Article: It's All Right: Hicks Gives Up Switch-Hitting

[Obie]

His decision, not Twins, claiming he had no confidence batting left-handed. Shane Victorino?

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/260669531.html

[stringer bell]

Desperate. Maybe it will click for him, but I really doubt it. I hope Mike and the rest of you advocates for Hicks abandoning switch hitting are right.

[Marta Shearing]

And it was his decision. Gardy was surprised. What a shame nobody in the organization couldnt have made this decision much, much earlier. That failure set him back years.

 

All anybody has to do is look at his splits to know this was the right decision.

[Twins Twerp]

Bitter sweet, he really looked bad from the left side

[drock2190]

Is it too late to give up hitting and switch to the pitching mound?

[Brad Swanson]

And it was his decision. Gardy was surprised. What a shame nobody in the organization couldnt have made this decision much, much earlier. That failure set him back years.

 

All anybody has to do is look at his splits to know this was the right decision.

 

He hit .287/.394/.434 as a lefty in 2012.

 

I think this is a great decision right now because it was his decision. Hicks has the talent to make it work.

[Riverbrian]

He usually looks unimpressive from the left side... I'm all for it.

[twinsfan34]

I find it interesting this community had wanted or thought this for a few years now (since TD began)...and now it's happening. Kudos to the TD community.

[jokin]

He usually looks unimpressive from the left side... I'm all for it.

 

Except, now it's even more learning on the job, leaning that might best be accomplished by a couple weeks in Rochester....I've gotta think there's going to be an adjustment period for facing RHPs from the right side of the plate. And Gardy "seemed geniunely surprised"? This is the right move, just seems the timing is off. What's the plan, Stan?

[jokin]

I find it interesting this community had wanted or thought this for a few years now (since TD began)...and now it's happening. Kudos to the TD community.

 

No matter what the naysayers spout (and they've been more quiet of late), there are some very sharp minds that contribute on this site, owners and members alike, that continually seem to be a step or two ahead of the braintrust.

[Thrylos]

Except, now it's even more learning on the job, leaning that might best be accomplished by a couple weeks in Rochester....I've gotta think there's going to be an adjustment period for facing RHPs from the right side of the plate. And Gardy "seemed geniunely surprised"? What's the plan, Stan?

 

There might be an adjustment period and there might be not. It would have been better had the decision been made before Spring Training, but cannot help it now. When Fuld returns, he will likely have some PAs against RHPs. But this team needs no more of Danny Santana at Centerfield.

[stringer bell]

First fly ball really carried.

[jokin]

Odor? Not a name to forget.

 

I'm sure Profar is taking notice on his 60-day DL stint. He may be out of a job if Odor keeps on clicking. Just goes to show that there are teams willing to move their 20 year old hot prospects from AA and see what happens.

[jokin]

There might be an adjustment period and there might be not. It would have been better had the decision been made before Spring Training, but cannot help it now. When Fuld returns, he will likely have some PAs against RHPs. But this team needs no more of Danny Santana at Centerfield.

 

Yep. We'll soon find out..and I wish it had been the Twins helping him make the decision going into spring training, and then working on the transition to all-right-side-hitting in March instead of May.

 

And yesterday should have settled once and for all the Santana in CF experiment.

[TheLeviathan]

I'd like to see this experiment happening at AAA, especially since it's one he's open about changing because of a lack of confidence.

[ScrapTheNickname]

desperate measures taken by a desperate men usually result in quick endings. i'm not sure, but i think his goose is cooked.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I'd like to see this experiment happening at AAA, especially since it's one he's open about changing because of a lack of confidence.

 

I agree. I hope he gets sent down very soon to work on his batting.

[Thrylos]

I'd like to see this experiment happening at AAA, especially since it's one he's open about changing because of a lack of confidence.

 

And the Twins' centerfielder would be?

[snepp]

And the Twins' centerfielder would be?

 

I'm sure they can dig up an extra infielder or two somewhere.

[ScrapTheNickname]

And the Twins' centerfielder would be?

 

I don't have the answer to that. Fuld when he comes back? All I know (or think I know) is that Hicks must go down. He just got picked off first, when the team was down by two runs. He needs to learn how to be an MLB player. Perhaps he can, perhaps he can't. But to be failing to this degree at this level is untenable.

[Thrylos]

I don't have the answer to that. Fuld when he comes back? All I know (or think I know) is that Hicks must go down. He just got picked off first, when the team was down by two runs. He needs to learn how to be an MLB player. Perhaps he can, perhaps he can't. But to be failing to this degree at this level is untenable.

 

That was a balk. Have you seen how Kubel has been playing recently? How about Willingham's/Nunez'/Santana's defensive ability at OF the last 2 games? How about Mauer at the plate the last week or so? Hicks being picked off on a clear uncalled balk is not the problem with this team...

[TheLeviathan]

And the Twins' centerfielder would be?

 

Since when has that been an issue this year?

 

This team is still rebuilding, it should do what's right by it's most important prospects.

[Thrylos]

Since when has that been an issue this year?

 

This team is still rebuilding, it should do what's right by it's most important prospects.

 

Last time I checked, before the Giants' series this team was half a game away from the second AL Wild Card spot. They have to play to win this season and this does not mean not developing people. Santana is a prospect, too, no? He should be playing SS instead of CF (in AAA.)

[cmathewson]

Better late than never.

 

I don't know where you all think you're going to dig up a better CF on another team. I'm sure they've been beating the bushes since both CFers went down with concussions. They aren't out there. So can we stop with the idea of sending down the only healthy center fielder above A ball?

[cmathewson]

Last time I checked, before the Giants' series this team was half a game away from the second AL Wild Card spot. They have to play to win this season and this does not mean not developing people. Santana is a prospect, too, no? He should be playing SS instead of CF (in AAA.)

 

People must really hate Hicks if they think Santana is a better option.

[TheLeviathan]

Last time I checked, before the Giants' series this team was half a game away from the second AL Wild Card spot. They have to play to win this season and this does not mean not developing people. Santana is a prospect, too, no? He should be playing SS instead of CF (in AAA.)

 

Right now they are actively harming a player's development in order to win now. I don't approve of that. I don't approve of Santana out there either.

 

Frankly, I'd put Parmelee out there. But I don't sacrifice the career of Aaron Hicks on the altar of contending in 2014.

[Kwak]

Last time I checked, before the Giants' series this team was half a game away from the second AL Wild Card spot. They have to play to win this season and this does not mean not developing people. Santana is a prospect, too, no? He should be playing SS instead of CF (in AAA.)

 

I totally disagree. The plan should be to build a consistent winner, and a team that will occasionally make a serious run at the World Series--not try to have a fantasy run for the benefit of face-saving. This Twins team is in "frame-off" rebuild. The foundation stones have yet to be found (proven!). Seasons like 2014 should be used to assess who should what role (if any) with the team and develop them, accepting the missteps and gufaws along the way. Scraping the dumpster for the castoffs of other teams discards with the hope that they can build a winner is only useful after the "core players" (foundation stones have been identified and proven). Having "open mike" for is not how good teams are built.

[Guest USAFChief]

Right now they are actively harming a player's development...

While that's possible, I think player development is too fuzzy a science to say that with certainty.

 

IMO I think Hicks is old enough, and has enough minor league time, that what's important is to be playing pretty much every day. I'm not convinced at all it matters whether that's in Rochester or Minneapolis.

[TheLeviathan]

While that's possible, I think player development is too fuzzy a science to say that with certainty.

 

IMO I think Hicks is old enough, and has enough minor league time, that what's important is to be playing pretty much every day. I'm not convinced at all it matters whether that's in Rochester or Minneapolis.

 

Perhaps. It could be the Twins feel demoting him will crush his already fragile confidence too. However, he has a lot to work on and a taste of success is most important for him. If that continues up here - fine. But if he can't have success and learn up here he needs to go down.

[LaBombo]

Honestly wasn't sure the thread title was serious until reading the first few posts. So he got at least one hit batting right-handed against a pretty good righty? What a great start for him, and tip o' the Twins cap to him for having the courage to give it a shot.

 

That seems like it could be much more of an influence on the future of the Twins than a loss to a perennial contender with the worst starter in the Twins' rotation on the mound.