Thread: Passan: Twins' Joe Mauer deserves MVP consideration

Yahoo! Sports columnist Jeff Passan tweeted today that Joe Mauer's hitting line of .332/.422/.454 should earn him some MVP considerations:

JeffPassan_Tweet.jpg
With one of the AL's top batting averages (currently third) and the highest on-base percentage in the league, it is easy to give it some consideration. However, given that there are eight other players with better weighted on-base averages (wOBA) and WAR, the advanced statistics do not support Mauer's candidacy for the most valuable title.

I suppose he'll get some down ballot votes. Is there a comeback POY award? He could get that.

Yeah, he deserves ballot votes, but that's about it. He has had a pretty good season, but other guys have had MVP seasons.

Originally Posted by gunnarthor

Is there a comeback POY award? He could get that.

100% agreed. It's nice to see Mauer doing well again.

Mauer 53 walks
Willingham 52 walks

both are on the AL Leaderboard in walks. I didnt think Willingham had that many.

Mauer has been great, but Willingham is sure making teams pay for letting the 1-3 batters get on (76 RBI so far) and should get a few votes too.

If Mauer were the regular catcher, sure. As a half-time catcher, not sure his numbers are good enough to be considered an MVP candidate, regardless of how good the team is.

Originally Posted by Kobs

If Mauer were the regular catcher, sure. As a half-time catcher, not sure his numbers are good enough to be considered an MVP candidate, regardless of how good the team is.

Pretty much how I feel about it. If Mauer had caught 80 games at this point, sure, he should get a few 2nd/3rd/4th votes behind Trout.

But with half his ABs coming at first and DH? Nah, not so much.

How about if we ask the question about Willingham instead? What would happen if Willingham ended up getting traded to a team on the playoff bubble, especially and AL team, and ended up carrying them to the postseason? No doubt if Willingham was hitting like this for a contender his name would be in the discussion. Would voters overlook his stats with the lowly Twins and only judge him on his numbers with the contender?

Mauer has been having a great season, that's a given. There are others I'd put ahead of him if I were an MVP voter, but the season isn't over today.

Yesterday was a prime example: Mauer slicing two hits over the middle infielders heads - to be driven in by Morneau and Willingham home runs. Good, winning production from a catcher, certainly, but not the main events.

edit: On second thought, there are more times Mauer does the same, and Morneau and Willingham fizzle. His value is much less immediate, but it is still impactful. I have to redact previous comment: Mauer is having a MVP-discussion season by any measure, but it would be improved by catching more.

edit 2: I don't want Mauer to catch more.

I'm not sure how much MVP love he deserves, but no doubt he's had a impressive year. A lot of people were ready to lynch him when he was hitting .270 a month or so into the season, but he's been damn good since then.

I hope he can keep it up.

And if Morneau is going to be around next year, it sure would be nice to see him return to form as well.