I really cannot entertain any arguments that Mauer should be the 3 hitter. He should be the leadoff hitter, if speed and power weren't the two vital components after OBP in terms of scoring runs. So failing 1 or 3, he should bat second. One alternative that I would be willing to consider would be leading off Mastro (absent Hicks) against lefties only, and then either batting Mauer leadoff against righties, or um, Parmelee or something. That leads to a further point: there is a way to really maximize this lineup based on R/L splits (especially if Herrmann and/or Colabello were on the roster, but alas). Gardy won't do that, we know, but still. For instance there is just ZERO reason not to have Mastro-Mauer-Willingham in most games against lefties (and some of those times substituting Mauer out for Carroll or whomever). Plouffe could bat 5th behind Morneau in such a situation.