Thread: Hicks to win CF job?

This is the issue (forget service time). There should not be a repeat of Dozier 2012 (or Parmelee 2012, for that matter). Stick with him or wait awhile. Another guy going back and forth between AAA and the Twins is NOT good.

Originally Posted by Shane Wahl

This is the issue (forget service time). There should not be a repeat of Dozier 2012 (or Parmelee 2012, for that matter). Stick with him or wait awhile. Another guy going back and forth between AAA and the Twins is NOT good.

I'm probably totally off base here, I'm far from an expert on the subject of hitting coaches.
But, I'm hopeful that this will be less of an issue with Brunansky in there instead of Vavra. I always got the impression that Vavra was good working with the veterans (mechanical issues), but was not very good at all at working with the youngsters (mental issues).
Again, could be totally wrong, but that was the impression that I got.

Hicks is a better fielder for sure. He also has shown patience as a hitter at every level and would profile as a leadoff guy. Mastro is older, no better at getting on base, and less impressive defensively. I hope that Hicks can demonstrate he can handle being a big leaguer without hurting his development and I believe he will. Mastroianni is a backup outfielder who has added value as a baserunner. His role should be as a fourth OF.

Originally Posted by stringer bell

Hicks is a better fielder for sure. He also has shown patience as a hitter at every level and would profile as a leadoff guy. Mastro is older, no better at getting on base, and less impressive defensively. I hope that Hicks can demonstrate he can handle being a big leaguer without hurting his development and I believe he will. Mastroianni is a backup outfielder who has added value as a baserunner. His role should be as a fourth OF.

Yeah, I was going to add that in my post and forgot.
The big thing that Hicks has going for him that Valencia/Dozier/Parmalee didnt is his elite defense at a premium position.
Its a lot easier to keep running a guy out there during an extended slump if he's giving you + defense.
Of course that didnt stop them from bailing on Gomez, then Hardy, so.......who knows.

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

. Benson should be playing every day.

In AAA.

This from Top Jimmy:

Don't believe anybody who tells you Aaron Hicks won't be the Twins' centerfielder on opening day. He's taking excellent at-bats and playing centerfield better than Denard Span ever did. He's a lock, if healthy. Joe Benson remains raw and needs to prove himself for a long stretch in the minors before he'll be considered a big-leaguer, and Darin Mastroianni is, was and ever shall be an extra outfielder.

Originally Posted by Don't Feed the Greed Guy

In AAA.

Pretty much.

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

Which is exactly why he's going to Rochester. It would be very irresponsible of the Twins if he was brought on as a 4th OF. I get that this may be all he ends up being, but that's his floor, and his ceiling is much better.

And if Benson is going to Rochester then Hicks almost has to be up with the Twins as a starter. The only option that I can see as backup OF'er is Boggs and he isn't that good. It's very likely that backup OF'er is playing 3-4 times/wk even if he's not the starter. Mauer/Morneau/Doumit/Willy can always use days off in addition to giving Parmelee or Hicks a day off occasionally. That's why Boggs/Benson are poor options as the 4th Of'er imo.

I also think the Twins have boxed themselves into a corner. They have promoted Hicks enough and he has had a good spring. He almost needs to be on the opening day roster imo.

Benson will be up with the club the minute they trade Morneau and move Parmelee to first base, thus opening up an OF spot.

Originally Posted by stringer bell

Hicks is a better fielder for sure. He also has shown patience as a hitter at every level and would profile as a leadoff guy. Mastro is older, no better at getting on base, and less impressive defensively. I hope that Hicks can demonstrate he can handle being a big leaguer without hurting his development and I believe he will. Mastroianni is a backup outfielder who has added value as a baserunner. His role should be as a fourth OF.

Ok, so I am not sure who you were responding to, but you do make a good point whether or not you meant it as such. My worries about Doziering or Parmleeing Hicks don't apply really since the dude has been MLB ready defensively since 2011 probably. I do think that in Dozier's case that as soon as he started struggling defensively, it messed with him offensively. In Hicks' case, that isn't the issue. And Parmelee is just not a good defensive option anywhere. So the comparison doesn't hold fully. I still want the Twins to handle Hicks correctly this year.

I don't understand why people think that sending him to AAA during the season and then back up to the majors is some sort of "wrong" way of handling him. As long as he is playing every day he will be fine. It's not like he is some "mental midget"

Let's keep in mind that a Benson-Hicks-Arcia OF at the end of the year could mean a big haul in trades at the deadline. I have a hard time believing that Willingham and Morneau wouldn't bring back Span-Revere like returns. Add Parmelee into that mix and it could be Span-Revere-Liriano trade returns (assuming Parm has a good year).

There are things that happen as a chain reaction (I am about chain reactions and player development around here). Adding legit pitchers could mean that even the naysayers about Trevor May could be right in that maybe his future ends up in the bullpen. That is maybe another year of Twins trades brings in more pitching prospects and so May becomes a setup-closer option instead of a starter. (Note: that is why I like Hudson Boyd draft selections more than college reliever selections--draft starters to convert into relievers if you have to--Nick Wittgren aside--that would have been a good pick instead of that ass who didn't sign).

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I don't understand why people think that sending him to AAA during the season and then back up to the majors is some sort of "wrong" way of handling him. As long as he is playing every day he will be fine. It's not like he is some "mental midget"

That's cool, but I think it messes with people if they have been essentially promoted from AA to the big leagues and then sent down to AAA and then back up. See Revere 2011, Parmelee and Dozier 2012.

Point is: It is probably good to promote from AA to AAA and then MLB. There's value in that. I have started threads about the worth of AAA experience. Maybe it doesn't apply to Hicks since the overall defense is THAT stellar.

I'm convinced that the primary beneficiary of a Morneau or Willingham trade will be Arcia. He's probably already a better hitter than Benson, and if a corner opens up, he should at least be platooned. He has the added advantage of being a lefthanded hitter.

Originally Posted by Shane Wahl

That's cool, but I think it messes with people if they have been essentially promoted from AA to the big leagues and then sent down to AAA and then back up. See Revere 2011, Parmelee and Dozier 2012.

I'm not sure how it messed with those guys though. In reality Revere, Parmelee and Dozier were never close to the prospect that Hicks is and was. Hicks is a 5 tool type guy, while the rest are 1 or 2 tool guys.

Originally Posted by stringer bell

I'm convinced that the primary beneficiary of a Morneau or Willingham trade will be Arcia. He's probably already a better hitter than Benson, and if a corner opens up, he should at least be platooned. He has the added advantage of being a lefthanded hitter.

I have a feeling that Arcia is going to need at least half a season in the minors before he is ready, don't get me wrong I am thrilled about him, but he really needs to get his strike out rate in check before he is a viable every day candidate up north.

Benson I think will be given a shot just as a "sink or swim" type thing.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

Benson will be up with the club the minute they trade Morneau and move Parmelee to first base, thus opening up an OF spot.

If Benson shows that he can hit anywhere he will certainly get his chance. So far he hasn't hit in spring training or last year. He has some skills and I really want to pull for the guy but my expectations are not that high.

I also think it will be tough to promote Benson over Arcia at midseason so it would take two moves/injuries for Benson to get a shot.

Everything SpiritDave said on this page is spot on (well, page 2, this might slip over to page three, which would actually be kind of funny).

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I have a feeling that Arcia is going to need at least half a season in the minors before he is ready, don't get me wrong I am thrilled about him, but he really needs to get his strike out rate in check before he is a viable every day candidate up north.

Benson I think will be given a shot just as a "sink or swim" type thing.

Benson has a K rate nearly double that of Arcia, so if one of these two has to get their K rate in check I would say that is Benson.
As of right now, I think Arcia is well ahead of Benson in the organization's eyes, and I dont even think its particularly close.