What was your favorite Luke Hughes moment?

[Thrylos]

I've been thinking about that overnight and here is a summary of my thoughts on the subject: 5 reasons why Luke Hughes got a rotten deal by the Twins

[perkins7]

I really would've liked to see Hughes still in the system. Probably one of the few semi-bright spots last year with his power and average defense. Not saying he's a prodigious hitter or a defensive wizard, but he was certainly very serviceable and reliable as a utility infielder. There's almost no doubt that he'll get picked up very quickly, and I wish him best of luck wherever he goes.

[TheMind07]

Luke could do worse than learn from Cuddy: .370 BA, 1.091 OPS, 2 homers, MLB leading 7 doubles.

My point was that he cannot lay off a slider from a righty low and away. Let me guess, you think we should have resigned Cuddyer too?

[nicksaviking]

Luke Hughes has 335 big league plate appearances. I think that's much too small of a sample size to determine any future MLB productivity. Same thing happened with those saying Revere is a terrible hitter. When did everyone start expecting consistant quality at-bats from rookies?

[ScottyB]

Bad move - Twins are way too left handed. Hughes was a versatile power option for the bench. Right now the only right-handed hitters are Willingham, Carroll, Valencia, Plouffe, plus switchers Doumit & Casilla. 13 pitchers? I found an article from the late '70's (from the Sporting News) about the White Sox under Tony LaRussa. He was trying to decide whether to go with a 9-man pitching staff or an 8-man, that's right 8 pitchers. Now I realize that times have changed, but it wasn't that long ago that teams regularly used 10 or 11 pitchers. Quality pitchers who can go a couple of innings every other day would go a long way to improve a team. Hughes was never given a chance. Burroughs doesn't have the power a corner infielder should have. The ONLY way this is acceptable is if Dozier is brought up to start at short, move Carroll to second and make Casilla utility. They will regret the move when Casilla gets injured, later this season - as he always does.

[Yoshii]

Don't really have a favorite Luke Hughes moment, but always enjoyed his power/spring stats the last couple of years.

 

2011 - .834 OPS/ 6 hrs

2012 - .984 OPs/ 6 hrs

 

Whether or not that power translates to the regular season we really didn't give him a chance. We know his average suffers. I will still miss him.

[stringer bell]

My point was that he cannot lay off a slider from a righty low and away. Let me guess, you think we should have resigned Cuddyer too?

Yes and no. Cuddyer is my all-time favorite Twin and I thought the Twins should do what they could to re-sign him, but it is probably best for Cuddyer and the Twins that he got three years and the Twins got a sandwich pick.

[Dilligaf69]

I was a little suprised but not upset. Plouffe is basically the same player, really no need for two of them on the bench.

[TheMind07]

Yes and no. Cuddyer is my all-time favorite Twin and I thought the Twins should do what they could to re-sign him, but it is probably best for Cuddyer and the Twins that he got three years and the Twins got a sandwich pick.

i couldn't agree more...

[Rosterman]

C'mon, Hughes has done everything the Twins ask. He hits for pop, yes -- he strikes out He'll tackle any position. A good valuable bench player. Put him out there everyday and I'll take him over Alexi anyday. Between him and Plouffe, you had Twins ultility/bench guys for 4-5 years....defining bench guys...a person who can play more than adequately any position for a modest amount of time and then happily return to role-playing role. I would've cut loose Burroughs for the 40-man spot.

[Thrylos]

I would've cut loose Burroughs for the 40-man spot.

The 40-man spot was never a problem (could have put Baker on the 60 day DL to open one if needed but was not needed because Marquis was already on the 40-man roster ). The 25-man spot was the problem. Because Hughes is out of options, in order to be removed from the 25-man roster, he had to be removed from the 40-man as well... Just a clarification that is lost in the details...

[ashbury]

I've been thinking about that overnight and here is a summary of my thoughts on the subject: 5 reasons why Luke Hughes got a rotten deal by the Twins

Somehow Greg Gagne is coming to mind as a possible comp for Hughes - not very good OBP but with enough pop to be a contributor overall at bat, and with defense that some would criticize but is serviceable. Since Gagne contributed greatly to two WS teams, it's a little compelling. But then in the details, it seems that Hughes comes up short against Gagne in various ways. While Gagne wasn't slick in the field, he was steady and made all the routine plays, whereas Hughes seems to get heat for messing up (even when an error isn't charged). And Hughes is being measured at 2B mainly, and is not considered an option at SS. And finally, his low OBP doesn't even quite come up to Gagne's standard. All in all, these are the differences in being able to hold down a major league job, and not.

[Guest USAFChief]

Greg Gagne was an excellent defensive shortstop. Excellent.

[DJSim22]

Sad to see Mr March go, wish they would have kept him over Plouffe. Same player, just like Hughes better.

[CDog]

Why does "everyone" hate the topic of this thread!?!?!? Haha. Guess it was hard to top the original post's "dinger in first at-bat" moment. Although the wrong airport gate was a forgotten gem.

[CDog]

Bring up DOZIER - like NOW!

 

Handwriting is on the wall - Here's a call for you - Dozier will be here with in 10 days - that's by May 1st -

To paraphrase Margie in Fargo...Can't say I agree with ya 100% on your calendar counting there, ltwedt! Haha. Although I guess techincally that is still BY May 1st. Ahhh, probably just reaching for an excuse to think about Fargo.

[gil4]

...the possibility that we could pick up BP help on waivers...

Is that BP bullpen or battnig practice? Will we be able to tell the difference?

[ashbury]

Greg Gagne was an excellent defensive shortstop. Excellent.

No he wasn't. No.

 

Most major league shortstops are excellent, against some absolute scale. And I loved Gagne to pieces; he was instrumental and underrated in their WS wins. But Gagne won no Gold Gloves, and as far as I recall he was never even in the discussion for such an award. He made the routine plays and you can't say that about every shortstop; but he was a league average defender with so-so range, nothing more. His value (again comparing to other shortstops) was more on the offensive side.

 

Luke Hughes should aspire to such defensive heights, of course.

[woolhouse]

Back to the question at hand...

 

My favorite Luke Hughes moment came in 2011. He came up in a couple key spots for the Twins early in the season (before the season was a complete waste) and the audio guy at Target Field was smart enough to play the sound byte: "Use the force, Luke." And at least one of the times he came through with a game-tying single.

[Shane Wahl]

Luke Hughes is probably better off in another organization. He is at a dead end with the Twins. Consider:

 

If Morneau gets hurt, Chris Parmelee, Joe Mauer, Ryan Doumit, and Trevor Plouffe are better all-around players to fill in at 1st and DH.

If any of the other infielders gets hurt, Dozier is up immediately (if Valencia, Carroll moves to 3rd).

If any of the outfielders get hurt, anyone from Revere to Mastroianni to Carson to eventually Tosoni or Benson are filling in.

 

Luke Hughes doesn't actually hit lefties particularly well. What role does he fill?

[Ultima Ratio]

Is that BP bullpen or battnig practice? Will we be able to tell the difference?

Uh, I seriously hope it's bullpen help, which we should have gotten earlier.... like in the offseason.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

According to LEN, Hughes was claimed off waivers by Oakland.

[mhanson93]

According to LEN, Hughes was claimed off waivers by Oakland.

This is my favorite Luke Hughes moment.

[Seth Stohs]

Tweet from Hughes: "I'm very happy to say that I'm off to Oakland. Thank you to the Minnesota Twins organization and to the fans. Can't wait for the fresh start"

[whydidnt]

Considering the current 3B situation in Oakland, it wouldn't surprise me to see Hughes installed as their starting 3B. If so, we'll get to see if there was anything there, or if the Twins were right to move on.

[Riverbrian]

Considering the current 3B situation in Oakland, it wouldn't surprise me to see Hughes installed as their starting 3B. If so, we'll get to see if there was anything there, or if the Twins were right to move on.

I hope he does well. I think he was a premature DFA but also a long shot to being productive. Maybe he slots into 3B for the A's and turns it on. Maybe he doesn't. Good luck to Luke.

[jorgenswest]

A good fit. Sizemore is out. Hughes has a chance to show he can hit well enough to start. What are the chances he will be more productive than Valencia this year?

[Thrylos]

Any word on what the Twins received in return? At this point it has to be a trade...

[Roger Sterling]

Any word on what the Twins received in return? At this point it has to be a trade...

The Twins received a big bucket of Nothing, since it was a waiver claim.

[Thrylos]

The Twins received a big bucket of Nothing, since it was a waiver claim.

too early to be a waiver claim... After DFA the team has 10 days to trade a player then he goes through waivers... so based on the timing it was a trade