Is it time to call up Hicks?

[COtwin]

I am a still a believer that Hicks is part of the future.  As a starter in CF until Buxton is a permanent fixture, and then in a corner until he is supplanted.  I think his floor will eventually be a solid 4th outfielder/platoon.    But he should not be brought up yet.  His splits are much more acceptable at this point, 1.090 from the right and .713 from the left.  As a matter of fact only Robinson, .773 with only 22 AB, has a better OPS than Hicks weak side.  Regardless if everyone else is underperforming, we need to leave Hicks down for at least a few more weeks.  He needs to have a foundation of confidence when he comes up for the last time.  

[KGB]

The next time they bring him up has to be for good. Give him at least 100 PAs in AAA and then assess.

It is for good or his last chance. So they shouldn't rush this time.

[jorgenswest]

It is for good or his last chance. So they shouldn't rush this time.

He is a valuable platoon fourth OF. Not a last chance, but the next time up might be in that role.

[big dog]

 

Recent Twins property Sam Fuld has a 148 OPS+ for Oakland as well. 

I'll take the under, please.  OK, I'll give you 50 points and still take the under.

[KGB]

He is a valuable platoon fourth OF. Not a last chance, but the next time up might be in that role.

At the majors he hasn't shown that he can hit or field. His only valuable skill is not swinging and getting walks. If he doesn't do more, a fourth outfielder is a stretch.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'll take the under, please. OK, I'll give you 50 points and still take the under.

Since when is a statement of fact presumed to be an offer to bet?

 

Too bad the Twins didn't "take the under" after Schafer's much more modest OPS+ late last season...

 

Hey, if you find someone interested in betting, perhaps you could similarly "take the under" on Tommy Milone's 2015 performance to date.

[big dog]

 

Since when is a statement of fact presumed to be an offer to bet?

Too bad the Twins didn't "take the under" after Schafer's much more modest OPS+ late last season...

Hey, if you find someone interested in betting, perhaps you could similarly "take the under" on Tommy Milone's 2015 performance to date.

Just an offer.  Not a threat.  I'm backing away with my hands in the air, officer...

 

Fuld is not a starting outfielder in this league (just like Shafer).  Replacing Shafer with him is about a one-month solution.  He is who he is.  The fact that he has a 148 OPS+ in 58 at-bats over 3 weeks doesn't have any bearing to me on whether he should be our starting CF.  Another interesting bet is whether he breaks down before Crisp is off the DL.

 

I'd really like a long-term solution rather than a 34-year old stopgap.  The Twins thought Shafer might have a small chance, they were wrong, let's look for someone else who might at least have a chance of being around for a couple of years.  This year's Dead and Gone, and we knew that back in, oh, 2014.

 

I do think Milone has at least a chance to be a legitimate starting pitcher, though that wasn't the premise of my post.  And no, that's not something I'd bet on because I hope we can find someone better.

 

 

[HitInAPinch]

Hicks currently has a .286 BA, but it's only 49 AB's at AAA.   It's still too early to tell, but 467 MLB AB's and only a .201 BA tells me a lot.  Complete the year at AAA and if there isn't significant progress, release him.  Maybe Aaron will to better elsewhere.

 

On the Schafer/Robinson combo:  They're "placeholders", i.e.  holding a spot for a better player.  Sadly, "placeholder" is the way the Twins have been built over the past several years. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Fuld is not a starting outfielder in this league (just like Shafer).

Fuld is probably best as a 4th OF, but here are the career numbers:

 

Fuld: 87 wRC+, 13.1 UZR/150 (8.4 in CF), 2.1 fWAR per 500 PA

 

Schafer: 71 wRC+, -3.9 UZR/150 (-5.4 in CF), 0.1 fWAR per 500 PA

 

Fuld would be an asset as a 4th OF and passable as a CF starter.  Schafer is probably best as a 5th outfielder / pinch runner, if that.  (And for the age difference, Fuld actually has the same amount of service time as Schafer, so their salaries and years of team control remaining are virtually the same.)

 

 

I didn't mind flipping Fuld for Milone, but I also wouldn't have been upset if the Twins had said "so this is what a decent CF looks like" and held on to Fuld instead, especially if the plan was to move Santana back to SS, install Schafer in CF and Hicks in AAA, commit to two more questionable gloves in the OF corners, and then sign yet another FA SP long-term (somewhat reducing Milone's potential value to us).

 

Sorry for the rant, but man, this has been a maddening CF/OF progression (regression?) to watch the past few years...

[Otto von Ballpark]

...and bringing my rant back on the direct topic: I too want to see Hicks finally build a foundation in AAA, but I also really don't want to see Schafer out there as a MLB starter anymore.

 

Given our history with Hicks, I guess grudgingly watching yet another terrible CF in Schafer for awhile longer is probably the lesser of the two evils.

[mickeymental]

 

Kris Bryant had to play CF today.

that's kinda my point. i mean, i understand that a bad major-league experience can set a guy back psychologically. but at the same time i have to believe that jorge polanco's five-game stint with the twins last season was a positive experience. sometimes a guy will stick -- like danny santana last year and kirby puckett back in the day. or like seemingly half the lineups for the cubs and astros ...

[Seth Stohs]

 

Let Hicks build confidence in Rochester. We've been through this dog and pony show too many times to call him up after a handful of games.

 

Yeah, I'd like to see him get a full month in Rochester and then see where he's at. (and Rosario if some think that's an option too, and at that time, maybe it is) 

 

Two weeks should not an evaluation make.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Yeah, I'd like to see him get a full month in Rochester and then see where he's at. (and Rosario if some think that's an option too, and at that time, maybe it is) 

 

Two weeks should not an evaluation make.

Yep. Generally, I'm an advocate for staying the course in April. Give everyone a bit of time to settle in and then start thinking about roster moves.

[twinscowboysbulls]

Is it possible that Hicks could be recalled and make a positive impact in CF? He is doing a decent job at AAA.

[Twodogs]

If he is still producing better than what the Twins have on Memorial Day, I'd say that is about when he should be called up.  But if he hits any extended slumps between here and there, then I think July 1st has to be the next goal.  But I think he needs to get a lot of confidence, to the point where he knows that no one can handle him in AAA, once he gets there, he will know, the Twins will know and we will all find out if it is true.  I remember Morneau was held down for about a month or two too long, at least that was what it seemed like, then he had some struggles for about a year or so and then exploded.

[Kwak]

No.  Wait until the season is at least 1/3 and preferably 1/2 played before changing.  There is no need to change now.  Consider this, what if Hicks stumbles his first ten games? Then what? Send him back? Stick with for a month? The rest of the year?  This is like making a line-up card by who is playing well (or poorly) right now. 

[twinscowboysbulls]

I didn't put a date on that recall or ask for one fellas. I am asking if you think he can be successful in CF for the Twins or if that ship has sailed...

[jorgenswest]

He can be a valuable platoon/4th OF right now. Success in a role where he starts against all lefties and occasional right handed pitchers could build his confidence towards a more full time role. I would not hand him centerfield full time when he returns.

 

Twins faced a left handed starter in 56 games last year. The options they have now against those lefties is very thin. Pinch hits options when a LOOGY comes in are nonexistent on the bench. Hicks and Pinto would change that. Give him 100 PAs in AAA. If he is not struggling, bring him up.