Mauer at 1B nearly every day

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Replacing Mauer with anyone - at this point - makes perfect sense. Especially Rochester's production leader. 

Mauer is not going to be permanently benched in April of 2017. You may want this to happen but it's not going to happen in reality. It's the very definition of a moot point.

 

And in that scenario where Mauer plays first somewhat regularly, Palka is a bad platoon candidate to play alongside Joe. In that scenario, who hits against lefties? They're both going to suck against LHP so you've managed to rearrange deck chairs and do little else.

 

Whereas Vargas and/or Park complement Joe much better.

[DrNeau]

 

Mauer is not going to be permanently benched in April of 2017. You may want this to happen but it's not going to happen in reality. It's the very definition of a moot point.

 

And in that scenario where Mauer plays first somewhat regularly, Palka is a bad platoon candidate to play alongside Joe. In that scenario, who hits against lefties? They're both going to suck against LHP so you've managed to rearrange deck chairs and do little else.

 

Whereas Vargas and/or Park complement Joe much better.

 

Your scenario assumes the Twins will continue to accept .226 / 0 HR from Joe Mauer. Sounds like the goal then is to complement Joe. Interesting take. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Your scenario assumes the Twins will continue to accept .226 / 0 HR from Joe Mauer. Sounds like the goal then is to complement Joe. Interesting take.

Joe. Mauer. Will. Not. Be. Benched. In. April. Of. 2017.

 

It's not going to happen.

[USAFChief]

 

Joe. Mauer. Will. Not. Be. Benched. In. April. Of. 2017.

It's not going to happen.

I agree, but it's also a legitimate question:  should he be?

 

He's as bad at his job so far this year as Gibson has been at his.

 

 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

I agree, but it's also a legitimate question:  should he be?

 

He's as bad at his job so far this year as Gibson has been at his.

And he wasn't good last year compared to first basemen. Age and injuries and possibly a lack of willingness to change as he ages appear to have caught up with him

[drjim]

Mauer is likely physically cooked. If he can't get it going, wonder if they'll do a mutual buyout mid-season. Just can't imagine why he'd want to play out the spring this way.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I agree, but it's also a legitimate question: should he be?

 

He's as bad at his job so far this year as Gibson has been at his.

I'd start scaling back his playing time, starting with a nearly strict platoon against LHP.

 

If Joe is still bad at the end of May, then consider splitting his time against RHP as well.

 

But we haven't even played a month yet. If Joe has a good week, his numbers normalize.

[D.C Twins]

One xtra base hit in the first 18 games just does not work for 1st base (or other positions for that matter, but certainly not 1st base)...

 

Joe Mauer was fantastic for Minnesota....but this is not going to work for 2 more years (especially during a youth movement)

[Mike Sixel]

I'd start scaling back his playing time, starting with a nearly strict platoon against LHP.

If Joe is still bad at the end of May, then consider splitting his time against RHP as well.

But we haven't even played a month yet. If Joe has a good week, his numbers normalize.

Normalize to what? Mediocre?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Normalize to what? Mediocre?

Pretty much. Teams don't just bench their longest-tenured veteran, the hometown boy, and the highest paid guy on the team.

 

So you work around that as realistically as possible.

[Mike Sixel]

Pretty much. Teams don't just bench their longest-tenured veteran, the hometown boy, and the highest paid guy on the team.

So you work around that as realistically as possible.

And they dont trade Willingham, Perkins, or Dozier, or Santana. Just so unlucky, for five years now.

[D.C Twins]

The scary thing is that, I'm not sure how great of a 'bench bat' he would really even be at this point (defensive 1st base replacement I guess)....

 

This may get hard.... and a little sad (well... as sad as things can get for someone who has made over 200mil ....before its all over

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

And they dont trade Willingham, Perkins, or Dozier, or Santana. Just so unlucky, for five years now.

What is the point of this post, Mike? You're free-wheeling all over the place in these threads, randomly bringing up past events that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

 

You're pissed at the recent play. I get it, we're all pissed at the recent play. But you're not contributing to the conversation with these kinds of posts.

[Mike Sixel]

What is the point of this post, Mike? You're free-wheeling all over the place in these threads, randomly bringing up past events that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

 

You're pissed at the recent play. I get it, we're all pissed at the recent play. But you're not contributing to the conversation with these kinds of posts.

We can't bench players, and we can't trade players. We can't cut bad players because we need depth. What can they do to get better?

[Brock Beauchamp]

We can't bench players, and we can't trade players. We can't cut bad players because we need depth. What can they do to get better?

Draft and sign better players. Again, Falvey has been in charge for all of 18 games. We all knew this year was going to be frustrating at times because the Twins needs to turn over a large portion of their roster, we simply weren't certain which portion would need to be turned over. Now we're getting a better picture of what that turnover will look like.

[USAFChief]

 

I'd start scaling back his playing time, starting with a nearly strict platoon against LHP.

If Joe is still bad at the end of May, then consider splitting his time against RHP as well.

But we haven't even played a month yet. If Joe has a good week, his numbers normalize.

Another test for the new regime.

 

As I've posted before, I want to like them.  I want to give them time.  I want to believe things are going to change.

 

But outside of Castro, they did virtually nothing over the winter...it's not even April and you're arguing (logically) that they can't drop Gibson from the rotation because they have so few options.  The rotting corpse of Breslow a featured bullpen addition, yet there are posters on this board insisting they can't drop the pen size...or even swap out relievers, because there are no candidates. That's on the front office. 13 pitchers out of spring training, with Danny Santana one of three bench players.  That's on the front office.

 

I view the continual deference to Joe Mauer as yet another test case.  I know he was really good in the past.  He's not anymore, and I think how this is handled will tell us a lot.

[drjim]

We can't bench players, and we can't trade players. We can't cut bad players because we need depth. What can they do to get better?

Start with having better options.

 

Cutting and benching players with no better alternative and making bad trades won't accomplish much.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Another test for the new regime.

 

As I've posted before, I want to like them. I want to give them time. I want to believe things are going to change.

 

But outside of Castro, they did virtually nothing over the winter...it's not even April and you're arguing (logically) that they can't drop Gibson from the rotation because they have so few options. That's on the front office. 13 pitchers out of spring training, with Danny Santana one of three bench players.

 

I view the continual deference to Joe Mauer as yet another test case. I know he was really good in the past. He's not anymore, and I think how this is handled will tell us a lot.

Whoa whoa whoa. I said they can't CUT Gibson because they have so few options. I'm all for a demotion to either the pen or Rochester.

[Mike Sixel]

Draft and sign better players. Again, Falvey has been in charge for all of 18 games. We all knew this year was going to be frustrating at times because the Twins needs to turn over a large portion of their roster, we simply weren't certain which portion would need to be turned over. Now we're getting a better picture of what that turnover will look like.

If they only build thru the draft, they will never get there. We both know that. Every decent player over 27 should be traded. Every single one.

 

I was pretty certain this bullpen was completely replaceable, weren't you?

[Brock Beauchamp]

If they only build thru the draft, they will never get there. We both know that. Every decent player over 27 should be traded. Every single one.

 

I was pretty certain this bullpen was completely replaceable, weren't you?

I hated the bullpen decisions made over the offseason and said as much multiple times.

[Mike Sixel]

Start with having better options.

Cutting and benching players with no better alternative and making bad trades won't accomplish much.

Which the front office did nothing other than Castro to change. No other free agents that matter and no trades. If they only build thru the draft, good luck....

[drjim]

Which the front office did nothing other than Castro to change. No other free agents that matter and no trades. If they only build thru the draft, good luck....

That is an oft repeated line that it's *only* the draft. I don't think it's the plan. Probably need a little time. I expect multiple trades this season, a little bit more aggressive offseason.

 

The org is in bad shape. They had some young guys with potential and little else. Going to take some time.

[DrNeau]

Give Palka playing time at 1B. Looks like Mauer is done. For a platoon, Park would be a better option than Vargas. 

[Platoon]

I know it's a new regime, and they deserve a chance. But their lack of any movement is not exactly encouraging. And if one looked only at not trading Dozier, or not moving Mauer down the order, or not trading Perkins when we had no use for a closer, or Willingham when he got hot, ad nauseum, then it would be picking nits. But this is and always has been an orginizatinal fault, and appears to continue to be so.

[Bark's Lounge]

I feel confident Mauer can have a season like last year. A number of first basemen get out of the starting gates slow to start the season. Those first baseman hypothetically have 3-4 HR and are batting .187 and because of this their OPS is higher than Mauer's and makes Mauer look worthless.

 

Mauer still has some value. How much value, I don't know. Certainly, I want a power hitter as our first baseman, this is a stereotype that rings true, but I would have been excited if the HR power challenged Joe Mauer of the past with a high BA and OPS was our first baseman.

 

Those days are gone. There is a lot of Joe Mauer detractors on this site and a lot of supporters. The non-elitist fans still consider him a hometown hero.

 

He will always be a hometown hero for his era of greatness, and for this organization it is a hard situation to be in, fans will get pissed if they cut him loose, TD fans for the most part, not so much.

 

I wish he would have seen the writing on the wall and negotiated to keep his salary, while honorably retiring. I think that would have been a realistic scenario.

 

We really need to see Vargas, Park, or Palka have a shot and if they can can cut it.

[ThejacKmp]

 

You've seen their bench right?

AL teams don't use a bench that often -- it's much more about being able to match up lefties and righties.

 

I'm glad about Vargas coming up and all, don't get me wrong, just that it's not like anyone can say Molly is hamstrung by 13 pitchers -- there are other options.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

For a platoon, Park would be a better option than Vargas. 

Honest question because I see it repeated so often: everyone on this board realizes Byung Ho Park is injured and hasn't played in two weeks, right?

[drjim]

Honest question because I see it repeated so often: everyone on this board realizes Byung Ho Park is injured and hasn't played in two weeks, right?

Fine. Call up Zack Granite instead.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Fine. Call up Zack Granite instead.

 

I literally LOLd! Thank you.

[drivlikejehu]

Mauer's batted ball and other data is pretty out of whack so far, but not necessarily in a way that shows he is definitely finished. Of course, he has very little remaining upside, but against RHP I'm not sure the Twins have a better option at 1B. The sample size is still too small. He definitely needs to sit against LHP though.