ewen21

My observations are not solely generated from a picture and a video. For me it started about five or six years ago, but it came to a head in 2011 during ST when it was clear to me JOe was not in shape. I got massacred for suggesting that he came into camp out of shape that year and then weeks later he was on the DL "building strength" down in Florida. Mauer had a minor procedure to clean up his knee in early December, 2010. His chosen method of rehab was rest. His mantra was baby steps. It is all documented and if I need to dig it up for you I will. By coincidence, Russell Martin had the same procedure (also in December of 2010) and he came into training camp doing handstands. He an all-star season that year. This notion that nothing can be gleaned from a photograph or a video just makes me shake my head. Those most recent photos of Mauer were ridiculous. If he wanted to show people he was healthy and strong those pictures do not inspire confidence in me. Those pictures are only part of a much larger puzzle. I am in the camp that believes Joe could do no harm working on strength during the off season. Maybe you don't think that matters? I don't know

I also am not sure why Joe would say anything was blown out of proportion. His statements implied that he was still having post-concussion symptoms....for TWO YEARS. How can he not say thing one about it if that is the case? Further....how does his inner circle completely fan on this one and not even pick up on it? I guess to heck with it.

You are implying that we have read about Mauer lately isn't to be believed. However, I am not talking about how the media is framing this. I am talking about the pictures and Joe's own words. Nothing else. And if anything, the PP story was written with the best intentions. They were trying to show us that Mauer as training hard. They presented nothing to make me feel that he is. The article actually had the opposite effect. To say "the media" somehow "framed" Mauer to look bad is quite an accusation on your part. I think Mauer made himself look bad. Here is hoping he can bounce back this season.

Did he say Joe doesn't squat more than 55lbs? The fact is, PP ran an article on Joe's training regimine and he gave them the OK to take pictures. The only picture that was taken out of 8 or 9 (where he is actually working with weights) s one of him doing 55lb squats. If the point they wanted to make was that Joe worked hard on building strength this winter both the author of the story and Mauer did a poor job conveying that to us. At the very least, that picture is a ridiculous picture to put out there.. THe pictures of Joe chatting with Jake, him walking, tying his shoes, drinking water, and turning to one side while grimacing are equally as ridiculous. They took 9 pictures of him supposedly "grinding it out" in the weight room and that is what we get? This isn't the first time he tried to show us how hard he works on this strength and conditioning. Here is Joe doing an upper body workout: http://www.snappytv.com/snaps/upper-body-workout-time-for-an-upper-body-workout-joe-puts-about-spotlight-joe-mauer-all-access-on-foxsportsnorthcom What we get is a very disinterested Mauer going through a lackluster workout. I think what JOe does (or doesn't do) during the off season has hurt him. His approach to working out is like his approach at the dish....stay back....don't try to do too much...maybe work out a walk That is just the way he is. I see nothing from him that says he approaches his workouts any differently. I don't see that as being "petty". I

I know. Even more bizarre is a few days later the Pioneer Press runs a "hey, how's the wife and kids" story up the pole. Misdirection? Maybe. Pointless and strangely timed? Absolutely. Questions need to be answered before Joe proceeds with his season. No player should be doing self-diagnosis. Not with post-concussion syndrome being in the equation.

I don't agree. If anything Ryan would rather give the nod to Suzuki because he overzealously extended him a couple of years ago, in season. With Murphy, Ryan can take the "he's a prospect angle" I gotta say I am very surprised that a lot of people are upset about losing Hicks. He had some success for a brief period last year. Other than, he has been a bad first round pick. He's accomplished very little beyond AA and his 26 years old. It seems because he is fast, has a great arm, is regarded as an athlete....this means he has boundless potential. I don't see it that way. There are tons of great athletes who cannot cut in the majors for whatever reason. First of all, if you can't hit....then you aren't a major leaguer. Hicks proved he could hit a little last year, but I have my doubts the guy can hold up to the mental grind. That is a lot of the game as well. Hicks was given many many chances. How many more do you give the guy? Maybe he takes off with another organization, but I do not think he was going to here. I am glad we have a major league ready catcher

It's really hard to say now. I think I might have started this thread a little too early. I think Suzuki is the starter until further notice and as far as comfort levels and pitchers...of course the starters will probably lean toward the incumbent

This....so much this. It is what I am afraid of, actually. How long do the Twins keep Murphy at an arm's length in order to give Suzuki playing time (because TR overzealously extended him two years ago)?

I am new here so I am not sure who or how he has been overrated. Perhaps I am overrating him by thinking we made a good trade?

This is the sort of thing that I am concerned about because the subjectivity of some pitchers begins to factor in and I feel it should be up to Molitor. I would also say Murphy's defense is very strong. He is agile behind the plate and is excellent at blocking balls

There is no way of determining who got the better of that trade after one season. It is possible to have a good trade for both teams. I am not interested in who won the trade anyway. I'm interested in what people think will happen in ST and beyond because the Twins had a big problem at catcher last year with Suzuki. For the record, I am not lamenting the loss of Hicks.

I was very pleased when the Twins dealt Hicks for JR Murphy. I think Murphy has excellent potential to be a solid major league catcher for a number of years. I think he might be able to start on that right away. The Twins, however, have the veteran incumbent Suzuki. Suzuki has garnered a lot of respect and is very respected by the staff. I am wondering, will Murphy be at all held back because of partiality/loyalty/salary commitment to Suzuki? I certainly hope not because the Twins obviously needed a catcher since Suzuki cratered down to earth last year. I like Suzuki, but his inability to hit or throw out runners is a big problem. By getting Murphy the Twins tried to address this problem. I guess the thing I am trying to work out in my mind is how much of a chance is Murphy going to get THIS SEASON? To me, a guy like Suzuki is a perfect backup catcher. Not sure if Murphy is ready or not, but no way in heck should Suzuki's presence slow him down if he's hitting and plays defense as advertised. If Murphy can hit around .270, play above average defense (he's very agile behind he plate) and throw out his fair share of runners.....I say play him. Truth be told, I see a 75/25 share going to Suzuki (no matter what) through the first couple of months. It will be interesting to see what the Twins do if Suzuki isn't any better than last year and Murphy is playing well. HOw long might the Twins resist the urge to give Murphy the starting job.........I hope to see Murphy get a lot of at bats down in ST. Here's hoping Murphy isn't in Rochester by June. I'd like to see this kid get shot at being the catcher for the Twins

I agree with both of your points. How is it not that big a deal to keep that from your employer? I can't understand why this is being downplayed as much as it has. It doesn't need to be a huge deal, but it becomes one when Joe refuses to follow up. Now Terry and Molitor have to pick up the slack and make sense of it in the media. Bad job, Mauer. Joe's strikeouts have been on the rise since before his concussion. Joe has always had a lot of bat lag because of his propensity to try to "go the other way" with just about everything. That is more of the reason why he's striking out now. He simply doesn't have the same stuff he did in his 20s. Joe needed to adapt and he has not. This is why shifting has had such a drastic afftect.

If that's "much stronger" I hate to see what weaker looks like. He looks absolutely horrendous

The latest article put out by PP entitled; "Finally healthy, Joe Mauer prepped for what Twins hope is ‘a bounce-back year’" http://www.twincities.com/2016/02/17/finally-healthy-joe-mauer-twins-hope-bounce-back-year/ I know these articles are designed to promote optimism, but as soon as I get to reading and look at those pictures of Joe working out I just shook my head in disgust. Is that him squatting 65lbs wearings gloves?

The Twins definitely like Plouffe, even though they didn't give him an extension. I am of the belief that Plouffe could have been moved last year. I am probably one of the few who thought that it was time to see if Sano can play third base. It looks like the Twins don't think he can since they are moving him to the outfield--a move I do not like. They probably could have gotten a decent return for Plouffe at the trade deadline, but Ryan is adamant about Plouffe's value to this club. For me it comes down to this..... Sano is a top prospect, one who is about as good as any the Twins have had....EVER. How is it that a guy like Trevor Plouffe (a decent player) blocks him from the position he was groomed to play in the minors? Sano played well over 300 games at third in the minors and now they are sending him to the outfield? That just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I was listening to sports radio WFAN this morning on my drive into and they announced the USA Today rankings. I was flabbergasted by that pick. I think the White Sox are emerging, but it is far too soon call them the favorite--no matter what periodical we are talking about. Looks like the series with the Sox will have some juice again I am going to have to start hating on them again, I guess

With or without optimism there needs to be rational thinking. Optimism (or the lack thereof) should never trump that. There needs to be no grey area here. Joe threw up the red flag himself. Having blurry vision and alluding to post-concussion side effects in the way he did got everyone's attention. Now he is saying it is "overblown" and he refuses to say anything more. Maybe the Twins should stop listening to him altogether? Either perform, or be benched. Stay healthy or we will simply discard and replace. Joe is right. We are overthinking it. Put him through concussion protocols, get him to an eye doctor and report it on mlb.com. Simple as that. He should be treated like any other player on the team. I think he's earned that

The real question should be..... How is it that Joe said absolutely nothing and that no one in his inner circle (or with the Twins) had enough of a clue to do anything about it? With what we know about concussions now, that's seems almost outrageous to me.

i have a problem with that if it is true. This means that Mauer simply played on without letting anyone know. He gets no points for that given what we know about concussions. That is straight up nuts. The other thing is that the Twins, his support system, everyone surrounding him allowed him to play on with these symptoms for TWO SEASONS. I simply cannot reconcile that. It is such a far-reaching assumption. If Joe played two years with these lingering symptoms aren't the Twins grossly negligent in allowing him to play? Isn't Joe flippin nuts for not saying thing one until just now? This is just straight up weird and it speaks to Joe's lack of regard for accurate communication. There always seems to be a veneer of mystery. I think Joe wants it that way. Odd

There are a number of people on Twitter who celebrated his death, the doubled down and stated that now they wish Thomas would be next: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2016/02/13/clarence-thomas-trends-on-twitter-as-users-hope-he-dies-next-n2119313 I also think the title had an exclamation point for a reason. The OP can deny it, but it was to be provocative. If he's trying to say that exclamation point has no meaning then he should edit it out. Just my opinion. And by the way, those Twitter posts are outrageous. The fact that these people can openly celebrate his death, put their name and face next to it and then say they hope Thomas is next? As you say, it is disgraceful

With what we know about concussions, there needs to be no grey area. Either Joe is clear to play or he is not. Simple as that. Put him through concussion protocols, give him a full evaluation. Get his vision checked from soup to nuts. He should not step into a batting cage until this happens. If he refuses then he doesn't play. I personally think it is outrageous to assume that he still has had post-concussion issues for TWO YEARS and it has just stayed under the radar while he's continued to play. This implies that the Twins and Joe's entire support system can't connect dots or that Joe has never said anything about after TWO YEARS. That is just absurd. I gotta put a lot of the blame on Joe for not having the common sense to speak up. I'm sorry, but what in the world is he thinking??