What will happen whan Mauer comes back?

[wahoohendoo]

where was the humor Cuddy is da bomb

[Willy]

Anyone who says Mauer won't help when he comes back is clueless. The guy is the anchor of our lineup whether Dan Barriero and the rest of you want to admitt it or not. The guy is an all-star, has won batting titles, gold gloves and Silver Slugger awards and also is usually right up there at the end of the year in MVP voting. Somebody thinks he's good.

He will also shut down the other team's running game, something that has also hurt us so far.

I will agree that he is a little soft. I would surely like to see him fight an injury now and then. But it is hard to argue that he isn't a HUGE piece of this team and our lineup. He gets on base 40% of the time and even though he doesn't hit alot of HR's, he hits for plenty of power, look at his sluggin percentage, for a catcher it is dam good. Him being gone hurts the Twins more than any other player. He will help and he is on his way.

[winniewalleye777]

I never said he wouldn't help out, and I'm glad he is coming back but you can't say we will "come back and win the division" just because he is returning. We may win the division, but a lot of other things need to get better first.

[SledNeck]

Best

Catcher

Ever

[zamboni]

By the way Happy B-Day Zamboni

Thank you!!!

[zamboni]

Morales has filled in nicely, but we really need Mauer back. Which one do you get rid of??? That is why I am glad I am not Gardenhire, having to make tough decisions. Redmond is a great back up, and Morales could be an everyday catcher somewhere, but as long as Mauers here, he isn't going to be an everyday catcher here. That could bring a little trade value for him. We could use another arm in the pen- so I say keep Redmond as our back up, and trade Morales.

[Harmonica Bear]

I don't think should trade Morales, they will send him down. Redmond is (literally)on his last legs. I think Morales will be the back up next year, if not by the end of this year.

As for the Mauer debate: He is the best catch catcher in baseball and one of baseball's best hitters. I'm confused why there would be debate other than to just debate.

[nofishfisherman]

Isn't Redmond a little banged up. I wouldn't be shocked if we see him on the 15 day DL to buy some time to figure out the situation.

With the Twins bats a little off right now I don't see them sending Morales down since he has been hitting well.

What I suspect will happen is Redmond to the 15 day DL and during that time Gomez will have to make a case for Gardy to keep him here. If not he'll be the guy to go down first.

I don't see this 4 man rotation in the outfield going on all year. Either someone will get hurt and the decision will be made for Gardy or they'll look to trade one of them for some pitching help. Right now Young is the leading candidate for a trade since he has more upside in the eyes of the other teams so he may fetch a higher price. If need be Kubel can fill an outfield spot to give a guy a rest with Harris filling in at DH. Or give Crede a day off in the field and put him in at DH.

[SledNeck]

Trading young would only create more of a problem. You still would have cuddy flashing the glove in RF and choking at the plate.

[nofishfisherman]

Well you could trade Cuddy instead but you'll likely not get as much for him. I could see it going either way it will just depend on the needs of the team. If they need a major upgrade at a particular position it might take Young and his valuebale upside to get it. You might be better of keeping Cuddy and getting a good pitcher in a Delmom trade then you would be if you kept Young and got just an average bullpen guy in trade for Cuddy.

Its still a little early in my opinion to be labeling guys. We've only played maybe 20 games, we still have like 90% of the season to go. Lets give them a little more time to see what they can do. Getting a guy like Mauer back in the line up can have pretty big impacts up and down the batting order. I'd like Gardy to get his lineup set up the way he wants it and then lets roll with it for a few weeks. Changing it up every night never seems to work out very well in my opinion.

[SledNeck]

Did everybody hear Dazzle on the radio last night?

Redmond might go down to AAA

Nostrosledneckus

[zepman]

Reddog has been a great back-up catcher for a long time but he's maybe seen his time come. If he goes, I agree with the move...He's not the future and with Mauer being so injury prone we're going to need to develop Morales at the big-league level.

[nofishfisherman]

The Star Trib has an article this morning saying Redmond had an MRI done on his shoulder. Apparently its been bothering him.

He seemed reluctant to go on the DL since he's only been on it one other time in his career but at his age I bet he'll take that over going back to AAA.

So far my theory seems to be gaining some merit.

[Scott K]

I would like to see Redmond come back next year as a coach, so whatever we do with him now, lets not mistreat him.

[PierBridge]

If he's injured its a whole nother issue and the knee-jerk panic reactions above have some merit "luckily". If he's healthy then its a no-brainer and Heckter is sent down...

[Willy]

Who is Heckter and what are you talking about? Also, if you are thinking Morales is just on a lucky hitting streak, you are dead wrong. The kid has hit all through the minors, granted, he is mostly a singles hitter, but he hits.

I am not of the thinking we should send Redmond packing, but Morales hitting around .300 is what should be expected of him. It will be a hard decision for the club to make. I am thinking they will probably send Red to the DL or keep 3 catchers.

[SledNeck]

Red dog isnt hitting so well now that the RF playes 4 steps behind 1st baseman

[ZapBranigan]

Wow I read through this banter from the beginning and one point seems to be missed in all this.... Morales was not a catcher.... The Twins pushed him into that position. He was an infeilder. So if he is hitting fair why not look at some of our weak hitting infeild before wacking off Reddog or Morales. I can't say what his stats were as an infeilder but he has only been pushed into catching for about a year. So let's not overlook someone who can backup the catchers (always a weekpoint when speaking of off the bench late innings help) but being able to still use him in the feild. So you want to send Joe out for a pinch hitter in 7th inning or Reddog but you cannot because we need to protect that position incase. Well now you have another option without losing another position or late inning bench help. Besides Cassillo's numbers are not so great as to be overlooked in all this send him down talk. Am I missing something here or is it a little knowen fact?

[fishinphilth]

Joe should be back today. Here is the start to the climb to the top.

[Froggy4371]

Ok, I read this top to bottom and I have to chime in. I am a catcher. I have been for 23 years. I have caught all different levels of baseball and even fastpitch softball. I have caught as many as 124 games of ball in one year. A catcher if injured with anything thing be it arm, back, knee, foot, leg or anthing thing, is not doing his team any good by not being able to do something. Have I played through injuries YES! Only because of lack of options. So I am sorry but everyone whining about Mauer being a puss should be in his shoes. I am done playing ball for the rest of my life cause of my knees am I a puss? He (Mauer) will need to get into another position soon or he will be done soon also. He is to big for the position (that is what makes him good behind the plate)and his body will not take it. Morales is at best OK behind the plate. He has not control over the pitchers, can not hold the ball and does not have the motion for catcher. Can he bat SURE but we have better CATCHERS in the system. I agree Red Dog is getting old and I agree this will be his last season as a Twins Player. Probally not as a coach. But sending him down is not an option. If they want Morales to become a catcher he has to catch everyday at AAA ball and then try to get a starting job. I do not think it will be with the Twins.

I am not saying I am an expert but this is just what I see.

Froggy

[Jarrod32]

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have reinstated catcher Joe Mauer from the 15-day disabled list. Mauer was placed on the DL with inflammation of the right sacroiliac joint on April 2 (retroactive to March 27). He appeared in five games as part of a rehab assignment with Single-A Ft. Myers, batting .400 (6-for-15) with two walks, two doubles, four rbi, two run scored and a .444 on-base percentage.

To make room for Mauer on the 25-man roster, the Twins have assigned righthanded pitcher Juan Morillo outright to Triple-A Rochester. Morillo was claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on April 17 and made three appearances for the Twins.

[nofishfisherman]

With all the speculation on this thread did anyone actually get it right?

[LOTWSvirgin]

Nope nobody was even close

[UdeLakeTom]

Good move in my opinion...but when Crain comes back, they will have to make another move...

[Jarrod32]

Good move in my opinion...but when Crain comes back, they will have to make another move...

Let the speculation resume!