Who wins the job?

[JackB]

Mastroinni or Hicks?

[JoeBlessU]

Are those both real baseball players? never heard of either

[JackB]

Darin Mastroianni

OF | # 19 | Minnesota | Eligibility:Bats: R Throws: R Height: 5-11 Weight: 190 lbs Age: 27 (8/26/1985)

Sorry I spelled his name wrong but I wasn't that far off that a Twins fan wouldn't know who he is.Hicks is a top prospect .
Both outfielders.

[nicksaviking]

Don't forget about Joe Benson. If either Hicks or Benson appear in good form in spring training, I would guess they will get the job. I don't think the Twins will rush Hicks if he needs some more fine tuning, Benson may be a different story though, if he looks capable, he could get rushed simply because the he already wore off his luster. Both youngsters have had trouble immediately after promotions so far, so I think both will struggle in spring training and the Twins will go with Mastroianni.

[JackB]

Mastroianni is a speed guy. He'll make up for the lose of Span. Although Span didn't steal much the last couple of years.
We'll soon see as ST games will be starting Sunday / Monday

[JoeBlessU]

Darin Mastroianni

OF | # 19 | Minnesota | Eligibility:Bats: R Throws: R Height: 5-11 Weight: 190 lbs Age: 27 (8/26/1985)

Sorry I spelled his name wrong but I wasn't that far off that a Twins fan wouldn't know who he is.Hicks is a top prospect .
Both outfielders.

Sorry I was being a bit of a Richard, Im well aware of who these 2 are I just have no excitement for either, I guess Hicks just because he actually has potential but if these are the guys we're counting on to get on base it could be another looong season.

[FrankieFreakout]

What's wrong with Hicks? lol. The guys a top prospect, and you have "no excitement for him"? Doh'kay.

If Hicks or Benson show a pulse in ST, it's their job to lose. Mastroianni is a 4th OF, ideally.

[catman]

I agree. He plays well when he plays a couple of games a week. He is great off the bench as a pinch hitter or pinch runner or a defensive replacement. He won't embarass the team if he plays any of the outfield positions.
He can play 2B in a pinch, too.

[thechom80]

Any word on how much work he's put in at 2B?? I was intrigued to hear he could play a little there last year. I'm assuming 2B is Dozier's spot to lose coming in, but if Mastro can play a little, I'd hope to see him get a look as a Super Utility option.

[catman]

That's the thing with Mastroianni. He can play nearly anywhere. He's sort of like Hocking, Punto, and going back a bit farther, Al Newman. He can play anywhere Gardy wants him to play.
He'll make the team out of spring training in whatever role they need him in.

[nicksaviking]

Last August Gardy had an interview that pretty much put to bed any chance of Mastroianni being anything more than an emergency 2B.

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/20...t-second-base/

He said he takes grounders at 2B but he's not 2B material. This quote sums up Gardy's feelings best:

"He was an infielder and was moved to the outfield, and that’s because a lot of the balls ended up in the outfield anyway. That’s what happens.”

[catman]

I agree. Mastroianni is only going to play 2B if the rest of the guys get hurt in a game.

[nicksaviking]

I wish it wasn't so. This club does seem to be above average in their desire for position flexability, so Mastroianni must be pretty bad to not get a decent shot at 2B. Seriously, Cuddyer played 17 games at 2B as recently as 2011.

[MattyG]

Don't forget about Joe Benson. If either Hicks or Benson appear in good form in spring training, I would guess they will get the job. I don't think the Twins will rush Hicks if he needs some more fine tuning, Benson may be a different story though, if he looks capable, he could get rushed simply because the he already wore off his luster. Both youngsters have had trouble immediately after promotions so far, so I think both will struggle in spring training and the Twins will go with Mastroianni.

Great point here, Nick; unfortunately, Benson's a name that's gone on the backburner, of sorts. He was their 2nd in 06 out of HS, memory serves-remarkable that we forget about this guy so often, despite the fact he'd still just be 24/25, I'm assuming. The 12 injury history isn't something that we should allow to go under the radar, either.....

Hope you've all been well, each of you and your precious families. Will start posting on here again soon. I'll be out of the state pen here by the end of the month.

(Just kidding).....

"Mattyg"

[Bray991]

The Twins are kind of in a weird spot right now with this one. I feel like They will Opt to use Hicks right off the bat this year (pun intended). I think we need something to build excitement. We had such a lame duck past two years with no major prospects graduating to MLB. I think it would be a great business decision to use Hicks as that plug, to get people excited. He was projected to be a top 5 pick in 2009 and a top 2 if he wanted to pitch. He didnt want to pitch and wanted a lot of money, so he fell to us. If the twins show off his HOSE from center and make him seem great they will sell tickets in what may be another down year. Next year, we will have Sano, and Co graduating to the bigs (hopefully). So Hicks will be an after thought. There is the idea that we may want to starve him of the opportunity of becoming a super 2 or starting his MLB clock later, but with what he have to look forward to this year. I think it would be in the teams benefit to play him as our next Tori Hunter and give something back to the every day fan that needs a top prospect or someone new to be excited about.

All of what i just said hinges on his spring... if he hits .200 with 0 pop we wont be able to bill him as anything too special, ruining my idea..