DrNeau

Agree. 200 plate appearances - maximum.

I was talking to PseudoSABR.

Watch a Cubs, Indians, or Chattanooga Lookouts game and you will see a noticeable difference in how a manager interacts with their players. I agree there is more going on than what we observe, but assessments made on observable content can't be dismissed simply out of reserving hope - or faith - that Molitor is a different person off the field.

Do you feel his poor production in recent years has a direct relation to his lack of training? You realize, that despite many comments Mauer has made (stated once that he didn't pick up a bat until February 21st, stated once that he put off training until spring, etc.), there are many who will say you must prove that Mauer does not train. They will negate comments that Mauer has made, and will disregard his stats, which are replacement-level. They will argue that since you do not spend every waking moment with Joe, that you do not really know his scope of effort.

So from watching an entire season, there's "no way to tell anything", because the camera pans around. LOL. Disagree.

I am surprised that anyone would disagree with this. It is clearly obvious. That's a weird-looking eye. There are spots in it.

I have the MLB.TV package, and watch nearly every game. I watch way more than just a few clips here and there. Molitor rarely talks to the players - period. The players don't approach him much to talk, either. No one will argue this because it's clear; anyone who does - is not watching the games. Bruno... you can hear him during every player's at bat. He is audibly right in your TV. "ATTA BOY!"" "GOOD TAKE!" He does the same thing when working with them on tee drills and in the cage. He's rooting them on. Molitor? Not so much. Distant.

Automatically inserting the following stats into the 3-hole, as a rule, is tiring: Joe Mauer's Ranks - 2016 MLB 1B (of 23 with qualifying ABs): * OPS: 19th * Hard-Hit Balls %: 23rd (LAST) * Home Runs: 22nd (next to LAST) * RBIs: 23rd (LAST) * Isolated Power: 22nd (next to LAST) * SLG: 22nd (next to LAST) * Extra-Base Hits: LAST (ESPN)

So, can the Twins afford to release Mauer or not? That's the discussion title. Let's put a vote together: I vote 'yes'. Joe Mauer's Ranks - 2016 MLB 1B (of 23 with qualifying ABs): * OPS: 19th * Hard-Hit Balls %: 23rd (LAST) * Home Runs: 22nd (next to LAST) * RBIs: 23rd (LAST) * Isolated Power: 22nd (next to LAST) * SLG: 22nd (next to LAST) * Extra-Base Hits: LAST (ESPN)

Bruno works much harder with the guys than Molitor does. Molitor is distant and in his own world. Anyone who watches the games knows that.

Just bench him significantly more and his poor production will not affect the team as badly. He is a good bench bat... nothing more.

"How do you feel, Joe?""Great." "How do you really feel?" "Terrible. I’ve been feeling terrible for a while." ROFL. Article then said he has been "hobbled for nearly six weeks"; at least he's not revealing an injury, back-dated 2.5 years, like his last injury (blurred vision). Funny how he went on to speak about "grinding" through the rest of the season. Who is grinding? I don't see any grinding.

Right. Now that we're through with the sun glare excuse, we're going to circle back to the weak legs one. It never ends with this guy. If he was adequately training and incorporating some strength-training into his workouts, rather than simply stretching, he might not be so darn weak all the time. Let the season end so he can go back to his 350-lb. stretching coach and 55-lb. squats. Ridiculous. Excuses we have heard: * Defensive shifts by opponents * Bilateral leg weakness * He has a slightly slower bat swing making him vulnerable to the high outside pitch: Have heard this, though not much of an excuse. His bat speed has dipped because of lack of training. * He is having more difficulty with an increasing mix of off speed pitches he is seeing (being pitched around) * He is unlucky - but is still hitting balls hard * Concussion: Happened in late August 2013. Was cleared in October 2013 to resume baseball activities. Stated in spring of 2014 that he "felt good". Stated in spring of 2015 that he was "excited", "felt good". * The move to 1B from Catcher has made it more difficult for him to locate the strike zone and track pitches while batting * Poor talent surrounding him * Batted 2nd in the lineup, which produced less RBI opportunities * Umpires no longer giving him benefit of calls, as he's no longer a Catcher * Weak legs... he's not getting as many squat workouts, because he hasn't been catching BP * Bad back * Target Field is too tough to hit in * Catching for 11 years still wears on him... even though he hasn't caught since 2013, Mauer claims he is still ailed by "nicks and bruises" from catching * One walk off hit in career because he has been pitched around (classic; now has two - yay). * Wasn't supposed to play because it was a day game after a night game * When DH-ing, he's coming into the batter's box cold (not warmed up) * He's tall so his strike zone is larger * The (former) trees in Target Field were a distraction * Blurred-vision * Sun glare

#FreeBuxton'sLegKick

http://m.mlb.com/player/467092/wilson-ramos Check this one out. That'll cheer you up. Not!

One of the better comparisons I've seen.

They've dropped 10 straight. Maybe planning to fail isn't too bad an idea? Let's get the #1 pick and not BLOW it when we get it.

Palka.

Agreed. Of all qualifying MLB 1B, he is ranked 18th out of 22 in OPS. In RBIs, he is ranked 20th of 22. Stats since 2014 (going on 3 full years): .272 AVG 24 HR (No way he hits 6 more to raise his 3-year average to 10.) 167 RBI (A measly 60 RBIs/year during that span would have him at 180. He has 46; curious if he will even get 55.)

Prior to falling to 0-9.

That was beautiful, Rosario!

OMG - Polanco is so sweet.

One difference that is noticeable in his recent at bats: Less check-swings. Good to see him either swing like he means it - or not at all.

Polanco is quickly becoming one of my favorite players.

During this series, Sano has been getting a lot of balls out of the strike zone called as strikes