curt1965

I don't understand Mauer's thinking. He takes 'every' first pitch, usually a get over FB, and then is in the hole. If the first pitch happens to be a ball, he takes the next FB down the middle. I know he's a lifetime .319 hitter- just sayin'.........

After Hicks was called up last night, I was contemplating this very issue. What happens, in the best case scenario, if all these prospects turn out to be very good or elite? Who stays and who goes? What positions are we talking about? When trying to visualize our lineup in 2-3 years, I realized there is only one position we know for sure-1B- with Joe Mauer. I am a Mauer fan, and cannot quite understand the intense feelings many fans have for him, and I am not alluding to positive feelings. I think he has 3(?) years left with his no-trade contract. Watching Mauer hit when he is in the middle of a hot streak is a true delight, and I hope that isn't a thing of the past, but freeing up that position would not only help fit in one of those prospects (Vargas, ABW3, Sano?), but free up some money for pitching. Just sayin....... (Must have been on the same wavelength as previous poster!)

What a fantastic report, jokin! It was really interesting to hear your comments, both pro and con. The analysis was terrific! Your perspective on these kids was amazing. Great job!

I'm excited for Hicks! I hope if he has a slow start, fans will cut him a little slack. Hope the kid has some success, though.

There have been some issues with Hicks that we are not privy to, but attitude and effort seem to be the main the problems. Fans seem to forget that this is still a young kid, who made some obvious mistakes in the past couple of years. Do fans remember how many times a young Hunter and Cuddyer were sent down after failing in the big leagues? The Twins have performed much better than expected so far this season, and have an obvious hole in CF. If the fans are expected to pay good money to see these guys perform, we should also have to right to expect that the FO puts the best product on the field. I don't quite understand why their is so much animosity with Hicks. Maybe we should remember some of the things we did, or how me acted at times, when we were young.

Don't know that Thielbar is the answer either, but who is the next LOOGY in the Twins system?

Nice job, Thompson!!!!

Not very comfortable with Duensing-hope he proves me wrong.

Ash-that was amazing! I am so jealous- your writing skills are a gift. The Indian logo immediately brought me back to my baseball card collecting days as a youth. Herb Score, Larry Doby, Bobby Avila, Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Don Mossi, Vic Wertz, Early Wynn, and Rocky Colovito- Cleveland had some studs back then! Now I'd going to challenge the other TD great writer-Doc Bauer- to try to top your terrific article!

When do you have time to sleep, Seth?

When he wasn't mentioned in Seth's pitcher of the month article, you know J.O. Berrios didn't have the greatest opening month for the Chattanooga Lookouts. In his first 5 starts, the 20 year old Berrios (21 on May 27th) was 3-1 with a rather high (for him) 3.54 ERA. In 28 innings, he has given up 32 hits, with 10 walks and an impressive 37 strikeouts. His 1.50 WHIP will hopefully be a season high. With continued good health and more experience at the AA level, its just a matter of time before we see him at Target Field.

Aaron Hicks continued his torrid stretch of terrific hitting by going 3-5 tonight with a double and triple in Rochester's 15-10 win. His hot streak brought his season's average to a high of .318, with 6 doubles, 4 triples, 2 HR's, 15 runs scored, and a team leading 13 RBI's. Hope the Twins are noticing!

Mauer's bat looks slow. Struck out on a fastball like he also did last night. Hope that's not the beginning of a trend.

I agree with the points made by Blake and jokin, and appreciate all the other opinions in favor of Escobar. It's a good discussion. Let me state this first: Santana is probably my favorite player and I think he should be the Twins SS. However, I was at today's 13-3 win, and came away with these two observations about the play of Santana. First, he missed an easy throw from Vargas in the 8th that lead to an unearned run. Secondly, he didn't have the greatest AB's after his first AB (when he was given a gift hit from the official scorer on a blatant error-IMO) I think we all have to remember that this is his first season as a starting SS in the big leagues. He makes mistakes. I also happen to agree with TR that Santana's issues are largely due to concentration problems. He is still very young, too, and I believe too emotional at times. But we need to find out if he is the answer at SS, and how much slack are we willing to cut him to find out. I think he's going to be an excellent hitter, and it would be terrific if he improves defensively. I don't think you take a .300 hitter and send him to the minors, and tell him to work on his defense. (BTW- share the job with Polanco, too!) It was pointed out that Plouffe and Dozier were not so graceful in their earlier years. The Twins are 1 game over .500, and Santana hasn't cost us any games. I say-let's see what we've got- what do we have to lose!

Hicks is a better player than Schaefer and Robinson. If the Twins are truly about winning, this move is easy. However, the organization seems terminally pissed off at Hicks, and it appears like something drastic has to happen for the FO to bring him up. For those who say that Aaron has to SERVE so many weeks or months in Rochester, then putting the best lineup on the field is not the way to go? I don't know if it is his desire or his attitude that has been drawing all the negative reviews. If he is a good teammate, plays hard, and keeps his nose clean, what's the problem? IMHO, most of his issues began when he was promoted too soon. Players handle this differently-(see Santana, Vargas,etc,). Please, put the best players on the field!

If the Twins don't recall Hicks and Pinto within a week (at the very latest), they must admit they have punted this year like the last 4. Games in April and May count just as much as those in August and September.

Tremendous article, Seth. You have the innate ability to tell a story, and bring us these interesting players that are experiencing life for the first time in the fast lane of the minor leagues. You have a true gift!

What about Staeffler(sp)?

I'm sorry-where was Schaeffer's throw going?

Did anyone mention his velocity today? Maybe he just has Steve Sax disease!

The black hole that is the Twins CF position might just have a familiar solution. Aaron Hicks, the beleaguered outfielder out of Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California is trying to resurrect his career in 2015 in Rochester. The 25 year old(10-2-89), 6'2" 210 pound switch hitter was drafted in the first round (14th overall) in the June 2008 Amateur Draft. He began his career in the GCL. Hicks spent 2009 and 2010 in Beloit, 2011 in Fort Meyers, and 2012 in New Britain. He was a career .272 minor league hitter. After an outstanding spring training in 2013, he jump all the way from AA to the big leagues and debuted in April 1, 2013 (Unfortunately against Justin Verlander!). After struggling mightily for most of the early part of the season, he was sent down to Rochester where his struggles continued. Much to his dismay, his lackluster performance did not earn him a return trip in September. In 2014, he again earned the starting CF position, but continued to have problems. In a possible attempt to get his attention, the Twins sent him all the way back to AA in New Britian. He was later promoted to Rochester, and this time was a part of the September call ups. The Twins have always loved the fact that Aaron was a switch hitter, but when his problems from the left side continued in 2014, the frustrated Hicks temporarily gave up hitting left handed. He quickly abanded this idea, and went back to his switch hitting ways. He has a career .201 average, with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Aaron Hicks has developed into an enigma in the Twins organization. He has talent: in 2012 he was ranked the #72 prospect by MLB. He was ranked the 4th best prospect, best defensive outfielder, and best outfield arm in the Twins system by Baseball America following the 2011 season. The question remains if he has the desire and the makeup to be an everyday player in the majors. He is off to a decent start this year hitting .294 with a double, triple, home run and one stolen base through April 13. In addition, Hicks has always been a good defensive player with a plus arm. If Schaffer and Robinson continue to struggle, you may see his familiar face soon at Target Field!

His last name may not be May or Meyer, but J.O. (Jose) Berrios may be the Twins future ace. Drafted in the first round (#32 overall) in the 2012 MLB June Ametuer Draft, the 6', 185 pound right hander out of Papa Juan High School in Bayamon, Puerto Rico has been on the fast tract in the organization. In his short minor league career, the 20 year old (5-27-94) has pitched well beyond his years. He began his career in 2012 in the GCL and in Elizabethton. 2013 was spent in Cedar Rapids. In. 2014, he had stints in Fort Meyers, New Britain, and Rochester. 2015 finds him in Chattanooga (at least for the start of the year!) Berrios is a fierce competitor and diligent workaholic. His best pitch is his 95-96 mph fastball, that sits regularly in the low 90's. His second pitch is an outstanding change up that is devastating to left handed hitters, and also has a developing breaking ball, best described as a "slurve." Jose has a career minor league record of 23-15 with a 3.01 ERA. In 280 innings, he has 300 strikeouts! 2014 appears to be the year that grabbed everyone's attention. He was honored to start the Future's game played in Minneapolis, and finished the year leading the organization in batting average against and WHIP, was 2nd in strikeouts, and 3rd in ERA. In first first start in 2015, he picked up where he left off last year. In nearly mid season form, he picked up the win, threw 6.1 innings, giving up only one run, while striking out 11 hitters with only one walk. His next start will be this week against Birmingham. The fans in Minnesota are clamoring for his arrival at Target Field; despite his youth and relative inexperience, Berrios may not disappoint us if he continues on this accelerated path!

His last name may not be May or Meyer, but J.O. (Jose) Berrios may be the Twins future ace. Drafted in the first round in the 2012 MLB June Ametuer Draft, the 6', 185 pound right hander out of Papa Juan High School in Bayamin, Puerto Rico has been on the fast track in the organization. In his short career, the 20 year old(5-27-94) has pitched well beyond his years. He began his career in 2012 in the GCL and in Elizabeton. 2013 was spent in Cedar Rapids. In 2014, he had stints in Fort Meyers, New Britain, and Rochester. 2015 finds him in Chattanooga (at least to start the season!) Berrios is a fierce competitor and a diligent workaholic. He has a fastball in the 95-96 range, and consistently throws in the lower 90's. His second pitch is an outstanding change up, and also throws a curve ball which is more accurately labeled a "slurve." Jose has a career minor league record of 23-15 with a 3.01 ERA. In 280 innings, he has 300 strikeouts! 2014 appears to be the year that grabbed everyone's attention. He was honored to start the Future's game played in Minneapolis, and finished the year leading the organization in batting average against and WHIP, was 2nd in strikeouts, and 3rd in ERA. In his first start in 2015, he appears to be in mid-season form. He got the win, threw 6.1 innings, gave up only one run, and struck out 11 batters with only one walk. His next start will be next week against Birmingham. The fans in Minnesota are clamoring for his arrival at Target Field; despite his youth and inexperience, he may not disappoint us if he continues on this excelerated path!

I would love to take Aaron Hicks for my second pick, please!

Lookouts struck out 20 times tonight in 9 innings-WOW!