Aaron Hicks quietly posting good numbers in New Britain

[Boom Boom]

And then when they do, people will complain about that guy blocking Buxton... 

 

They won't if the guy they get as a stopgap CF plays well.  If you pick up a good player you open up a spot for him even after calling up Buxton.

 

To make an analogy, I don't think anybody is claiming that Hughes is blocking Meyer and May, but Correia is.

[TheLeviathan]

They won't if the guy they get as a stopgap CF plays well.  If you pick up a good player you open up a spot for him even after calling up Buxton.

 

To make an analogy, I don't think anybody is claiming that Hughes is blocking Meyer and May, but Correia is.

 

Very well said.  Adding a player doesn't block a player necessarily.  The team's actions (and tendencies in this case) are what blocks players.

 

That said, the Twins bizarrely different standards for young hitters vs. young pitchers makes me pretty comfortable saying Buxton won't be blocked no matter who they sign.

[drjim]

They won't if the guy they get as a stopgap CF plays well.  If you pick up a good player you open up a spot for him even after calling up Buxton.

 

To make an analogy, I don't think anybody is claiming that Hughes is blocking Meyer and May, but Correia is.

 

People talk about stopgap CFs like they are sitting there ready to be signed on one year deals. Have you seen the FA list? As usual, people are demanding Terry Ryan sign a guy that doesn't actually exist and will get angry when he doesn't do it. With that list, they might as well roll with Hicks and Santana.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html

[diehardtwinsfan]

And then when they do, people will complain about that guy blocking Buxton...

There's something to this, but unless Buxton goes to AA and just rakes, I'm highly skeptical that he's going to be wearing a Twins uniform next season.

[Dantes929]

I just think its funny that people think the Twins tamed Gomez or restrained him in any way.    Those that think that do not remember the hardest, wildest swings possibly in baseball history while Gomez was a Twin.    Its kind of like those that think the Twins made Ortiz slap the ball to left field.    He has always been mainly a pull hitter but he certainly has gone with the pitch many times in Boston and he mostly pulled the ball with Minnesota.   Whatever Minnesota did laid the foundation for what he did in Boston.   He was actually pretty good in Minnesota and if he hadn't gotten hurt would probably have been great.

[Craig Arko]

And then when they do, people will complain about that guy blocking Buxton...

 

Heh, people will complain that the Sun still rises in the east.

 

I blame Rick Anderson for that.

[Monkeypaws]

Having depth at a key position is a good thing. I hope Hicks keeps moving up, regardless of who he might be blocking. Internal competition also ain't bad.

[Kwak]

Hicks = 10 dollar tools and 10 cent maturity.

 

Everyone seems to forget that the Twins did NOT give up on Gomez.  They traded him for JJ Hardy, a proven major league shortstop. 

 

Blame Smith that Hardy was given away for nothing.

NO, blame Gardenhire.  Nobody trades "one of his guys", ergo he was "on the outs".  Gardenhire clearly stated that he wanted "more speed" ,etc. 

[Kwak]

They won't if the guy they get as a stopgap CF plays well.  If you pick up a good player you open up a spot for him even after calling up Buxton.

 

To make an analogy, I don't think anybody is claiming that Hughes is blocking Meyer and May, but Correia is.

There's only one guy blocking them--Ryan.

[JB_Iowa]

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2014/08/01/twinsights-aaron-hicks-draws-praise-for-his-work-at-double-a-new-britain/

[kab21]

Why can't Hicks just stay in NB for the last month and build on his nice rebound?

 

The Twins and also Hicks need to approach next spring training with Hicks ticketed to the minors and not even an option for the MLB team. 

 

there are actually a few stopgap CF'ers available next offseason that would make a great 4th OF'er or slide to corner spot as a short term starter.  Aoki, bonifacio, davis, span (option pending), rasmus and Chris Young.

[diehardtwinsfan]

People talk about stopgap CFs like they are sitting there ready to be signed on one year deals. Have you seen the FA list? As usual, people are demanding Terry Ryan sign a guy that doesn't actually exist and will get angry when he doesn't do it. With that list, they might as well roll with Hicks and Santana.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html

There are 1 year reclamation projects such as Span that are available every year. I think something like that will make sense for both sides.

[TheLeviathan]

People talk about stopgap CFs like they are sitting there ready to be signed on one year deals. Have you seen the FA list? As usual, people are demanding Terry Ryan sign a guy that doesn't actually exist and will get angry when he doesn't do it. With that list, they might as well roll with Hicks and Santana.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html

 

I think there are more than a handful of decent CF options and I don't care if it's more than one year.  A guy like Rasmus would be an excellent buy-low option for example.

 

It's not like the Twins have any OF spot solidified at this point - plenty of places to slide guys around.

[drjim]

I think there are more than a handful of decent CF options and I don't care if it's more than one year.  A guy like Rasmus would be an excellent buy-low option for example.

 

It's not like the Twins have any OF spot solidified at this point - plenty of places to slide guys around.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to a multiyear deal either. I would be surprised if Span only gets one year (or his option is declined). Bonifacio is the one guy who could get one year that I could get behind.

[JB_Iowa]

Cory Provus ‏@CoryProvus  · 9m 
FWIW...Aaron Hicks was transferred to AAA-Rochester yesterday. Rob Antony mentioned on Sunday's #insidetwins that he'll play all 3 OF spots.

 

So I guess we'll see what he can do at AAA.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Good news for Aaron. Glad to see him moving back up the ladder.

[drjim]

Good news for Aaron. Glad to see him moving back up the ladder.

 

And even decent numbers should get him back to the Twins in September.

[jokin]

Cory Provus ‏@CoryProvus  · 9m 

FWIW...Aaron Hicks was transferred to AAA-Rochester yesterday. Rob Antony mentioned on Sunday's #insidetwins that he'll play all 3 OF spots.

 

So I guess we'll see what he can do at AAA.

 

Talk about soft-pedaling an announcement on the part of the Twins.  Supposedly announced on Sunday morning on K-TWN, but nobody else has picked this up?  I guess no one can find the station on the radio dial?  And still nothing on the Wings Twitter account or website.

[JB_Iowa]

Talk about soft-pedaling an announcement on the part of the Twins.  Supposedly announced on Sunday morning on K-TWN, but nobody else has picked this up?  I guess no one can find the station on the radio dial?  And still nothing on the Wings Twitter account or website.

 

I've wondered about it.  Nothing from Berardino or from the Strib.

 

Assume this means he is joining the Wings in Louisville tonight?  Cuz they go to Indianapolis from there with an off-day tomorrow.  

 

He didn't play on Sunday and I know he was interviewed on radio but I haven't heard the interview.

[iTwins]

I'm gald to see Hicks has been bumped up to AAA. Hopefully the last few months in AA have helped build his confidence back up and he can carry that to Rochester. He has talent, you can see flashes of it from time to time - it just seems like his confidence gets shot and he starts scuffling. HOPEFULLY a strong AAA stint to end the year will help him grow, the Twins could certainly use him next year.

[Shane Wahl]

Hicks must get some MLB time in September again.

[drjim]

Hicks must get some MLB time in September again.

 

He will - assuming he doesn't completely fall on his face in Rochester.

[gunnarthor]

Hicks must get some MLB time in September again.

Let's see how he does with AAA before we have him in the majors again.  One step at a time.

[TheLeviathan]

Let's see how he does with AAA before we have him in the majors again.  One step at a time.

 

Exactly.  The way I see it we're basically rebooting the Hicks development process, so let's treat it that way.