Panda looking to lose weight in the off season..

[Upton]

After the season, Pablo Sandoval will fly to Venezuela for some family time, then go to Florida to take his little girl to Disney World. After that, about Nov. 2, Sandoval will report to the Giants' minor-league complex in Arizona for three weeks of fitness and nutritional training designed to teach him how to keep his weight down.

Head trainer Dave Groeschner, who will oversee Camp Panda, said he cannot recall doing something like this in the fall, but Sandoval is an extraordinary case. At 22, he is putting up terrific numbers despite his weight, which is more than his listed 246 pounds. The team is concerned he will break down unless he learns to eat properly and stay trimmer.

Groeschner has told Sandoval he will not be able to maintain this level of play at this weight.

"The biggest thing is, and I told Pablo, he's got to do it," Groeschner said. "We can give him the means, but he's got to set his mind to it, and I think he can."

Sandoval acknowledges he does not eat well, particularly on the road, and he understands why he must surrender three weeks of his winter vacation for this training.

"I do want to get better," Sandoval said. "I want to get in good shape and get ready for next season. I don't want to get hurt. I don't want to play 120 games. I want to play 162 games."

Groeschner said Sandoval also will come to Arizona early for spring training, in mid-January, to continue his extra conditioning.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/22/SPEM19QEUO.DTL&feed=rss.giants

I think this is an excellent idea. About the only thing that can stop Pablo, who's currently third in the NL batting .324, from becoming a star for many years to come is injury....and the kind of weight Sandoval is presently toting puts on a strain on his body, as has been demonstrated several times already this season.