Pablo Sandoval's conditioning is an issue.



On Sunday, Sandoval scored what turned out to be the winning run from third on a sacrifice fly, then didn't come out for the bottom of the inning.



The reason? "Lightheadedness" according to the Red Sox.



Sandoval had missed the previous two days with a fever, but was well enough to get the start in the series finale in Sunday.



Then, after reaching on an infield hit mishandled by the Jays, advancing from first-to-third, and finally scoring, he was lifted.



I've lost track of the number of games from which Sandoval has been removed this season for either "dehydration" or "lightheadedness."



This is not typical for a professional athlete. We aren't talking about a pulled muscle or a turned ankle. Sandoval has been removed for being dehydrated or lightheaded and that signals the obvious -- Sandoval isn't in shape.



It's one thing to not reach a ball at third, or to be thrown out on the bases because of conditioning. But when you're being removed from a game for nebulous reasons, that's something else.



It's likely that Sandoval's "mid-back" problems, which have also resulted in missing games or being removed from them, have some tie-in to his weight.



Sandoval hasn't been in shape since spring training, and late in the season, with five and a half months of the schedule played and warm weather still a factor, his conditioning isn't getting any better.



There are limits to what a team can do about a player who isn't in shape. There can be no "weight clause" in his contract, or fines for not staying under a prescribed weight.



But the Sox need to appeal to Sandoval's pride this winter and convince him that reporting to spring training lighter is good for both him and the club.