stringer bell

Hicks had 84 PAs at AAA (SSS), he hit .278 w/ a .738 OPS, not dominance, not mastering that level. No, that isn't enough to convince me that he has mastered AAA. His September numbers were fine for OBP (walks fueled), but he hit for virtually no power. It is unlikely that Schafer duplicates his performance, but I wouldn't rule it out any more than I would rule out Hicks hitting in his next try with the Twins. Schafer's defense in center probably isn't much better or worse than Hicks'.

The right handed half of a platoon is basically a bench player. Putting Hicks in that role pretty much assigns him to that status. It could end his development well below what was perceived to be his ceiling. We don't know if he could handle a part-time role and he's only played a few innings in right and left. Shane Robinson is the best defensive outfielder that competed for a position and he has been in a backup role. He is a good fit for the platoon CF/fourth outfielder role.

I would dispute that Hicks did well in AAA last year and his performance in September was pedestrian as well. Nothing he did from the time he was demoted last year screamed readiness. Hicks continues to have tools and potential, but the performance has been pretty abysmal.

Good report and nice photos.

Of the names listed in this thread here is my opinion: I think Darnell and Achter could be 40-man casualties and I think that would be fine. There is a pretty large number of guys who didn't make it who could be decent contributors for the Twins (don't give up on them): Oliveros, Pryor, Pressly, Tonkin. Hamburger has mostly looked good for the Twins, I think he is the last cut. Graham has made the club, but could knock himself off the ledge with a bad performance or two in the next week. I wouldn't want more than one fifth starter candidate in the bullpen. If Pelfrey could add a couple ticks to the fastball and utilize his new change-up, he might actually work well there. Milone should either make the rotation or go to Rochester. Boyer probably makes the club, too, on merit, unless the Twins decide to keep two #5 starter losers in the 'pen. I am not a big Thielbar fan, if he is pushed out this spring, so be it. He should be able to get another chance if he performs well in Rochester. So, if I am in charge (and you can't unmake the moves already made) the bullpen is Pelfrey, Graham, Boyer, Fien, Duensing, Stauffer, Perkins. Short leashes for most of those guys, with a nearly equal number champing at the bit in Rochester. Midseason could bring Reed, Burdi and the rest.

Again, Hicks' "success" against RH pitching thus far is a .689 OPS in Spring Training. Of course, it is a small sample size and of course, he might have raised that number because of the level of competition. On top of that, even with the two caveats, is that mark "winning" the CF job? I think not. Schafer was, by far, the superior offensive player for the Twins in '14. If anyone is the incumbent this year, it should be him. Rosario has impressed with good at-bats and good defense (mostly in LF), Robinson has shown he is a good defensive OF and not a sure out at the plate. None of them have won the job. Both Hicks and Rosario should be in Rochester. Let's see if the approach that Schafer seemed to acquire last year can carry over and, as I've said for awhile, Robinson is a good fit for the fourth OF slot. If Schafer flounders, certainly a good possibility, the better of Hicks/Rosario gets the nod to fill the spot until Buxton is ready.

But, but , but, it's spring training. In his two months with the Twins, Schafer was serviceable, Hicks was not. Hicks has been very good in spring training the last two seasons and that didn't translate to good performance when it counted. We don't know which RH pitchers Hicks hit against, but if it's a bunch of minor leaguers, it mitigates his "success".

Yes, he does.

Warning: After watching Buxton in person for most of the week, he has a very long way to go. He is still a supremely talented athlete, but the hit tool seems to have regressed at this point.

Reusse's column is on the strib website. He is saying that Arcia has been disappointing this spring. Reusse seems to be saying this is Hicks' last stand.

I'm still wondering about Pinto. He is doing baseball activities, but probably won't play on the major league team for several more days. LEN3 said that he thought that Fryer was in the lead for backup catcher (ugh!), which would also cut loose somebody on the 40-man roster. With Pinto losing at least a week, it kind of figures that Molitor might go with someone else to back up Suzuki. Does anyone know the rules for the concussion DL? Can Pinto be placed on the list retroactively? Can he do a rehab after being cleared? It would save using an option for what could be a short-term demotion to Rochester. It is legitimate that Pinto has been set back by his injury. I still think they will send him to Rochester for rehab and go with Herrmann (on the 40-man) for the brief duration when Pinto is unavailable.

One starting pitcher loser in the bullpen is plenty, maybe too much. Get real bullpen guys in the bullpen.

Well, LEN3 hosted Twinschat on the strib today. He thinks Fryer is in the lead for backup catcher after Pinto suffered his shots to the head. Secondly, he seems to be hinting that Rosario is in the lead for left field, meaning either Vargas or Arcia are in jeopardy of being dispatched to the minors. As for the pitching staff, it seems Boyer and Graham have excellent chances to make the bullpen.

LEN3 made a hint that Reusse will be saying tomorrow that there is a chance that Rosario will be the starting left fielder when the Twins visit Detroit. That would mean either Vargas to the minors (with Arcia the primary DH) or Arcia to the minors. It could render all the extension talk moot. Even 15 days in the minors would put Arcia below the presumed Super 2 threshold.

I thought Molitor was opposed to using starters in the bullpen. I guess keeping Pelf there rather than releasing him makes some sense, but with both Milone and May they have options. I certainly hope that the Twins don't clog up the bullpen with losers of the 5th starter competition.

Air travel isn't fun and while I am not a frequent flier, I have flown enough no longer to be fascinated by small aisles, nuts and soda, and the people watching. I sat alone in coach and was joined by an delightful Floridian/Minnesotan returning to Minnesota for a funeral. It passed the time and temporarily made me forget about the nasty URI I managed to get in the sunshine state. We looked out the window and saw snow, probably starting somewhere around the Iowa/Minnesota border, maybe north of that. We were back in cold climate, where the jacket I brought with me could be put to use for the first time in seven days. I have been wondering how to summarize the (likely final) trip I made to Fort Myers. There is a bit of melancholy because I think I have figured out the driving--I know the major arteries and where they are in relation to most of the places I want to get to. Now, I probably won't use that information soon, if at all. I feel comfortable at Twins' Spring Training. I mostly know where to go to see what I want to see. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the young players in the back fields. This year, I met more Twins Daily regulars than ever before. It is great to put a face to a screen name and to know more about a fan than whether he liked Gardy or Rick Anderson. Specifically, I met Halsey Hall, Ashbury John and thrylos, along with three other people who read but don't post. Good guys all, with disparate views on most issues in baseball (and probably world view). I know I owe Ashbury a beer, so I guess I'll have to pay up at Target Field this summer if he and I are at the same game. Some singular thoughts: Aaron Hicks is a bigger man than Torii Hunter. I saw them take BP together and Hicks is definitely taller and probably just as wide as Torii. Speaking of size, Ervin Santana is not a big guy. He is listed at 6'2" 185, and I think especially the weight might be an exaggeration. Ricky Nolasco looks a bit trimmer than last year, perhaps yielding better results because of that. The Twins have a lot of big 'uns--Meyer, May, Tonkin, Pelfrey, Wheeler, Hughes, Gibson to name a few. Hard throwers are not far off: Burdi and Reed both seem to be ticketed for AA, and both throw hard. Meyer will start in Rochester and Oliveros, Tonkin, and more will be laboring in the 'pen. The Twins long-term and short-term future will probably be answered en español. Along with the already arrived Vargas, Santana, Pinto, and Arcia, both the upper and lower minors are filled with Hispanic ballplayers with Berrios, Sano, Polanco, Rosario, and more poised to contribute as soon as this year. In spring training, minor leaguers not participating watch the minor league games. The language amongst the viewers and in the dugouts is principally Spanish. I understand that the Twins are working hard to accommodate this influx. There are more coaches with Hispanic names and the team demands the players take English lessons. The cultural change isn't easy and I hope the club continues to go out of their way to help these young men in a new country with different standards and a different language. I am going with an optimistic view for 2015, based on rolling a bunch of sevens and filling inside straights. The talent is abundant at Century Link Complex. Some way, somehow, that is going to equate to many more wins in 2015 for the Minnesota Twins.

Here's that breakdown (all positions, locks excluded) Out of options: Nunez, Schafer Veterans (can't be optioned): Pelfrey, Stauffer Minor league contract (opt-out date): Boyer, Robinson Rule 5 (must be offered back to original team): Graham Minor league contract: Fryer, Hamburger, Bernier If the Twins add anyone with a minor league contract, they have to take someone off the 40-man.

Here's my thing. If no one has forced themselves into the starter's spot, why Hicks? Due to his failure/disappointment the last two years, I think he has forfeited being the incumbent or the default. As a matter of fact, because of his performance in the last two spring trainings and non-correlation to his performance in the regular season, I think he has to show that he has quantifiably and verifiably improved. I don't believe the team can afford to enter the season saying "we can't compete" or "wait 'til next year". I want the best 25 players going north, but sometimes the best player is the one who fits the vacancy. Aaron Hicks doesn't fit a vacancy as backup OF/platoon CF. I agree that Rosario remains a long shot to claim CF, but IMHO he has shown something that indicates that he might be able to skip AAA after being pedestrian at AA. I'd send Hicks down with the message that he has to prove himself to get a third shot. I'd probably send Rosario to Rochester as well with a similar message.

Just got back from Fort Myers myself. I would respond to the topics Nick listed with answers between "agree" and "strongly agree". The best fix for the current bullpen is longer starts from the starting rotation.

I'm nearly certain that Rosario will start the season in AAA. Otherwise, it really looks like that lineup will be dominating for AA.

I'd agree with Dante above except for one thing--70-75% of starters throw right handed. The right handed half of a platoon is a bench player. Delaying/ending Hicks' development for ten starts the first quarter of the year isn't the right thing to do for a guy with Hicks' tools. Shane Robinson is a bench player. If the Twins choose to start Schafer, using their best outfield defender as both Schafer's platoon partner and the fourth outfielder makes good sense. I believe Eddie Rosario is the best prospect among the four center field candidates, but I suspect his future will be in left field. I hope he gets the first chance to replace Schafer, if it goes that way. The experience he would gain will be valuable no matter what position he plays this summer.

Heading out this morning. Yesterday, there was minor league action plus BP for position players who didn't make the trip to Clearwater. Ervin Santana pitched the first four innings of the Triple A game and was unspectacular, one run in four innings-probably a half dozen strikeouts. It was home run derby on the AA side with Twins' farmhands connecting for five long balls. I finally met TD's own Halsey Hall and a couple of lurkers, whose names will be withheld to protect them. Nice people all around. I truly enjoyed my time in Florida. Needless to say, it has gone fast. I will write a longer summary tomorrow unless I spend too much time shoveling snow!

Many comments to discuss. Hicks hasn't shown he is capable. Yes, I would rather go with a Schafer/Robinson platoon than expose the not-ready Hicks for the third straight year. Molitor has made it clear that Santana will be a shortstop to start the year. I think the bullpen that goes north will be old and ripe for regression. The young arms aren't far away, so this is an area where there will be transition this year. If Mauer gets injured, Plouffe could get lots of time at first, ditto if Vargas gets hurt or demoted. If Pelfrey remains effective, I could see him in the bullpen. No to Milone or May.

What is unfortunate is that Escobar is slated to back up the three best position players on the team. Further, his splits were much better as a right handed hitter and he would spell two right handed hitters and a switch hitter. I think it will be relatively hard to get him at-bats where he has the best chance of succeeding.

Another well-written piece, John. I share your mixed feelings about SS/CF.