Article: Center Of Attention

[Seth Stohs]

At the beginning of this month, I projected the Twins Opening Day roster. When spring training begins, I’ll update that list. There are few questions marks in the roster. The fifth starter job will be up for grabs as well as a couple of bullpen spots. However, the centerfield job will certainly be one to watch.We know that Torii Hunter will be starting in right field. Oswaldo Arcia will make the move over to left field, but centerfield remains a question.

 

The Twins did not address the position in the offseason, at least not in a big, obvious way. This leads me to what I believe to be Plan A.

 

Plan A: Third Time’s The Charm

 

I am of the belief that the Twins brass wants Aaron Hicks to have a strong spring training and take the reins on the starting job. That’s what he did in 2013. In 2014, he beat out Alex Presley for the starting centerfield job. In fact, the Twins DFA'd Presley near the end of spring training, meaning that there really wasn’t a backup plan for 2014. In fact, when Hicks was sent back to the minor leagues, the Twins tried Eduardo Escobar in centerfield for a game before the job was given to Danny Santana, who ran with it.

 

Hicks will be just 25 years old throughout the 2014 season. That isn’t necessarily young, but I wonder if some think he might be older after being given the opportunity the last two seasons. He has never been a great hitter in the minor leagues, but in a good year, he can fill a stat sheet. He has all the tools to be good. Even in a poor 2014 season, he posted a .341 on-base percentage.

 

It’s possible, so the team does have to have a Plan B, too.

 

Plan B: Fourth Outfielder Platoon

 

Jordan Schafer is going to be on the roster. If Aaron Hicks is the starter, Schafer is the fourth outfielder. If Aaron Hicks is sent to the minor leagues, Schafer gets a lot more playing time.

 

The 28 year old was DFA'd last year after hitting just .163 in 80 at bats over 63 games for Atlanta. The Twins swooped in and claimed him. He was given regular playing time and showed what he could do. He hit .285/.345/.362 (.707) with seven extra base hits. The speedster combined to steal 30 bases over the course of the season.

 

Schafer would be the primary starter. As a left-handed hitter, there would likely be a right-hand hitting option to play centerfield against southpaws. This offseason, the Twins signed 30-year-old outfielder Shane Robinson to a minor league contract. In parts of five seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, he hit .231/.303/.308 in 452 plate appearances.

 

The biggest tool that Schafer and Robinson have is their speed. Both play very good defense which will be important because of the perceived lack of range in the corners. There may not be much offense, but these two could play very solid defense in the outfield.

 

Plan C: The Long-Shot

 

2014 was a rough season for Eddie Rosario. It began late due to a 50-game suspension for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. After eight games with the Miracle, he was quickly moved up to New Britain. He hit just .243/.286/.387 (.674) with 20 doubles, three homers and eight RBI with the Rock Cats.

 

However, he was sent back to the Arizona Fall League and was one of the league’s best hitters. He hit .330 with four doubles and two triples. He had four hits including a home run in the AFL championship game. He played left field most of the season, but he is fully capable of playing center field.

 

If Hicks struggles in spring training, and Rosario tears it up and looks and acts ready, this could happen. As mentioned in this section's header, it would be a long shot, but it is worth watching.

 

Plan D: The Fall Back Plan

 

If the Twins coaches, manager and front office feel that what is best for Aaron Hicks (and Eddie Rosario) is to go back to the minor leagues, and the Twins aren’t comfortable with giving regular at bats to Jordan Schafer, there is one other plan. If the team wants to start the season with their best lineup (and they don’t feel that Hicks gives them that right away), we could see Danny Santana return to centerfield with Eduardo Escobar remaining the primary shortstop.

 

Although he had played very little outfield in the minor leagues, Danny Santana came up with the Twins and ended up playing doing an adequate job in the outfield and hit far better than his minor league track record indicated that he should have.

 

At the same time, Eduardo Escobar put together a very solid season. In 133 total games, he hit .275/.315/.406 (.721) with 37 doubles, a triple and a home run. He played very good defense as well, something that isn’t certain with Santana. Escobar has been basically pigeon-holed into the idea that he is “just” a utility infielder. Obviously that role is very important to a team, and yet we forget that he just turned 26 years old. He could possibly be a legit starting shortstop in the big leagues.

 

Center field will be a center of attention throughout spring training. It is an important position defensively, and any offense will be a bonus from the position.

 

Byron Buxton needs more time to shake off the rust from last season and perform in the upper levels of the minor leagues. He could be up by July, or it could be in 2016.

 

So the questions for you are:

 

1.) What do you think should happen at the position?

2.) What do you think will happen at the position?

 

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[Brananorama]

I'm mostly over Aaron Hicks. I think he could potentially figure it out, but that's what we've been saying in each of the last two years. I'm more interested in sticking Jordan Schafer out there until something goes wrong enough to warrant a replacement for him.

 

Above all else I want Danny Santana playing shortstop a lot more often than he did last season. If he's going to be in that position over the next couple years while we wait for guys like Polanco and Gordon, I'd like him to start building up some experience there and showing us what he's got.

[TheLeviathan]

I am baffled that the Twins can look at this list of options they've given themselves in CF and feel comfortable.  

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, I'm not liking these options.  Hicks has had 2 excellent spring trainings in a row and has followed up with some pretty dreadful seasons.  I'm not sure if this is mental or something else, but I really wouldn't want Hicks to be my primary option.  I really think he needs to earn it, and that may be performing well in an injury callup type situation.  The kid needs more time in the minors to develop.  They keep throwing him out in the majors and watching him fail.  I don't like it.

[Platoon]

Two phrases stand out>>>>. "A perceived lack of range at the corners". And >>>> Santana played an adequate CF! This is a team with offense as its strength. While I don't believe the offense will be as good as last year it's still the Twins current boasting point. As to CF, the only criteria at the beginning of the season is how fast you can get between the gaps, with a glove on your hand, and catch the ball while dodging the corner OF's.

[gbg]

I keep reading about Rosario's amazing AFL stint. Interestingly, we never hear that Max Kepler's OPS with Salt River was 50 points higher. So if Rosario was that amazing, then Kepler must be superlative.

 

Or maybe we just want Rosario to be better than he really was last year?

[Halsey Hall]

My feeling is that Hicks will take the job and remain there.  Schafer will spell him in center throughout the season.  All the off season worries about CF will be for naught. 

 

A side note:  Dorsey has an article on the Twins this morning in the new-press.  I could fill in alot for that article. 

[tobi0040]

Between April and June, the choice really is should we give up on HIcks or give him one last chance.  I could probably be swayed because he has a better shot at being a long term answer for us (albeit a long shot).   Or do we make a defensive move, which will help two young pitchers (M and M) and hopefully assist in getting Ricky back on track.  The defensive move is between two guys that have no shot at being the long term answer.

 

My April prediction is Hicks gets one more shot and has a very short leash.  If he flops again I think he is no longer with the Twins in July.

 

Come June, I think Buxton or Rosario will be up here

Edited January 29, 2015 by tobi0040

[John Bonnes]

Seth, do you think the order of these options are the real order in the Twins minds? And is that based on conversations with the decision makers? Because I have to think that D is the 2nd option, considering it was the primary option last year - and worked.

 

(Not that it matters because I don't think they get past A. Which I also think has a high likelihood of failing again. Can we PLEASE just let Hicks prove himself in AAA for more than a month at a time?)

[tobi0040]

Can we PLEASE just let Hicks prove himself in AAA for more than a month at a time?)

 

This would be the prudent option.  But the Hunter signing tells me the job is Hicks.

[Blackjack]

I think what should happen is that Hicks gets sent to the minors to get more experience, make him earn a call up with an extended period of good play both defensively and with the bat. Play Santana in center 3 days a week and at short 3 days a week. Schafer plays the other 3 days in center and Escubar plays the other 3 days at short, with another day on the field as a replacement at third or second. Santana gets better in center, gets experience at short, Escubar plays enough at short that he could be trade bait if someone needs a shortstop badly, Dozier and Ploufe get more time off during the season so that they don’t wear down by September. Win, win, win, all the way around.  Use 2015 to see who is the best at shortstop, Santana or Escubar, and also to give players experience at multple positions (why that doesn't happen in the minors is material for another post!!!).

 

 

I think what will happen is that Hicks will be the starter out of spring training, until he fails. Then if Rosario is playing decent at all, he will be up, with Buxton in September – provided hes having an above average season.

 

 

Why is it that people think that Santana should be the starter at shortstop over Escubar??

[Seth Stohs]

I believe more and more that Plan A is the preferred way by the front office, and I think Hicks will be given every opportunity to earn the gig. That said, the past struggles will mean that if they see something that isn't right, they won't be afraid to or hesitate to go with Plan B or even C. 

 

Rosario keeps getting mentioned. As I wrote, I think that things would totally have to break just "right" for him to get a shot. 

[Seth Stohs]

I keep reading about Rosario's amazing AFL stint. Interestingly, we never hear that Max Kepler's OPS with Salt River was 50 points higher. So if Rosario was that amazing, then Kepler must be superlative.

 

Or maybe we just want Rosario to be better than he really was last year?

 

I've brought up the fact that Kepler's AFL OPS was better than Rosario's several times. I think Rosario is closer to big league ready than Kepler. Both have plenty to prove yet before they really are ready. 

 

And yes, we want Rosario to be better than he was last year. He's not going to walk, so he'll have to hit for average. I think he's natural-enough of a hitter to be able to do that. I'll give him some benefit of the doubt for the missed time and some of the stuff that he was doing to himself. 2015 can be a do-over, at least for me, and I think he can move up and succeed. 

 

Kepler's problems have been injury-related. He also was a lot more raw when he signed, so patience was more important with him. I definitely believe in his bat. He can (and has) played centerfield, but I don't think he'd cover nearly the ground that Rosario could. 

[JB_Iowa]

Saw that Hicks is apparently working with Carew again.  Maybe Rod can get through to him this time,

 

  https://twitter.com/RevMama/status/560572324345151489/photo/1

[goulik]

I see Rosario making his debut before Buxton or Sano. I Would even bet he's the first rookie to debut this year. If you're going to give the kid a shot, you might want to do it early in the year cuz Buxton is up by September...

[jharaldson]

I want the Twins to do option B - start Schafer in CF and have Hicks be the backup and play 3 times a week giving each guy a day off.  I actually think Hicks doesn't have more to learn in the minors.  He has played in almost 600 minor league games and has almost 2600 AB in the minors.  I think a role in the majors where he doesn't have the immediate pressure of being a starter but still has somewhat regular AB (3 games, 15 AB a week) is the best route for him to get comfortable and grow.

 

I think the Twins will start the year with Option A again (for the 3rd time) with the same results.  

[gunnarthor]

I want Hicks to start at AAA but it doesn't look like it'll happen.  So, let's see what the positives are.  

 

For all his warts, Hicks does get on base pretty well.  He had a .341 OBP for the season and about a .350 after his return.  That's pretty darn good.  Ignoring everything else, if you were told your #8 hitter would have a .350 OBP and play adequate defense in CF, you'd take that, right?  

 

It amazes me that Hicks has so little pop in his bat and I imagine it has to do with him not feeling right at the plate.  Maybe he'll feel better around Molitor and Hunter than he did with Gardy.  But I'm pretty sure we're going to find out.  I think he and Schafer are the type of guys the Twins, in a rebuild, should take a gamble on.  Former top prospects who are still young enough to break out.  

 

And Buxton will be up by midseason anyway.

[johns]

Torii Hunter was signed for a few reasons, but the main one might have been to mentor Buxton.  I believe you will see Buxton much sooner than we all think.

[davidc3915]

Any chance Santana stays at SS and Escobar plays CF?

[Kwak]

Preferred Option?  Who are you talking about?  Molitor or Ryan?  Molitor stated he wanted Santana at SS.  This is not surprising because Santana displayed many flaws as a CF (hitting independent of position) and SS was "his position" while developing  as a player.   Escobar, well I think we saw his best last year as a SS--saying no more.  This leaves the options concerning Hicks and Shafer as Molitor's preference for CF.  There isn't enough information to say if one option (player/platoon) or another is Molitor's prefence.

 

Then there's Ryan's preference.  It sure looks like he wants Santana at CF and Escobar at SS.  This isn't surprising because that option was his "brain child" last year.  There will be another "position competition" in Spring Training (very similar to previous competitions of seasons past). The date that the final decision is made (as well as the decision made) will be "telling" to the future direction of the team.

[Jham]

To me, it's baffling how a team that has been so terrible over the last few years can even fathom putting Hicks or Schaeffer on the field over a hitter like Escobar.  Plan D, PLEASE.  Face the facts.  Hicks has had his shots and fell on his face.  We have Buxton arriving next year at the latest, and better (and younger) options in the corners for the following years.  Even if Hicks comes out of nowhere and is better than he's shown at any point in his major or minor league career, he holds down CF for what, maybe a year?  Ditto Santana.  Santana was by most accounts raw defensively at SS.  Is he a stop gap to Polanco or Gordon?  Couldn't Escobar fill that role just as well?  

As a perennial 90 loss team, shouldn't we be putting our best lineup out as often as possible rather than crossing our fingers that Hicks or Schaeffer will develop into a stop gap at best?  
 

[jimmer]

Any chance Santana stays at SS and Escobar plays CF?

For me, it'd be preferable to keep IFs in the IF and OFs in the OF.

[Mike Sixel]

I have a hard time ignoring everything but his OBP. That seems like a bad way to build a team. He can't hit MLB pitching. He barely hit minor league pitching. 

 

I think Hicks should be in AAA.

 

I think they will start him in CF in MN.

[James]

I have a hard time ignoring everything but his OBP. That seems like a bad way to build a team. He can't hit MLB pitching. He barely hit minor league pitching. 

 

I think Hicks should be in AAA.

 

I think they will start him in CF in MN.

I can't agree more.  I think Hicks will start on the big league team.

 

Hicks' OBP does look good, but it just seems like that can't be sustainable unless we starts learning how to hit.  He has been slow to get going at every level he has been at, and I can see why the adjustment period would be the slowest at the MLB level.  Maybe between working with Carew and getting some mentorship from Hunter, he will finally put things together.

 

My guess is he hits a little better to start the season, but the OBP comes down.  He ends up hitting about .230 or so in April and part of May before he gets the ax. 

 

I hope I'm wrong and he figures it out and breaks out this year, but odds are kind of against it.

[troyhobbs]

I think the Twins want plans A and C, which I also like. Go with the young guys, they will not be a contender this year.  Keep your infielders out of the outfield please. Rosario can play, he's had one bad year which was derailed by his ganja suspension. Hicks can at least walk his way to be somewhat respectable and plays a much better CF than Santana or Escobar. 

[Dman]

IIRC wasn't Hicks having trouble from the left side.  Based on what happens in spring training I am thinking the Twins will Platoon Hicks and Schaeffer in center.   That way they can find out what both players bring to the team.  Should build trade value for two players instead of one as well.  

 

Santana needs to win that shortstop position otherwise how do they get his bat and speed into the game?  If he isn't good enough defensively then maybe they make a change and let him play center.  I would like to see Escobar play short this year as I think he can build trade value if he does, but he looks like the odd man out in this scenario and back to a utility role.  That is my two cents.

[Platoon]

Random thoughts:

 

Hicks did not seem to run very good routes to balls in CF. He seems very average defensively. And he would have to hit better to be a corner outfielder. Santana looked a lot like an infielder who was a good athlete playing in the OF. Shafer looks like a better defensive choice, which to start the season is where they should go. And I am not really a huge Shafer fan.

 

And as for the mentoring abilities of Hunter, there seems to be no evidence anecdotally of that trait. In fact the few people who would comment or speculate publicly seemed to specifically question that premise. Obviously I dont know him personally, but while he seems to be a publically affable guy, Torrii seems to be all about Torii. There is a reason he is in right, and Oswaldo has made the ill advised shift to left. And it ain't because anyone on the Twins thought it was a great idea.

[SockNet]

Should: Platoon Hicks and Schafer.

Will: Acia hits 15 day DL with a stiff back. Rosario gets called up and moves to center when Arcia comes back. Hicks or Schafer gets sent to Rochester.

[Steve Lein]

Escobar had 35 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 HR's last year! q; )

 

I'd hope they platoon Schafer and Hicks until one of them (hopefully Hicks) shows they're the better option.

 

And as for the mentoring abilities of Hunter, there seems to be no evidence anecdotally of that trait.

 

Denard Span always talked about Hunter's mentoring and how it helped him. Jackson in Detroit did the same.

[jimmer]

Escobar had 35 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 HR's last year! q; )

 

I'd hope they platoon Schafer and Hicks until one of them (hopefully Hicks) shows they're the better option.

 

 

Denard Span always talked about Hunter's mentoring and how it helped him. Jackson in Detroit did the same.

I think a lot of those times an interviewer comes up and asks a young player about a veteran player's contribution for a story or some part of a story they are doing about the veteran and what are the young players going to say? We've seen Hunter get in fights with players in the dugout, is that leadership? Some seem to think so.  I don't think it is and when a guy like Hunter takes on a guy like Pujols, I definitely question it. I think Hunter TALKS a good game.  He definitely loves the spotlight. He likes to do things old timers view as leadership.  Whether it is actual leadership or not is debatable.  As far as what those young guys really think about the veteran is anyone's guess.  I doubt the young guy is going to say, 'Nah, I don't really get much from Hunter, except how to NOT do a press conference.' 

Edited January 29, 2015 by jimmer