Karl

Can't it just mean that this is the only type of pitcher that is willing to sign with the Twins? A) They have lost nearly 100 the last two seasons. Their infield and presumably their outfield defense will be unforgiveably sucky to just short of mediocre. Let's say you moved to a new state and wanted to play in a townball league. You had your choice of playing on a good team with lots of fans and good weather, or a struggling team with frustrated fans and crappy weather. Why on God's green earth would you choose the sucky team unless they WILDLY overpaid you to play. I think more than anything we can draw the conclusion that the top/mid level starters do not want to pitch on this team, for this medical staff and in front of this infield and outfield.

Mike, this was not an excercise in reductio ad absurdum. You make a valid point that most every comparison leaves a logical counter argument. However - the real issue to me was the percieved atrocious overpay of #7 at $23m/yr is hardly the only current problem,and not by a longshot the worst problem in the allocation of current payroll funds. We may not all agree that Joe is a gross overpay - that is not the point of debate. Here is another way the Twins are spending $24.25m/yr. 7W 14L 6.45ERA 152IP 194H 79K 109ER 66BB 1.71WHIP 4.67K/9 This ghastly pitching line is the combined totals for Pavano, Blackburn, Baker and Capps for 2012. At a combined cost of $24.25m in 2012. I think we can all agree that 2 AAA callups could produce the combined line shown above. That is at least as bad of a percieved overpay. AAA Minimum salary (think Hendricks/DeVries) $1m combined for both. Leaving an overpay of roughly $12.5m/yr per pitcher. "Making bad decisions with lots of players (aka, your list) is actually better than making a huge, bad decision with one player." I can't imagine anyone making executive decisions thinking that lots of contracts that turned out bad is better then one contract that turned out bad. That said, I understand the distinction being made here - only Capps and Pavano were truly bad decisions at the time they were made. Mauer was a good decision, turned bad in hindsight and Baker was a "meh" decision that turned out bad.

Probably an equation like: If Mauer plays 60% at C, 25% at DH and 15% at 1B - can we extrapolate his worth accordingly? The answer is yes: Take a average output of the top Catchers, an average output of the top 1B's and an average output of the top DH's then weight them in a 60%, 25%, 15% fashion. This would be like calculating the ERA of 3 pitchers if one threw 60% of the innings, one threw 25% of the innings and one 15%. The math can be done - I'm just to lazy to do it.

http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php?1454-Defending-Joe-Mauer-s-value-for-23M-per-year It is super popular to rip Mauer and his contract, more specifically his "output/dollar spent ratio" but let's be honest - it is 100% not his fault the Twins are so bad this season. Yes, even when you factor in how his $23m/yr ties up so much payroll. My argument: 1) Mauer is the best offensive catcher in the AL. He is also paid the most. 2) Everyone wants to make the argument that he ties up $23m/year for his "pedestrian production". The guy is leading MLB in OBP. He is 4th in AL BA - he has an OPS of .865 and an OPS+ of 140. 3) This: .326/.416/.449 .304./357/.500 .251/.346/.485 .293./356/.460 .276/.363/.416 .262/.328/.418 Here are the slash lines of the "All Star" catchers. The one nearest Joe is Yadier Molina who should be projected with a grain of salt because he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a two year spike in OPS after SEVEN seasons of combined below .700 OPS. At least Joe provides production at the top of his position by one metric for that $23m/per. Here is another way the Twins are spending $24.25m/yr. 7W 14L 6.45ERA 152IP 194H 79K 109ER 66BB 1.71WHIP 4.67K/9 This ghastly pitching line is the combined totals for Pavano, Blackburn, Baker and Capps for 2012. At a combined cost of $24.25m in 2012. It is really hard to complain about Mauer's output/dollar spent ratio when you view this output/dollar spent crap sandwich.

It is super popular to rip Mauer and his contract, more specifically his "output/dollar spent ratio"but let's be honest - it is 100% not his fault the Twins are so bad this season. Yes, even when you factor in how his $23m/yr ties up so much payroll. My argument: 1) Mauer is the best offensive catcher in the AL. He is also paid the most. 2) Everyone wants to make the argument that he ties up $23m/year for his "pedestrian production". The guy is leading MLB in OBP. He is 4th in AL BA - he has an OPS of .865 and an OPS+ of 140. 3) This: .326/.416/.449 .304./357/.500 .251/.346/.485 .293./356/.460 .276/.363/.416 .262/.328/.418 Here are the slash lines of the "All Star" catchers. The one nearest Joe is Yadier Molina who should be projected with a grain of salt because he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a two year spike in OPS after SEVEN seasons of combined below .700 OPS. At least Joe provides production at the top of his position by one metric for that $23m/per. Here is another way the Twins are spending $24.25m/yr. 7W 14L 6.45ERA 152IP 194H 79K 109ER 66BB 1.71WHIP 4.67K/9 This ghastly pitching line is the combined totals for Pavano, Blackburn, Baker and Capps for 2012. At a combined cost of $24.25m in 2012. It is really hard to complain about Mauer's output/dollar spent ratio when you view this output/dollar spent crap sandwich.

It is super popular to rip Mauer and his contract, more specifically his "output/dollar spent ratio"but let's be honest - it is 100% not his fault the Twins are so bad this season. Yes, even when you factor in how his $23m/yr ties up so much payroll. My argument: 1) Mauer is the best offensive catcher in the AL. He is also paid the most. 2) Everyone wants to make the argument that he ties up $23m/year for his "pedestrian production". The guy is leading MLB in OBP. He is 4th in AL BA - he has an OPS of .865 and an OPS+ of 140. 3) This: .326/.416/.449 .304./357/.500 .251/.346/.485 .293./356/.460 .276/.363/.416 .262/.328/.418 Here are the slash lines of the "All Star" catchers. The one nearest Joe is Yadier Molina who should be projected with a grain of salt because he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a two year spike in OPS after SEVEN seasons of combined below .700 OPS. At least Joe provides production at the top of his position by one metric for that $23m/per. Here is another way the Twins are spending $24.25m/yr. 7W 14L 6.45ERA 152IP 194H 79K 109ER 66BB 1.71WHIP 4.67K/9 This ghastly pitching line is the combined totals for Pavano, Blackburn, Baker and Capps for 2012. At a combined cost of $24.25m in 2012. It is really hard to complain about Mauer's output/dollar spent ratio when you view this output/dollar spent crap sandwich.