Must Read Reusse: Mauer Contributions

[ashbury]

Runs batted in?........ or Runs batted ins?..... RBI or RBIs? I guess I contend that it is RBI, whether 1 or 200. It is already plural, and if it is used for just one run, it is a run batted in, and still RBI.

RBI, both singular and plural.

 

RunS Batted In already is implied and contains the necessary plural. I always give mental credit to broadcasters who are careful with this.

 

Kavan's was a good post, but very jarring to read, with so many.

[Twinfan & Dad]

We wouldn't be talking about production if the salary was 12 million is my point. The only reason we are even discussing this is the salary at 23 million. Makes me laugh that some people think that team payroll doesn't matter. Economics 101.

[Twinfan & Dad]

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp#elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+hitting&game_type=R&season=2015&season_type=ANY&league_code=MLB&sectionType=sp&statType=hitting&page=1&ts=1442282021610&timeframe=&position=3' Here is your link for stats on all 1st baseman. How does Mauer stack up?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

We wouldn't be talking about production if the salary was 12 million is my point. The only reason we are even discussing this is the salary at 23 million. Makes me laugh that some people think that team payroll doesn't matter. Economics 101.

What do you think Mauer's pay should have been when he was winning batting titles?

[Jham]

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp#elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+hitting&game_type=R&season=2015&season_type=ANY&league_code=MLB&sectionType=sp&statType=hitting&page=1&ts=1442282021610&timeframe=&position=3' Here is your link for stats on all 1st baseman. How does Mauer stack up?

 

19th out of 21 listed 1B in OPS??  Only listed 1B with less than 14 HR?  16th in OBP?    Not sure your point.. 

I would disagree that no one would be complaining except for the contract.  The much bigger issue is the position.  He's starting at a position that would be fairly easy to upgrade both offensively and defensively.  He's not really hurting the team, but neither do I see him helping the team, mentoring or encouraging young players, or taking extra BP.  It is whatever.  

 

I don't think the Mauer "bashers" are really out of control, I just think they get egged on easily by Mauer apologists and outlandish predictions that Mauer will suddenly revert back to winning tons of batting titles.  It's not impossible, but super unlikely.  Better odds: Mauer wins a batting title, Tiger wins another major, or Jered Allen leads the NFL in sacks?  It's pretty rare to see players improve at this stage.  To his credit, he's stayed on the field this year.  I just hope he doesn't decline to the point where it gets real ugly.

[h2oface]

 

We wouldn't be talking about production if the salary was 12 million is my point. The only reason we are even discussing this is the salary at 23 million. Makes me laugh that some people think that team payroll doesn't matter. Economics 101.

 

As a big fan of Joe Mauer, and a believer when his father touted that he would be the next ball player to hit .400, and one who predicted that he would be closer to his 2009 year than not with his switch to first......... I think it is about the production. I really don't care about the money, but I would like a lot more production out of the first bagger on any team than what Mauer has shown for 2 years running. A .260 hitter at first with not even close to 100 RBI? I do have a problem with that for this team, and I don't give a damn what he gets paid.

[nicksaviking]

 

We wouldn't be talking about production if the salary was 12 million is my point. The only reason we are even discussing this is the salary at 23 million. Makes me laugh that some people think that team payroll doesn't matter. Economics 101.

 

His salary would matter if the Twins were in a payroll crunch.  They are not. 

 

It's his production and positional inflexibility that are the real concerns here.

[Willihammer]

His RISP and vs. LHP production is basically at his career norms this year.

Could there be something about hitting against RHPs throwing from the windup?

[dgwills]

I would agree with the article that bringing up Mauer into unrelated discussions gets annoying. Other than that he deserves all the criticism he gets. Mauer is a bad first baseman with little hope of improvement that we can't get rid of. Also for a first baseman who makes 23 million a year, I would expect them to hit the weight room a bit in the off season.

[Mike Sixel]

 

His RISP and vs. LHP production is basically at his career norms this year.

Could there be something about hitting against RHPs throwing from the windup?

 

good question.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

My latest theory is that it is going to come down to the Twins and the Astros for the last WC. I really think a veteran presence in the lineup with an emphasis on quality at bats is going to be huge.  The Astros are young and play a brand of ball (High K's - High HRs) that could be tough for them down the stretch.

 

Getting high quality ABs from Mauer, Hunter (how about that AB vs. Sales), Plouffe, and Suzuki is going to be very important.  If these guys produce - I like our chances.  

 

 

[laloesch]

 

I would agree with the article that bringing up Mauer into unrelated discussions gets annoying. Other than that he deserves all the criticism he gets. Mauer is a bad first baseman with little hope of improvement that we can't get rid of. Also for a first baseman who makes 23 million a year, I would expect them to hit the weight room a bit in the off season.

 

 

Many of us would.  His arms are noodles and he's got chicken legs.  For a 6'-5", 32 year old, with his eye at the plate he should be hitting .295+, 20+ hrs., 80+ rbi's, and .400 + OBP at 23 million a year.  MINIMUM.  

 

Mauer has been pathetic this year absolutely pathetic.  Last nights 3-5 display has become an aberration for him.  He's had 31 multi-hit games this season, 8 homeruns, 60rbi, .271 batting average with a .341 OBP.  

 

Atrocious for a supposed star franchise player.     

[nicksaviking]

 

His RISP and vs. LHP production is basically at his career norms this year.

Could there be something about hitting against RHPs throwing from the windup?

 

Probably not so much the RHP part as much as it is the windup part, as that would mean no one is on base and the infield can shift as they please as no runners need to be accounted for.

 

The increasing popularity of the shift has really taken a toll on Mauer.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Probably not so much the RHP part as much as it is the windup part, as that would mean no one is on base and the infield can shift as they please as no runners need to be accounted for.

 

The increasing popularity of the shift has really taken a toll on Mauer.

 

do we know this, nick? Is it really the shift, or is he just not as good? If it is the shift, there really isn't hope for better, is there?

[Badsmerf]

I think he's just struggling with making the bat hit the ball. That seems to be his issue this year.

[nicksaviking]

 

do we know this, nick? Is it really the shift, or is he just not as good? If it is the shift, there really isn't hope for better, is there?

 

No clue, just speculation from a pedestrian baseball mind.

 

I just seems to me that the only link between Old Joe and New Joe is his numbers when guys are on base.  It seems to me that would leave it to either the intagible "clutch" gene or the propensity for the shift.  Mayber there's something else, I'm no expert.

 

If it is the shift, you'd have to think there should be hope though as wouldn't it just mean Joe has to re-adjust his approach or mechanics?  He hasn't done it yet and maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but plenty of other players, even in the same clubhouse, have become adept at beating the shift.

[nicksaviking]

 

 

I think he's just struggling with making the bat hit the ball. That seems to be his issue this year.

 

Could be.  His K% is down from last year though and so is his OBP.  His K% is lower than 2013 also, when he still had a .404 OBP.

 

 

[tobi0040]

I don't really get an entire article sparked by one lunatic on Twitter.  

 

Sano is the reason we are relevant this year more than any other player and I am encouraged about Mauer improving.

 

I see Sano continuing to carry the team for the next hopefully 10+ years and I hope Mauer can continue to put up okay numbers. But it should be worth nothing that ten years ago the same article could have been written about the new guys Mauer and Morneau bumping the aging veterans from the pedestal.  

 

Up to this point, Mauer had a hell of a run.

[dxpavelka]

 

People need to quit looking at the salary number.  It was signed 5 years ago, it's what he is going to get paid and deal with it.  We can talk about his numbers aren't worth the salary until we are all blue in the face, it won't change the salary or the fact he will be in Minnesota until that deal is over.

As is the case with most guys making a big salary number, his being overpaid now makes up for his being underpaid earlier in his career.

[ashbury]

As is the case with most guys making a big salary number, his being overpaid now makes up for his being underpaid earlier in his career.

Yeah, it's baked into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a contract between millionaires and billionaires, and so it's silly to castigate individual players for playing by the system that's in place.

[Mike Sixel]

The one place where the salary matters......he is almost uncuttable, and untradeable (if he'd even approve a trade).

[SwainZag]

 

Many of us would.  His arms are noodles and he's got chicken legs.  For a 6'-5", 32 year old, with his eye at the plate he should be hitting .295+, 20+ hrs., 80+ rbi's, and .400 + OBP at 23 million a year.  MINIMUM.  

 

Mauer has been pathetic this year absolutely pathetic.  Last nights 3-5 display has become an aberration for him.  He's had 31 multi-hit games this season, 8 homeruns, 60rbi, .271 batting average with a .341 OBP.  

 

Atrocious for a supposed star franchise player.     

 

Mauer put up those numbers one year in his career and he won the MVP.  You can't except any player to put up those type of numbers minimum every season, it's pretty ludicrous and that's where the Mauer hate comes from.  Yes, he is getting paid 23 million dollars, yes his production isn't worth that much.  But how many times throughout his contract are we going to beat the dead horse into the ground?

 

He isn't the player he once was, we know that and now we have to accept it.  If he wasn't making 23 million a season, we would have a player with a 97 OPS+ which is better than both Rosario and Hicks. He has the highest OBP on the team outside of Sano.  He is by far the best Twins hitter this season with batters in scoring position as well.

 

I will probably get labeled a Mauer "apologist" but it is what it is. He is healthy, he is on the team, he has a guaranteed contract and a no trade clause.  IMO there is no player on the roster that should be hitting in front of Sano, except for Mauer.  

 

I have read dozens of times how easily this team could be a lot better without Joe and with a prototypical corner IF bat at 1B.  Vargas certainly hasn't taken advantage of that opportunity in his 175 PA.  Mauer has a higher SLG% and OPS.  Kepler hasn't seen pitching outside of AA.  Plouffe, while coming to life lately, has hit .235/.300/.439 in the 2nd half.  What's really the difference when you have a 2B who puts up corner IF numbers and a 1B who puts up middle infield numbers? 

 

Pretty much all I have to say on the subject.

[SwainZag]

 

The one place where the salary matters......he is almost uncuttable, and untradeable (if he'd even approve a trade).

 

He is uncuttable because he is an asset to the team.....

[Mike Sixel]

I can't believe we are now comparing the offensive output of 1B with outfielders (one of whom can play CF)........

 

He should be compared to other 1B to understand his relative value.

[USAFChief]

As is the case with most guys making a big salary number, his being overpaid now makes up for his being underpaid earlier in his career.

I don't get this argument. His salary 10 yrs ago is completely irrelevant to his worth today.

[SwainZag]

 

I don't get this argument. His salary 10 yrs ago is completely irrelevant to his worth today.

 

It's not an argument, it's just the truth.  When a guy signs a long contract, most of time they aren't worth that kind of money towards the tail end of it.  You can attribute that if you want to when they put up big seasons making nothing, ala Mauer in 04 when he put 6.5 WAR and made 400K.

[howieramone2]

Many of us would.  His arms are noodles and he's got chicken legs.  For a 6'-5", 32 year old, with his eye at the plate he should be hitting .295+, 20+ hrs., 80+ rbi's, and .400 + OBP at 23 million a year.  MINIMUM.  

 

Mauer has been pathetic this year absolutely pathetic.  Last nights 3-5 display has become an aberration for him.  He's had 31 multi-hit games this season, 8 homeruns, 60rbi, .271 batting average with a .341 OBP.  

 

Atrocious for a supposed star franchise player.

I think you're confusing Joe Mauer with Richard Simmons. You do know he was recruited by Division I programs in three sports out of high school?

[dxpavelka]

 

It's not an argument, it's just the truth.  When a guy signs a long contract, most of time they aren't worth that kind of money towards the tail end of it.  You can attribute that if you want to when they put up big seasons making nothing, ala Mauer in 04 when he put 6.5 WAR and made 400K.

Much like Miguel Sano's salary over the next few years will most likely be far less than the value he provides. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Much like Miguel Sano's salary over the next few years will most likely be far less than the value he provides. 

 

it already is for this year, for sure. Sports salaries and contracts are tough.......hard to do it right.

[laloesch]

 

Mauer put up those numbers one year in his career and he won the MVP.  You can't except any player to put up those type of numbers minimum every season, it's pretty ludicrous and that's where the Mauer hate comes from.  Yes, he is getting paid 23 million dollars, yes his production isn't worth that much.  But how many times throughout his contract are we going to beat the dead horse into the ground?

 

He isn't the player he once was, we know that and now we have to accept it.  If he wasn't making 23 million a season, we would have a player with a 97 OPS+ which is better than both Rosario and Hicks. He has the highest OBP on the team outside of Sano.  He is by far the best Twins hitter this season with batters in scoring position as well.

 

I will probably get labeled a Mauer "apologist" but it is what it is. He is healthy, he is on the team, he has a guaranteed contract and a no trade clause.  IMO there is no player on the roster that should be hitting in front of Sano, except for Mauer.  

 

I have read dozens of times how easily this team could be a lot better without Joe and with a prototypical corner IF bat at 1B.  Vargas certainly hasn't taken advantage of that opportunity in his 175 PA.  Mauer has a higher SLG% and OPS.  Kepler hasn't seen pitching outside of AA.  Plouffe, while coming to life lately, has hit .235/.300/.439 in the 2nd half.  What's really the difference when you have a 2B who puts up corner IF numbers and a 1B who puts up middle infield numbers? 

 

Pretty much all I have to say on the subject.

 

 

OBP is not the be all end all and Mauer is NOT BY FAR the best hitter on this team.  Plouffe, Rosario and Dozier ALL have more multi-hit games than Mauer.  Your statement is a gross mischaracterization.  His OBP is heavily watered down by the fact that he walks more often than he gets hits.  For a #3 hitter he should be DRIVING the ball in NOT standing like a statue in the batters box praying for walks before striking out or hitting weakly into double plays. 

 

OH and by the way the Mauer critics are not expecting 2009 numbers from him just the pre 2009 numbers where he hit in the high .290's - low .300's and had 80-90 rbi.  That's what he should be doing along with actually training in the offseason.