Wetmore: Mauer on playing part-time

[Seth Stohs]

http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2017/02/joe-mauer-best-chance-im-field/

 

1500 ESPN's Derek Wetmore chatted with Twins 1B Joe Mauer today about several topics including whether or not he can accept a lesser, part-time role starting in 2017.

 

 

Asked about it Tuesday after the team’s workout, Mauer sounded surprised by the suggestion. He said his goal is to win games, and added that “when I’m on the field, we have a better chance of doing that. If they feel that’s not the case, that’s baseball. But I think I do and I think a lot of people around here think that we probably have a better chance of winning if I’m on the field.”

 

Earlier in the week, 1500 ESPN's Judd Zulgad wrote that limiting Mauer;'s play might be better for the now and for the future. 

 

 

I tweeted many times that I feel he should play 2 out of 3 games at first base and get some DH tie in there as well. I think we can all agree that playing less will help him stay healthy. 

 

I also think that with his on-base skills, he should be hitting 1st or 2nd (I'd bat him after Buxton (so will Buxton bat 9 or 1)... He takes a lot of pitches and can let Buxton steal some bases. 

 

His defense at first is also pretty good too, certainly better than average and without question better than the other internal options. 

 

So, check out Mauer's and Molitor's quotes in Derek's story and discuss. 

[Dantes929]

If he just faces righties that is part time but also most of the time.   Mauer,  Against lefties Vargas switches over to 1st and Grossman comes in.    Not that Mauer can't hit lefties at least as well as Rosario and Kepler but just seems like a good ratio for resting him.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I am thinking Mauer at first base about 2/3's of the time plus some DH, and Sano about the same at third with a little more DH, will get the most out of those guys.

[Linus]

I like Joe but he's gotta recognize that he physically cannot handle being an everyday player. I also think he shouldn't dh and consider it rest. His injuries seem to come from running the bases.

[Willihammer]

From the first link

 

 

“You’re not going to play 162 [games] but my conversations with Mollie, it’s been upwards of that number. Not anything less. Like I said, I think our best chance is when I’m on the field and I’m trying to stay on the field.”

What number?

[Willihammer]

This is what I hope happens this year.

 

The Twins face two lefties in a row. The Red Sox or White Sox. Mauer sits in game one. Sano, Vargas, and Grossman (or whoever) crush the lefty and carry the Twins to victory. Next game, Mauer expects to play, Molitor expects Mauer to play- because they discussed. But Sano, Vargas, and (?) third guy expect to play too. Molitor picks one of them to sit in game two to make room for Mauer- Sano maybe, for some flimsy reason. What Molitor doesn't know is Sano had to put down his dog that morning, and Sano is in no mood. Sano gets in his face, they get into it. Molitor loses, Mauer loses, Sano stays in the lineup and goes 3-5 with a bomb. Twins win. The torch is passed.

[mazeville]

Don't quite know why he needs to DH. I'd basically play him at first v. righties and platoon him with Vargas, who hits lefties real well. That's a solid first baseman.

 

Mauer will be better off this year if he plays fewer games. Sad, to be honest, because he was a sure-fire hall-of-famer in 2010. Now he's at risk of finishing his career with an average below .300. 

[DrNeau]

I don't know what Mauer has to be surprised about.

 

Gene Larkin (1987-1993) career averages

G: 108

AB: 332

H: 88

2B: 19

3B: 1

HR: 5

RBI: 38

BB: 38

K: 40

OPS: .723

 

Joe Mauer (2014-2016) combined season averages

G: 137

AB: 514

H: 137

2B: 28

3B: 3

HR: 8

RBI: 57

BB: 69

K: 100

OPS: .733

 

Need a manager who will limit his play, accordingly. His acceptance of that is completely unimportant.

[Blake]

To Willihammer's comment: If players know what their role is going to be and how things will be set up for  and during the season, then it's on the players to accept and embrace the way things are going to be done.

 

However, if Molitor doesn't clearly define how players are going to be played and appears to be using them in some arbitrary fashion then I get players getting frustrated. And that's on Molitor. (it appeared to me Molitor didn't have much of a plan last year when it came to players. But, I have to give Molitor a pass, because the whole organization melted down last year)

[Thrylos]

Mauer started 156 games last season, including 20 against LHSP.  He hit .224/.291/.319 against LHP vs .272/.383/.410 against RHP, while Vargas hit .378/.462/.800 against LHP (and .168/.280/.374 vs RHP) . Grossman hit .344/.418/.576 against LHP.

 

I hope that a more analytics-based approach will sit Mauer against LHSP.  So that would be him starting about 135-140 games a season, plus coming as a PH later in the games, if necessary.

Not a bad approach.

[Linus]

Mauer started 156 games last season, including 20 against LHSP. He hit .224/.291/.319 against LHP vs .272/.383/.410 against RHP, while Vargas hit .378/.462/.800 against LHP (and .168/.280/.374 vs RHP) . Grossman hit .344/.418/.576 against LHP.

 

I hope that a more analytics-based approach will sit Mauer against LHSP. So that would be him starting about 135-140 games a season, plus coming as a PH later in the games, if necessary.

Not a bad approach.

This plus don't dh him. When he's not playing first just sit him

[TheLeviathan]

Mauer sounds firmly in denial.  Or at least he's selling it well.

[Champuckett]

"Mauer sounded surprised by the suggestion"

 

Is he that insulated by coaches and the front office that he really had no clue or is he just a basically unaware individual? Most Twins fans and baseball fans in general have noticed a decline in recent years, which in many cases, may lead to a platooning situation or demotion in the ranks. This isn't an earth shattering discovery. Anyone have a good answer?

[jimmer]

When Mauer says he believes the Twins best chances of winning is with him playing, maybe he is looking at the options the Twins have to slot in his spot when he's on the bench and is severely underwhelmed by the lack of talent.

 

I know I am.

[USAFChief]

 

When Mauer says he believes the Twins best chances of winning is with him playing, maybe he is looking at the options the Twins have to slot in his spot when he's on the bench and is severely underwhelmed by the lack of talent.

 

I know I am.

Maybe he should be underwhelmed by the options the Twins have to slot in his spot when he's on the field.

 

I know I am.

[Jham]

It's like Mauer is getting career advice from Adrian Peterson...  Wake up, Joe.  I actually would make him my everyday DH and see if that can prolong his vintage Aprils late into the season.  I personally think Vargas plays a surprisingly good 1B.  Not Mauer, but it's 1B and if we can get a better Mauer at the plate it's worth it.  Mauer is not an everyday first baseman anymore....  For the last 3 years.  FTFM.

[jimmer]

Trying to imagine a defense that has, a majority of the time, Vargas at 1B, Santana at SS and Sano at 3B.

 

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

[Guest]

[DaveW]

Mauer far and away is the best 1B on this roster, so I totally get where he is coming from.

Vargas shouldn't be taking at bats away from him (and will be DHing anyways), and I would rather have Grossman platooning with Eddie Rosario who is a disaster against LHP. 

[DaveW]

 

It's like Mauer is getting career advice from Adrian Peterson...  Wake up, Joe.  I actually would make him my everyday DH and see if that can prolong his vintage Aprils late into the season.  I personally think Vargas plays a surprisingly good 1B.  Not Mauer, but it's 1B and if we can get a better Mauer at the plate it's worth it.  Mauer is not an everyday first baseman anymore....  For the last 3 years.  FTFM.

The defensive difference between Mauer and Vargas at 1B is huge.

[DaveW]

 

Trying to imagine a defense that has, a majority of the time, Vargas at 1B, Santana at SS and Sano at 3B.

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Well it's a good thing we have such a strike out heavy pitching rotati.....

[Physics Guy]

 

If he just faces righties that is part time but also most of the time.   Mauer,  Against lefties Vargas switches over to 1st and Grossman comes in.    Not that Mauer can't hit lefties at least as well as Rosario and Kepler but just seems like a good ratio for resting him.

I'd rather see Park play for Mauer and Grossman for Rosario vs LHP. 

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

This is what I hope happens this year.

 

The Twins face two lefties in a row. The Red Sox or White Sox. Mauer sits in game one. Sano, Vargas, and Grossman (or whoever) crush the lefty and carry the Twins to victory. Next game, Mauer expects to play, Molitor expects Mauer to play- because they discussed. But Sano, Vargas, and (?) third guy expect to play too. Molitor picks one of them to sit in game two to make room for Mauer- Sano maybe, for some flimsy reason. What Molitor doesn't know is Sano had to put down his dog that morning, and Sano is in no mood. Sano gets in his face, they get into it. Molitor loses, Mauer loses, Sano stays in the lineup and goes 3-5 with a bomb. Twins win. The torch is passed.

 

You should write children's books.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

Mauer far and away is the best 1B on this roster, so I totally get where he is coming from.

Vargas shouldn't be taking at bats away from him (and will be DHing anyways), and I would rather have Grossman platooning with Eddie Rosario who is a disaster against LHP. 

 

Rosario's splits RH/LH are not nearly as glaring as Kepler's.

 

EDIT: for clarification: OPS vs RH/LH

Rosario....... .738/.724

Kepler......... .783/.590

[Squirrel]

Trying to imagine a defense that has, a majority of the time, Vargas at 1B, Santana at SS and Sano at 3B.

 

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Just a little??? I think you were being kind.

[DaveW]

 

Rosario's splits RH/LH are not nearly as glaring as Kepler's.

 

EDIT: for clarification: OPS vs RH/LH

Rosario....... .738/.724

Kepler......... .783/.590

Hmm, I thought Rosario was worse, maybe he improved last year though.

I think Kepler needs to play everyday personally, he has the potentialy to be a very very very special player and needs to learn how to hit LHP.

Rosario is more of a platoon or 4th OF type guy at this stage IMO

[D.C Twins]

This is the first in a 3-5 year (hopefully successful) project. We need to play the young guys and see what we have (I believe this is a big reason why the FO hasn't made many moves)....a la the mid-80s. To get a full look Mauer needs to sit more (even if he is the 'best' option).

[jorgenswest]

I hope the analytics approach doesn't include looking at slash stats in a sample that one season would provide. No decision should be based on that sample. For slash stats, it would probably take three full seasons to get a good sample of plate appearances against left handed pitching. There may be some value at the pitch level data in a full season.

[Platoon]

To Willihammer's comment: If players know what their role is going to be and how things will be set up for  and during the season, then it's on the players to accept and embrace the way things are going to be done.

 

However, if Molitor doesn't clearly define how players are going to be played and appears to be using them in some arbitrary fashion then I get players getting frustrated. And that's on Molitor. (it appeared to me Molitor didn't have much of a plan last year when it came to players. But, I have to give Molitor a pass, because the whole organization melted down last year)

Your post points out a major contributing factor to the Twins attaining those 103 losses last year, instead of what could have easily been 90-92. And if FalVine and their dugout babysitter can't change his ways, the chances for -90 increase significantly. Btw, you don't need to give Molitor a pass, he already has one from JP.

[Doomtints]

I agree with Mauer, with a healthy Joe Mauer the Twins are more likely to win games.

 

Pace him the entire season to play in no more than 120 games, because that's all you're going to get anyway. And if he's playing hurt that helps no one.