any fat on my body. The truth is, I've gained more muscle mass."

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Sandoval's feisty approach to the subject is understandable. It's got to be annoying having your physical appearance as a major talking point among your organization and the media.

But nobody can deny that "Operation Panda" was a success. And look on the bright side. Due to Sandoval's dedication to staying in shape, he's earned himself a nice three-year, $17.15 million contract.

So while it may not be fun for Sandoval to exercise routinely and constantly watch his diet, it's paying dividends in his pocket book and in the stat book. That's a trade off Sandoval should be willing to make.