Twins send Diamond, Hicks down

[drjim]

Well, we have a 40-man spot open because of Butera. How many days does Hicks have to stay down to become a Super 2, or whatever. Hopefully Diamond will get his act together so he can return to the rotation and not become another Brian Duensing.

 

If they keep him down for 20 days they get an extra year of control. He would have to spend some significant time in the minors next year to avoid being a super 2 after the 2015 season.

[Monkeypaws]

Seems like the fair and right move.

 

Imagine what Hicks will be capable of next season if he doesn't dig himself a huge hole like he did this April. He's shown enough this season for me to think he has a pretty bright future. I think getting thrown out on that bunt last night was symbolic for his rookie season. and his face showed it. Come back bald next year and dominate.

 

Arcia gets to continue a shot at ROY honors. 2 hot months could get it done.

 

Diamond needs this, and Albers damn well deserves a shot.

[Mike Sixel]

This is why I almost afraid to read comments some times. What exactly should TR have done in the year and a half back on the job? I know spend 250 million on Greinke and Sanchez, because they would have for sure come here. With both of them we just might have been good enough to finish .500. This year is about seeing what some players like Florimon, Parmalee, Ploufe and Dozier can do. Also letting some rookies like Arcia and Hicks get their feet wet. Frankly I want the Twins to get a higher pick. Another top 3 means we are guaranteed to get either a stud pitcher or shortstop. This offseason we definitely do not need to waste money on overpriced free agent pitching. I say let Deduno, Diamond, Gibson, Hendricks, Albers, Meyer and May make 90% of the starts next year. Bring in Sano, Rosario and later Buxton to get their first taste. Then come 2015 you might be in a position to start thinking about moving forward. As a fan I believe you either contend for championships or you bottom out. Who wants to see a .500 team that is going nowhere.

 

so punt a fourth season....good idea. Sell that to the owners and fans.....

[ThePuck]

so punt a fourth season....good idea. Sell that to the owners and fans.....

 

Plenty of fans seem completely content with that...as far as the owners go, they'll pocket even more money next year. They'll be plenty happy.

[Mr. Brooks]

Seems like the fair and right move.

 

Imagine what Hicks will be capable of next season if he doesn't dig himself a huge hole like he did this April. He's shown enough this season for me to think he has a pretty bright future. I think getting thrown out on that bunt last night was symbolic for his rookie season. and his face showed it. Come back bald next year and dominate.

 

Arcia gets to continue a shot at ROY honors. 2 hot months could get it done.

 

Diamond needs this, and Albers damn well deserves a shot.

 

I don't think Arcia has a shot at catching Franklin, probably not Myers either.

[rickyriolo]

Minnesota fans are used to the losing now and just want the "nice experience" of going to a game outdoors.

[Thrylos]

so punt a fourth season....good idea. Sell that to the owners and fans.....

 

They don't need full ballpark in Twins' games; St Peter can add 2-3 more hick concerts during the season and make up for the "loss" on the baseball side... Demolition Derby and Monster Trucks during the post season.

[tjsyam921]

I like Hicks but I can't believe he lasted 105 games hitting below 200 before getting sent down.

[Guest USAFChief]

Frankly I want the Twins to get a higher pick. Another top 3 means we are guaranteed to get either a stud pitcher or shortstop. e.

Guaranteed?

 

This isn't the NFL.

[JB_Iowa]

Can they just send the whole d*mn team down and punt the rest of the season?

[Guest USAFChief]

I guess there's an argument to be made that perhaps AAA time will be good for Hicks, and there's always the financial/control angle. However I'd rather just let Hicks play CF in the big leagues. As long as he's getting every day playing time I don't think it matters much where that's at, and I for one really don't want to watch a team on its way to a third consecutive 90 loss season invest in Clete Thomas when that isn't necessary.

[Bark's Lounge]

I really hoped that Hicks would be successful this season. He started off awful and seemed to find a half decent kind of groove after the first month. When he went 4 for 4 against the Rays, I was hoping that would be his starting gun to get on a hot streak. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

 

In a season of disappointment, Hicks has at least provided us fans with some of the more exciting moments of this season (mostly with his glove). It is now imperative that the Twins stash Hicks in Rochester until they have guaranteed themselves another year of service time from him. I believe Hicks is a part of the answer to the Twins' woes. He just needs a bit more time.

 

As for Arcia. Tomorrow, he should probably be in the 3 or 4 spot. Not to say that will happen, but at this moment in time he seems like the absolute right candidate. Morneau and Doumit do not do it for me. Congrats to Morneau for his decent offensive output today, but one day does not change his awful July and powerless 3 months to begin the season.

[jorgenswest]

Definitely my bias, but I enjoy watching defense and the defense in the outfield will be unwatchable.

 

There will be a drop in CF, a huge drop in LF and it isn't possible to drop off from Doumit/Colabello/Herrmann in RF. The overall OF defense was adequate when Thomas was in LF and Hicks in CF. It will be the worst in baseball now.

 

I guess I hope Arcia plays RF as that is his future spot if not DH. It still seems the best decision for Hicks, but the Twins should have found someone who can defend in the OF from among those that have been DFA'd this year. They should have seen this need the minute they traded Revere.

 

Albers is not a ground ball pitcher. Good luck to him.

[nicksaviking]

I had been against sending Hicks down, I never saw any reason why a rebuilding team would demote any prospects, but letting him work out his struggles at the majors doesn't appear to be working. At this point I guess I don't care any longer, if the majors aren't working, I guess I can see some reason to give AAA a chance.

[stringer bell]

Hicks hasn't quite "found it". I thought that when he had that four hit game he would turn the corner, but it didn't happen. He fell back again in July10-63 since his 4-hit game vs. Tampa. He has shown flashes, but a month of Rochester time won't hurt and will give the Twins another year of control, I think.

 

Diamond isn't that bad, but he can't seem to get over the hump. I guess expectations for him going forward will be realistic and probably pessimistic. Diamond seems like a good competitor and I think he'll find a way to be a decent starter again.

[Vervehound]

Can they just send the whole d*mn team down and punt the rest of the season?

 

the red wings would be pretty formidable with morneau hitting 8th in their line-up.

[John Bonnes]

Boy, a four-game losing streak makes Twins Daily crabby.

 

On the detailed level, I agree with both of these moves. I might have tried Antoan Richardson over Arcia, just to see what he can do. But I'm far more excited to have Arcia back.

 

But at a broader level, I'm getting a little tired of "pieces of the future" failing to have any success. One can look a little optimistically at Arcia, Plouffe, Dozier and maybe Florimon, but non are blowing anyone away and a couple are taking a few years just to be somewhat competent. Meanwhile the struggles of Worley, Diamond, Gibson, Hicks, Parmelee....

 

While the team hasn't been brutal and has had some success, they haven't shown a lot of hope for the future. This move is a symptom of that, not the cause, but it still disheartens me a little.

[Kwak]

Boy, a four-game losing streak makes Twins Daily crabby.

 

On the detailed level, I agree with both of these moves. I might have tried Antoan Richardson over Arcia, just to see what he can do. But I'm far more excited to have Arcia back.

 

But at a broader level, I'm getting a little tired of "pieces of the future" failing to have any success. One can look a little optimistically at Arcia, Plouffe, Dozier and maybe Florimon, but non are blowing anyone away and a couple are taking a few years just to be somewhat competent. Meanwhile the struggles of Worley, Diamond, Gibson, Hicks, Parmelee....

 

While the team hasn't been brutal and has had some success, they haven't shown a lot of hope for the future. This move is a symptom of that, not the cause, but it still disheartens me a little.

 

I must agree John. Combine your statemnts above with those of the "Ten Best Pitching Prospects" Thread and I can't see how 2014 can be 10 games better than 2013 or that 2015 can be 25 games better than 2013 will finish without a substantial influx of veteran free agents that produce and cause the youth "to click".

[Shane Wahl]

Good moves. Hicks will be back in September. Another year of service time. Albers gets a tryout.

[Shane Wahl]

Mauer back batting second and Arcia third, hopefully. In September, throw Hicks in at the top. Let 'em roll. Maybe by June-ish next season, Sano will be batting 4th and Rosario 5th.

[drjim]

Phil Miller points out that the Rochester OF this werkend will be Willingham-Hicks-Parmelee and Minnesota will be Arcia-Thomas-Herrmann. Don't think that was in the opening day plans.

[Top Gun]

Hicks can kiss his ass good bye.

[Bark's Lounge]

Hicks can kiss his ass good bye.

Only if he is flexible, a contortionist... or something of that nature.

[Shane Wahl]

Hicks can kiss his ass good bye.

 

1200+ posts and suddenly you say something like this?

[PseudoSABR]

We like pretend that the modalities of baseball are known quantities but they are not; the Twins are playing a game of psychology as much as they are trying to maximize athleticism. Hicks and Diamond have had months to straighten themselves out at the major league level; it's time to shake their foundations and see if the house can hold. I have no doubt that both can contribute in the future, but unadulterated complacency was not the answer. I'm glad the Twins shook things up, both will be back up in September.

[LaBombo]

1200+ posts and suddenly you say something like this?

 

Shane Wahl, meet Top Gun. Top Gun, meet Shane Wahl.

[Jham]

This is why I almost afraid to read comments some times. What exactly should TR have done in the year and a half back on the job? I know spend 250 million on Greinke and Sanchez, because they would have for sure come here. With both of them we just might have been good enough to finish .500.

Greinke or Sanchez might not have been realistic, but if the Red Sox gave up Iglesias for Peavy, we could have absolutely made out trading a Greinke or Sanchez. Essentially we could have gotten several major league-ready blue-chippers and half-a-season of a true ace for like 10 million dollars (and a bit of risk of injury). The White Sox got a potential star from a division rival and a great 1/2 season of Peavy for what, 7-8 mil? I'd rather have that than a full year of Pelfrey and Correia for the same price. Sometimes signing higher priced free agents is necessary in order to have meaningful tradebait come July. The refusal to acquire tradeable talent in free agency has really held us back.

[AlwaysinModeration]

There are plenty of reasons to be excited and optimistic about being a Twins fan. The problem is that most of those reasons are not on the major league roster right now.

 

How many days until Deduno pitches again?

 

 

Gibson, Deduno and Colabello....and now Arcia again...are my current reasons on the big league club.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Mauer back batting second and Arcia third, hopefully. In September, throw Hicks in at the top. Let 'em roll. Maybe by June-ish next season, Sano will be batting 4th and Rosario 5th.

 

I agree with all of the parts of your plan. However, if Gardy is extended, will he be advocating for Sano and Rosario to start next year with the big league club?

[diehardtwinsfan]

This is why I almost afraid to read comments some times. What exactly should TR have done in the year and a half back on the job? I know spend 250 million on Greinke and Sanchez, because they would have for sure come here. With both of them we just might have been good enough to finish .500.

Greinke or Sanchez might not have been realistic, but if the Red Sox gave up Iglesias for Peavy, we could have absolutely made out trading a Greinke or Sanchez. Essentially we could have gotten several major league-ready blue-chippers and half-a-season of a true ace for like 10 million dollars (and a bit of risk of injury). The White Sox got a potential star from a division rival and a great 1/2 season of Peavy for what, 7-8 mil? I'd rather have that than a full year of Pelfrey and Correia for the same price. Sometimes signing higher priced free agents is necessary in order to have meaningful tradebait come July. The refusal to acquire tradeable talent in free agency has really held us back.

 

Peavy doesn't have another 5 years on his deal. And truth be told, Iglesias was a sell high move and was designed to make room for Bogarts. Iglesias was already crashing back to earth. The Sox gave up Peavy for practically nothing.