Mauer

[zamboni]

Ton of money for a guy that has never been healthy an entire season. He is a GREAT player, don't get me wrong, but what is wrong with this world?

[UdeLakeTom]

Do we need him???

[DonBo]

Do we need him???

That's the sad part. We realy don't need him if owners aren't willing to put a cast of players around him that's good enough to seriously contend.

[crothmeier]

whats with the strikeouts lately? seems to me like hes gone through a few recent games with 2 and 3 strikeouts in a game. Now im not bashing, demoting, or hopping off bandwagon or whatever else linked to that thought, just bringing it up to see if anyone else has noticed it. He had 2 again last night i believe.

[DHanson]

Homerun derby blues? Morneau seems to know that the homerun derby can mess with a players mind, reason why he chose to not participate. Seems as though that was a great choice for Morneau as he is playing really well right now. Even the last game before the all-star break, Mauer I believe went 0 for 5. That was just after he was asked to participate in the homerun derby. It seems to effect players mentally, not physically. Like my high school coach always told me, baseball is 95% mental and 5% physical.

[crothmeier]

yeah his average has dropped bigtime as of late, although its still impressive. i dont think he is in the lead in that category anymore.

[PierBridge]

Historically Mauer only hits around 300 after the All Star Break. I think he's getting beat up again and he seems to be wearing down physically.

Maybe Sled is right and it's time to think about moving Mauer to another position?

[DHanson]

How about 2nd base? Harris at shortstop. Unless you think Mauer would be too slow for 2nd? He would probably be a hell of a 3rd baseman, but then we got Crede.

[crothmeier]

how about straight DH, and catch him once a week or so.

[PierBridge]

I don't see it happening anytime soon because he is the best defensive catcher in the game and thats extremely valuable and important.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Homerun derby blues? Morneau seems to know that the homerun derby can mess with a players mind, reason why he chose to not participate. Seems as though that was a great choice for Morneau as he is playing really well right now. Even the last game before the all-star break, Mauer I believe went 0 for 5. That was just after he was asked to participate in the homerun derby. It seems to effect players mentally, not physically. Like my high school coach always told me, baseball is 95% mental and 5% physical.

IMO that is just a bunch of junk, not at you DH, just in general the excuses writers/sportscasters and players will use that it messes up their swing. For all but one night, the players essentially do the same routine when at bat, minus little adjustments here and there I suppose, but to blame it on a homerun hitting contest? C'mon. Mauer is just in a slump

[SledNeck]

Mauer was slumping before the break

alot of his hits just arent finding the gap

[KMR85]

Seems like he is striking out more. He is really diminishing his trade value (joking). If the team doesn't make a move to improve at the deadline, he is as good as gone next season IMO. I just don't think they'll be able to get him to sign an extension, no matter how much they offer him. I know a lot of other people have this opinion as well.

[CrappiesNCats]

"JoeForThree"

[Big A]

It will pick back up. Mauer is a great player and even the greats fall into a funk every know and then.

[PierBridge]

I thought we were out of it so why make a move now? "wink"

Anyway I highly doubt him resigning will be dependent on us picking somebody up at this years deadline! I don't think you'll see many moves at all in the entire league at the deadline which is the norm.

I do believe there will be some dialog in the negotiations about future free agent signings for sure but I doubt a single pick up this year will be a deal breaker.

I'd say at this point it's 95 percent chance he resigns!

[Quackaddict9]

well tonight hasn't been too bad for Mauer... 3-4 with 2 rbis. Here comes Nathan!

[UdeLakeTom]

The man is unbelievable..2 dingers tonite.

[paceman]

Man after last night's game he is batting over 380 with 25 homers. Wow!!!!

[Harmonica Bear]

Yah - that Home Run Derby really messed up his swing.....you know.

[bucketmouth64]

this is the break out season we've all been waiting for. He's finally put all the pieces together...power/average. I hope this puts a lot of pressure on Bill Smith to improve this team now (meaning off season). We've got many of our hitters in their prime now. He needs to get some pitching and improve the infield. He has to recognize this is the golden opportunity like MacPhail did while he was here during the two WS.

[Harmonica Bear]

I bet with the money Mauer can command, this could just be the team we will be looking at for the next couple of years.

[B. Amish]

Hopefully, he gets the MVP with his performance this year. But, I'm sure the east coast bias will give it to Texeira.

[Duffman]

Quote:

Duffman: 5/19/2009 -

Mauer 31 HR

Mourneau 43 HR

I'm sticking to my Mauer prediction, Mourneau....not so much.

[Mudcutter]

Right now as far as MVP-- MAuer should be a lock. .378 (as a catcher) 25 HR (2nd in slugging in the league to ALbert) and 77 RBI. He leads the league in OB% at .448. Pujols has .440. Mauer has more hits than Pujols and played 23 less games.

IF Joe can get over 30Hrs and hit over .370 with near 100 RBI's,, you simply can't argue that. It would be the greatest single season in MLB history by a catcher,, and he misses a month.

He's the BEST catcher to ever play the game through 5 full seasons.

Micky Cochrane off the A's was a careet .320 hitter,,(the best catcher avg of all time) Mauer is on pace to blow that away and hits for power, which Micky didn't. JOhnny Bench, Fisk,,, not when they hit career .268

IF Joe does the above, he will win the MVP.--