I agree that it will be soon - but probably not before the end of May. Robinson has been better than expected and Schaefer has struggled, but provides a counter to Hicks" weaknesses against right handed pitching.

While Hicks may be ready - the prospect of DFAing either Robinson or Schaefer could bring back the sour memories of the Alex Presley/Darin Mastroianni debacle of last year.  

The front office is probably thinking that the next promotion of Hicks will be his last. As a result, they are going to want to be super comfortable making the move, which translates to a more conservative approach.  

It may take an injury to an outfielder to make this happen.

While Robinson has been better than expected, it's best to remember the sample size. Take a look at Schafer's numbers after he was claimed by the Twins last year. There's no doubt in my mind Hicks should be up before June, as he should have been the opening day option for the reasons I mentioned above. Arcia's injury could expedite that.

The only reason I mention DFA'ing Schafer is becauSE I'm admittedly not sound with options. If he has one, sure send him down. He's not a quality enough defensive option to be a fourth OF over Robinson in my book however.

There's no doubt that this promotion for Hicks needs to be the last time he is sent down. Based upon the numbers he's put up and the success he's shown over the course of a more practical appraoch to the big leagues, I think he succeeds this time around.

Outside of different results, I am not sure what makes him a 2.0.  I haven't heard a peep about attitude or work effort. I hope he has changed.

But we should promote him.  Buxton is on fire at AA.  The window of reps is not huge here.

It seems people often struggle to separate past results with different plans of action. Hicks has not ever progressed through the system as he has currently, and the results suggest it's been a good thing. While his attitude has always been an issue, it's hardly the reason for lack of production.

The expectation should be that he will produce, and Molitor can rear his attitude in the right direction. As far as reps, Jordan Schafer is currently the Twins starting CF'er...sounds like plenty of replaceable opportunities to me.

Hicks and Buxton are mutually exclusive. If/when Hicks succeeds, his long term role is in LF, not CF.

I agree that it will be soon - but probably not before the end of May. Robinson has been better than expected and Schaefer has struggled, but provides a counter to Hicks" weaknesses against right handed pitching.

 

While Hicks may be ready - the prospect of DFAing either Robinson or Schaefer could bring back the sour memories of the Alex Presley/Darin Mastroianni debacle of last year.  

 

The front office is probably thinking that the next promotion of Hicks will be his last. As a result, they are going to want to be super comfortable making the move, which translates to a more conservative approach.  

 

It may take an injury to an outfielder to make this happen.

Since neither Mastroianni nor Presley is in the big leagues now I feel that we can safely say we're over them.  Maybe even to the point of not calling that situation a debacle.

Since neither Mastroianni nor Presley is in the big leagues now I feel that we can safely say we're over them.  Maybe even to the point of not calling that situation a debacle.

Organizationally, it was an issue considering depth. I'd tend to agree however that outside of a body, it wasn't an issue. The Twins have more than just bodies at this point as well.

Outside of different results, I am not sure what makes him a 2.0.  I haven't heard a peep about attitude or work effort. I hope he has changed.

 

But we should promote him.  Buxton is on fire at AA.  The window of reps is not huge here.

You're right, we don't know what has changed.  And if you're also right that the only thing that's changed is results, then I'm good with that.

You're right, we don't know what has changed.  And if you're also right that the only thing that's changed is results, then I'm good with that.

That's similar to where I was coming out of spring training. Considering Molitor is a new voice, and one that seems more demanding than Gardy, I put the onus to change attitudes on him. Hicks needs to/may have/still can mature, but the results alone were indicative of him being the best option from the get go.

Doubt Schaefer has options, otherwise the Braves wouldn't have waived him last year.    However, I am happy to be corrected on this point.

While Robinson's numbers are suspect.  He has played a strong defense. 

There is probabably a bit of, "it ain't broke . . ."  in the Twins clubhouse, combined with the roller coaster ride that is Hicks, I just don't see them pulling the trigger soon.  

I would like to be wrong, but I think they have been fooled too many times with glimpses from Hicks that they are going to be very deliberate on the next decision. 

He is only 25 after all.   Lorenzo Cain did not play regularly for KC until after that age.

Yeah, I'd guess he'd need to be DFA'd too, but that's not something that would be a deterrent for me. There's organizational depth that spans further than simply bodies.

Robinson is hitting far better than he should be, but defensively he makes sense. Schafer has been more liability than positive in the outfield, thus making Robinson a more ideal 4th outfielder given the current situation.

Hicks has built up a significant amount of negative when it comes to his body of work. There's no doubt that plays into this to some level. However, to for the club to continue to dismiss the positive that would result in him being brought up in exchange for a guy with a sub 1.0 War over six years isn't a glaring endorsement of your confidence in development either.

Like I mentioned, his "too many times" is a comprehensive amount that equates to virtually one season. He's 25, that's far off from time I'm giving up on an athlete like that.

 If/when Hicks succeeds, his long term role is in LF, not CF.

Hicks should be a RIGHT-fielder with one of the strongest throwing arms in the organization.

"On the flip side, Schafer has been anything but. Looking overmatched in the outfield, his .189/.218/.226 line does Minnesota no favors at the plate either. While his speed is valuable, he has been unable to use it struggling to get on base. With just two steals through the first month, it's time Minnesota moves on from Schafer and puts Hicks back in his role. This time however, the big league club should expect it to be different."

Schafer has zero steals this year so far, and was caught stealing yet again on Monday night, for 0/3 now for the year. In spring training, he was only succesful in 3 of 6 attempts as well. All that speed and he can't buy a steal so far. He is getting worse at stealing. He did, however have a good night at the plate for a change and made a great diving catch to save a run in the eighth, but he usually looks lost in the outfield with terrible routes to the ball. That inside the park homer the other night was because he just can't seem to gauge where the ball is going.

 If/when Hicks succeeds, his long term role is in LF, not CF.

Hicks should be a RIGHT-fielder with one of the strongest throwing arms in the organization.

No doubt he'll be in one of the corners. I think LF makes sense, but if Arcia is going to stick, you probably need Hicks in RF.

"On the flip side, Schafer has been anything but. Looking overmatched in the outfield, his .189/.218/.226 line does Minnesota no favors at the plate either. While his speed is valuable, he has been unable to use it struggling to get on base. With just two steals through the first month, it's time Minnesota moves on from Schafer and puts Hicks back in his role. This time however, the big league club should expect it to be different."

 

Schafer has zero steals this year so far, and was caught stealing yet again on Monday night, for 0/3 now for the year. In spring training, he was only succesful in 3 of 6 attempts as well. All that speed and he can't buy a steal so far. He is getting worse at stealing. He did, however have a good night at the plate for a change and made a great diving catch to save a run in the eighth, but he usually looks lost in the outfield with terrible routes to the ball. That inside the park homer the other night was because he just can't seem to gauge where the ball is going.

Sorry, definitely a typo there. Meant to say he was caught stealing twice on the season. Agreed however that he brings very little value to this club. With Hicks looking like an ideal CF option at Triple-A, the Twins should be considering their 4th OF options. With Robinson hitting and defensively sound, he is much more of an asset than anything Schafer has brought to the table.