Game 33 - Twins vs Blue Jays - 5/13/12

[jokin]

Mauer's game, though, I feel like went relatively unnoticed. He reached base four times with three walks and a double.

Those WOULD be great numbers if he was batting in the 8 spot and playing the middle infield and making $2.3 Million, unfortunately he's making 10x that- at $23 Million, batting in the 3 spot and his comparables for his peer group at first base are horrendous, horribly overpaid. Sorry, no amount of cheerleading is going to change the fact that he's a cast-iron anvil around this team's neck until 2018.

[Alex]

Those WOULD be great numbers if he was batting in the 8 spot and playing the middle infield and making $2.3 Million, unfortunately he's making 10x that- at $23 Million, batting in the 3 spot and his comparables for his peer group at first base are horrendous, horribly overpaid. Sorry, no amount of cheerleading is going to change the fact that he's a cast-iron anvil around this team's neck until 2018.

While I agree that his contract is going to be hard to fulfill, especially if he's playing catcher less, it's still nice to see him have a good couple of games, and he looks like he's hitting the ball much better. He's not a full time 1B, so that's not a completely fair comparison but I do understand the point. Comparing him to other #3 hitters, well, that's not very useful for several reasons, IMO.

The other problem I have with your comment is that I'm not convinced the Twins would spend the money from Mauer's contract even if they were able to dissolve it. If it's keeping them from spending money, I completely understand the issue; however the money they chose to spend on his contract is an organizational error and not Mauer's.

[jokin]

While I agree that his contract is going to be hard to fulfill, especially if he's playing catcher less, it's still nice to see him have a good couple of games, and he looks like he's hitting the ball much better. He's not a full time 1B, so that's not a completely fair comparison but I do understand the point. Comparing him to other #3 hitters, well, that's not very useful for several reasons, IMO.

The other problem I have with your comment is that I'm not convinced the Twins would spend the money from Mauer's contract even if they were able to dissolve it. If it's keeping them from spending money, I completely understand the issue; however the money they chose to spend on his contract is an organizational error and not Mauer's.

Mauer's Ranking Versus Other No. 3 Hitters Ranked by OPS (Including Contract)




1) Hamilton 402/455/866/1321 $15.25 Mil

2) Kemp 359/446/726/1173 $10.25

3) Wright 400/489/591/1080 $15.25

4) Votto 319/466/543/1059 $11.41

5) Beltran 298/406/653/1058 $13

6) Ortiz 348/412/614/1026 $14.575

7) Braun 306/386/636/1022 $7.399

8) Dunn 250/393/600/993 $14

[jokin]

No. 3 batters (continued):


9) Joyce 287/374/565/939 $0.499

10) C. Gonzalez 300/378/550/928 $5.43

11) A. Cabrera 315/411/495/906 $4.55

12) Me. Cabrera 348/396/504/900 $6

13) McCutcheon 339/403/496/899 $0.708

14) Reddick 290/338/536/874 $0.485

15) Freeman 284/340/507/847 $0.535

16) Mi. Cabrera 224/345/485/830 $21

17) A-Rod 280/334/424/808 $30

18) Markakis 254/346/455/801 $12.35

19) MAUER 286/466/387/793 $Twenty-Three Million

[Alex]

I responded in the other thread, but I find it ironic that I was quoted when I don't find this comparison useful. Explanation in the other thread.