August 25, 201313 yr You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2260-Interview-with-Red-Wings-Centerfielder-Aaron-Hicks
August 25, 201313 yr Hopefully Hicks can finish the year strong. Maybe a change of atmosphere is what he needs. Reading between the lines, the Twins clubhouse isn't a very fun place to be right now. I don't blame them. Heading to 3 straight 90 loss seasons has its effects.
August 25, 201313 yr There were two quotes that caught me off guard. I don't want to read too much into them, but.... It’s a lot of fun. Not only being able to play with a new team, but being able to have fun with the things that they do in the locker room that I haven’t seen too much in my past teams that I’ve played with. So it’s definitely pretty fun. He kind of sounds relieved to be out of the Twins locker room. Really it’s all about getting the swing back that I had back in Spring Training, and that I’ve had my whole life. I just need to get something going, get something to click, and next thing you know I could be back in the big leagues. Right now though it’s all about figuring myself out as a hitter and get the confidence up and keep battling. It’s not so much about having confidence in yourself, but having confidence in your ability. Being able to trust your hands, being able to hit pitches that aren’t necessarily strikes but pitches that you know that you can handle, being able to trust that and hit the ball hard. He sounds like he got away from him self quite a bit in the majors. Perhaps those first two weeks really spooked him? But that last part about hitting pitches outside the strike zone sounds like he didn't really buy into the plate discipline thing. Perhaps he can hit those pitches in AA but not in the majors? These next few weeks could be interesting. He might have further to go than we thought.
August 25, 201313 yr Author There were two quotes that caught me off guard. I don't want to read too much into them, but.... He kind of sounds relieved to be out of the Twins locker room. He sounds like he got away from him self quite a bit in the majors. Perhaps those first two weeks really spooked him? But that last part about hitting pitches outside the strike zone sounds like he didn't really buy into the plate discipline thing. Perhaps he can hit those pitches in AA but not in the majors? These next few weeks could be interesting. He might have further to go than we thought. I wouldn't say relieved to be out of the Twins locker room, but I'm assuming he was regularly being asked about his lack of offensive production....and it could be taxing mentally. Rochester might be a chance for him to breath a little bit and try to get back to his spring training form. There are a lot of vets on the Red Wings roster and makes for a pretty relaxed atmosphere in the club house since they're in a playoff race.... it could be a good thing long term.
August 25, 201313 yr This is great. Awesome. Really. Other than the title. Hicks is the Twins' center fielder, optioned to the Red Wings. Not "the Red Wings' center fielder". The Red Wings have no players. The Twins do and the decide which minor league teams they go.
August 26, 201313 yr Great Read. Thanks. The quote about the locker room caught my eye, too ... not just as a reflection of the Twins locker room but an overall reflection on what its been like for Hicks. And that makes me happy for the fans in Rochester, too ... they've had to suffer through some pretty bad seasons right along with Twins fans.
August 26, 201313 yr Did the Twins ruin Aaron Hicks? By rushing him? Too soon to tell? I hope so because Nick Nelson and all you "fans" that wanted him in Minnesota to start open day this spring, should be partly the ones to blame. Stupid STUPID decision to start Hicks in MLB. I would of started him in Rochester or even New Britain! now he may be ruined as a professional offensive player....where in lies most of his value. at the very least he may be down the Dexter Fowler path, in which he won't be any good untill about the second half of 2015 or 2016. Wil he still be with the Twins then? or will Gardenhire and/ or the Front Office run out of patients with him by then....... Man I just HATE the way the Twins handled Center field this WHOLE YEAR.
August 26, 201313 yr I really hope Hicks development wasn't permanently stunted with how he was handled this year because I still have hope that he can be a very valuable all around corner outfielder next to Buxton in a couple of years.
August 26, 201313 yr If Hicks is permanently ruined by this season there was minimal hope to begin with. I do think he starts in AAA next season.
August 26, 201313 yr Did the Twins ruin Aaron Hicks? By rushing him? Too soon to tell? I hope so because Nick Nelson and all you "fans" that wanted him in Minnesota to start open day this spring, should be partly the ones to blame. Stupid STUPID decision to start Hicks in MLB. I would of started him in Rochester or even New Britain! now he may be ruined as a professional offensive player....where in lies most of his value. at the very least he may be down the Dexter Fowler path, in which he won't be any good untill about the second half of 2015 or 2016. Wil he still be with the Twins then? or will Gardenhire and/ or the Front Office run out of patients with him by then....... Man I just HATE the way the Twins handled Center field this WHOLE YEAR. We had no one else to play center! Mastro has been hurt and the only other option was Joe Benson. And that was not going to happen.
August 28, 201313 yr I was watching MLB network and they were saying that Victorino, a long time switch hitting player, is starting to go away from it...facing righties as a right handed hitter. He's having good success doing it. It can be done, and perhaps it should be done with Hicks.
August 28, 201313 yr Is it too late for Hicks to be a pitcher? He hits like a pitcher. .160 something with the Red Wings, even worse than with the Twins. Hitting horrible for a whole year, even in AAA, is something more than a "year long slump". Watching Greinke at the plate last night at Dodger Stadium was a real pleasure - reaching out and taking a low outside corner pitch over the shortstop to drive in the first run...... laying down a perfect bunt later.... it was a real pleasure to watch, and he raised his average back up to .340. We could use a little of that from the everyday players here.
August 28, 201313 yr I was watching MLB network and they were saying that Victorino, a long time switch hitting player, is starting to go away from it...facing righties as a right handed hitter. He's having good success doing it. It can be done, and perhaps it should be done with Hicks. This was due to an injury. I imagine it would take a couple years for Hicks to adjust.
August 28, 201313 yr This was due to an injury. I imagine it would take a couple years for Hicks to adjust. Does it matter why? No. point is, this man has been a switch hitter fro a very long time, and he seems to be having no problem switching to just batting right handed.
August 28, 201313 yr Does it matter why? No. point is, this man has been a switch hitter fro a very long time, and he seems to be having no problem switching to just batting right handed. Sure. But he also has years of mlb success.
August 30, 201313 yr Did the Twins ruin Aaron Hicks? By rushing him? Too soon to tell? I hope so because Nick Nelson and all you "fans" that wanted him in Minnesota to start open day this spring, should be partly the ones to blame. Stupid STUPID decision to start Hicks in MLB. I would of started him in Rochester or even New Britain! now he may be ruined as a professional offensive player....where in lies most of his value. at the very least he may be down the Dexter Fowler path, in which he won't be any good untill about the second half of 2015 or 2016. Wil he still be with the Twins then? or will Gardenhire and/ or the Front Office run out of patients with him by then....... Man I just HATE the way the Twins handled Center field this WHOLE YEAR. Why? Do you honestly think that Terry Ryan logged on to Twins Daily for advice on how to handle Aaron Hicks?If he did, he should be fired immediately.
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