Alexi Casilla needs to become what Tarvaris Jackson was on the Minnesota Vikings this past season, a young player willing to sit and learn as a veteran plays his position for a season. No Brett Favre isn't going to play second base, but Orlando Hudson will. Casilla has had 903 plate appearances in a Twins uniform for a .244/.301/.314 line. His career OPS+ of 66 puts him 34% below where an average hitter would be. Defending him especially after batting .202 last year is difficult. Even his fielding is hard to justify. Surprisingly he has been -9.2 runs below average over the course of his short career. Some fielding metrics even have him as the worst fielding second baseman in the American League. Unfortunately, it can be said the Minnesota Twins spent all of last year trying to overcome the hole his poor performance left at second base. Just an average year by Casilla would have avoided putting the Twins in a Game 163 situation. They would have likely won the division outright by 2 games, but instead he batted .202. Needless to say, our friend Alexi is on the hot seat. Despite all this I feel the Twins would be wrong to cut or trade him. He's only 24...yes, just 24 and he won't turn 25 until July! He has above average speed, has had big moments in a Twins uniform and more importantly his minor league record indicates he's much better than what we've seen. In 1,809 minor league plate appearances Casilla had a line of .298/.371/.375. If those numbers regress 10% in the majors he becomes a .269/.334/.338. player. Yes, those are very average numbers and the slugging is frightening, but some potential shows. The 2010 season should be Alexi Casilla watching how Orlando Hudson plays professionally at second base, runs the bases, and approaches each at bat. Let Hudson play the same role Brett Favre played this year for his backup quarterbacks. Alexi Casilla needs the tutelage of a veteran player. 2010 is the final year for him to be a student.
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