Random thoughts following tonight's game

[jorgenswest]

Mauer, Dozier, Hicks and Escobar have essentially the same season OBP after tonight's game (344-348).

 

Is Gardenhire platooning Hicks and Santana in CF? No. Must be a coincidence.

 

Gardenhire also realized his greatest fear. The Twins lost the DH today when Santana moved from DH to CF. In the future, he might be able to keep the DH by using Pinto there. Santana would be available to back up CF from the bench or maybe play him in CF and Hicks in RF. Both are hitting better than Kubel.

[jokin]

Mauer, Dozier, Hicks and Escobar have essentially the same season OBP after tonight's game (344-348).

 

Is Gardenhire platooning Hicks and Santana in CF? No. Must be a coincidence.

 

Gardenhire also realized his greatest fear. The Twins lost the DH today when Santana moved from DH to CF. In the future, he might be able to keep the DH by using Pinto there. Santana would be available to back up CF from the bench or maybe play him in CF and Hicks in RF. Both are hitting better than Kubel.

 

Arguments made today:

 

1) Hughes is a flyball pitcher, in which case, Hicks gives you your best defense

2) Hicks hits lefties fairly well

3) Kubel had a strong career line against Keuchel

4) Santana not playing for Arcia in RF means Gardy didn't think all of his options through fully

[Shane Wahl]

Santana playing CF should mean that he can play LF, at least better than Willingham. That was a ridiculous lineup he put out there tonight. Kubel's involvement was atrocious. What was the "career line" before tonight's game?

[howeda7]

Jason Kubel needs to be DFA'd immediately. Thanks for the memories, but it's sad at this point. Call up Hermann or Fryer already and be done with it.

[Paul Pleiss]

Mauer, Dozier, Hicks and Escobar have essentially the same season OBP after tonight's game (344-348).

 

WHY IS EVERYONE HATING ON AARON HICKS!?!

 

He's getting on base at a good clip. Let him continue to figure out this hitting thing at the MLB level, getting on base 34% of the time is not the mark of someone who needs to get sent down.

 

I know you weren't arguing for that here, but I just wanted to take this opportunity to speak up for Hicks, who I think is a valuable member of this team, BA aside.

[stringer bell]

Paul, you've got it in three separate threads that Hicks is going to figure it out. He hasn't driven the ball at all for the two weeks he has been an exclusive RH batter. I don't think he will ever figure it out to a degree that his bat will play as a corner outfielder.

[cmathewson]

Santana playing CF should mean that he can play LF, at least better than Willingham. That was a ridiculous lineup he put out there tonight. Kubel's involvement was atrocious. What was the "career line" before tonight's game?

 

I don't think so. He had played 24 games as a CFer and 2 games as a left fielder in his professional career. It is not easy moving from center to the corners. Kirby even struggled with it. Balls hook or slice and you have to learn how to track them before you can go get them. It is irresponsible to put a guy in a corner outfield spot who has barely ever played there in his career.

[jorgenswest]

Hicks is the better defensive outfielder. He gets on base. His skills today helps this team more than Kubel or Parmelee. At 24, he will continue to improve.

[cmathewson]

Paul, you've got it in three separate threads that Hicks is going to figure it out. He hasn't driven the ball at all for the two weeks he has been an exclusive RH batter. I don't think he will ever figure it out to a degree that his bat will play as a corner outfielder.

 

I think you have to drive the ball to hit doubles. He hit a double last night. Is that enough? No. But don't exaggerate. I also think he needs a chance to play everyday, so I agree he should go down to get that chance. But he had 24 XBH in four months last year as a major leaguer. It's not like he can't do it.

[Paul Pleiss]

Hicks is the better defensive outfielder. He gets on base. His skills today helps this team more than Kubel or Parmelee. At 24, he will continue to improve.

 

 

 

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.

 

I LOVE YOU, LET'S BE AARON HICKS BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.

 

But seriously, this is my feeling exactly. Santana is a SS, saying it's irresponsible to put him in a corner spot seems strange. Probably just as irresponsible to put him in CF.

[Paul Pleiss]

I don't know that Hicks needs to profile as a corner guy. Play him in CF. he's the best CF on the roster, or in AA/AAA. He's can do it. He can. I promise

[stringer bell]

I don't know that Hicks needs to profile as a corner guy. Play him in CF. he's the best CF on the roster, or in AA/AAA. He's can do it. He can. I promise

This year he can't hit enough to stay in the majors. Next year, if he does figure it out somewhat as a hitter, he will be supplanted by Buxton and then will have no role with the Twins.

[ashbury]

Gardenhire also realized his greatest fear. The Twins lost the DH today when Santana moved from DH to CF.

 

I don't think Gardy fears having to do a little Managin' in the late innings. What he fears is losing his starting catcher in the second inning and having to move his DH there; that scenario means a likely pitcher AB or two for lack of better options (starter is pitching well, not enough bench bats, running through the bullpen quickly).

[Thrylos]

Re: Hicks

 

This year he can't hit enough to stay in the majors.

 

As of this morning, Aaron Hicks had a .344 OBP. Span's last seasons with the Twins were .331, .328 and .342.

 

So, did Span "hit" enough his last 3 seasons with the Twins?

[Major League Ready]

Good point regarding the comparison of Span and Hick's OBP!

[DocBauer]

Hicks is in a bad position. An unfair position. He's been mishandled. He hasn't come close to reaching his potential as a guy with decent to good power potential.

 

And yet, despite all, he's actually made pitchers work and has gotten on base. And thus far, he actually seems to be hitting as an exclusively RH hitter.

 

I just don't know. But I'm not giving up on the kid. And I might be an idiot, but I have the feeling he'll learn more being up than down with our coaching staff.

[stringer bell]

I think you have to drive the ball to hit doubles. He hit a double last night. Is that enough? No. But don't exaggerate. I also think he needs a chance to play everyday, so I agree he should go down to get that chance. But he had 24 XBH in four months last year as a major leaguer. It's not like he can't do it.

Hicks' "drive" for a double was a soft humpbacked liner where Springer hesitated then dove for the ball and missed, hardly a ringing double.

[TheLeviathan]

Hicks' "drive" for a double was a soft humpbacked liner where Springer hesitated then dove for the ball and missed, hardly a ringing double.

 

Pfft.....facts.

[cmathewson]

Hicks' "drive" for a double was a soft humpbacked liner where Springer hesitated then dove for the ball and missed, hardly a ringing double.

 

Ok, I grant you he hasn't been driving the ball this year the way he has in the past. Does that mean he won't in the future? His history suggests he has decent power from the right side. He's kind of feeling his way right now. I would hesitate to draw sweeping conclusions from his hitting this year.

[jorgenswest]

I don't think Gardy fears having to do a little Managin' in the late innings. What he fears is losing his starting catcher in the second inning and having to move his DH there; that scenario means a likely pitcher AB or two for lack of better options (starter is pitching well, not enough bench bats, running through the bullpen quickly).

 

Is it a reasonable fear?

[cmathewson]

Is it a reasonable fear?

 

This is the most charitable interpretation. With relievers, losing the DH in the late innings is no big whoop. He just doesn't want to lose his DH with the starter on the mound.

[jorgenswest]

This is the most charitable interpretation. With relievers, losing the DH in the late innings is no big whoop. He just doesn't want to lose his DH with the starter on the mound.

 

i am aware of Gardenhire's reasoning. Is it reasonable?

[ashbury]

Is it a reasonable fear?

 

Beats me. But yesterday's game had no bearing on it one way or the other.

[stringer bell]

What is unreasonable is to worry excessively about losing the DH. As noted, the DH had to take the field on Friday and had nothing whatsoever to do with the loss. What is more reasonable is trying to avoid having a non-catcher behind the plate. If both catchers are in the game, the manager really can't remove either player without being a foul tip away from Eduardo Escobar behind the plate.

 

Specifically, I don't think Pinto profiles as a DH, but given the options the team used him and he was successful short-term. He needs to work on receiving and throwing and regular at-bats would probably be beneficial.