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Obviously, the Kung Fu Panda is loved for several reasons. He can hit the long ball, he can make the highlight reel play at the hot corner, and he runs the bases like he's made at the dirt.

These are the things that make Sandoval such a good player. But what makes him so lovable?



To me, it is the fact that he's human.

Yes, the Panda dazzles on-lookers with the skill he displays all over the field. And he is able to do it all with a smile on his face and a bubble of gum protruding from his lips.

But there is something else that the Giants' third baseman has done to draw the love of the fans.

He makes mistakes.

Let me finish.

As the 2009 season has gone on, Sandoval has grown before our very eyes at quite a rapid pace. Over the course of this season, we have seen the former catcher define his strike zone as well as learn to play third base, a position that he had never played before.

And he has been learning it all at the big league level.

However, there are two instances that stand out the most.

There was a play at third base earlier this season with a runner at third base. On a ball ground ball where Sandoval had a chance to get the out at home on a close play, he played it safe and threw the ball over to first base for the out.

Coaches, writers, announcers, and fans chastised the 23-year-old was for his decision on the play.

What did the infielder do? He apologized and said that he would not make that mistake again.

Only a short while later on a similar play, Sandoval was true to his word. He had learned from his mistake and made the right play by getting the out at home.

Playing such a solid third base and learning from mistakes like that shows the rapid maturity Sandoval has made; maturity that most 23-year-olds such as himself take years of experience to achieve.

Sandoval is not done learning though.

In the bottom of the ninth inning in the series finale of the Giants, Dodgers series, Sandoval stepped up to the plate to try and win the game for San Francisco.

After being one strike away from salvaging a game in this intense series, Tim Lincecum surrendered a 2-1 lead, thus forcing the Giants to try and win the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Sandoval stepped up and drove the ball deep to left center field. The San Francisco slugger strolled out of the batter's box admiring what he thought was a home run.

Instead, due to Pablo coasting up the first base line, he turned what could have been a triple into on a double. This wiped out a chance the G-men could have had to end the game on just a sacrifice fly.

Despite coming up empty in the inning, San Francisco would go on to win on a two-run walk-off home run by shortstop, Juan Uribe in the bottom of the 10th inning.

However, this did not make Sandoval feel any more humble after the victory.

After a game that had Sandoval in the middle of a bench clearing get-together that saw no punches or ejections, the Panda apologized for not hustling out of the batter's box and said that he was embarrassed by not running as fast as he could.

Don't be surprised to see Sandoval shoot out of the box like a missile the next time he gets a hit.

At such a young age and with such little experience in the major leagues, Little Panda is learning the game of baseball at the highest level, and he is learning his lessons quickly.

It's not just the skill and exuberant personality with which Sandoval plays the game that has rapidly made him a fan favorite.

It's the fact that he is human. He plays, he makes mistakes, he learns from those mistakes, and he moves on and improves.

Source : bleacherreport