Article: Week in Review: Mauer Passes Carew

[jkcarew]

 

I'd go Killebrew at #1 (clear OPS advantage at 145, with the Twins org for 21 seasons, counting stats etc.) but I don't think it's as big a gulf as people might think. Mauer without concussions probably catches him  - conjecture of course, can't predict the "what ifs"

Yes...I'm not one for "Mauer without concussions take".  What about Puckett without glaucoma?  What about Oliva without devestating, crippling really, knee injuries?  One had his counting stats severely truncated...the other say his productivity numbers nose-dive as he attempted to play for seasons without legs.  You are what you are, you did what you did.  Joe is not nearly the first to have a 'reason/excuse' (whatever you want to call it) for not having 'even better' numbers.

 

With regard to Carew vs Mauer...both were ridiculously great for a few years.  But, Carew sustained the "really goodness" for more seasons than did Joe.  I have no problem with people that feel Joe's 2009 was better than Carew's 1977 based on the fact that Joe caught 105 games that season.  (Joe only caught 100+ games in 5 seasons.)

 

Joe is to be congratulated for his milestone accomplishments.  He's lucky in that he is in a situation where he should be able to complete a full career with his original club...an opportunity Carew would have loved, but wasn't offered in any serious manner.  I think Joe appreciates this.

 

FWIW...someone gave Carew credit for a Gold Glove earlier in this thread.  He never won one.  Wasn't ever really considered that strong of a second-baseman.  Good range, a bit stiff around the bag, making the turn, etc.  Average hands...which seems ironic given what they did with a bat.  He ended up being an above-average first-baseman.  Also, Carew missed the better part of an entire season, as well....1970.  Early in his career also missed significant games with mandatory/periodic exercises with the Army Reserve (or was it the National Guard)?

 

 

[caninatl04]

If Buxton doesn't come up in September the twins gain an extra year of control. You can argue the merits but leaving Buxton off the September roster is not inexpliacable. I'm kind of hoping he hits well til the last red wings game and then tweaks a muscle so the twins have an excuse.

At this point, I don't think a Buxton injury is a hope. Its more of a prediction.

 

Maybe they should switch him to whole milk or something.

[caninatl04]

I'd just as soon not waste one day between now and the beginning of 2019 in terms of seeing if he can figure out how to hit major league pitching.

 

I'm sorry, but the Twins will NOT be competitive in 2019. Maybe .500.

 

But 2020?

[mikelink45]

I feel like we are all looking for something that is not there.  In another day or two we will have 70 losses.  The Twin record for Mauer's career is 1172 - 1228.  Our average place in our division is 3rd.  Nice player, but not a difference maker.  

 

Of course I will also upset the baseball world by saying Trout is an exceptional player, but he has not done anything to raise his teams record either.  That is baseball.  Baseball really is a team game.  (Sorry stat heads it is not a stats only game).

 

This is a nice posting for a team where we are running out of story lines.  We emphasize one good player contribution in a game, but in the end we lose.

 

I am worn down and my optimism has been tampered.  I do like some young players and I do see some good future, but it is hard to extract that from these games.  We play a good team and we lose and that good team as far as I can see does not have a great rotation or more than a handful of great players. What is our excuse and what can we do about it?

[jimmer]

I feel like we are all looking for something that is not there. In another day or two we will have 70 losses. The Twin record for Mauer's career is 1172 - 1228. Our average place in our division is 3rd. Nice player, but not a difference maker.

 

Of course I will also upset the baseball world by saying Trout is an exceptional player, but he has not done anything to raise his teams record either. That is baseball. Baseball really is a team game. (Sorry stat heads it is not a stats only game).

 

This is a nice posting for a team where we are running out of story lines. We emphasize one good player contribution in a game, but in the end we lose.

 

I am worn down and my optimism has been tampered. I do like some young players and I do see some good future, but it is hard to extract that from these games. We play a good team and we lose and that good team as far as I can see does not have a great rotation or more than a handful of great players. What is our excuse and what can we do about it?

In regards to Trout (or ANY one player) it's silly to think one guy can carry a baseball team. He doesn't pitch, he only plays one position (can't play other players position), and he is one of 9 batters (and likely close to 15 or 16 batters throughout the year) A team will likely use close to 40 players a season if not more.

 

Baseball isn't basketball. Most of the time, baseball is about individual battles. One guy, no matter what myths are out there, doesn't get his team to playoffs or go far in playoffs.

Edited August 27, 2018 by jimmer

[mikelink45]

 

In regards to Trout (or ANY one player) it's silly to think one guy can carry a baseball team. He doesn't pitch, he only plays one position (can't play other players position), and he is one of 9 batters (and likely close to 15 or 16 batters throughout the year) A team will likely use close to 40 players a season if not more.

Baseball isn't basketball. Most of the time, baseball is about individual battles. One guy, no matter what myths are out there, doesn't get his team to playoffs or go far in playoffs.

I agree, but now that we are diminishing the starter significance we do not have that heavy weight champion to take the mound and carry us through either.  A Verlander and Kershaw is still a delight for me, but Baseball is the craziest game of individualism and team combined.

[jimmer]

I agree, but now that we are diminishing the starter significance we do not have that heavy weight champion to take the mound and carry us through either. A Verlander and Kershaw is still a delight for me, but Baseball is the craziest game of individualism and team combined.

I love me some Kershaw and Verlander too, but even the great innings eating starting pitchers get help from his catcher calling the game, the defense behind him, and the offense that scored enough for the team to win. Even the best pitchers can't win a game on their own.

[mikelink45]

 

I love me some Kershaw and Verlander too, but even the great innings eating starting pitchers get help from his catcher calling the game, the defense behind him, and the offense that scored enough for the team to win. Even the best pitchers can't win a game on their own.

That is so true and I am glad you said that. Baseball's combination of individual performance and team ability is what makes it so great and I wish baseball could promote that more. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

If the Twins want to go for it and compete next year, Buxton needs to be ready. He needs to get his reps. If he's not up due to another injury, okay, I get that, but if he's not up because of control, that's a bit self-serving. If he's ready he should be up and playing and getting his reps in at the ML level. It just strikes me as a little 'cheap' and not quite ethical even if technically it's a move they could make.

Control or not, I don' t see a scenario where he's ready next spring. Personally, they need a 1 year stop game and he needs to earn the starting job. 

[Squirrel]

Control or not, I don' t see a scenario where he's ready next spring. Personally, they need a 1 year stop game and he needs to earn the starting job.

 

That’s fair. I think if he’s ready he should be up. If he’s not, then not. I just didn’t think that the decision of whether or not he’s up should be based solely on team control. That’s where my comment was coming from.

[Doomtints]

CONGRATS TO JO MAURAER FOR PASSING RAJ CASHEW FOR ALL TIME BASE SMACKERS

[yarnivek1972]

I love me some Kershaw and Verlander too, but even the great innings eating starting pitchers get help from his catcher calling the game, the defense behind him, and the offense that scored enough for the team to win. Even the best pitchers can't win a game on their own.

Well, maybe Rick Wise...

[ewen21]

 

Calm down, Thrylos. This article only says that Mauer has "admirably carved out a place in franchise lore." No mention here of Hall of Fame.

Doesn't matter.  The Mauer for the HOF campaign started several years ago and it has been widely discussed here.  When a thread about Mauer's career acheivements gets pasted up on this board that is an open invitation for a comment such as the one Thrylos made.