Scoggins lowers the boom on Twins/Hicks situation

jokin · May 27, 2014

Patrick Reusse started stirring things up about the Twins OF situation this weekend in San Francisco, it's now becoming clear that Patrick is employing his cats paws, first LEN3 in the post-game summary, and now Chip Scoggins, to continue to stir things up, Twins-related in print at the Strib:

The organization’s mismanagement of the roster left them without a viable alternative in center field, so Hicks must learn to hit righthanded on the fly.

....Alex Presley and/or Darin Mastroianni — two guys claimed off waivers — could have taken over in center while Hicks regrouped mentally and emotionally at Class AAA Rochester. Instead, he’s flailing without a safety net.

The Twins have done Hicks no favors with the way they’ve handled his development. Their fast-track approach in the absence of a Plan B looks grossly shortsighted. Hicks desperately needs seasoning at the Class AAA level, but the Twins don’t have another viable center fielder in the pipeline, at least until Byron Buxton proves he’s ready.

And so a young player who has lost all confidence approaches the organization about a radical change and the team is forced to go along with it.

“We need him out there,” Gardenhire said. “We don’t have a replacement right now.”*

*Yeah Gardy, no kidding.

Scoggins looked to balance out the story with a ray of hope- uncluttering his mind seems plausibly encouraging from Bruno , but ultimately Scoggins left the reader with little confidence, an example from Little League? Really?:

“I know one thing with the kid, it’s freeing up his mind,” hitting coach Tom Brunansky said. “I think the thing for him is he’s finally going to feel freer.”

Until Monday, Hicks said he had not faced a righthanded pitcher from the right side (excluding knuckleballers) since he was 12 years old.
“It was in an all-star game,” he said. “I had to ask my dad for permission for me to hit righthanded. I was really struggling lefthanded. He gave me the OK. I got a hit. It ended up working out.”

http://m.startribune.com/sports/?id=260711051&c=y

Riverbrian · May 27, 2014

I love the Twins... I respect the professionals in the front office and in the dug out.

But... I see no other way to look at it. CF was mishandled... And it just seems obvious... So obvious that I'm shocked that they missed it.

The press is absolutely right on this and it also obvious to them.

twinsnorth49 · May 27, 2014

Good to see someone in the press not trying to excuse or rationalize what a pitiful situation the Twins have created.

jokin · May 27, 2014

I love the Twins... I respect the professionals in the front office and in the dug out.

But... I see no other way to look at it. CF was mishandled... And it just seems obvious... So obvious that I'm shocked that they missed it.

The press is absolutely right on this and it also obvious to them.

Reusse is a master pot-stirrer, he's the journalistic equivalent to Billy Bob Thornton's character, Lorne Malvo, on the wonderful new spinoff of the Coen movie, Fargo .

When I heard his unmistakeably cranky and gravelly voice aggresively going after Gardy after Sunday's game, I knew something was in the works. And this time he has "obvious right" on his side, besides. The rotten egg is even on the face of the President of the Club, who had the temerity to question his customers about the importance of the 25th man on the active roster.

I hope all of this ends up in some serious soul-searching by ownership and the powers-that-be, there are multiple top-100 prospects in the pipeline who need an active developmental game plan- together with a viable Plan B. This means changes must be implemented, and soon!, be they personnel, philosophical, or both.

Squirrel · May 27, 2014

I genuinely feel bad for Hicks in all of this. Who knows where he'd be now and what kind of player he'd be if only. Yeah, I don't know, no one can, but he was put in an impossible situation both last year and this. And while his play has been questionable at times, I don't blame him. Yeah, he's playing in the majors and we should be able to expect better from players at this level, but I just can't blame him. It wasn't his choice to be forced to play as he has been. I only hope he can come through the better for it, but he and this whole situation have been handled very irresponsibly, IMHO. Those in charge often make decisions I don't understand but then I don't have the knowledge and experience they do and I usually give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm just a fan. But this situation, we all deserve better, especially Hicks.

big dog · May 27, 2014

We played multiple shortstops in the outfield for a week before this flap erupted. If they wanted to call them out, they missed a bunch of opportunities.

There are so many ideas about what the team should do, and they are so conflicted. We should deal Willy/Correia because they aren't part of the future. Fine, but Presley/Mastro aren't part of the future either. Does giving Alex Presley significant at-bats this year have any possible future payoff? I don't see it. I think they should get a CF that they could use for a while, no question. Dumping Mastro? Not a big deal, just a quick short-term non-fix. Solve the problem. And don't look to Reusse for solutions, just expect scorn and late bandwagon-jumping.

cmathewson · May 27, 2014

The time to address his development was early in his career. I know switch hitting was a condition his father placed on playing baseball. But it should have been clear to everybody in the organization when he had to repeat Beloit that his best path to the majors was to give up switch hitting. They never pressed him on it. Now it is a desperate situation.

The time to address center field was before last year. They traded both center fielders (in good moves) and failed to acquire a replacement. Then they strung him out to dry in the lead-off spot without any back-up for almost two months. So they learned their lesson, right? I thought so when they acquired Presley and resigned Mastro. Then the FO completely botched the roster and we have no viable center fielders above A ball (at least until Fuld returns), again assuming that a kid who was overmatched last year could just jump right in and play every day. The fact that they have had shortstops out there without significant professional expereince at the position for five games this year is just validation of how whacked this situation is.

It should be obvious to everyone here that I believe in Aaron Hicks. I also think this is the right thing to do. I am in the minority around here when I say I think he will be OK--not great but not horrible. But that doesn't excuse the FO for completely botching his development and then forcing him to learn basic stuff at the major league level without a viable back up above A ball.

I hope the Twins brass learns at least one thing from this: Rob Antony is not qualified to be a GM of a major league team.

Mike Sixel · May 27, 2014

I appreciate the press is finally riding the Twins more publicly. But I find it hard to believe we'll see any significant changes in Twins land.

huhguy · May 27, 2014

We played multiple shortstops in the outfield for a week before this flap erupted. If they wanted to call them out, they missed a bunch of opportunities.

There are so many ideas about what the team should do, and they are so conflicted. We should deal Willy/Correia because they aren't part of the future. Fine, but Presley/Mastro aren't part of the future either. Does giving Alex Presley significant at-bats this year have any possible future payoff? I don't see it. I think they should get a CF that they could use for a while, no question. Dumping Mastro? Not a big deal, just a quick short-term non-fix. Solve the problem. And don't look to Reusse for solutions, just expect scorn and late bandwagon-jumping.

right on the money!

DaveW · May 27, 2014

It's a pretty tough situation for the Twins, osing Mastro and Pressly seriously is nothing to get upset about...at all!

They got a superior player in Fuld, who just happened to get injured, while this happened Hicks decided to switch to being a righty full time (which I commend him for). I am wondering if Buxton were healthy if he would get a cup of coffee? But of course he is injured/recovering as well.

The Twins ultimately will be fine, they will find a AAAA CF in the meantime.

Mike Frasier Law · May 27, 2014

Yea, I felt bad for Nolasco this weekend. I started watching the game, and when the Twins gave up a run in the first inning because two mediocre shortstops playing in the outfield misplayed hits (but did not commit errors, of course), I just turned it off. Hopefully having Arcia back will help keep outfielders in the outfield for awhile.

tobi0040 · May 27, 2014

I hope the Twins brass learns at least one thing from this: Rob Antony is not qualified to be a GM of a major league team.

I think you need to ask what the guys strengths are. If the first thing you hear is communication and not finding and developing talent, then he should go back to being a PR guy. Here is a real crazy thought. Maybe the best successor to Terry Ryan is not currently employed the by the Twins? The first hand off was to a guy that was mainly an administrator and that didn't go well. How is a hand off to a communication guy going to be any better?

jokin · May 27, 2014

I appreciate the press is finally riding the Twins more publicly. But I find it hard to believe we'll see any significant changes in Twins land.

The skies are opening up in the press, the veil has lifted, the Star Trek invisibility cloak is being neutralized. Apparently, The Emperor's New Clothes are now under investigation for fashion fraud. The mass media (or at least Reusse's closest cohorts:roll:) is finding out how much "there" is really "there" at One Twins Way:

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Mackey_The_Twins_are_making_some_bizarre_roster_decisions_this_year052614

http://www.thescore.com/news/508885

Rhett Bollinger ✔ @RhettBollinger

Follow

Hicks came into Gardenhire's office and said he has no confidence hitting left-handed so he's going to drop switch-hitting.

10:57 AM - 26 May 2014

No follow-up yet on if the inmates are still in charge of the asylum.

cmathewson · May 27, 2014

One other thing about this situation: They put Hicks in an almost impossible situation last year and again this year. How did they handle that with the press? They berated him repeatedly. Antony called him out in spring training and again a month into the year, basically calling him lazy. If they're putting so much confidence in him to stick him in these situations, you'd think they could at least have his back with the press. Something like:

"We all know it's been a struggle. But he's putting in extra BP. He's getting after it. He's showing signs of breaking out of an early season slump. Give the kid some credit for doing what he can to make the jump from AA."

Instead, Antony blames the player. The onus is squarely on Antony's shoulders.

Brandon · May 27, 2014

I think the board would be mad if we kept Maestro and Pressley as they are both worse then Hicks. Hicks has shown promise in some areas of his game so he is not totally lost. and we don't know if the Twins have been telling Hicks to drop switch hitting but would not force the issue. That would be on Hicks rather than the Twins. The fact that our 2nd and 3rd option are currently injured is the issue here. If were patient everything will work out.

jokin · May 27, 2014

One other thing about this situation: They put Hicks in an almost impossible situation last year and again this year. How did they handle that with the press? They berated him repeatedly. Antony called him out in spring training and again a month into the year, basically calling him lazy. If they're putting so much confidence in him to stick him in these situations, you'd think they could at least have his back with the press. Something like:

"We all know it's been a struggle. But he's putting in extra BP. He's getting after it. He's showing signs of breaking out of an early season slump. Give the kid some credit for doing what he can to make the jump from AA."

Instead, Antony blames the player. The onus is squarely on Antony's shoulders.

The excuse factory's latest effort (courtesy of Mackey's article):

Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said recently, "Everyone can look back in hindsight and say you should have held onto [Alex] Presley. We could have. We ran Presley through [waivers], we ran [Chris] Parmelee through, we ran [scott] Diamond through; Presley got claimed. I don't want to say that we thought, 'We've got Hicks, we don't need anyone else,' because we tried [Darin] Mastroianni as an option."Any time you put somebody out on waivers you take a chance. We rolled the dice, Presley got claimed, Mastro got claimed, [brooks] Raley and [Kenny] Wilson, we claimed those guys on waivers and when we needed a spot they were at the bottom of our 40[-man roster]. We needed a spot and we ran them through and they got claimed ... When you're turning over and you lose some guys at the bottom of your 40-man roster, sometimes it opens up a spot, maybe somebody else comes along that you like just as much, if not better."
But here's the thing: When the starting centerfielder has never solidified himself above Double-A, should additional centerfielders be exposed to waivers to make room for guys like Jason Bartlett and Matt Guerrier?

That's what Antony has said regarding the situation recently, I'd say the guy's in over his head, but that might be considered an insult to this guy, who had more Big League experience:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/auction/images_items/Item_2368_1.jpg

TheLeviathan · May 27, 2014

I was glad they let Hicks have another shot at the beginning of the season. I was baffled by their complete lack of a backup option in CF from the get-go. One should not have happened without the other.

And now Hicks is learning to do something he hasn't done since he was 12 while facing major league pitching. That's such insanity I actually believe putting Parmelee in CF is a superior option. That idea sucks, but it just goes to show how dumb the current plan is IMO.

cmathewson · May 27, 2014

Meanwhile, this is Hicks since May 10:

May 10: 1-3, BB

May 11: 0-1, BB

May 14: 1-3, BB

May 15: 1-4, BB

May 16: 2-4

May 17: 1-2, BB

May 18: 1-2, BB

May 20: 0-3

May 21: 1-3

May 23: 0-2, 2BB

May 24: 0-3

May 26: 2-4 (both right handed against a right handed pitcher)

I look at this and ask, where's the crisis? It seems like he has turned a corner. If he has more confidence hitting right handed against right handed pitchers, perhaps he'll be better than he was over the last 15 games. That's a pretty good hitter at the bottom of the order. Let's give him a chance to see if it works.

Parmelee is barely a right fielder. The only reason he has done decently in TF is he studied that wall and he plays it very well. But his range is severely limited. Parmelee in center would be a blood bath.

Mike Sixel · May 27, 2014

I want Hicks in MN, as long as there is no better option. I see no issue with him learning here vs Rochester. Narrowing his focus should help every aspect of his game. we'll see.

cmathewson · May 27, 2014

I want Hicks in MN, as long as there is no better option. I see no issue with him learning here vs Rochester. Narrowing his focus should help every aspect of his game. we'll see.

My opinion as well. I have been advocating for him to abandon switch hitting for five years. Better late than never. Also, if his long-term position is a corner, he will need to have a power stroke. He has no power from the left side.

He'll have to adjust as the season goes along, but I don't get why that needs to happen in AAA. I just think guys with his talent will learn wherever they are. As long as he is needed up here, he'll have to learn up here. Not ideal, but it happens a lot in baseball. The ones with true talent, like Gomez or Hunter, eventually get it. This could be the catalyst for him getting it. I sure hope so.

Steven Buhr · May 27, 2014

The situation is FUBAR, without a doubt. I guess I'm just not as ready as some to give Hicks a free pass in terms of sharing responsibility. He wasn't exactly rushed to the Bigs. He was a first round draft choice that spent five seasons in the minors, four of them with full-season afiliates.

The roster has been mismanaged. Whether that's Antony's, Gardenhire's or Ryan's responsibility, I don't pretend to know. But mistakes have been made.

Now that the mistakes have been identified, I just think it's tougher to fix than we think. It's not like there's a supply of capable MLB-level CFs sitting around waiting for a phone call. If they try to trade for one, they're trading from a known position of weakness and I'd rather they keep patching things up than trade any prosect with real potential just to get a replacement-level CF to hold the position until Buxton arrives.

It's painful to watch (even more so if you're a pitcher on the mound, I imagine), but other than continuing to try guys out there and hoping Hicks eventually gets better, there aren't many options available at this point.

DuluthFan · May 27, 2014

Perhaps the situation would not be as dire if the Twins would not pigeon hole their outfielders in the minors as corner outfielders and center fielders. All minor league outfielders should play some games in center field as a matter of course. With the organization's love of players playing multiple positions in the higher levels and the major league level, it makes sense that all outfielders should have at least some minimal training in center field. An outfielder, whether a corner or center fielder would have more experience reading a fly ball off the bat than a stopgap infielder playing out of position.

Typically the 4th outfielder position on the 25 man roster has some ability to play center field. Why not require that all outfielders have some training in playing that position? Yes, I understand the corner outfield type player tends to be slower, that doesn't mean he would be any less effective than a shortstop or catcher playing out of position in the outfield.

As far as Hicks goes, he is currently playing at the level of a 4th outfielder. The kind that teams waive and get picked up by other teams.

Steven Buhr · May 27, 2014

I'm not sure I agree that OFs are pigeonholed as corner OFs in the Twins minor league organization. Certainly, there are some guys you simply would not want to see in CF. Adam Brett Walker, for example, is not going to play CF at any level. He needs to work on being a capable corner OF (and I believe he is and will remain capable).

But we've seen a few OFs who are probably destined to be corner OFs spend some time in CF in at least the rookie-to-Class A levels. JD Williams, Max Kepler, Chad Christensen, just to name 3 off the top of my head.

Richie the Rally Goat · May 27, 2014

Meanwhile, this is Hicks since May 10:

May 10: 1-3, BB
May 11: 0-1, BB
May 14: 1-3, BB
May 15: 1-4, BB
May 16: 2-4
May 17: 1-2, BB
May 18: 1-2, BB
May 20: 0-3
May 21: 1-3
May 23: 0-2, 2BB
May 24: 0-3
May 26: 2-4 (both right handed against a right handed pitcher)

I look at this and ask, where's the crisis? It seems like he has turned a corner. If he has more confidence hitting right handed against right handed pitchers, perhaps he'll be better than he was over the last 15 games. That's a pretty good hitter at the bottom of the order. Let's give him a chance to see if it works.

Parmelee is barely a right fielder. The only reason he has done decently in TF is he studied that wall and he plays it very well. But his range is severely limited. Parmelee in center would be a blood bath.

So comparing hitting stats to fielding acumen is a good argument? I will give you that Parms is less than ideal in RF, let alone CF, but to say that Hicks is taking a lot of walks and went 2-4 yesterday, his first game as a Righty hitter, so everything is fine. I am certain that Hicks will not continue his .500 batting average as a Righty. He has been a .180 batter this season. Why would you walk him. Pitchers will blow it by him until he can prove to be a good hitter and take the bat off his shoulder. He should be in triple A learning to hit Righty and while he's there track a fly ball.

the Bert Blyleven school of theology: Cardinal Sin- Never walk the pitcher (or Aaron Hicks)

ericchri · May 27, 2014

Why would you walk him. Pitchers will blow it by him until he can prove to be a good hitter and take the bat off his shoulder. He should be in triple A learning to hit Righty and while he's there track a fly ball.

the Bert Blyleven school of theology: Cardinal Sin- Never walk the pitcher (or Aaron Hicks)

And yet they've been doing it regularly this year, enough for a sub .200 BA to have a near league average OBP. Apparently Major League pitchers don't subscribe to your philosophy. Why are they more likely to pitch meatballs to him now that he's only swinging right-handed?

And for the record I agree, I don't understand why you take chances on walking guys who are unlikely to hurt you otherwise (Nick Punto fell heavily into that category for me for years, he was lucky to hit one homerun every 2-3 years), but it continues to happen.

cmathewson · May 27, 2014

So comparing hitting stats to fielding acumen is a good argument? I will give you that Parms is less than ideal in RF, let alone CF, but to say that Hicks is taking a lot of walks and went 2-4 yesterday, his first game as a Righty hitter, so everything is fine, is ridiculous. I am certain that Hicks will not continue his .500 batting average as a Righty. He has been a .180 batter this season. Why would you walk him. Pitchers will blow it by him until he can prove to be a good hitter and take the bat off his shoulder. He should be in triple A learning to hit Righty and while he's there track a fly ball.

the Bert Blyleven school of theology: Cardinal Sin- Never walk the pitcher (or Aaron Hicks)

I didn't compare offense to defense. I just think you need a good defensive center fielder. Imagine putting Plouffe at shortstop. It would be ugly. Same with Parmelee in center. Up-the-middle positions require good defenders. It's one of those maxims you don't mess with. You start with a good defender. If he can hit, he will stick. If not, you try someone else. It's one of the reasons I hate trying to convert career shortstops into center fielders. Right there you violate a key maxim of team construction.

I never said everything is fine. I said it's not a crisis. There are lots of worse things happening to this team than their starting center fielder. Nolasco is a mess. Correia is, well, Correia. Burton is not right. Guerrier is on the roster. Hicks is getting on base and scoring runs. That's a lot more than can be said for Jason Kubel right now.

jokin · May 27, 2014

And yet they've been doing it regularly this year, enough for a sub .200 BA to have a near league average OBP. Apparently Major League pitchers don't subscribe to your philosophy. Why are they more likely to pitch meatballs to him now that he's only swinging right-handed?

And for the record I agree, I don't understand why you take chances on walking guys who are unlikely to hurt you otherwise (Nick Punto fell heavily into that category for me for years, he was lucky to hit one homerun every 2-3 years), but it continues to happen.

For the record in 2014, Hicks has a slightly higher K-rate batting right-handed, with a much higher BB-rate (7th overall in baseball, @ 16.9%), which has yielded him a .408 OBP batting right handed. These results seem unsustainable if he maintains his current hitting philosophy, especially with the likely steady diet of curveballs that start out right at his head.

Hicks is the 2nd most passive player in baseball, with a 34.8% swing rate, even though he's receiving pitches in the zone at around only 1% less than league average (47.8%).

Somewhat surprisingly, Hicks is number 2 in change-up percentage received (18.7%), double league average. And this has been a pitch he has had the most success against. One would think that the book will improve on him, resulting in a heavier diet of curves, sliders and down in the zone inside fastballs right in on his fists.

Pitch Values

Projections | Minor Leagues | Regular Season

[TABLE=class: rgMasterTable, width: 978]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray]Season[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray]Team[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wFB[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wSL[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wCT[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wCB[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wCH[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wSF[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wKN[/TH]

[TH=class: grid_line_breakh rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wFB/C[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wSL/C[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wCT/C[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wCB/C[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wCH/C[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wSF/C[/TH]

[TH=class: rgHeader, bgcolor: gray, align: right]wKN/C[/TH]

[TR=class: rgAltRow]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular]2013[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular]Twins[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-4.1[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-3.5[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.4[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.9[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]3.3[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]0.1[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]0.5[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_break, align: right]-0.55[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-2.49[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-3.01[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.21[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]1.97[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]0.97[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]10.12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rgAltRow]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular]2014[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular]Twins[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-4.2[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-0.5[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-0.6[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.1[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]1.9[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]1.5[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-0.4[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_break, align: right]-1.41[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.23[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.98[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.55[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]1.79[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]22.06[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-6.67[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rgRow grid_total, bgcolor: #E7E7E7]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular]Total[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular]- - -[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-8.3[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-4.0[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-2.1[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-3.0[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]5.1[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]1.7[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]0.1[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_break, align: right]-0.80[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-2.20[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-2.60[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]-1.31[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]1.90[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]8.35[/TD]

[TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]0.96[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Winston Smith · May 27, 2014

Parmalee is 2-34 over the last 10 games. Looks like his bubble has burst again and he is not a major league quality outfielder, imo.

old nurse · May 27, 2014

The Twins would not be better with Mastroianni or Presley in CF, that is why they were DFA'd No doubt they were a better option than Bartlet, but that is not Scroggins' argument.

jharaldson · May 27, 2014

One other thing about this situation: They put Hicks in an almost impossible situation last year and again this year.

Hicks had 5 years of minor league baseball, over 500 games played. Hicks has been given long stretches in the majors and has not been subject to frequent promotions and demotions. During his time in the majors he has been given reasonably regular playing time. He has been given 2 long chances in the majors with 80 games last year and 40 and counting this year.

The Twins could have handled some things better(some more AAA time, another option in CF, ect...) but there are countless minor leaguers who would love to be given the type of shot Hicks has been given and there is no doubt in my mind that Hicks deserves a good chunk of the blame for his bad performance. To say it is all on the Twins for putting Hicks in an “impossible situation” suggests a lack of accountability for Hicks.

Sign In

Scoggins lowers the boom on Twins/Hicks situation

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Archived

Prospect News & Highlights

Recent News

Recent Blog Entries

Recent Status Updates