Pablo Sandoval fires back at people criticizing his weight
People criticizing Pablo Sandoval’s weight isn’t new. But the discussion about the Panda’s physique amplified earlier this week when he reported to Boston Red Sox spring training camp. New team, new contract, new fan base, East Coast media — you know how these things go.
In particular, the photo below sparked a minor firestorm about Sandoval’s belly. He’s always been portly, so this wasn’t exactly a surprise to anybody who’d watch him play with the San Francisco Giants the past seven seasons. It was still enough, however,, for a new round of fat-shaming aimed at Sandoval.
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Well, Sandoval fired back at his critics Thursday, asserting first that the photo caught him at a bad moment and second that he’ll show people what he can do on the field, not in Twitter pictures. From ESPN Boston:
“Let them talk, talk and criticize,” Sandoval, speaking in Spanish, told Marly Rivera of ESPNDeportes.com. “No matter what they say, it will never change me or the player that I am.’
“We live surrounded by critics, so let them talk, let them criticize me as much as they want. Ultimately that makes me a better player,” Sandoval said. “What really matters is who you are when you step on the field, and I will let my bat and my glove speak for themselves. That’s the only way you can shut them up.
“Critics have said that I am lazy, that I am not working hard; that picture caught me at a bad angle. But once again, let them say whatever they want to say. I will prove who I am on the field and show Boston fans how hard I am working to be a champion with this team, too.”
The thing about Sandoval is, despite his size, he’s always proven himself on the field. The Red Sox wouldn’t have given him $95 million if he hadn’t. And the Giants probably wouldn’t have a couple of their World Series rings if he hadn’t.
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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
