Twins outlook

[jdoggivjc]

Great post, but Mauer is a clear #2 to Pujols at this point, IMHO.

I tend to agree that Pujols is #1 at this point, but I think it's a lot more arguable than you make it. As you mentioned earlier, Mauer hits .375 while playing behind the plate, and this year he's begun hitting for power this year without sacrificing his average. Pujols puts up those numbers while playing 1B, which traditionally is an offense-friendly defensive position. Not saying that Pujols is just a bat that they put out at first base, because he's also one of the best defensive 1B players in the game. But the wear and tear at 1B certainly isn't what it is behind the plate.

I think Pujols gets the nod simply because he's been doing it longer than Mauer. But Mauer is closing that gap - quickly (to the point where the Twins are discussing which position to move him to in upcoming years because he's just too valuable of a bat to allow him to take the wear and tear being the team's catcher).

[DolphLundgren]

I tend to agree that Pujols is #1 at this point, but I think it's a lot more arguable than you make it. As you mentioned earlier, Mauer hits .375 while playing behind the plate, and this year he's begun hitting for power this year without sacrificing his average. Pujols puts up those numbers while playing 1B, which traditionally is an offense-friendly defensive position. Not saying that Pujols is just a bat that they put out at first base, because he's also one of the best defensive 1B players in the game. But the wear and tear at 1B certainly isn't what it is behind the plate.

I think Pujols gets the nod simply because he's been doing it longer than Mauer. But Mauer is closing that gap - quickly (to the point where the Twins are discussing which position to move him to in upcoming years because he's just too valuable of a bat to allow him to take the wear and tear being the team's catcher).

Where do you move him, though? Morneau is too good of a 1B to lose. I see Morales as a viable replacement to Mauer if you move him from behind the plate.. but to where? Third base?

[DolphLundgren]

I got all amped up about this debate last week and posted some stats for some Tex fans to chew on. Keep in mind these are from last week.

The only other real candidate is Tex. His numbers:
73R, 130 Hits, 33 2B, 31 HR , 89 RBI, .283 AVG, .381 OBP, .557 SLG, .937 OPS

The guy who you say won't win it unless the Twins make the playoffs..
73R, 139 Hits, 21 2B, 25 HR, 77 RBI, .380 AVG, .448 OBP, .648 SLG, 1.095 OPS

[IcSyU]

This is the only part I really disagree with. He'd be MVP if the Twins were knocking on the door of the playoffs. Right now, Teixiera is probably the leading candidate because he's arguably the best player on the best team in baseball. If the Twins sneak into the playoffs, he'll have a shot at it, and he'll deserve it because he'll have to carry 'em there.

The stats would not support this. Could you imagine Mauer's stats in a lineup like the Yankees? Mauer is clearly a better MVP candidate.

Teixiera:

BA HR RBI OBP SLG
.288 31 93 .385 .556

Mauer (missed an entire month and gets the typical catcher rest day):

BA HR RBI OBP SLG
.374 25 78 .445 .629

I'm not necessarily sure you know what you are talking about, especially considering practically everyone in the media has all but handed Mauer the AL MVP trophy at this point. Mauer is putting up career home run numbers without sacrificing his average, which is 15-20 points higher than Ichiro, the second place guy. Plus his defense has been spot-on. The Twins may or may not make the playoffs, but it's pretty plainly clear that Mauer is the best player in the league without much discussion at this point. The only real discussion at this point is who's better between Pujols and Mauer...

You're so wrong that I can't even begin to dissect this.

Mauer is hitting .375 with 25 HR and 90 RBI.

He's on pace for around .365, 33 HR and 110 RBI. AS A CATCHER.

How can you not win the MVP with those numbers? Tex is going to be below .300.

The ONLY reason Mauer hasn't been delivered the trophy already is because of east coast bias. End of story.

Well, the only reason Mauer hasn't been delivered the trophy already is because we are 2 months away from when the MVP is delivered.

And Morneau's MVP in 2006 should put to rest any accusations of east coast bias in MVP voting. The real bias is toward playoff teams.

If the Twin's even make a race of it in Sept, Mauer will win.

If they finish 10 games under .500, then he may not, but it'll be because of the Win/Loss record, not geography.

Some Mauer MVP poetry, if you haven't seen this yet:
AL MVP: Mauer, by a landslide - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

I just heard this morning from analysts that Tex is the front runner.

Analysts on what radio station? ESPN? Imaggggine that.

I got all amped up about this debate last week and posted some stats for some Tex fans to chew on. Keep in mind these are from last week.

The only other real candidate is Tex. His numbers:
73R, 130 Hits, 33 2B, 31 HR , 89 RBI, .283 AVG, .381 OBP, .557 SLG, .937 OPS

The guy who you say won't win it unless the Twins make the playoffs..
73R, 139 Hits, 21 2B, 25 HR, 77 RBI, .380 AVG, .448 OBP, .648 SLG, 1.095 OPS

Holy **** some of you guys need to learn how to read.

Right now, Teixiera is probably the leading candidate because he's arguably the best player on the best team in baseball.

Where does it say there he's the best player in baseball? Where? It says he's arguably the best player on the best team in baseball. The best Yankee player there is. I'm not even sure that's arguable. He IS the best player on the best team in baseball. Nowhere does it say best in baseball.

East coast bias? No, it's because Mauer right now is on a crappy team that's under .500, vs a player who is on the best team in baseball by a few game margin right now. Take Mauer off the Twins, what are they going to do? Fall back to Cleveland? Take Teixiera off the Yankees, they're lucky to be in front of the Rays.

Offensively, Mauer is the best in the American League, and maybe baseball. Defensively, they are both in the elite leagues at their positions. Teixiera is helping carry the best team in baseball, Mauer is trying to carry a team that isn't .500. Right or wrong, teams who perform well put more players up for awards.

[Ficklone02]

Thank you IcSyU. I was thinking the same thing while reading all these posts as well.

[jdoggivjc]

Where do you move him, though? Morneau is too good of a 1B to lose. I see Morales as a viable replacement to Mauer if you move him from behind the plate.. but to where? Third base?

Third base is probably the only realistic option. I'd say outfield is could be an option, but it's pretty much set with Cuddyer, Span, and Gomez. That and everyone knows that Crede was never going to be the permanent solution to 3rd base. The question then becomes does Mauer have the ability to make the switch.

[mj4cy]

Actually, an even better Baker stat

"After opening the season 2-6, Baker has gone 10-1 with a 3.67 ERA since June 1."

[Ficklone02]

Third base is probably the only realistic option. I'd say outfield is could be an option, but it's pretty much set with Cuddyer, Span, and Gomez. That and everyone knows that Crede was never going to be the permanent solution to 3rd base. The question then becomes does Mauer have the ability to make the switch.

ah crap, i forgot mauer throws righty...well that certainly offers more possibilities. i bet if he wanted to mauer could pitch (he's got a gun for an arm) and then play the field the other four days. thats how good of an athlete he is. that obviously won't happen....but i could see him taking over for crede after next season.

[DolphLundgren]

Holy **** some of you guys need to learn how to read.


Where does it say there he's the best player in baseball? Where? It says he's arguably the best player on the best team in baseball. The best Yankee player there is. I'm not even sure that's arguable. He IS the best player on the best team in baseball. Nowhere does it say best in baseball.

East coast bias? No, it's because Mauer right now is on a crappy team that's under .500, vs a player who is on the best team in baseball by a few game margin right now. Take Mauer off the Twins, what are they going to do? Fall back to Cleveland? Take Teixiera off the Yankees, they're lucky to be in front of the Rays.

Offensively, Mauer is the best in the American League, and maybe baseball. Defensively, they are both in the elite leagues at their positions. Teixiera is helping carry the best team in baseball, Mauer is trying to carry a team that isn't .500. Right or wrong, teams who perform well put more players up for awards.

That's neat, except for the fact that statistics say Tex has a negative fielding impact on his team. His UZR this year is -.4 and his UZR/150 is -.4 as well.

But hey, you watch ESPN, so who am I to argue.

Tex is helping to carry the best team in baseball, sure. But when you've got a team of all-stars, the load is a lot lighter. Don't give me that crap.

[DolphLundgren]

So, what we have is that Mauer is the best offensive player in the league and he is a gold-glover on defense.

...How doesn't he win the MVP, objectively speaking?

[Incyte]

That's neat, except for the fact that statistics say Tex has a negative fielding impact on his team. His UZR this year is -.4 and his UZR/150 is -.4 as well.

But hey, you watch ESPN, so who am I to argue.

Tex is helping to carry the best team in baseball, sure. But when you've got a team of all-stars, the load is a lot lighter. Don't give me that crap.

I thought Mauer's agent would have better things to do then visit message boards. Guess I was wrong.

[IcSyU]

That's neat, except for the fact that statistics say Tex has a negative fielding impact on his team. His UZR this year is -.4 and his UZR/150 is -.4 as well.

But hey, you watch ESPN, so who am I to argue.

Tex is helping to carry the best team in baseball, sure. But when you've got a team of all-stars, the load is a lot lighter. Don't give me that crap.

So awful he's the #3 1st baseman IN THE MAJORS in fielding percentage.

1. Casey Kotchman 1.000
2. Adam LaRoche .999
3. Mark Teixiera .999
4. Justin Morneau .998

Justin Morneau must really, really suck. Teixiera's got 1 error compared to Morneau's 2. They have the exact same range factor at 8.83. Teixiera's zone rating is higher at 2.886 vs. 2.879! Teixiera has 100+ more chances this season than Morneau and still has 1 less error.

MLB Baseball Fielding Statistics and League Leaders - Major League Baseball - ESPN

Teixiera is carrying the best team in baseball in arguably the best division in baseball. The Central division would be lucky to have a team in the top 3 of the East, and Toronto isn't exactly a slouch (they just get beaten to death by the Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox).

And Oh my God, don't even look at Morneau's UZR since you can't look at Mauer's.

[DolphLundgren]

I thought Mauer's agent would have better things to do then visit message boards. Guess I was wrong.

Mauer's agent? I wish. I just hate to see the MVP go to the wrong, undeserving person. That includes the one that Morneau got in 2006 when it should have gone to Jeter or Mauer. Morneau wasn't even a third pick that year.

[IcSyU]

So, what we have is that Mauer is the best offensive player in the league and he is a gold-glover on defense.

...How doesn't he win the MVP, objectively speaking?

because his team is under .500. That's exactly how. It's not an East coast bias (Justin Morneau just called, he won the MVP with the Twins over Jeter mind you). His team is under .500, Teixiera is the best player on the best team in baseball. End of story. Please look up how many MVP's that didn't at least have their team in contention. Please.

[DolphLundgren]

So awful he's the #3 1st baseman IN THE MAJORS in fielding percentage.

1. Casey Kotchman 1.000
2. Adam LaRoche .999
3. Mark Teixiera .999
4. Justin Morneau .998

Justin Morneau must really, really suck. Teixiera's got 1 error compared to Morneau's 2. They have the exact same range factor at 8.83. Teixiera's zone rating is higher at 2.886 vs. 2.879! Teixiera has 100+ more chances this season than Morneau and still has 1 less error.

MLB Baseball Fielding Statistics and League Leaders - Major League Baseball - ESPN

Teixiera is carrying the best team in baseball in arguably the best division in baseball. The Central division would be lucky to have a team in the top 3 of the East, and Toronto isn't exactly a slouch (they just get beaten to death by the Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox).

Right, so instead of arguing against the statistic I gave you, the most telling stat for a first baseman, you whip out a worthless one like fielding percentage. Nice.

You don't understand stats, obviously, and that's too bad, because I love a good discussion.

What are you going to tell me next? Jeter is a GREAT defensive SS because he has a high fielding percentage?