Article: Twins Organizational Depth Chart - Third Base

[jokin]

Jim Cricket. I advocated the switch for Mauer several years ago, but that was when Morneau was holding the 1st base spot. I no longer am in favor of it but I believe he could make the transition and be adequate in a short period of time. I also believe that if he had made the switch 3 years ago he would be way more than adequate by now. In other words I think he has the talent set to be a GREAT 3rd baseman just based on his talent set as catcher and his general athleticism. I consider skill set to be a different category and that is what would take time to develop and it just no longer makes sense so I agree it would now be a bad idea.

 

I was with you several years ago, especially when it looked like Ramos could handle a large portion of the Catcher load for the Twins. I haven't changed my opinion. And that was mainly because the Twins can't reasonably expect to recoup the per year cost for Mauer at First Base.

 

Joe Torre never played a major league game at Third until he was age 29, in his 10th year in the majors. The next year he won the NL MVP at age 30 playing the position for 161 games. Joe Mauer doesn't turn 31 until mid-April...a great athlete can make the necessary adjustments and be more than merely "competent" at a new position reasonably within his range of athleticism.

[Oxtung]

Maybe I'm biased because I played a lot of 3B in my younger days... It's not easy. Those reaction plays are tough and so is charging in on a ball.

 

I am a bit late to this party but Joe was one heck of an athlete at one point. I'm sure most know this but as a refresher in case it was forgotten, not only was he drafted #1 in baseball but he also was the National HS Football Player of the Year and the #1 recruit in the nation his senior season. In basketball he was named to the All-State team in both his junior and senior seasons.

 

Now, how Joe would handle the hot corner after a decade behind the dish.... *shrug*. I have no doubts however that had the Twins moved him to 3B in the minors that he would have been gold glove caliber there as well.