Berardino: Concussion Symptoms Return for Mauer

[East Coast Twin]

“Definitely having the symptoms,” [Mauer] said. “I think that’s kind of how they do (differentiate): If you have the symptoms, then you probably had one.”

 

 

 

https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/31/concussion-symptoms-return-for-twins-joe-mauer-im-not-there-yet/

[mickeymental]

major-league bummer.

[Mike Sixel]

I wish for his sake, and his kids, he'd retire. I'm no doctor..... But still....

[ashbury]

Confirms suspicions when he went on this most recent DL stint.

 

I don't know why it had to be kept secret.

[Blake]

 

I wish for his sake, and his kids, he'd retire. I'm no doctor..... But still....

Yeah, I said much the same thing.

 

Funny thing is, I thought Mauer should have retired before the 2017 season because he just wasn't performing. Then he had that Mauer of old year and I gladly ate crow on that one.

 

This year, his performance has really gone downhill after his great start, but after I heard about the return of his symptoms, I thought he should retire because I didn't want Mauer to risk further injury.

 

And, I've cringed several times when I've watched Mauer make those diving plays. I say that, because I remember Koskie saying he was doing fine, until he dove for a ball and then things went all wonky for him again.

 

I might add, I thought something was wrong, because his batting average dropped off a cliff and I didn't necessarily buy that it was due to a neck strain.

[twins_89]

I truly hope Mauer has a relatively speedy and problem free recovery, but I'm not optimistic about his performance the rest of the year (or next season if he doesn't retire). As we've seen with both Mauer and Morneau, concussion issues can significantly degrade a player's capability. It took Mauer over 2 years to get back a semblance of his pre-concussion abilities after 2013. I hope we'll get to see more games with a capable and productive Mauer in a Twins uniform, but I won't be surprised if this signals that the end of the road is fast approaching for Joe.

[wsnydes]

This is unfortunate for multiple reasons, most importantly for Joe's overall health.

 

Buxton DL, Santana setback and now this in a 24 hour span. Seems as though the baseball Gods are getting even for lasts seasons improbable run.

 

I hope for a speedy recovery for Joe.

[puckstopper1]

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I feel really bad for Joe. By accounts he’s an extremely competitive guy. This must be really difficult to go through again and not be able to help his team right the ship.

 

I hope Joe makes decisions for his health primarily and an over abundance of caution is taken in regards to his brain injury.

 

If health allows, I look forward to seeing him back in the lineup, but if it doesn’t, I hope he takes care of his health first. It’s just a game, and he has plenty of money.

[Twins33]

Not surprised. As I posted when this first happened, the exact same thing happened to Morneau in CO. Both dove for a ball. Both strained their neck. Both had concussion like symptoms. Morneau was out 3-4 months. If Mauer is back before August/September, I'd be surprised.

 

I was for going year to year with Mauer until this happened. At this point he needs to retire for himself and his family.

[Monkeypaws]

 

Stop it! Yer'll get one too.

 

Concur, Joe should retire and enjoy the rest of his life with his own twins.

[USAFChief]

 

Yeah, I said much the same thing.

 

Funny thing is, I thought Mauer should have retired before the 2017 season because he just wasn't performing. Then he had that Mauer of old year and I gladly ate crow on that one.

 

This year, his performance has really gone downhill after his great start, but after I heard about the return of his symptoms, I thought he should retire because I didn't want Mauer to risk further injury.

 

And, I've cringed several times when I've watched Mauer make those diving plays. I say that, because I remember Koskie saying he was doing fine, until he dove for a ball and then things went all wonky for him again.

 

I might add, I thought something was wrong, because his batting average dropped off a cliff and I didn't necessarily buy that it was due to a neck strain.

He had only 15 ABs after the LAA series, with 4 hits. His BA was below .300 by April 23rd, and he sits at .283 today.

 

The neck strain/concussion symptoms are unrelated to his stats.

[DocBauer]

So happy to see his resurgence last season! And I've been somewhat vocal about a 2 year deal after this one for fair value to provide defense, hitting, OB, etc. And loves his move to leadoff this season.

 

But after this latest injury, as much as I'd like to see him back healthy and productive, I just have to say I wish he would maybe hang it up. It stinks! But for the rest of his life, I just think maybe it's time.

[Thrylos]

 

 

That's a concussion in making...

[Blake]

 

He had only 15 ABs after the LAA series, with 4 hits. His BA was below .300 by April 23rd, and he sits at .283 today.

 

The neck strain/concussion symptoms are unrelated to his stats.

Ah, then, my memory is faulty. I thought Mauer's average had dropped into the .250 range. 

[gunnarthor]

This is a really crappy year.

 

If he has to retire, he's done enough to get into the HOF and get his jersey retired by the Twins. He's made a bunch of money and two great video game commercials.

[Twodogs]

Everyone responds differently to concussions, Joe and his doctor will make a decision that is best for Joe, you all know that money won't be a factor because he has enough of it, so if his doctor feels that Joe can continue to play with little risk to the rest of his life then I'm pretty sure Joe will probably play. If his doctor tells him that there is significant risk to his well being for the rest of his life then I'm sure Joe will be done. None of us have any idea how Joe's body will respond to this.??.

 

I hope he is fine, but if he isn't then he will have to move on.

 

I mean John Olerud used to play in the field with a batting helmet on because he had a brain aneurysm, I mean how dangerous was that? Any smack to his head and it would have been all over in a matter of seconds. But his doctors felt he was ok.

[ewen21]

 

I wish for his sake, and his kids, he'd retire. I'm no doctor..... But still....

At this point, to not retire is insane.  The Twins need to sit him down and tell him that it was a good run, but we are finished here.  No way the Twins should endorse him going back out on the field.  Not if stuff like this can happen without even knowing how.

 

I know some people care a lot about Joe's legacy as a baseball player and would like to see him play a few more seasons so he can accumulate more hits so that his case for Cooperstown is stronger.  Anyone who gives a rip about Joe would let go of that and I am talking mostly to the Twins organization here.  Now is the time to take him aside and tell him it is time to move forward into another era.  There willl be no extension or no new contract.  If he wants to keep on playing then let the blood be on the hands of another franchise.

 

Game over, Joe Mauer

[ashbury]

Minor technical matter, but I expect he won't retire until after the season. He incurred his latest injury while performing baseball duties, so he deserves to get paid and this can be done while on the 60-day DL. Same diff, as far as rosters go of course...

[Mike Sixel]

Minor technical matter, but I expect he won't retire until after the season. He incurred his latest injury while performing baseball duties, so he deserves to get paid and this can be done while on the 60-day DL. Same diff, as far as rosters go of course...

Agreed. If I was the Twins, I'd offer an injury settlement, and let him retire during a slow MLB period. Like, just before the ASB.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Agreed. If I was the Twins, I'd offer an injury settlement, and let him retire during a slow MLB period. Like, just before the ASB.

Just give him all the money and be done with it.

 

I don’t care whether the Pohlads get a mid season payroll break. They won’t spend it anyway.

[Mike Sixel]

Just give him all the money and be done with it.

 

I don’t care whether the Pohlads get a mid season payroll break. They won’t spend it anyway.

Agreed. I meant to be more clear on that.... That post was really about pulling the band-aid off....

[Otto von Ballpark]

I could see Mauer preferring to stay with the team a few more months, even if just on the 60-day DL, rather than go home midseason.

[ewen21]

 

I could see Mauer preferring to stay with the team a few more months, even if just on the 60-day DL, rather than go home midseason.

Why does the decision need to be based on what Joe prefers?  If I am the Twins I cannot endorse him playing anymore.  It ignores some very real risks and the possibility of some big time regrets.

 

He has gotten everything he needs out of baseball.  Playing again really benefits no one, not this least of which his wife and children.  At some point people need to let go of Joe the ballplayer.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Why does the decision need to be based on what Joe prefers?  If I am the Twins I cannot endorse him playing anymore.  It ignores some very real risks and the possibility of some big time regrets.

 

He has gotten everything he needs out of baseball.  Playing again really benefits no one, not this least of which his wife and children.  At some point people need to let go of Joe the ballplayer.

 

Because Joe is a human being?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Why does the decision need to be based on what Joe prefers? If I am the Twins I cannot endorse him playing anymore.

Well, my post was based on the presumption that he would be inactive. Just that he might rather be around the team for the remainder of the season rather than get a midseason ceremony and go home.

 

But there are enough unknowns here that it's also still probably Joe's call whether to play again. Are these symptoms the same thing he was experiencing regularly for a few years? Might just be a fact of life for him now, whether he is playing ball, or playing with his kids in the yard, or whatever. I don't think we know enough to say the Twins would be morally negligent to let him take the field ever again.

[ewen21]

 

Because Joe is a human being?

You don't understand what I am saying. I am saying the decision doesn't have to be his to make.  The Twins have veto power over him

[ewen21]

 

Well, my post was based on the presumption that he would be inactive. Just that he might rather be around the team for the remainder of the season rather than get a midseason ceremony and go home.

But there are enough unknowns here that it's also still probably Joe's call whether to play again. Are these symptoms the same thing he was experiencing regularly for a few years? Might just be a fact of life for him now, whether he is playing ball, or playing with his kids in the yard, or whatever. I don't think we know enough to say the Twins would be morally negligent to let him take the field ever again.

 

I never said they were morally negligent to allow him to play further.  Your words, not mine.  I said I would not endorse him playing anymore.  You want to tell me we don't know enough?  That isn't consistent with what I read here when people talk about Joe's traumatic brain injury and the effects of which lasted over three years.  Now he has symptoms again and he doesn't even understand how it happened.  Everyone seems to know enough to say the effects of concussions had a profound impact on his performance the last almost five season, but no one knows enough to be more concerned about his personal well-being than his right to keep on playing?  How can the prevailing wisdom here be that the concussions wiped him out on one hand and on the other insist that Joe should keep on playing so long as he feels like it, even after this latest episode? 

 

Someone is going to need to tell me how Joe getting back on the field is actually a good thing for him and the Twins.  Are we expected to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best?  There are no brain transplants last time I checked.

[TheLeviathan]

 

You don't understand what I am saying. I am saying the decision doesn't have to be his to make.  The Twins have veto power over him

 

No one is saying it has to be his to make, but that he has an opinion too.  The Twins would be right to listen to it along with other relevant information.  Discarding him should only really happen if he prefers that option.  He's been with the organization long enough that they should care what he prefers.  Plus it's just the right way to do things.

[KGB]

 

 

Someone is going to need to tell me how Joe getting back on the field is actually a good thing for him and the Twins.  Are we expected to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best?  There are no brain transplants last time I checked.

Nobody here knows how or if the concussion effected Mauer the last 5 years and nobody here know how he is going to feel in a week or a month.  No one's concussion stories are the same and what happen to one person doesn't indicate it's also going to happen to Mauer,

 

The medical staff and Mauer felt he was concussion free the last 5 years and he played.  If they both decide that he is able to play and he wants to play, that is his decision and must be good for him.  Who are we to tell him not to play?