Aaron Hicks

[stringer bell]

Hicks hit .250 in the second half last year.  Nobody doubts he can get walks.  He's got some speed or he wouldn't be a center fielder.  He also is a decent defender too.

 

I would love to see him develop into a total stud, but as far as I'm concerned, he finally turned the corner and if he continues where he left off, he's plenty good enough to keep sending out there.

Hicks' .250 in the last half is actually .250 in the last month, he didn't play in the majors from June until September 1. He had 60 at-bats plus 9 walks in that span. He hit for absolutely no power (3 doubles were his only extra-base hits). IIRC, most of his hits weren't hit hard, but were well placed. No, he wasn't an adequate hitter in September--the OPS he put up in that month is lower than any outfielder who qualified as a regular. If Hicks wants to be a regular outfielder, he has to take a big step forward. He has shown that spring training doesn't predict his progress, so he needs to go to AAA and master that level.

[USAFChief]

There's no way to know this. Just because Hicks is more laid back doesn't mean that the desire isn't there.

Articles like the one below suggest Hicks' preparation and professionalism have been concerning to Twins mgt:

 

http://m.1500espn.com/pages/sportswire.php?sPL=wetmore_twins_tell_aaron_hicks_he_needs_to_be_better_prepared_to_play051514

 

Whether that has been related to "desire" is open to interpretation. I speak only for myself, but it sure looks to me like Hicks would benefit as a ball player if he could match Hunter's desire and work ethic. It's not a magic bullet that would fix all his problems, but I think it's fair to think that it might be beneficial.

[Seth Stohs]

And I 100% agree that Hunter will be a huge positive influence on Hunter and Buxton. I really do. But, I won't question his work ethic and desire. In the Offseason Handbook, Terry Ryan told Parker that he isn't concern about that. Hicks cares, and he works. 

[blindeke]

There's no way to know this. Just because Hicks is more laid back doesn't mean that the desire isn't there.

 

like how Joe Mauer's laid back personality has kept him from being a valuable baseball player

[Brock Beauchamp]

And I 100% agree that Hunter will be a huge positive influence on Hunter and Buxton. 

Come on, Seth. We all know Torii has a big ego but you don't need to feed it by suggesting that he looks in the mirror and inspires himself.

[jimmer]

It appears that Hunter is looking forward to mentoring Hicks:  http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/107814252/torii-hunter-to-mentor-minnesota-twins-young-outfielders

 

"I know Hicks can play, but with Buxton -- I haven't seen video or seen him play, but every word I hear is good about him," Hunter said. "I definitely think when we get to Spring Training we'll sit down and I'll work out with them and evaluate what they're doing right and what they're doing wrong."

Since his quality defense has gone the way of the dodo bird, who is gonna work with him on HIS defensive deficiencies to show him what HE is doing wrong? I think he should concentrate on his own game, but that wouldn't be a good story, since his defense is fine according to him and Ryan.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Since his quality defense has gone the way of the dodo bird, who is gonna work with him on HIS defensive deficiencies to show him what HE is doing wrong? I think he should concentrate on his own game, but that wouldn't be a good story, since his defense is fine according to him and Ryan.

You don't think Torii can give useful information to young players about defense because his knees and back have slowed him down?

 

That's like saying Carew should stay out of Ft Myers because he can't put good wood on a 94mph fastball at age 69.

 

And this is coming from someone who wasn't in favor of the Hunter signing.

[jimmer]

You don't think Torii can give useful information to young players about defense because his knees and back have slowed him down?

 

That's like saying Carew should stay out of Ft Myers because he can't put good wood on a 94mph fastball at age 69.

 

And this is coming from someone who wasn't in favor of the Hunter signing.

I think people are WAY overstating the effect he's going to have, if he has any at all. There is no way to make this signing look like a smart signing.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think people are WAY overstating the effect he's going to have, if he has any at all. There is no way to make this signing look like a smart signing.

Smart? Nah, I don't like the signing.

 

Dumb? Nah, it's a one year deal.

 

It's a middling signing. I don't personally like it but the damage that can be done on a one-year deal is so minimal it's almost non-existent. I care a lot more about the potential impact of signing over-30 middling starters to multi-year contracts than I'll ever care about a one-year deal to Torii Hunter.

[TheLeviathan]

And I 100% agree that Hunter will be a huge positive influence on Hunter and Buxton. I really do. But, I won't question his work ethic and desire. In the Offseason Handbook, Terry Ryan told Parker that he isn't concern about that. Hicks cares, and he works. 

 

I can understand that, but the concern people voice about Hicks' makeup has been publicly substantiated by the Twins more than once.  

 

I'd rather focus on his utter lack of success as a big league ballplayer, but when people inside the organization are publicly griping about him - that can be an issue on the table when we evaluate him.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

If just adding power meant his OPS+ jumped 44 points in two years, I'll take more power, please.

Not sure if you understood my point -- even though Hunter was below average his first two years in MLB, he held his own.  Same basic AVG/OBP/SLG/BB%/K% that he posted in the minors and would go on to produce in the majors.  It was a foundation from which he could take the next step, which was adding power in AAA at age 24 and carrying it over in his return to MLB at age 25.

 

Hicks is about two years and two levels removed from his last performance which could be considered a foundation for a lasting career.  Obviously it is still possible for him to improve, but he's a few steps behind Hunter at the same age.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hicks hit .250 in the second half last year.  Nobody doubts he can get walks.  He's got some speed or he wouldn't be a center fielder.  He also is a decent defender too.

 

I would love to see him develop into a total stud, but as far as I'm concerned, he finally turned the corner and if he continues where he left off, he's plenty good enough to keep sending out there.

Last year at this time, the first part of this post could have read:

 

"Hicks had a unlucky .241 BABIP in his rookie year.  Nobody doubts he has some power (8 HR, .146 ISO)."

 

Well, the BABIP corrected itself to league average, but Hicks' AVG barely moved, and the power almost completely vanished while he added a bunch of walks.

 

Pretty sure nothing in the last two years point to positive sustainable trend for Hicks yet.