December 5, 201411 yr 4. The Puckett to Hunter dynamic exists;Much like the Hunter to Span dynamic didn't actually manifest itself at all in Span's performance until after Hunter left, Torii Hunter didn't really click as a viable MLB hitter until the year 2000. From what I know of Puckett's life after retirement, he probably wasn't really active with Hunter at that point. No doubt that Puckett was probably a great friend and role model to Hunter, and Hunter the same for Span, but I think the perseverance/performance effects of those "mentorships" are overblown. Hunter and Span were both first round picks and neither was that old or close to washing out when their performance level finally clicked enough to stick in MLB. That doesn't mean such mentorship isn't a good thing -- I am sure it is, it's fun to read about, and it should be encouraged. But it almost certainly shouldn't dictate player acquisition and roster composition to the extent that the Twins seem to think it should.
December 5, 201411 yr Much like the Hunter to Span dynamic didn't actually manifest itself at all in Span's performance until after Hunter left, Torii Hunter didn't really click as a viable MLB hitter until the year 2000. From what I know of Puckett's life after retirement, he probably wasn't really active with Hunter at that point. No doubt that Puckett was probably a great friend and role model to Hunter, and Hunter the same for Span, but I think the perseverance/performance effects of those "mentorships" are overblown. Hunter and Span were both first round picks and neither was that old or close to washing out when their performance level finally clicked enough to stick in MLB. That doesn't mean such mentorship isn't a good thing -- I am sure it is, it's fun to read about, and it should be encouraged. But it almost certainly shouldn't dictate player acquisition and roster composition to the extent that the Twins seem to think it should. We do have one documented time where Puckett offered Hunter money out of his "fat wallet"
December 5, 201411 yr I can't bash the Twins for signing Hunter. They needed someone to put out there with Arcia and Hicks / Schafer / fill-in-the-blank center fielder for a year, and they have a lousy group of OFers to choose from IMO. I do believe Twins scouts may be looking at Hunter's defense through rose colored glasses, judging by Ryan's quotes. But Hunter's healthy and coming off a .765 season. If they can squeeze similar production out of him, then he'll be a great addition to the lineup and I'll live with daily gamble that x-number of high leverage fringe zone fly balls are hit to him. Of course, if he doesn't hit, that's a different story.
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