Article: TD Mailbag: Mauer's Future and Prospect Timelines

[Nick Nelson]

With temperatures outside dropping well below zero, we're here to warm you up by serving hot takes to answer all your burning Twins-related questions!

 

Sorry. That was very lame. Anyway, moving on...Twins Daily Member Kirby_waved_at_me:

How bad does Ricky Nolasco have to be to lose a spot in the Twins' rotation? Conversely, how good does Alex Meyer have to pitch to earn a spot?

 

If Nolasco pitches as badly as he did last year, they're going to remove him. But if that's the case, some sort of significant injury is going to come to light. He's got too much ability to keep getting rocked to that extent unless there's an underlying issue.

 

The bigger question is, what do they do if he's performing badly but not terribly (i.e. 4.75 ERA) and there's a guy on the farm who's clearly ready to step in (like, say, Meyer)? I don't know the answer, but I'm very curious to find out.

 

Twins Daily Member mike wants wins:

Which minor league RP will we see up early? Not a big fan of not using your minor league system for those guys fast, before they get hurt (which seems to be what many, not all, other teams are doing now).

 

Michael Tonkin will be up early, if not out of camp. A.J. Achter has a chance. Neither Nick Burdi nor Jake Reed has pitched above Single-A, but it wouldn't shock me to see either (or both) up and making an impact in the second half. Those guys can bring it.

 

@MrNewBrighton on Twitter:

What kind of season can we expect from Joe Mauer in 2015? (I'm hoping for .315 15 HRs 100 RBI #MNTwins

 

I like the optimism. I won't venture to guess at this point on his home runs and RBI, but I do think he'll get back to batting over .300 with an elite OBP. Nice piece to have around the top of the lineup.

 

Twins Daily Member stringer bell:

Are the Twins really going to go with their current options for center field? Related question--will Danny Santana see considerable time in center this year?

 

There's still plenty of time to grab a free agent stopgap -- Colby Rasmus, Nyjer Morgan and Eric Young Jr. are among the remaining available names -- but it looks like they're comfortable rolling with Aaron Hicks and Jordan Schafer. Nothing wrong with that, in my mind. Those two fit nicely as platoon partners and can both offer solid defense. Byron Buxton should be along shortly.

 

@Ex_Twins_News on Twitter:

MN Native Mark Hamburger has an invite to Spring Training. Does he have a shot at appearing with the big league club in '15?

 

Hamburger is a great story, so I'm certainly hoping so. He's got a steep hill to climb though. He was unspectacular as a 27-year-old in Triple-A last year and the reliever pipeline is pretty flush in this system.

 

@Twins_guyTJZ on Twitter:

With enough internal depth at first base i.e.Vargas and Adam Brett Walker, where does Mauer fit into the Twins long-term future?

 

Hard to say at this point whether Vargas' bat is legit. He's exceptionally strong and certainly looked the part last year, but he doesn't control the strike zone well and pitchers started to take advantage in the last few weeks. He needs to prove himself in 2015, and even then, I think he's a DH. Walker hasn't played above Single-A.

 

Actually, the name we should be wondering about in this conversation is Sano.

 

@Nieman1499 on Twitter:

Thoughts on Lewis Thorpe? He had a great first year - Does he project as a reliever or starting pitcher?

 

He was phenomenal at Cedar Rapids last year, blowing away opposing hitters as an 18-year-old. But his season ended on an ominous note health-wise, so it'll be interesting to see how he looks and feels in the spring. If all goes well, he has a chance to start, but Low-A is a long way from the majors.

 

Twins Daily Member jharaldson:

Ron Gardenhire was either first or second in the AL for Manager of the Year 6 times and has been linked to 0 manager jobs this offseason. Joe Maddon was either first or second in the AL for Manager of the Year 2 times and a team fired its current manager and hired him almost immediately after he came available. Why has Ron Gardenhire generated almost no interest in the MLB community?

 

I get the sense that he's more than content taking a year off. Why wouldn't he? He's still getting paid by the Twins and has no obligation to do anything really. If I were him, I'd enjoy a summer with the family and then see how things shake out around the league. Maybe something opens up that appeals to him, or maybe a club makes an aggressive run at him. But it also bears noting that all those Manager of the Year votes are well in the past, and the last time he oversaw a winning team was five years ago.

 

Twins Daily Member SwainZag:

What's the timeline for Nick Burdi? Any chance that Sano and Buxton both start the season in Rochester?

 

Burdi is interesting. He'll start the season at Double-A most likely, but I can't imagine he'll be there long. He could be up very quickly. He's filthy.

 

I think both Buxton and Sano are pretty much locks to start in Chattanooga.

 

Twins Daily Member youngpadawan:

Could Gordon pull off a Buxton-esk first full season and shoot up prospect rankings? How do their first half seasons compare?

 

You can't really expect anyone to follow in Buxton's footsteps -- he's a very rare talent. Gordon should take a step forward but it wouldn't shock me if his bat takes a while to develop, especially the power. He's still a wiry teenager.

 

Twins Daily Member Halsey Hall:

Who's the cream of the crop in the Central Division this year?

 

The Tigers will be strong again, with or without Max Scherzer. Chicago has obviously loaded up big-time. They're probably the two front-runners, though Cleveland is sneaky good with that young rotation. I expect Kansas City to take a major step backward.

 

Twins Daily Member Bark's Lounge:

Based upon what you know about the Twins players behind the scenes (leadership, respect, preparation, etc.), if the Twins were to name a Player or Players a Captain - who do you think would get to wear the "C" on their uniforms?

 

Brian Dozier is the first name that comes to mind. Very personable, very approachable, and an excellent example of someone who works hard and maximizes his ability. He was an eighth-round draft pick and middling minor league prospect who has turned himself into a borderline All-Star second baseman in the majors. Hard not to respect that.

 

Twins Daily Member Tibs:

What is it going to take for the Twins to win the division?

 

I'm done with this 90 loss stuff. Win Twins!

 

Couldn't agree more. It will take sustained high-level production from the offense, and massive improvements from the starting staff. Neither is implausible. But more than anything, it will take a soft division. The Twins need a team or two they can beat up on (that's basically always been their recipe for AL Central titles), and they'd probably need to be able finish first with a high-80s win total because 90-plus is too much to ask at this point.

 

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[jay]

I'm with you, Nick.  Except... Tony Plush, err, Nyjer Morgan.  Scratch him from any CF options pleeez.  He signed a deal in Korea a few weeks ago and has had 41 ABs the last two seasons.  He's not an MLB option despite a recognizable name.

 

As you mentioned though, hard to see where it won't be Schafer and/or Hicks.

[TheLeviathan]

If the Twins go with Schafer and Hicks it is all but formal acknowledgement that Hicks has busted out. I really hope the Twins haven't given up on him yet. Send him to AAA and hope that ship hasn't sailed just yet.

[Vance_Christianson]

I think we should sign Colby Rasmus as our CF, and Schafer is our 4th OF! Hicks starts out in AAA. Hicks reminds me a lot of Gomez. It took Gomez 3-4 years to figure out how to play in MLB level of ball consistently. Rasmus is only 26 or 27 years old, so he'll fit in nicely into our rebuild, and when Buxton is ready then we can move Rasmus over to LF or RF. There is nothing wrong with giving Hicks, Rosario, and Buxton as many Minor League at bats as possible till August/September, or when an injury occurs. If we don't get Rasmus then we should start Danny in CF and Escobar at SS. It gives us our best lineup IMO.

[Seth Stohs]

I know at one point Colby Rasmus was rumored to be looking for (and people thought he would get) 3 years... maybe at this point he'd be willing to sign a Stephen Drew (1 year, $5 million with some incentives) type of deal. Otherwise, I'd be good with Aaron Hicks and Jordan Schafer... or even Jordan Schafer and Shane Robinson if they want Hicks to spend more time in Rochester. 

[stringer bell]

Hicks-Gomez?  Not me.  Gomez was overly aggressive and Hicks is overly passive, so as players they are really opposite sides of the coin.  In the sense that they started in the majors before they were ready there are similarities.  Further, we have only seen glimpses of Hicks that were capable major league players.  We saw more sustained stretches from Gomez paired with slumps where he looked like he couldn't hit the ball if it was on a tee.

 

Regarding Rasmus, I don't want to see the Twins bring in someone that would only be acceptable in the outfield and I think that is all we would get with Rasmus.  He also has an injury history and has trouble with LH pitching.  If the Twins were to add Rasmus, they would have four players with severe platoon splits--Mauer, Arcia, Vargas in addition to Rasmus.  I also get the feeling that Santana is going to struggle more against LH pitching just from his ABs last year.

[Vance_Christianson]

I'm trying to figure why we'd be okay with running Shane Robinson out there? Good at defense, maybe so, but spend 4-7 million on Rasmus and still get good defense with a lot more power. He'll fill in the gap well, and if he has a nice 1st half, we can trade flip him for a nice prospect as Rasmus is just entering his prime years. He'd be an excellent bottom of the order guy!

1. Santana - SS

2. Mauer - 1b

3. Dozier - 2b

4. Hunter - RF

5. Plouffe - 3b

6. Arcia - LF

7. Vargas - DH

8. Rasmus - CF

9. Suzuki/Pinto - C

What's not to like about that line up by spending 4-7 million more?!

[Vance_Christianson]

Hicks-Gomez?  Not me.  Gomez was overly aggressive and Hicks is overly passive, so as players they are really opposite sides of the coin.  In the sense that they started in the majors before they were ready there are similarities.  Further, we have only seen glimpses of Hicks that were capable major league players.  We saw more sustained stretches from Gomez paired with slumps where he looked like he couldn't hit the ball if it was on a tee.

 

Regarding Rasmus, I don't want to see the Twins bring in someone that would only be acceptable in the outfield and I think that is all we would get with Rasmus.  He also has an injury history and has trouble with LH pitching.  If the Twins were to add Rasmus, they would have four players with severe platoon splits--Mauer, Arcia, Vargas in addition to Rasmus.  I also get the feeling that Santana is going to struggle more against LH pitching just from his ABs last year.

I was only stating that it took Gomez 3-4 years to figure out how to play at the MLB Level consistently, and I see Hicks being the same way. Hicks has always been a slow starter in almost every level.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I'm with you, Nick.  Except... Tony Plush, err, Nyjer Morgan.  Scratch him from any CF options pleeez.  He signed a deal in Korea a few weeks ago and has had 41 ABs the last two seasons.  He's not an MLB option despite a recognizable name.

 

As you mentioned though, hard to see where it won't be Schafer and/or Hicks.

As DC area resident--I can tell you that Nats fans consider Nyjer Morgan a disaster--couldn't wait for Harper to come up and send Nyjer packing. Please no more mentions of him. I am a fan of leaving Santana in CF and playing Escobar regularly at SS

[HitInAPinch]

My lineup would be like this:

 

1. Santana - SS
2. Schafer/Hicks - CF [bring in Carew to teach them how to drag bunt.]
3. Mauer - 1B  [cough, cough, Contract]
4. Vargas - DH [showed he could hit cleanup last year.  Need to see if he's for real]
5. Arcia - RF [is this THE year?]
6. Dozier - 2B  [low BA, high K's, high number of doubles and HRs.  Perfect spot]
7. Hunter - LF  [if nothing else, can have Dozier's back]
8. Plouffe - 3B  [was last year for real?]
9. Suzuki - C  [last year was for real]

 

I'm not big on having good-great defensive guys that get the bat knocked out of their hands.  Bunt, baby, bunt.  Probably a few to many K's in this lineup, but could be fun to watch.

 

And, honestly, if I could, I'd trade Mauer.  If......

[Shane Wahl]

Shane Robinson has a career .612 OPS in 452 big league plate appearances. His OPS is also actually higher against righties. He doesn't belong anywhere near the big leagues.

 

So it's Hicks and Schafer.

[ashbury]

or even Jordan Schafer and Shane Robinson if they want Hicks to spend more time in Rochester. 

Robinson would have to be added to the 40-man, yes?  Currently the Twins have 22 pitchers and 18 hitters, so presumably a pitcher would have to be exposed to waivers.  Makes me even more perplexed that they signed Stauffer.

 

But, along the lines Shane (Wahl) just said, Shane (Robinson) strikes me as more of an emergency guy stashed at AAA than a real option for Opening Day.

[laloesch]

I'm trying to figure why we'd be okay with running Shane Robinson out there? Good at defense, maybe so, but spend 4-7 million on Rasmus and still get good defense with a lot more power. He'll fill in the gap well, and if he has a nice 1st half, we can trade flip him for a nice prospect as Rasmus is just entering his prime years. He'd be an excellent bottom of the order guy!

1. Santana - SS

2. Mauer - 1b

3. Dozier - 2b

4. Hunter - RF

5. Plouffe - 3b

6. Arcia - LF

7. Vargas - DH

8. Rasmus - CF

9. Suzuki/Pinto - C

What's not to like about that line up by spending 4-7 million more?!

 

 

I'm really not thrilled with the idea of Joe hitting hitting #2 or #3.  The guy hits into WAY TOO MANY rally killing double plays and just doesn't have the power and RBI production to bat cleanup.  Hopefully Molitor slides him down in the order to #5 or #6.

 

I don't have an answer on the linup.  Maybe:

 

Santana

Dozier

Hunter

Plouffe

Mauer

Arcia

Vargas

Schaeffer

Suzuki/Pinto

[stringer bell]

Shane Robinson has a career .612 OPS in 452 big league plate appearances. His OPS is also actually higher against righties. He doesn't belong anywhere near the big leagues.

 

So it's Hicks and Schafer.

Since Hicks has a lower OPS and the same OPS+ in approximately the same number of plate appearances, I guess neither of them belong in the majors. Seriously, what is best for Hicks is to go to Rochester and master that level.  If it means that Robinson gets some play for a month or two, so be it.  The Cards have made the playoffs almost every year and he's managed to get 2.141 years of service, so I guess Robinson fits on a good team as the 25th man. 

[ND-Fan]

I have few thoughts on make up of this club and I think Ryan has been urged to win this year now and let prospects show up when they are ready if ever ready. My thinking is Harold Reynolds made a predicition that the twins were in on Shields for anther pitcher.then the Twins are looking to reach the playoff spot coming year. Shields would put Twins on projection of 81 plus wins in contention for wild card spot. I wonder if Molitor doesn't have ownership and Dave St, Peter ear that you try to win now not try to base a team on future unproven prospects. Also wondering if Twins are coming up on TV contract renewal in next few years and need to have competitive team help ratings to sign new contract.

Gardenhire may have difficult time getting new job because of youth movement in MLB in general managers and he being more of the old school manager not using saber metrics and defensive shifts like this new group in baseball are using. I am thinking he may need become a bench coach on one of the  teams using all this data to learn all the strategy in using this be manager again. If not he could become middle man between General Manager and minor league teams and scouts to check on player evaluations and judging the talent coming in the system. I think that was what Ryan had in mind for Gardenhire.

I think this club could be a lot closer to winning than any one of us has been thinking. I wonder what numbers project out if Twins get offense these kids showed last couple of months for whole season and Mauer hits close to career numbers for the coming season. Then add there pitching if all these pitchers pitch to the numbers they were expected when they signed with the Twins what would twins numbers come out for projected wins. The central division is a lot closer together than people think. Detroit is aging and lost pitching so I see a drop in wins for coming year. KC I believe has lost pitching and I am betting they have down year after world series. Cleveland could be good but still unproven and will need to stay healthy, Chicago has added a lot of talent on paper look much better but will they be on the field and that will be question mark for this club. Also injury bug could come and bite them before season is done. Twins moves should make them better and like Cleveland a lot of young players have to prove they can win and play full season and one thing they have is they a lot of young talent that could come up and change whole dynamic of team beyond anyone's expectations transforming the team into real contender in baseball.

[Tibs]

I don't think it's implausible for the Twins to make the playoffs this year. I can't believe the starting pitchers won't be better than last year. We have a respectable rotation now in my opinion as long as Nolasco was a fluke last year and Phil Hughes wasn't a complete fluke.

 

The offense was good overall last year. I have to wonder if we'll see the same production this year.

 

It's not impossible for the Twins to make the playoffs this year. There are just too many question marks still to think it is likely to happen.

[jay]

I'm really not thrilled with the idea of Joe hitting hitting #2 or #3. The guy hits into WAY TOO MANY rally killing double plays

 

No, he doesn't. That's an old, lazy cliche. He hit into a DP in 11.3% of such opportunities to do so last year. That's less than both Carlos Gomez and Ben Revere.

 

He's almost an ideal #2 hitter.

[Dantes929]

Since Hicks has a lower OPS and the same OPS+ in approximately the same number of plate appearances, I guess neither of them belong in the majors. Seriously, what is best for Hicks is to go to Rochester and master that level.  If it means that Robinson gets some play for a month or two, so be it.  The Cards have made the playoffs almost every year and he's managed to get 2.141 years of service, so I guess Robinson fits on a good team as the 25th man. 

Except Hicks had an OPS+ of 120 against lefties last year so a platoon of Hicks and Schaefer makes perfect sense.   I never liked the idea of Hicks as a switch hitter since it always seemed the absolute best outcome would have been for him to have the same splits as a switch hitter as most batters do just from one side.  The worst outcome of being a switch hitter is what we are currently left with which has some value if used properly.   He plays decent defense and can hit lefties.    Even if in 3 years it is a platoon of Hicks and Schaefer with Buxton and Rosario and Arcia as a DH it is not such a bad thought.    Currently they have even more value as the non starter for any given game can be a pretty big defensive late inning upgrade over Arcia or Hunter.

[Dantes929]

I'm really not thrilled with the idea of Joe hitting hitting #2 or #3.  The guy hits into WAY TOO MANY rally killing double plays and just doesn't have the power and RBI production to bat cleanup.  Hopefully Molitor slides him down in the order to #5 or #6.

 

I don't have an answer on the linup.  Maybe:

 

Santana

Dozier

Hunter

Plouffe

Mauer

Arcia

Vargas

Schaeffer

Suzuki/Pinto

Mauer was 5th in dp one year and tied for 6th another year.   He hit into 12 (half as many as the league leader) last year and 7 (one fourth) the year before that.    I am not going to defend Mauer's 2014.   I look forward to him hitting the ball hard enough and consistently enough to hit into a lot of double plays.   If he gets back to career norms he is a very good #2 guy.   Fans often remember the double plays but don't notice the base hits and walks that put guys into scoring position.   I am guessing over his career he leads the league in runs produced that don't involve him getting credit for an rbi or run scored.   I notice when his walks move up runners that then score and when he gets a hit that moves a guy to third that then scores on sac flies or infield grounders or sharp hits that wouldn't score a guy from second.    If he hits .270 again then yes his spot shoujld be lower.    If he hits .320 with a lot of doubles then 2nd is ideal for him even if it comes with more double plays.

[Jstevens15]

Honestly I'd rather see the twins rush a guy like max Kepler up before putting Aaron hicks back out there. Kepler could put up better offensive numbers even with only being 22. As for mauer I can't wait for that contract to end so he can either go or sign a 12 million dollar annual salary. I'm sorry for a guy like Hamburger but if I'm the Twins, unless he's killing all MLB hitters in ST he doesn't have a shot.. And as for Sano I hope he starts in AAA he has beaten AA pitching already and if he does start there, a 2-3 week warm up should be it. But after a active ST he should be AAA ready.

[Jstevens15]

Saying there's no unexpected ST injuries or Hicks type bursts my opening day line up is this:

 

1: Santana, CF

2: Dozier, 2B

3: Hunter, RF

4: Vargas, DH

5: Arcia, LF

6: Mauer, 1B

7: Plouffe, 3B

8: Suzuki, C

9: Escobar, SS

 

With bench of

Pinto

Hicks

Nunez

Schaefer

 

Only other switch is if they want Santana short and hicks 9th in CF

[Jstevens15]

I'm really not thrilled with the idea of Joe hitting hitting #2 or #3.  The guy hits into WAY TOO MANY rally killing double plays and just doesn't have the power and RBI production to bat cleanup.  Hopefully Molitor slides him down in the order to #5 or #6.

 

I don't have an answer on the linup.  Maybe:

 

Santana

Dozier

Hunter

Plouffe

Mauer

Arcia

Vargas

Schaeffer

Suzuki/Pinto

. I def don't see Mauer batting one spot ahead of Arica but his high OBP could create a lot more runs if he is right ahead of the power hitting Arcia but I'd swap Vargas and plouffe as of now.

[Jstevens15]

My lineup would be like this:

 

1. Santana - SS

2. Schafer/Hicks - CF [bring in Carew to teach them how to drag bunt.]

3. Mauer - 1B  [cough, cough, Contract]

4. Vargas - DH [showed he could hit cleanup last year.  Need to see if he's for real]

5. Arcia - RF [is this THE year?]

6. Dozier - 2B  [low BA, high K's, high number of doubles and HRs.  Perfect spot]

7. Hunter - LF  [if nothing else, can have Dozier's back]

8. Plouffe - 3B  [was last year for real?]

9. Suzuki - C  [last year was for real]

 

I'm not big on having good-great defensive guys that get the bat knocked out of their hands.  Bunt, baby, bunt.  Probably a few to many K's in this lineup, but could be fun to watch.

 

And, honestly, if I could, I'd trade Mauer.  If......

highly, highly disagree with dozier/hicks spots. Dozier has good OBP, can steal, and drive in runs. Hicks does none of that. Maybe OBP is ok.

[jimmer]

Mauer had an off year for sure, but his OBP is normally very high and the last thing you want is that kind of OBP buried down in the lineup.  The guys that get on base the most should be the ones that have the most plate appearances.  Not only that, but he normally hits very well with RISP.  And the idea that he hits into way too many double plays, well that's not really true based on amount of opportunities he comes to the plate in those situations. Nor is it a lot based on overall times batting into a DP. 

[Dantes929]

"Hicks does none of that. Maybe OBP is ok"  A bit better than ok.  Even with a BA 80 points below Revere his OBP was actually higher.   Hicks is ideal for platooning but the best team probably is with Santana in center and Escobar at short.   If Santana is at short then the Hicks/Schaefer platoon is statistically.quite adequate.   Hicks against lefties had a fantastic .410 OBP.    and .279 average.   .302 OBP with .179 average from the left side.   These stats scream platoon and so does Schaefers splits

[stringer bell]

The problem with a Hicks/Schafer platoon is that the guy with the tools and (perhaps) unreached potential won't get many at-bats.  If Hicks only starts against left handers, then he starts less than 50 games.  That is not the way to develop a player still regarded as a prospect. 

 

I have advocated long and hard for Hicks to be optioned to Rochester and see if he can master AAA pitching and perhaps become an acceptable big-league hitter.  I really think that is the only way to go for Hicks.  If the Twins want their best players on the field, Escobar should be out there, even if it means that Santana is in center. 

 

Personally, I want to see how long the acceptable hitting for Schafer will play out.  Even with his much improved performance in Minnesota, his numbers screamed "platoon".  Still, if he can perform close to last year, he is an asset who provides speed and base-stealing ability, two things the club lacks.  Since I've called for Hicks to be optioned, the logical backup outfielder would be Robinson, not really an All-Star setup, but again the RH half of a platoon doesn't get that much time on the field. 

 

To me, making Aaron Hicks into a platoon player lowers his value and closes the book on him becoming much more than a career fourth outfielder.  While I have been critical of his performance and doubtful of his future, I do believe he still has a chance to be much more than a platoon player/fourth OF.

[Shane Wahl]

Oh, I wouldn't use a strict platoon there. Hicks should get the majority of plate appearances.

Also, Joe Mauer is nearly a perfect 2-spot batter, 2014 season aside. I still contend that they should stick a power guy in the 3-spot behind him, whether that is Dozier or Arcia or even Vargas (eventually Sano).

[stringer bell]

Oh, I wouldn't use a strict platoon there. Hicks should get the majority of plate appearances.

 

Based on what? HIs lifetime .609 OPS, the total lack of power he displayed in 2014?  His nice smile?  My point all offseason has been that in nearly a full year's major league at-bats Aaron Hicks has not shown himslef to be a major league hitter.  He has shown that his spring training performance can't be counted on, so based on those two factors and still considering him a prospect who can get better, the only destination for Hicks should be Rochester, New York. 

 

Schafer's month of August was superior to any month Hicks has performed in the majors, by a lot.  In my book, he should get the at-bats versus right handed pitchers and since I firmly believe Hicks should work on his hitting in the minors, the only RH choice to play center field to start the season is Shane Robinson.

[Kwak]

Based on what? HIs lifetime .609 OPS, the total lack of power he displayed in 2014?  His nice smile?  My point all offseason has been that in nearly a full year's major league at-bats Aaron Hicks has not shown himslef to be a major league hitter.  He has shown that his spring training performance can't be counted on, so based on those two factors and still considering him a prospect who can get better, the only destination for Hicks should be Rochester, New York. 

 

Schafer's month of August was superior to any month Hicks has performed in the majors, by a lot.  In my book, he should get the at-bats versus right handed pitchers and since I firmly believe Hicks should work on his hitting in the minors, the only RH choice to play center field to start the season is Shane Robinson.

Flies in the "play at AAA option":  1) hitting success at AAA hasn't proved anything,  2) only proof for hitting at the major league level--is hitting at the major league level,  3) The need to push Buxton to Rochester by mid-season.  There is way too much riding on Buxton to help turn this wagon around and Hicks must not be clogging-up the works for Buxton's progress--or anyone else's progress, like a sound hitter in search of a position to play.

[Dantes929]

Stringer, with no evidence but my gut feeling I think the decision to have him continue as a switch hitter out of high school will end up costing Hicks millions of dollars.   I applauded his change to right only last year and wish he had given it more of a chance though the odds were probably long at that point.   I guess I am trying to envision the path that you have for him.    His best year in the minors was .286 and that was far and away ( I mean really far and away) the best he has demonstrated from the left side.   I believe he would have to replicate that for at least 300 and probably more at bats in the minors for anyone to believe he can be serviceable from that side in the majors.  Certainly not impossible but I believe the odds of him doing so are less than Rosario and Buxton doing the same thing.    Essentially if he is sent down to the minors to actually prove he can hit from the left side the odds are that Rosario and Buxton are promoted ahead of him and if they stick, then what?   The most likely role for him is 4th outfielder anyway or trade bait that will net little.   In the meantime we will have lost a season of platoon value for him.      I have been wrong before and maybe it works out as you envision and Rosario or Buxton get hurt or underperform and Hicks does great.   For his sake I hope it does though at this point I don't see his potential being greater than Rosario or Buxton.  I really wish he had stuck to right handed out of high school.