Joe Mauer

**Ficklone02** · 05-24-2009, 11:20 PM

Dude is straight raking right now. Only thing in his way of being a dominant player every year is his health. Should he and Morneau be hitting back to back now considering the fact that Mauer is turning into a power hitter? (Mauer on pace for 50+ HRs) Maybe Gardy should split them up, move Morneau back to the four hole, and place a speedy avgs hitter between them.

**TaDelt** · 05-25-2009, 01:30 AM

They are both sick, but I don't think you can say Mauer is on pace for 50+... He will hit in the 20s or 30s but give that another year or two... I think the way they are playing right now, you gotta leave it. If they start going downhill, then Gardenhire will switch things up, but if it aint broken, no need to be fixed.

**twojman** · 05-25-2009, 01:34 AM

I believe Mauer should be a Cub...

**Iastfan112** · 05-25-2009, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ficklone02

Dude is straight raking right now. Only thing in his way of being a dominant player every year is his health. Should he and Morneau be hitting back to back now considering the fact that Mauer is turning into a power hitter? (Mauer on pace for 50+ HRs) Maybe Gardy should split them up, move Morneau back to the four hole, and place a speedy avgs hitter between them.

Who? Denard Span? If you do that your without a leadoff hitter and I sincerely hope your not suggesting Carlos Gomez anywhere but bottom of the lineup(if at all) at this time. The only real concern is having 3 left handers in a row but both Mauer and Morneau have hit lefthanders hard the past 2 years. Here's what I'd go with as the Twins right now

1. Span - CF
2. Mauer- C: Really like him here since the Twins lack a typical 2 hitter so you might as well not waste a batting slot at the top of the order.
3. Morneau-1B: Could see the argument for Cuddyer here but he's merely a good hitter
4. Cuddyer- RF: Splits up the leftys happy with his recovery from last year
5. Kubel-LF/DH: Should see more time in field than Young
6. Crede-3B: Meh, he's decent
7. Young-DH/LF: Needs to pick up hitting, and pretty bad in the field
8. Harris- 2B: better than Casilla at least
9. Nick Puuuuunto-SS: Enjoys long walks on the beach, sliding into first base, and flirting with the Mendoza line every other season. Wouldn't mind Harris in the SS slot if Luke Hughes ever gets a shot at 2B this season

**Haverhill** · 05-25-2009, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by twojman

I believe Mauer should be a Cub...

Nah, he can stay a Twin.

**Ficklone02** · 05-25-2009, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

Who? Denard Span? If you do that your without a leadoff hitter and I sincerely hope your not suggesting Carlos Gomez anywhere but bottom of the lineup(if at all) at this time. The only real concern is having 3 left handers in a row but both Mauer and Morneau have hit lefthanders hard the past 2 years. Here's what I'd go with as the Twins right now

1. Span - CF
2. Mauer- C: Really like him here since the Twins lack a typical 2 hitter so you might as well not waste a batting slot at the top of the order.
3. Morneau-1B: Could see the argument for Cuddyer here but he's merely a good hitter
4. Cuddyer- RF: Splits up the leftys happy with his recovery from last year
5. Kubel-LF/DH: Should see more time in field than Young
6. Crede-3B: Meh, he's decent
7. Young-DH/LF: Needs to pick up hitting, and pretty bad in the field
8. Harris- 2B: better than Casilla at least
9. Nick Puuuuunto-SS: Enjoys long walks on the beach, sliding into first base, and flirting with the Mendoza line every other season. Wouldn't mind Harris in the SS slot if Luke Hughes ever gets a shot at 2B this season

I'm thinking maybe Lexi if he can get himself back together......I thought that guy would be Delmon when we traded for him, but he's been dissappointing.

**Ficklone02** · 05-25-2009, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by TaDelt

They are both sick, but I don't think you can say Mauer is on pace for 50+... He will hit in the 20s or 30s but give that another year or two... I think the way they are playing right now, you gotta leave it. If they start going downhill, then Gardenhire will switch things up, but if it aint broken, no need to be fixed.

Calculating the games he's played, and the games he has yet to play I'm coming up with 50+

**kucyclone** · 05-25-2009, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by Ficklone02

Calculating the games he's played, and the games he has yet to play I'm coming up with 50+

Well, he's hit 10 HRs in the 22 games he's played since he's been back, a rate of .454 HR/G. The Twins have 117 games left, and, as a catcher, a high-mark assumption would be he'll play in perhaps 110 of those, if he stays healthy. So I'm getting ~50 more HRs, which means he's on pace for more or less 60, depending on the workload.

You have to, however, consider the sample size. 22 games isn't much. And since his career high is only 13, I can't imagine him going over 25-30 for the season. That's still phenomenal for a catcher who can hit for average as well.

And it's got to be nice to have Justin Morneau to protect you in the lineup.

**hurdleisu24** · 05-25-2009, 01:02 PM

With the way that he is going right now the question I have for Twins fans is that when he becomes a free agent after the 2010 season will the Twins show him the money and keep him or just let him walk away? I've read where the Red Soxs and Yankees are thinking about giving him 20 mill a year can the Twins give him 15?

**jsb** · 05-25-2009, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by hurdleisu24

With the way that he is going right now the question I have for Twins fans is that when he becomes a free agent after the 2010 season will the Twins show him the money and keep him or just let him walk away? I've read where the Red Soxs and Yankees are thinking about giving him 20 mill a year can the Twins give him 15?

I think the Twins will really try and keep him. It could be part of the reason why they let Santana go. Mauer is certainly setting himself up to be one of the best players in baseball. I don't know that you could name 5 players that have been better than him over the last 2 or 3 years.

**Wx4Cy** · 05-25-2009, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by twojman

I believe Mauer should be a Cub...

Sorry...you took Pryor instead. How'd that turn out?

**LindenCy** · 05-25-2009, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Wx4Cy

Sorry...you took Pryor instead. How'd that turn out?

Didn't Mauer go ahead of Prior?

It is funny though how Cub fans (probably myself included) were really happy that the Twins took Mauer and we got Prior. We should have known Prior might be a jerk with that whole thing about him throwing at a guy in the on-deck circle.

**CrossCyed** · 05-25-2009, 01:10 PM

As a Sox fan, I hate Mauer, and I mean that with all the respect in the world.

**Wx4Cy** · 05-25-2009, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

Didn't Mauer go ahead of Prior?

It is funny though how Cub fans (probably myself included) were really happy that the Twins took Mauer and we got Prior. We should have known Prior might be a jerk with that whole thing about him throwing at a guy in the on-deck circle.

Yes....the Twins took Mauer because they didn't think they could sign Pryor. I remember being upset...but I'm good now.