quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

Again:
“The bottom line was that he didn’t perform particularly well,” Molitor said

Anyone care to respond?

To what? He didn't in ST. A whopping 1 month of semi-regular AB's. No one has disputed that. We disputed notions (still eronious) that it was because "he didn't work hard enough". Just because you keep saying those things doesn't make them true.

Sweens, I would agree with you in re: to Shane/Schafer usually, but I think in this case it's different because of our soon-to-be OF logjam. Either we play Hicks NOW and see what we actually have or we are waiting until Buxton/Rosario are both ready (plus one of Sano/Plouffe in the OF) and have completely wasted any value from that asset.

If Hicks comes up and performs poorly, so be it. His value won't have really sunk any lower than the Twins have made it anyway and he can be put on the scrapheap. However, if he performs, his value has been rejuvenated and we have a valuable trade asset (either him or one of the other guys). Not to mention he'd actually help this team with his superior defense and (likely) superior hitting to Schafer/Robinson. For a team that is currently "in it".

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Lastly, Phil, can you please stop using BA as a barometer of anything? It's ridiculous. This isn't the 80's.

quote:

ORIGINAL: McMurfy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Yes, that "bad attitude with no IQ" Hicks is player of the week:

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150510&content_id=123632260&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t534&sid=t534

LOL

Wouldn't a "superstar" have more than 1 player of the week.

Not necessarily. Also, I have not heard anyone call Hicks a superstar.

I don't agree. Many on the board are treating Hicks like he should be up on the Major League team already like he his a superstar......this is the first month in the minors he has shown that capability....I hope he keeps it up and gets called up and performs as such in the Majors. I for one wanted it to happen the last 2 years only to be disappointed.

I don't link his failures to TR or Gardy. Hicks just has the talent and needs to put in the work. Look back on his last 5 years---always a slow starter until this year because he has never put in as much offseason work as he did this winter, plain and simple.

The reason Hicks wasn't called up before Rosario was simple....Rosario put in more offseason work and the Twins rewarded him......

Bullshit Phil.

All anyone ever said was that the potential of Hicks alone was a better option than Schafer/Robinson.
He is athletic, he was a First Round pick.

Now, I expect your partner from New York to chime in with one of his personalities anytime, he might even post a few links for us as well, likely without full context.

But I don't remember anyone calling Hicks a Superstar.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Lastly, Phil, can you please stop using BA as a barometer of anything? It's ridiculous. This isn't the 80's.

What was Hicks BA the last 2 years? When it is below the mendoza line (it is very relevant)....lol Everyone was looking at his BA...You don't think Hicks didn't know his own Batting Average?

Do you think High School or College kids playing baseball look at OPS or BA? My bet is on Batting Average, Runs, Home Runs, RBIs, and Stolen Bases before OPS. The same as ERA and Saves over Sierra.

OPS, WOBA, and Sierra were developed in the 90's? Try the 2000's....lol

I was looking at my favorite High School team......all the old school stats are still there....

If I watch the Baseball Highlights on ESPN or MLB how many times will they mention OPS and how many times will they mention HR, BA, RBIs?????? lol

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

OPS tells you a lot more with no more effort.

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

OPS tells you a lot more with no more effort.

WAR even better.

And that's just scratching the surface. JAWS (invented by Ron Jaworski) and PECOTA (invented by Bill Pecota) go even further.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

There's a huge gap between "superstar" and "should be on the big club". Huge.

Hicks has a very good minor league track record and obviously has tools; always has. He was a top 10 pick for a reason.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

OPS tells you a lot more with no more effort.

This. My point is that no argument should ever focus on simply that stat when you could every bit as easily put OPS in its place. It's only used to mislead someone in a debate at this point, as was the case here.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

How about this....
Saturday, the manager emphasized the need for Hicks to eliminate "mental mistakes."

"You take full consideration of how the spring goes," Molitor said. "When you look at the body of work, you have to consider all things that happened down here and that was part of that. He understands he needs to be engaged in the game. He's a guy who if he defends well and has good at-bats and stays aggressive on the basepaths, he can be helpful up here -- and not make mental mistakes."

And this......
"There were times when we saw some good things," Molitor said. "Just let him know the Opening Day roster isn't critical to what his year can be about. He needs to be a good defender and a guy who knows how to score runs and (shows) consistency with quality of at-bats. I think he needs to go out and find a way to do that a little bit better."

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

Give me a guy with a .290 batting average over a guy with a .240 batting average if they have an equal amount of power potential and speed but the exact same OPS. The guy with the .290 batting average is probably driving in more runs--and that matters.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

I posted some thoughts on Hicks by Paul Molitor. No one has actually responded. I only sse attempts to change the topic.

How about responding to the bolded quotes I posted by Molitor?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

OPS tells you a lot more with no more effort.

This. My point is that no argument should ever focus on simply that stat when you could every bit as easily put OPS in its place. It's only used to mislead someone in a debate at this point, as was the case here.

I could use WAR, OPS, or BA on Hicks if you want.......does it really matter?

So does that piss you off that S Robinson has a higher WAR, OPS, and BA this season than Hicks did last 2 seasons and you think Robinson is crap? Lol

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Yes, that "bad attitude with no IQ" Hicks is player of the week:

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150510&content_id=123632260&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t534&sid=t534

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

Alright it's pretty simple.

Hicks has downright sucked at the plate the last two years. Add on mental lapses in the OF and on the basepaths, he's dug himself a great big hole to dig himself out of.

And no matter how much one thinks he may have earned it...1 1/2 months in AAA isn't enough to dig himself out yet.

Midsummer maybe August if he keeps raking.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Yes, that "bad attitude with no IQ" Hicks is player of the week:

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150510&content_id=123632260&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t534&sid=t534

Well, did you see what Chris Collabello did with the Blue Jays?

Season (5 games):
10-18, HR, 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs

Why did the Twins give up on this guy so quickly? Here is a guy who raked at the minor league level and had a fantastic month of April last season with the Twins. He slumped in May and into early June and that was the end of his Twins career. Why not keep a guy like that on your roster. A good bench bat the Twins never seem to have.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: McMurfy

Superstar?

In my 35 years of watching the Twins I count the following Superstars

Kirby
Johan
Joe Mauer for a little bit


Superstar is a strong word.

As for New York, I'll just let him out himself.

I have a few more....Mourneau was until his concussion, Frankie V, and for short bursts Liriano, Knoblach, and Scott Erickson but that is beside the point....I wish I could look back 3 years and search. I know there were many saying Hicks was going to be a superstar.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Contrary to what you believe Dustin, BA is not antiquated. The fact that other stats have been introduced over the years does not mean that others have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. You better believe players and their agents will present BA when negotiating contracts. God knows everyone made a big deal about BA when Joe was winning batting titles.

OPS tells you a lot more with no more effort.

This. My point is that no argument should ever focus on simply that stat when you could every bit as easily put OPS in its place. It's only used to mislead someone in a debate at this point, as was the case here.

I could use WAR, OPS, or BA on Hicks if you want.......does it really matter?

So does that piss you off that S Robinson has a higher WAR, OPS, and BA this season than Hicks did last 2 seasons and you think Robinson is crap? Lol

1) Yes, it matters. That's the point. Well beyond this discussion. In a discussion of any players.
2) No it doesn't "piss me off". You've got the wrong guy. I'm happy that Shane has had the month of his life for our Twins. A whopping .695 OPS in 50 ab's (basically 2 weeks worth). It doesn't change the fact that Hicks is way better than him. Robinson is crap. There's a reason he's 30 and has never done anything.