Blog Comments

Thanks for the comment. Seth pretty much echoed the same concern in his post this morning about the top 10 Twins prospects (so I feel a little reassured).
I think this will be his last year batting lefty, unless something really clicks this summer. It's time to see what he can do as a full-time righty. Everything but the offense is there (remind you of Torii Hunter at all??).

Thanks for the update TFFA. Not that I am down on switch hitting, buts sometimes, to me, it seems like it is fashionably cool and highly overated to be a switch hitter and may not be in that player's best interest. When you think of successful Switch hitters, you obviously start with Mantle, Eddie Murray and Chipper. Those kind of players seemingly only come around every 20 years or so. Not that I am down on Hicks or comparing him to those players, but at this juncture with Hicks being 22 and playing in his 5th pro season, maybe the Twins Organization should start focusing on his strengths and eliminating the weaknesses from his tool box. What do you think will happen?

I vaguely recall having a conversation with Seth at TwinsFest about how Herrmann will be the perfect complement to Mauer as soon as 2013. Herrmann also played a little 3B before being drafted, it'd be nice if he could (re)add that to his arsenal.

Originally Posted by Rosterman

Herrmann is the back-up of the future, maybe next season. I don't see the Twins adding him to the 40-man until November...just because they'd run thru the guys that won't be around next year first if push comes to shove. I doubt that he'd fuly replace Mauer at ay point. Probably won't see fulltime major league duty until 2014...expect the Twins to hang onto the hot hitting Butera for at least one more season. Doumit is probably using the Twins to increase his free agent value. Him coming back for another year will be determined by what the Twins do with Morneau and Willingham in the field...do the Twins push Hicks and Benson and Revere in 2013 as the outfield...or not.

Thanks for the comment. Hicks has been just average this season. I think the organization needs to make a decision on his swith-hitting. It's very, very hard to imagine him at Target Field next year.

I'm not suggesting he has been bad -- he's up there in avg/obp/rbis for the Rock Cats -- but he seems far from MLB ready in my uneducated opinion.

Let's hope Benson gets back to form soon!

Herrmann is the back-up of the future, maybe next season. I don't see the Twins adding him to the 40-man until November...just because they'd run thru the guys that won't be around next year first if push comes to shove. I doubt that he'd fuly replace Mauer at ay point. Probably won't see fulltime major league duty until 2014...expect the Twins to hang onto the hot hitting Butera for at least one more season. Doumit is probably using the Twins to increase his free agent value. Him coming back for another year will be determined by what the Twins do with Morneau and Willingham in the field...do the Twins push Hicks and Benson and Revere in 2013 as the outfield...or not.

That's a good observation. I think there definitely might be some experimenting going on. I've seen him bat leadoff a few times (where you would expect to see him work the count and hopefully draw some walks), and also deeper down in the order (maybe 4th or 5th one game) where they would expect more power.

Yes, ideally next season Herrmann would be 130% of Doumit defensively, say 75% of Doumit offensively, at roughly 15% of the Doumit price tag.

I agree completely. Do you get any sense that the increase in power and the decrease in OBP is due to experimenting with a different approach at the plate, trying to raise batting average and power (like when Parmelee originally hit for some power, but low average, they had reverse that, and he eventually has put the two together adequately)? Because I am a little concerned about the BB/K rate this year. Hopefully it is a part of an intentional learning/adjustment and not that which would make the great isolated discipline of 2011 a fluke.

Herrmann seems like a good complement to Mauer and is a defensive upgrade over Doumit for a fraction of the cost.

Age definitely brings perspective to life and the game. I remember watching Kirby Puckett play and being happy if he got four hits even if the Twins lost. Now, as a 32 year old, I think I would prefer a good win over an individual player's offensive performance.

Thoughtful and great Article TFFA. I want to remain a kid when it comes to Twins baseball and in that sense of belief I hope Mauer and Morneau remain Twins forever. I too was sad to see Frankie V. go... and wasn't David West the main component of that trade for the Twins, not Aguilera or Tapani? Viola, Aguilera, and Tapani will always have a place in my baseball heart for the joy, glory, pride and respect we received in 1987 and 1991... I hope someday that we can experience that again!

I read that New Hampshire just re-upped with the Blue Jays. My impression was that was the most logical destination for the Twins. At this point, I have to believe that the Twins stay in New Britain for a couple more years.

Haha. I think by July of 1989 I had become a pretty foul-mouthed 8-year old too. And I liked Frankie a lot, too. I may repressed that memory.

Hermsen has been a big surprise and I hope he can keep it going. I can't wait for Bromberg to work his way back into AAA!

Thanks for the write ups! I love hearing about what's going on down on the farm.

He's very consistent in his answer, so I'm still not certain what will happen

The bigger issue, I think, is that some of the ownership base has Blue Jay ties.

Over the last two years, the Twins have given Rochester a 102 win-186 loss product.
I will give them a pass for not being grateful.

It's too bad there isn't a way to get the St. Paul Saints into the Midwest League, especially if they find a way to make that new downtown stadium work. Could you imagine what the attendance would look like if Miguel Sano was playing for the Saints this season? On the surface it seems like a win-win, but I imagine there would be significant roadblocks to such a concept.

This is the same junk that Rochester is doing (yesterday they announced that they were riffling items signed by Orioles' players, for example, and have been rearranging the Red Wings' schedule to accommodate the Yankees, selling Yankees gear from their website - I would understand if they did it in the ballpark, because they host them this season)...

Both of those two affiliates have been acting like they are independent league clubs and not affiliates. Esp. Rochester.
Good riddance to both. And no player would mind if they get to play a bit more south.

The Twins will have at least 3 new affiliates next season. Unfortunately the contract with Beloit will not be renewed, mainly because the ball-park and facilities are a pit and there is no light at the end of the horizon. Did not hear anything about E-town, and it seems like they are staying at Fort Myers for another 15 years. So lots of new changes are coming up and will be pretty exciting... Some of the things I hear is that they will be moving South a bit (AA- Southern League; A South Atlantic League) and that with E-town pretty close in the Appy league, would make all their minor league affiliates (other than AAA maybe) very close to their player development center at Fort Myers, which makes perfect sense.

Great story. I'm interested in seeing what happens with this. It should be a very interesting off season.

This is indeed very interesting and something worth noting. I think the TWins should get out of New Britain. It might be best for all involved.