shares share tweet sms send email By: | February 20, 2015 10:22 am (USA TODAY Sports Images) Fresh off signing a five-year, $95 million free-agent contract this offseason, Pablo Sandoval showed up early for his first spring training as a member of the Boston Red Sox. You might think that type of work ethic would impress people, especially so soon after Sandoval won his third World Series ring and inked a huge deal. You’d be wrong, though: Many Boston fans and media have expressed concern — and jokes, plenty of jokes — over Sandoval’s weight after this photo surfaced last week: Safe to say Pablo Sandoval didn't miss too many meals this offseason [cough] — Steve Silva (@stevesilva) Sandoval’s waistline seems to vary week to week, and this certainly isn’t the first time people have worried he might be carrying too many pounds to play third base. But last year, , he actually got off to a miserable start and posted a puny .526 OPS over his first 35 games. And the Panda doesn’t seem terriblyconcerned about his critics. : “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. Sandoval’s never going to be built like Giancarlo Stanton, so people will always talk and wonder about his weight. But until there’s any real evidence to show he’s a worse player when he’s heavier, there’s no real sense in fretting about it. Dude showed up early to spring training, and he’s got a month and a half before the games even count. Also, anyone can look bad in one unflattering photo. Just . , , , shares share tweet sms send email