Is Aaron Hicks burning bridges, or just on borrowed time as a Twin?

[jokin]

Minnesota Twins' Aaron Hicks tardy Sunday after injury

 

 

As an avid viewer of Gardy post-game pressers, I could tell by his body language, that Aaron Hicks taking himself out of the starting lineup during yesterday's rain delay appeared to rub the manager the wrong way.  And now, apparently, Saturday's "back issues" might have metastisized into something more serious today: 

 

 

 

While the team has no set time that players are supposed to be at the stadium, Hicks' tardiness drew grimaces and shaking of heads from teammates who walked by his empty locker stall. For an afternoon game, the Twins' clubhouse opens at 9:30 a.m., and most players are there by then.

 

Hicks was a late-game scratch Saturday with a sore back. Injured players typically arrive early to the clubhouse to receive treatment, but Gardenhire and trainers saw no sign of him

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"I don't know," Gardenhire said when asked about Hicks' availability against the Indians in the series finale. "He wasn't here at 10:30. That is as polite as I can answer it.                                                                                                                                                          "The manager will handle that," Ryan said when asked if Hicks would be disciplined. "If they wanted him in there earlier, then he will have to face the consequences."

 

For a guy who has already disappointed his bosses rather frequently over the last two seasons and needs a strong September to work his way back into the  OF mix for 2015, this seems like  awfully bad timing on the part of Aaron Hicks. 

[Riverbrian]

Young players or young lawyers or young zookeepers simply have not built up enough cred to show up casually to work.

 

Young employees often don't understand how they are judged by others over stuff like this.

 

On the other side of it... Experienced bosses have seen this type of thing many times before and typically don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

 

Hicks screwed up today... Tomorrow is a new one. Fingers crossed that Hicks slows down his rookie-esque actions... On and Off the field.

[drjim]

This is one reason I want the Twins to be strategic with the FA LF that they sign. I want to make sure they sign a veteran professional as much as they need to sign the absolutely best statistical guy.

 

I think the idea of "chemistry" is overrated, but I think there is something to having veterans that younger players can learn from in all parts of the team.

[the_youngster]

If Hicks needs a veteran to guide him as a professional player, and that veteran is going to be a FA acquisition, the two best options really are Cuddyer and Span. Fans have grown weary of bringing back old names after the Bartlett and Kubel disappointments, but Cuddyer is productive when healthy and Span has put together a very solid year (thus far 179 hits for a .298 avg with 38 doubles and 31 stolen bases). Personally, I think Span would be a very good addition for next year (still will be only 30).

[Mike Sixel]

Cuddeyer has not been healthy in 2 years.

[the_youngster]

Cuddeyer has not been healthy in 2 years.

Thus why I advocated for Span. Cuddyer has better production and leadership of the two, but just for that reason regarding his health I would not do anything more than one year with a possible option.

[TheLeviathan]

The Twins would be fools of the highest order to count on this kid with no good alternative for the third consecutive year.

 

I haven't given up on him, but I damn sure wouldn't bank on him either.

[Physics Guy]

I would be on board with the Twins signing Span, although I'm not sure he's interested.  I guess in the end, money talks.  I just would be surprised if the Nats didn't exercise their $9M option.  He's had his best season since his second year in MN (.292/.352/.413).  I doubt they see Harper as their full-time CF.  Even if they want to move Zimmerman to the OF, why wouldn't they exercise the option and try to trade him?  Zimmerman is most likely a LF or 1B in the future, but the Nats have relatively cheap options ($9M and $12M) for Span and Laroche, two productive players. 

[Kwak]

This is one reason I want the Twins to be strategic with the FA LF that they sign. I want to make sure they sign a veteran professional as much as they need to sign the absolutely best statistical guy.

 

I think the idea of "chemistry" is overrated, but I think there is something to having veterans that younger players can learn from in all parts of the team.

It is management's job to "teach its players how to conduct themselves." Sign players to perform, let the

coaches ad the manager "teach" and enforce the rules.

[gunnarthor]

I think there is no way Hicks starts next season on the ML roster.  They'll send him back to AAA.  I'm really starting to warm up to the idea of pursuing Colby Rasmus for CF. 

[Thegrin]

I've been saying all year that Hicks is a flake and can't be counted on.  I expect him to be packaged in a trade... Good riddance, I say.

[stringer bell]

I think there is no way Hicks starts next season on the ML roster.  They'll send him back to AAA.

I was saying the exact same thing one year ago and said it through spring training this year. What is the definition of insanity again?

 

How major of a transgression did Hicks commit? The second question is, how many of these transgressions have been committed this year? If Hicks is the only guy to show up late or not be prepared to play that says this guy doesn't want to excel at his profession.

[Mike Sixel]

Can't count on him at all. It would be luck, at this point, if he added real value. It might happen, but you can't PLAN for hit to happen and say you have a great plan.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Sheesh. It's like Hicks wants to be resigned to AAA for the rest of his career.

 

If you're on questionable ground with the organization, you need to at least show up when they expect to see you. I thought that was a given.

[drjim]

It is management's job to "teach its players how to conduct themselves." Sign players to perform, let the

coaches ad the manager "teach" and enforce the rules.

 

You are free to think this, but it doesn't work this way (in any aspect of life). Peers will always have more influence on this than authority figures.

[Linus]

Hicks is a bit of a mystery.  While he has never done any one thing that is so inherently bad, he does seem to be displaying a pattern of habits that are not professional or conducive to him making the jump to MLB caliber starter.  It really does make you wonder how motivated he is.

 

And as Lou Holtz once said, "the way to be a good motivator is to have motivated players".

 

I think the idea of Span coming back a some form of mentor is not good.  He never displayed these qualities when he was here and his recent tweet slamming the Twins certainly doesn't imply leadership qualities.

[sorney]

Sheesh. It's like Hicks wants to be resigned to AAA for the rest of his career.

 

If you're on questionable ground with the organization, you need to at least show up when they expect to see you. I thought that was a given.

Maybe he's one of those dudes that doesn't really *love* baseball, just plays it because he has always been good at it...At least that's kind of the vibe I'm picking up from reading stories like this

[kab21]

This is just the first step in the 'subtlety use the media to run a player out of town' handbook.  If it was someone in the orgs plans next year then we would never have heard about it.

 

This doesn't change my opinion of him long term as a player.  Neither did his 67 game MiLB stint.  His long-term contribution to this team has been questionable since he looked awful in his second MLB stint this spring.

[Linus]

I think it does cast a new light on the guy.  Everyone has been excited about his potential but after a while, potential becomes a dirty word.  If you look objectively at what he has done (forget about being a number one pick and ranked prospect) and there really isn't a whole lot to hang your hat on.

 

I'm certainly not giving up on the guy and would not deal him as his value is at rock bottom, but I would not count on him in my plans for next year.  At this point, he is going to have to barge his way back into the mix by going back to Rochester and being a near dominant player.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Maybe he's one of those dudes that doesn't really *love* baseball, just plays it because he has always been good at it...At least that's kind of the vibe I'm picking up from reading stories like this

It's possible. A lot of Hicks' behavior is filed under the "laid back Californian" meme but having lived in SoCal for almost two decades, it's not entirely accurate. A surfer might not show up to work at 6am but he sure shows up to surf at 6am.

 

Hicks just doesn't seem to "get it", as loathe as I am to use that phrase.

[goulik]

Thus why I advocated for Span. Cuddyer has better production and leadership of the two, but just for that reason regarding his health I would not do anything more than one year with a possible option.

I would take his leadership with no concerns about his health. We are working on teaching young players how to deal with the MLB game. Injuries will happen and how Cuddy handles next years injury would also be teachable moment. If we're prepping for a big 2016 run, this would be a good veteran addition even if it cost us a wildcard playoff spot next year. Too much youth on the field W/out veterans is not as conducive to growth.

[Mike Sixel]

Is there evidence Cuddy is a good leader, or is he good with the press?

[TheLeviathan]

This is just the first step in the 'subtlety use the media to run a player out of town' handbook.  If it was someone in the orgs plans next year then we would never have heard about it.

 

I think this is spot on.  It's also one of the times I find dogging a player publicly to be an understandable approach.  I think the Twins are past the point of speaking out to motivate him, this is something else.  This is public relations oriented.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

This is just the first step in the 'subtlety use the media to run a player out of town' handbook.  If it was someone in the orgs plans next year then we would never have heard about it.

 

This doesn't change my opinion of him long term as a player.  Neither did his 67 game MiLB stint.  His long-term contribution to this team has been questionable since he looked awful in his second MLB stint this spring.

Agree. I wish the Twins would stop the point-scoring against him and just move on. He's not going to work out - give him a chance somewhere else.

[Badsmerf]

Is there evidence Cuddy is a good leader, or is he good with the press?

What kind of evidence do you want? He carried the team to a playoff in 2009 after Morneau went down for the year, he is professional and good with the press, he is a level 37 magician... From everything we knew about him while he was here, he was a very good person to have around. I'm not sure what constitutes a leader if its not him.

[Linus]

Agree. I wish the Twins would stop the point-scoring against him and just move on. He's not going to work out - give him a chance somewhere else.

I didn't hear the interview but it sounds like Gardy was asked about it.  He did not bring it up as some sort of orchestrated public manipulation.

[Badsmerf]

I think this is spot on.  It's also one of the times I find dogging a player publicly to be an understandable approach.  I think the Twins are past the point of speaking out to motivate him, this is something else.  This is public relations oriented.

This isn't the first time they've come out against Hicks. I feel like they think the fans base is somehow attached to him like they were Hunter. The only reason the fan base was ever excited about him their own fault: 5 tool type guy, GG caliber CF, professional approach at the plate ect. They created the buzz, not Hicks. Now they are trying to go the other way with it.

 

Personally, I want to see him in AAA to start the year. I want to see him destroy it like Parmelee did to even get a chance at the MLB. I've really never been high on Hicks. I just really felt that his skill set wasn't as great as others thought. After watching him play, it was even worse. He is similar to Delmon Young IMO, the talent is there, but the drive to develop it is not.

[jokin]

Maybe he's one of those dudes that doesn't really *love* baseball, just plays it because he has always been good at it...At least that's kind of the vibe I'm picking up from reading stories like this

 

I think you've nailed it with this comment.  I've been criticized in the past for pointing out that Hicks' work habits have always been questionable.  When his interview came out going into his first MLB season, it became somewhat obvious that golf is his first love, and that he's had some daddy issues regarding the path and commitment towards his baseball career.

[jokin]

Cuddeyer has not been healthy in 2 years.

 

Except Cuddyer won the batting title last year with a slash of .331/.389/.530 and OPS+ of 136.

[jokin]

I didn't hear the interview but it sounds like Gardy was asked about it.  He did not bring it up as some sort of orchestrated public manipulation.

 

This was actually a two-day deal. Gardy expressed his frustration about Hicks pulling himself from the starting lineup during the rain delay on Saturday, which was certainly strange timing for coming up with "back issues" at that point in time.  It was only natural for the press to follow up and inquire why he wasn't in the lineup on Sunday, especially after the PP writer in question observed Hicks' absence on Sunday morning at 10:30, and his teammates' reaction to that absence.

 

I think it's fair to say we don't know for sure what sort of "manipulations" are taking place, but I'm fairly certain that the manager and the club have tried different ways, both publicly and privately, to motivate Hicks out of his laid back ways, and help him figure out how to "get it".  And it's not too hard to read between the lines about management's level of frustration with Hicks.  And, not that he's necessarily turning any corners mind you, but for FWIW, Hicks acquitted himself pretty well tonight against Arizona- reached three times and made a pretty gutsy catch crashing into the wall in the 9th inning with his "back issues".