Mauer

[JBMasterAngler]

If the twins beat the yankees in game 5 due to some heroics, I can assure you that Kubel will NOT be one of the hero's! He'll most likely be the guy that hits into the game ending double play after going 0-4 (and 1 for 15 in the series), and having absolutely no business being at the plate in that situation to begin with.

[harvey lee]

I would agree with that.

[pikestabber]

Nightmares facing this lineup? I don't think so. facing the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, etc would be a nightmare...you make 1 bad pitch to 2-8 in their lineups and they will take you deep...at best the twins get a couple singles, and then Mauer comes up to bounces into a double play.

Find me one pitcher in MLB that doesn't get a trickle of sweat when they hear the words "Mauer, Morneau, Thome (Kubel)" due up next. You will be looking a long, long time.

I am VERY happy with our lineup and expect nothing less than another division title. Bullpen questions? Sure. But instead of thinking negative, think positive... What if Neshek returns to form? What if Nathan is healthy and that allows Capps to be a set-up guy? What if all five starters work out and we get a Slowey or Blackburn for long relief. Bring on the Yankees this year!

[pikestabber]

If the twins beat the yankees in game 5 due to some heroics, I can assure you that Kubel will NOT be one of the hero's! He'll most likely be the guy that hits into the game ending double play after going 0-4 (and 1 for 15 in the series), and having absolutely no business being at the plate in that situation to begin with.

Or maybe he will hit a grand slam off Mariano Rivera in the ninth to win the game. Oh, wait...he already did that. In NY of all places...

[DonBo]

Geez, the season hasn't even started yet and we're already talking about getting swept by the Yanks? Come on you guys, enjoy the game. Enjoy the season.

We've been tops in our division for a long time now, trust that we can be there again this year. The ownership has been pretty good about getting the pieces needed mid-season to put a serious contender on the field. Let's just see how that all plays out before before we start worrying about wheather or not we can beat the Yanks in the playoffs.

BTW, believe it or not, other teams worry about being healthy for the whole season too. We don't have that market cornered.

[mainbutter]

Being a realist, I have more confidence in our ability to outplay the White Sox and Tigers than last year. They've had more significant team troubles than the typical batting lineup lineup/pitcher and injury issues that plague any MLB team.

I wouldn't trade our problems for theirs by a long shot, I think we have a great shot at the playoffs, and as we often see year after year, once playoffs roll around ALL BETS ARE OFF. There are more upsets in the playoffs than not.

[B. Amish]

good stuff donbo, good stuff.

[harvey lee]

Geez, the season hasn't even started yet and we're already talking about getting swept by the Yanks? Come on you guys, enjoy the game. Enjoy the season.

We've been tops in our division for a long time now, trust that we can be there again this year. The ownership has been pretty good about getting the pieces needed mid-season to put a serious contender on the field. Let's just see how that all plays out before before we start worrying about wheather or not we can beat the Yanks in the playoffs.

BTW, believe it or not, other teams worry about being healthy for the whole season too. We don't have that market cornered.

I will enjoy the season as I always do but I refuse to dream too much.

Yes other team do worry about being or staying healthy all season but how many have as many issue and question marks before the season as the Twins do right now with their stars?

I believe that is the big difference in the Twins and other teams.

[zamboni]

Let's try Mauer at 3rd, Delmon behind the plate(to limit the damage he can do defensively) we have plenty of people to fill in the outfield, and move Valencia to 2nd to shore up the middle infield.

"what a great baseball mind"

Look out Gardy- I'm coming after your job

What in the $^%&*%#(#@()#(#$*(##(&(#@_@#? <------ worlds longest cuss rant.

Put someone at catcher thats never caught before? Brilliant!!

Put someone at third that has never played third before?? Brilliant!!

Valencia does not have the baseball experience needed up the middle to be a viable double play guy. Your idea puts the Twins at 30 wins for the season, not kidding.

[SalmonSlayer]

Can you name a position that we improved on over last year?

I can name two. Addition by subtraction with Punto no longer getting starter innings. More importantly, Scott Ullger is no longer coaching 3rd base. That should save at least two injuries, 20 less outs at home, and 30 more runs scored.

[B. Amish]

Yes other team do worry about being or staying healthy all season but how many have as many issue and question marks before the season as the Twins do right now with their stars?

I believe that is the big difference in the Twins and other teams.

the st louis cardinals just lost their ace pitcher to tommy john.

the tigers best player is a raging drunk.

the white sox have big question marks with jake peavy.

the angels have questions about kendry morales.

the red sox have questions about ellsbury, pedroia, and youkilis.

the yankees have an ancient catcher and shortstop that may break down at any time.

...those are just off the top of my head.

[SledNeck]

We have to remember that there are many that are questionable on the Twins roster this season.

Mauer

Justin

Larino

Baker

Nathan

Thome can only play so much with his back.

Liriano

[harvey lee]

Amish, yes add those players up and all those teams equal the Twins together. We don't have one or two in question but 5-7. Little difference.

I would be happy if the Twins had only 1 or so players with issues.

[B. Amish]

like i said those were off the top of my head. i didn't even touch on the bad teams or teams in complete chaos like the cubs or mets.

and i'm not sure i would lump baker and liriano in with the "questions" group. i'd bet the farm that if you followed any other team you'd have just as many questions.

[Scott M]

I'd agree with K.B. on the "make Joe not choke system." This is "The Show" after all, not ladies night at the Duluth Put N Hut.

Which part of this commercial is most unrealistic?

[DonBo]

Which part of this commercial is most unrealistic?

That he actually turned on a fastball and pulled one to right field?

[Scott M]

You got it DonBo!

[Dylan33]

Mauer never bounced into a 6-4-3 double play? [PoorWordUsage]? I want to play a realistic baseball game. Not gonna buy this game!

[Rymann]

Why is Mauer a question mark? Yes, his numbers were down last year, but he still had a stellar season, and yes his homers were far from what he did the previous season, but it's not like he had those kinds of homer numbers ever before. Joe will be good old reliable Joe.

[jwmiller33]

1-1 in today's spring training game so far. screaming line drive into the outfield is what I heard on the radio

[Rymann]

Yep...Hitting 1.000 for spring training!!!

[pinkfloyd4ever]

I wont blast you MNice. I feel the same way. I tease my buddys all the time how when poor poor joe gets a splinter in his finger he goes out for 3 games to heal! haha

And now its the flu, a 15 day flu, it will be the worst flu any single person has ever had, and when he returns from the DL all that will be spoon fed to us will be how we had the flu a week ago and its tough to bounce back. I like Mauer but he is too delicate, has a little of that Favre-itis to him but at least Favre played game after game

[WyoChris]

Mauer needs to move to another fielding position. His hitting is too good to sacrifice his knee/back playing catcher.

[greebs]

ya gotta be a little worried about the fact that the top three paid position players on this team consist of 1)guy on the dl with the flu and plays a position that requires him to sit out every 4th or 5th game when not on dl, 2) guy one hit to the head away from likely retirement and 3) guy who gets nauseous at the thought of having to bat with runners in scoring position.

agree with those who say that it's time to find mauer a new position soon. getting rid of ramos is looking like a very bad decision right now.

[zepman]

ya gotta be a little worried about the fact that the top three paid position players on this team consist of 1)guy on the dl with the flu and plays a position that requires him to sit out every 4th or 5th game when not on dl, 2) guy one hit to the head away from likely retirement and 3) guy who gets nauseous at the thought of having to bat with runners in scoring position.

agree with those who say that it's time to find mauer a new position soon. getting rid of ramos is looking like a very bad decision right now.

Very valid point greebs.