Joe Mauer a lot of little problems

[Big Dave2]

Dave also doesn't seem to understand the concept of positional scarcity - i.e. that a catcher who is elite both offensively and defensively is FAR more rare (and therefore more valuable) that a 1B or RF who can rake. Also also missing is the pretty basic fact that catchers don't play 162 games. Ever. OF COURSE Mauer is going to play fewer games than Miggy Cabrera or somebody like that - those guys don't take six fouls tips off the shoulder every night or have to crouch for hours at a time.

A catcher who is elite offensively and defensively IS rare, I understand. But if you can't put other players around him like the Yankees can, he does your team less good than spending the money on other position players. If the Twins go out and bring in the most saught after free agent pitcher and 3rd baseman there is in free-agency then my arguement is all for nothing. If the Twins end up keeping exactly what they have or losing players like Morneau then it is a poor deal.

[Born2Fish]

I think we all agree that the Twins NEED to address getting more players on this team to surround both Mauer and Morneau. We could use a legitimate #1 starter, and getting Nathan back won't hurt either. But like you said, we are NOT the Yankees and do not have the freedom to go out and spend like they do. I wish the Twins could attract those big name free agents, but from their track record, it does not look possible.....Yet.

[CodyDawg]

the other thing you cant do is cherry pick a catcher off someone's roster (like was done with AJ). You just cant have AJ. He is under contract. and you dont get AJ's 2009 season, you gotta pick a free agent and hope. Your choices are only those that were free agents at that time or were available via trade. and since we have NO idea as to whether they are available via trade, you can really only use the available free agents. I dont see a lot of young catchers and 3B to choose from on that list. I see a lot of guys in their 30s. It basically comes down to this, do you want a young, proven stud or do you wanna roll the dice with free agency every year? that is a no brainer in my mind.

[jwmiller33]

so according to Dave, he would rather have a guy on his team go 4-4 every night with 4 singles rather than a guy who goes 2-4 with 2 homers. sweet

[jwmiller33]

first you talk about how the pure number of hits is most important. then i bring up mauers batting champs and then you fault the relevancy of those hits, saying someone like a rod who hits for power is better overall because his hits are "producing" more than mauer's hits. then you go ahead and change again and dismiss your previous argument and go back to saying its the number of hits that matters... make up your mind!

[knoppers]

sorry I have not read all the posts, but come on!, he is going through a slump, that all players have. he will hit the cover off the baseball the remainder of the season.

[Duffman]

Here's my Joe Mauer story.....

.....it's his first year up, early in the season and my wife is a very casual fan. She might remember the hoopla surrounding him coming into the majors, maybe, just maybe. We're watching a game casually while eating dinner at the ol' coffee table. Joe takes a big whiff at a pitch and my wife yells out "Oh My!!! Did you see that!!!!" Scared the bejeezus out of me, I'm just about to say what is wrong with you??? When she says "That swing.......it was.....perfect." I'll I could do was smile.

The dude is 100% pure talent, at anything athletic he does.

Dissing Joe Mauer? Really?

[soldoncass]

OK-OK_ok.....Joe STAYS, Butera GOES.

[Big Dave2]

so according to Dave, he would rather have a guy on his team go 4-4 every night with 4 singles rather than a guy who goes 2-4 with 2 homers. sweet

When did I say that? I don't even understand where that came from.

[Big Dave2]

first you talk about how the pure number of hits is most important. then i bring up mauers batting champs and then you fault the relevancy of those hits, saying someone like a rod who hits for power is better overall because his hits are "producing" more than mauer's hits. then you go ahead and change again and dismiss your previous argument and go back to saying its the number of hits that matters... make up your mind!

Are you even reading what I am typing? That's not what I mean when I talk about production, I am talking about over all numbers. Batting average is great but it is just that, an average. Averages can be skewed, over all numbers can not.

All I am trying to get at is that the Twins will be paying Mauer a lot of money to play 15-20 games less than most other super stars making that money. Joe is a great player I don't deny that but put him at third base so he can play more games and get maximum value from him.

[Big Dave2]

I thought it was all Joe Mauer's doing when the pitchers have a good night on the mound? I keep hearing about how he is so good handling pitchers and calling games but since he has not been catching, Lariano, Baker and now Slowey have all thrown gems with Butera behind the plate.

[blue_healer_guy]

I agree dave, i think we both know the reason why.

[JBMasterAngler]

Maybe mauer is less johnny bench, and more edgar martinez. Can anyone say career DH?

Maybe we can negotiate to take a few million off his contract if that's the case

[Big Dave2]

Maybe mauer is less johnny bench, and more edgar martinez. Can anyone say career DH?

Maybe we can negotiate to take a few million off his contract if that's the case

I'd like to see if he could play 3rd base. Then if he could get his power numbers back up to at least where they were last year he might be worth his salary he will be paid next year.

[harvey lee]

If it takes the Golden Boy the rest of the season to heal, oh well. Butera has been throwing out the runners maybe better than Joe.

He is doing a good job catching and his bat hopefully could get better.

Joe can be a very expensive DH.

The dude seems to be injured every season. Catcher or not, he seems to be on the injury list way to much for a youg player.

[Coach1310]

The other factor here, is he is handled with kid gloves everyday. Anything the Twins can do to keep him in uniform, they will do. If that means he takes a week off from catching every couple of months, they will do that. Joe will be a great hitter in MLB for many years and they won't risk losing that if it means he sits often for nagging nicks...

[Big Dave2]

The other factor here, is he is handled with kid gloves everyday. Anything the Twins can do to keep him in uniform, they will do. If that means he takes a week off from catching every couple of months, they will do that. Joe will be a great hitter in MLB for many years and they won't risk losing that if it means he sits often for nagging nicks...

But my point is, what good does it do to pay a guy that kind of money if he has to ride the pine that often? He does a team no good sitting on the bench and who wants to go pay the ticket prices to watch a Twins game when there is a good chance on any given day the star player will be sitting on the bench?

[zepman]

Players don't seem to play through "nagging" injuries anymore...I wish they would. It's a team decision or philosophy now, much like the pitch count...either way, I think they coddle their players way too much these days.

[CodyDawg]

Mauer has been very healthy, I dont understand where this is coming from. Look up the numbers and see where he ranks in terms of games played since he came into the league.

[Coach1310]

But my point is, what good does it do to pay a guy that kind of money if he has to ride the pine that often? He does a team no good sitting on the bench and who wants to go pay the ticket prices to watch a Twins game when there is a good chance on any given day the star player will be sitting on the bench?

Like I have said MANY time before Dave... you gotta let this go...even a little... If the guy can win 3 batting titles AND the MVP from the most taxing and defensive position in baseball I'm not sure how you can justify NOT paying him!!! Even if they only paid him 50% for what he does on the field, the other 50% is made up for in marketing, ticket sales, jersey sales, promotions, etc..... If you look at Mauer as strictly a business asset he is worth EVERY PENNY and probably a LOT MORE!

[Big Dave2]

Like I have said MANY time before Dave... you gotta let this go...!

If I "gotta let this go" then you gotta let your MAN CRUSH for Joe Mauer go!

[Big Dave2]

Mauer has been very healthy, I dont understand where this is coming from. Look up the numbers and see where he ranks in terms of games played since he came into the league.

Are you comparing Mauer to other catchers or other players with a contract like his?

You are probably right on if comparing him to other catchers only but if comparing him to other star offensive players it not very close. Mauer has only played in as many as 146 games in a season and only 135 of those games were games he started. Even fewer of those were games that he caught in as he sometimes DHes on his day off. There are other players who play 160-162 games per season and start almost all of them.

[jwmiller33]

Like I have said MANY time before Dave... you gotta let this go...even a little... If the guy can win 3 batting titles AND the MVP from the most taxing and defensive position in baseball I'm not sure how you can justify NOT paying him!!! Even if they only paid him 50% for what he does on the field, the other 50% is made up for in marketing, ticket sales, jersey sales, promotions, etc..... If you look at Mauer as strictly a business asset he is worth EVERY PENNY and probably a LOT MORE!

for once in my life, i completely agree with everything Coach said ... Dave, for some reason you just don't seem to understand Joe Mauer's value. It is kind of funny to me.

I bet if Mauer wouldn't have signed that contract that was offered to him, you would be hating on him for bailing out on his hometown team and pulling a Lebron. Once someone like Mauers gets of his status, he is always doing something wrong in someones eyes.

[jwmiller33]

only a twins fan would start complaining about having a catcher batting .317/.391/.470 with 60 RBI's and having an "off year"... not to mention he has been playing injured a bunch, as his position is very taxing on the body, yet he plays thru it and puts up just as good as numbers as anybody. i can tell you what, if the game is on the line and we need a hit for a win, i want Joe Mauer taking that at bat every day of the week, even with how Delmon is playing lately.

[Coach1310]

If I "gotta let this go" then you gotta let your MAN CRUSH for Joe Mauer go!

It has nothing to do with a man crush. Like I explained, it is simply a business decision and Mauer is the most valuable asset the Twins have and probably ever will have. It has nothing to do with man crush.... strictly business, but it's pretty apparent you don't understand that and probably never will, even if he wins 3 more batting titles and another MVP....