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

[Nick Nelson]

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 think I mentioned this in the last mailbag, but my ideal course with Hicks would be to mostly shield him from righties early on, and then hopefully let him build up some confidence with success hitting from the right side. At that point, start to feed him more starts against RHP and hope that he takes off and turns into the player many of us believe he can be.

[stringer bell]

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.

Hicks' history in the lower minors was to struggle early, repeat and succeed.  He has basically skipped AAA, or at least not mastered that level.  If Buxton or Rosario need playing time at AAA, move Hicks to a corner.  It is his projected place when Buxton arrives if he stays with the Twins anyway.  IMHO, Hicks fundamentals and psyche can't stand up to the challenge of big league pitching.  It is possible that success at Rochester (if not domination) might build his confidence to the point that he would come back to the major and hit well from both sides of the plate. 

 

In answer to Dante above, I believe the ship has sailed on switch hitting.  Despite the talk about how fundamentally poor some of Hicks' PAs have been, the biggest thing he is lacking is confidence.  However the club can build Aaron Hicks' confidence is the way it should proceed.  I firmly believe that a trip to Rochester the best and perhaps only answer.

[IndianaTwin]

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.

Of course Mauer hits into a lot of double plays. He fits the profile. He hits behind guys with little power, he doesn't strike out that much, and he hits the ball hard enough to not be able to beat it out. But for every GIDP, there's probably another 1st and 3rd situation.

 

I'd be glad to have any of the career leaders in GIDP batting second on my team -- Ripken, Pudge, Aaron, Yaz, Winfield, Murray, Rice...