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Mauer = Monster

Frayed Knot May 27 2009 08:55 AM

In his 4 full seasons, Joe Mauer has already won 2 batting titles, twice posted .400+ OBAs, won two silver sluggers, a gold glove at a premium defensive position, placed 4th & 6th in MVP voting, been named to 2 All-Star games ... and he just turned 26. The one "knock" up to this point has been the relatively low power for a 6' 5" 220+ dude - peaking at 13 HRs in 2006, making that the only time he's hit double digits. But so far this year he's already hit 11 and had nearly half of his hits go for extra-bases while hitting .429 and on-basing over .500. Oh yeah, and he missed all of April so all that's in just 84 ABs. His BA, OBA & SLG would all easily lead the league if he had enough ABs to qualify. All that attached to a gold glove catcher is a full-fledged monster. The Twins took some hits back in 2001 for "going cheap" and picking Mauer #1 out of a local high school while passing on "sure thing" Mark Prior from USC (taken #2 by the Cubs) but I think they're OK with that decision in retrospect. Now all we have to get him to do is stop having his team tank every time they face the Yanx.

Edgy DC May 27 2009 09:05 AM

While I'm certain that the Nats will got with Stephen Strasburg, and the risk is always lower with a college pitcher, I'm pretty much at the point where I would almost never go with a pitcher with a number-one overall draft choice.

Edgy DC May 27 2009 09:45 AM

By the way, with Mauer a free agent after this year, the Yanks and Sox watching their catchers break down, and the Mets lacking a current occupant, here's hoping that the Twins lock him up before the year is over. Speaking of long-term solutions at catcher, Geovany Soto has sure turned into a pumpkin, hasn't he?

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2009 09:53 AM

I hope Maurer stays in Minny (they're getting a shiny new stadium soon, hopefully they can afford it) and the Mets see to it that Josh Thole gets his shot. Dude is destroying AA pitching at Bingo (.357/.426/.479//.904). Speaking of Cs of the Future, Dock Doyle btw gone missing again -- reassigned from St Lucie to Gulf Coast, whose season won't begin for another few weeks yet.

Edgy DC May 27 2009 10:08 AM

Dock went 3-3 in his only game. He got kicked to the curb for showing up Francisco Peña.

Frayed Knot May 27 2009 10:30 AM

="Edgy DC"]By the way, with Mauer a free agent after this year After next year - he's signed thru 2010 ]Speaking of long-term solutions at catcher, Geovany Soto has sure turned into a pumpkin, hasn't he? Odd especially in that he was already 25 by the time of his breakout season and you'd think that was just a guy finding it and therefore be the least likely type to backslide. Cubs everywhere are either not hitting or not healthy (Ramirez)

Frayed Knot May 27 2009 12:31 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 29 2009 11:26 AM

="Edgy DC":1fr4k58f]While I'm certain that the Nats will got with Stephen Strasburg, and the risk is always lower with a college pitcher, I'm pretty much at the point where I would almost never go with a pitcher with a number-one overall draft choice.[/quote:1fr4k58f] I linked a Thomas Boswell-Washington Post article a month or so back {on edit: [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032301414.html:1fr4k58f]Here[/url:1fr4k58f]} where he warned the Nationals to proceed with extreme caution around Strasburg. Not that he was saying not to take him but rather that they shouldn't paint themselves into a break-the-bank mode. Maybe sticking to "only" 50% above the Prior-record $9mil or so bonus would do instead of the rumors of $40mil packages being floated around these days (no doubt from camp Boras). The [u:1fr4k58f]best[/u:1fr4k58f] of the pitchers picked #1 overall wound up being roughly career 150-150/4.50 ERA types like Floyd Bannister, Andy Benes & Tim Belcher. Of course I also remember a BA article from not long after Mauer was picked talking about the long odds of HS catchers who were drafted that high. And yes, the name Steve Chilcott was brought up. But overall, top-five position picks have produced far more stars 'n studs than have top-five hurlers. MFS62 May 27 2009 12:43 PM Mauer's success wouldn't come as a surprise to Bill James. Many years ago, James stated that major league hitters reach their power potential around the age of 26-28. He said (I paraphrase from memory) that by that age, hitters understand how pitchers have been getting them out, learn what pitches (and locations) they can drive for power, and have the discipline to look for those pitches. Later Frayed Knot May 27 2009 12:58 PM Oh sure, nothing new about power frequently being the last "tool" to come around or about players starting to peak around Mauer's age. The only differences here are: - that this would represent a HUGE power leap, from approx 1 HR every 50 ABs over his 4 full seasons to better than 1 HR every [u:2og352q1]Eight[/u:2og352q1] ABs this year. Now 2009 is still a small sample so far and I doubt he'll continue this pace, but he is about to surpass his season's best in less than a month of games. - and that this was the one "missing" component in a player who already had everything else you'd want: the classic catch-and-throw backstop who also happens to win batting titles and draws walks. That he's a good-looking guy who's also a local kid I'm sure doesn't bother the Twins either. Edgy DC May 27 2009 01:07 PM ="Frayed Knot":3jusplky] Now 2009 is still a small sample so far and I doubt he'll continue this pace, but he is about to surpass his season's best in less than a month of games.[/quote:3jusplky] That would be about 132 homers I think. Frayed Knot May 28 2009 10:34 PM ="Edgy DC"] ="Frayed Knot"] Now 2009 is still a small sample so far and I doubt he'll continue this pace, but he is about to surpass his season's best in less than a month of games. That would be about 132 homers I think. Well, it's possible! Also, the prospect that has had even normally cautious touts claiming has a chance to be the bastard offspring of Mike Piazza's offense and Mauer's defense - Baltimore's Matt Wieters - is to be called up today (Friday). Triple Dee May 29 2009 04:21 AM ="Frayed Knot":2ykjs1la] ="Edgy DC":2ykjs1la]By the way, with Mauer a free agent after this year[/quote:2ykjs1la] After next year - he's signed thru 2010 [/quote:2ykjs1la] The FA catcher's market is pretty bare again this coming off season. Somebody's going to pay $$$ to sign a Benji Molina type. Hopefully, it's not Omar. But the following off season you potenitally have both Victor Martinez and Joe Mauer. You have to figure one of those two will end-up in Boston. Triple Dee May 29 2009 04:33 AM ="Frayed Knot":1ygasvlu] ="Edgy DC":1ygasvlu]While I'm certain that the Nats will got with Stephen Strasburg, and the risk is always lower with a college pitcher, I'm pretty much at the point where I would almost never go with a pitcher with a number-one overall draft choice.[/quote:1ygasvlu] I linked a Thomas Boswell-Washington Post article a month or so back where he warned the Nationals to proceed with extreme caution around Strasburg. .[/quote:1ygasvlu] I just saw an ESPN doco on Strasburg. Tony Gwynn (his current manger) spoke quite candidly about his potential -- "still has a lot to learn". Coupled with the fact he's had attitude problems in the past, I certainly wouldn't would be staking the family ranch on him. But what the heck, the Nats are in such a dire state that they really need to take a gamble to get some bums on seats. attgig May 29 2009 01:35 PM ="Edgy DC":3k96tgto]By the way, with Mauer a free agent after this year, the Yanks and Sox watching their catchers break down, and the Mets lacking a current occupant, here's hoping that the Twins lock him up before the year is over.[/quote:3k96tgto] with the new ballpark, I would think they would almost have to sign him. the fans would hate ownership for that.