American League Central

**RhoadsRage** · 03-31-2011, 10:55 PM

[QUOTE=RING4CY;2200953]Exactly. The White Sox do have the most recent World Series championship of any team in the AL Central. At the same time, they haven't backed it up. They haven't won consistently.

I look at a team like the Red Sox and having to battle teams like the Yankees and Rays. When they won it all and broke their drought in 2004, they backed it up by winning it all again a couple years later.

The Twins have won the AL Central 6 times in the last 9 years. The White Sox won it in 2005 and again in 2008, when the White Sox beat the Twins in a game 163. Otherwise, they have won the Central one other time.

The Tigers have never won an AL Central crown.

When the topic of the thread is the AL Central, there is no reason why the Twins shouldn't be the favorite.[/QUOTE]

Yes there is.......the apparent decline of a 27 year old catcher in his prime.

**RayShimley** · 03-31-2011, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by jtd9046

You hadn't asked for any. And quite frankly I won't waste my time searching for the positive things that are said about Mauer and his swing, you know the list would be quite long.

I would like to see just one, only one, of the many opinions you reference that say his career is in store for a decline. Not to rub it in your face, because I'm very interested to give it a read. Again, just one would be fine.

I'm honestly having trouble finding the article that I read a couple months ago that was actually more critical than even I am being. I'm pretty sure it was an ESPN Fantasy article if you really want to snoop around, but you don't have to believe me if you don't want to.

However, I'll go ahead and admit that I may have overstated that analysts are "predicting" his decline. It would have been more accurate to say that analysts are more concerned that if he continues to catch his production could decline due to increased risk of injury or fatigue. Can we at least agree on that premise? Before you ask, here is a link:

After winning the American League MVP award the year before, Mauer’s production dropped while playing the sport’s most physically demanding position and dealing with aches and pains. His on-base-plus-slugging percentage decreased from 1.031 to .871, a mark still good for 23rd in the majors but a bit disappointing for fans anticipating more after he signed an eight-year, $184 million contract extension in March that has begun in 2011.

The problem for Mauer, as an All-Star catcher, is that there’s no way to lessen the wear and tear of the job short of switching positions. Neither he nor the Twins are ready to do that, with Mauer not yet 28. His impact as a designated hitter is limited for now, too, with at-bats wanted for Jason Kubel and Jim Thome.

“It’s part of the job,” Mauer said. “Last year, I got beat up pretty early, and when you have injuries and stuff like that early in the season you deal with it the whole year. Playing baseball, we don’t have six days to get healthy. We’re playing seven days a week. You start compensating, and that just leads to another thing.

Joe Mauer’s Goal In 2011 Is Greater Durability « CBS Minnesota

**CrossCyed** · 03-31-2011, 11:16 PM

Honest question for Twins fans....how long can Mauer stay behind the plate? Have to think he's getting starts at first base in the next five years.

**Wesley** · 03-31-2011, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by RhoadsRage

Joe Mauer Stats - Minnesota Twins - ESPN

Please feel free to tell me what part of these stats scream dropoff?????

Homeruns in 2010.

**RayShimley** · 03-31-2011, 11:21 PM

[quote=RhoadsRage;2200956]

Originally Posted by RING4CY

Exactly. The White Sox do have the most recent World Series championship of any team in the AL Central. At the same time, they haven't backed it up. They haven't won consistently.

I look at a team like the Red Sox and having to battle teams like the Yankees and Rays. When they won it all and broke their drought in 2004, they backed it up by winning it all again a couple years later.

The Twins have won the AL Central 6 times in the last 9 years. The White Sox won it in 2005 and again in 2008, when the White Sox beat the Twins in a game 163. Otherwise, they have won the Central one other time.

The Tigers have never won an AL Central crown.

When the topic of the thread is the AL Central, there is no reason why the Twins shouldn't be the favorite.[/QUOTE]

Yes there is.......the apparent decline of a 27 year old catcher in his prime.

Hey, I just like talking baseball. What fun would it be if we all just sat around and assumed everything would play out like it did the year before. Did anyone think that the Giants would win a WS last year? Or how about the Rangers knocking out the Yankees in the ALCS?

Maybe the Twins will win 3 in a row, maybe they won't. For the sake of argument I'm saying they won't. I think it will continue to be one of the closest divisions in baseball, and the Twins haven't exactly ran away with it in either of the last 2 years.

**RhoadsRage** · 03-31-2011, 11:28 PM

[quote=RayShimley;2200977]

Originally Posted by RhoadsRage

Hey, I just like talking baseball. What fun would it be if we all just sat around and assumed everything would play out like it did the year before. Did anyone think that the Giants would win a WS last year? Or how about the Rangers knocking out the Yankees in the ALCS?

Maybe the Twins will win 3 in a row, maybe they won't. For the sake of argument I'm saying they won't. I think it will continue to be one of the closest divisions in baseball, and the Twins haven't exactly ran away with it in either of the last 2 years.

I made my points earlier, I'm just messin with ya now!!

**RhoadsRage** · 03-31-2011, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley

Homeruns in 2010.

What about them? He had an exceptional year in '09 and came back down to his avg number of bombs in '10.

**CrossCyed** · 03-31-2011, 11:32 PM

I do think if the White Sox don't win it this year, they won't for a while, because they will start to sell.

**RhoadsRage** · 03-31-2011, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

Honest question for Twins fans....how long can Mauer stay behind the plate? Have to think he's getting starts at first base in the next five years.

Maybe DH too??

**CrossCyed** · 03-31-2011, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by RhoadsRage

Maybe DH too??

DH, but conventional wisdom is he moves out from behind the plate before his knees get destroyed. Of course, dealing Ramos may have slowed that down.

**jj-cyclones** · 04-01-2011, 07:58 AM

This has been great to read, I would have liked to talk some more Indians baseball but I believe I am the minority here! HAHA - I love my Indians but seeing how they don't have a snowballs chance in hell, I didn't think it was worth trying to bring them into the equation!

**jdoggivjc** · 04-01-2011, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

I'm honestly having trouble finding the article that I read a couple months ago that was actually more critical than even I am being. I'm pretty sure it was an ESPN Fantasy article if you really want to snoop around, but you don't have to believe me if you don't want to.

However, I'll go ahead and admit that I may have overstated that analysts are "predicting" his decline. It would have been more accurate to say that analysts are more concerned that if he continues to catch his production could decline due to increased risk of injury or fatigue. Can we at least agree on that premise? Before you ask, here is a link:

Joe Mauer’s Goal In 2011 Is Greater Durability « CBS Minnesota

Originally Posted by Wesley

Homeruns in 2010.

Originally Posted by RhoadsRage

What about them? He had an exceptional year in '09 and came back down to his avg number of bombs in '10.

Of course, what nobody takes into consideration when referring to last year as the start of Mauer's decline is the fact that last year the Twins moved out of the offense-happy Metrodome and into the very pitcher-friendly Target Field, and EVERY Twins' numbers were impacted because of it.

**RayShimley** · 04-01-2011, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Of course, what nobody takes into consideration when referring to last year as the start of Mauer's decline is the fact that last year the Twins moved out of the offense-happy Metrodome and into the very pitcher-friendly Target Field, and EVERY Twins' numbers were impacted because of it.

True, but he did require minor surgery in the off-season right? So health was also at least a partial factor.

**Klone** · 04-01-2011, 08:27 AM

My prediction - the White Sox start the year poorly get down 10 games by May 15, start to make their usual run and are leading the division just after the all star break. But unlike every other year instead of fading into obscurity they get a little help from Peavy on the back side and finally will get over the hump and win the division in the last week of the season on a Paul Konerko home run off Joe Nathan and Chris Sale will strike out Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Jason Kubel in the 9th to seal it.
Boy isn't that optimistic.

**edr247** · 04-01-2011, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

DH, but conventional wisdom is he moves out from behind the plate before his knees get destroyed. Of course, dealing Ramos may have slowed that down.

Butera is a pretty damn good catcher, defensively. However his offense leaves much to be desired. But at the same time, I think that if we're healthy, there should be enough bats to make up for that.