No dilemma. If Joe Mauer is on the active roster and I'm down by a run with a runner on 2nd, bottom of the 9th with 2 outs, I want Joe Mauer up to bat. A patented Joe Mauer single scores a run. That's what he does.

This may be a lost season, but it's too soon to think it's a lost career. He may yet be shaking long term effects from his concussion, or back issues.

Joe Mauer, I expect, will return to being Joe Mauer.

Would you have rather the Twins let Joe Mauer walk instead of signing his extension? I would have seriously considered finding a new franchise to follow had that happened. I'm happy to have Joe on this ball club, even if he's injured and having a down season. There aren't many players in baseball hitting .270 or better, and Joe's clearly getting more money that his on field value this season, but signing him was the right move for the organization. At this point the money doesn't matter, it's already spent.

I don't get that blog, huhguy? I don't know why I'm even responding. No, you're not going to sit him on the bench. You're going to play him pretty much every day when he's healthy, and you're going to hope and assume that he'll be a .300/.380/.450 type of guy the next four years. 

Like Paul said.. who cares about the money? It's spent. Can't take it back, and they would have done the same thing 4 years ago when they did it. 

Let me ask you this, if he continues to hit 270 do you still want him to play?

Right there with Seth, not sure why I'm even responding.

Was your intent with this blog to simply be provocative in nature?

The money is spent, the move to 1B has happened. End of story.

We can all ramble at length about different pressures learning a new position full time, placing pressure on himself to produce at what is traditionally a power position, missing playing catcher, the twins keep him up at night, or a switch from 2% to skim milk in his daily diet. At the end of the day, admitted or not, the truth is pretty self evident; Mauer has still been recovering from post concussion syndrome. It's still a relatively new phenomena to deal with in a contact sport such as football, much less a light contact sport such as baseball.

Koskie, a great guy, a great ballplayer, and a great Twin had his career ruined, and his life impacted, before anyone even knew much of anything about this issue. Morneau has suffered the same, and only this year has recovered. And he has spoken of his final recovery, and his thoughts about Joe. If the Twins could rewind, and have just a little more information available, I believe they would have kept Morneau. The two of them would make an excellent pair of DH/1B if only. Joe was actually starting to feel good at the plate, and starting to look like his real self before his oblique injury.

Not every ballplayer, even big strong athletic ball players, are made to be HR hitters. Wade Boggs was asked to hit third for the Red Sox on year, and his power numbers rose, though his vaunted BA and OB% lowered. If he were to alter his approach, perhaps Mauer could do the same. But at the end of the day, Mauer has one of the smoothest strokes in all of baseball, and is one of its best pure hitters. He's a true and pure .300 hitter with at/near/above .400 OB% who can consistently stroke 40ish doubles with double digit power that could approach high teens with 150 games played. All numbers I'd expect in 2015 if healthy and truly over the concussion.

And for anyone who doubts a quality 1B that can flat out hit and produce without being a true power threat, see; Grace, Mark...Joyner, Wally...Hernandez, Keith.

A back injury requires serious lifestyle changes to recover.  Mauer needs to do the work necessary to prevent recurring pain.  This may include changes to his batting stance and swing.  A healthy Joe Mauer is always a Twins asset, regardless of what position he is playing.

Let me ask you this, if he continues to hit 270 do you still want him to play?

Well, it's pretty much better than anybody else on the team is hitting now (with apologies to Suzuki and Santana who are exceeding that "lofty" mark.)

This is a warning for Joe Mauer.

Tiger Woods withdraws from a Golf Tournament due to a back injury,

Come back too soon OR don't do your back therapy OR don't do everyday things the right way = You will re-injure your back.

We may have seen the last of the excellent Joe Mauer, baseball player. 

Let me ask you this, if he continues to hit 270 do you still want him to play?

Yes, for sure if his OBP is .360+

A back injury requires serious lifestyle changes to recover.  Mauer needs to do the work necessary to prevent recurring pain.  This may include changes to his batting stance and swing.  A healthy Joe Mauer is always a Twins asset, regardless of what position he is playing.

I could be wrong, but Joe has an oblique injury, NOT a back injury. Trevor Plouffe and Drew Bree's both had similar injuries, and have done fine after rehab.

By the time he is finished, Joe Mauer will go down as one of the 10th greatest Twins of all time. Deal with it.....

The problem is position, you want your first baseman to be your power rbi guy...

Joe Mauer is a great guy, and he used to be a great catcher. However, even if he comes back and gets his average back up to .350, he's still going to be a singles hitter at a power position.

Best scenario for all concerned would be to trade Mauer to the Red Sox, where he could play right field like Cuddyer and bang 80 doubles per year off the Green Monster. His bat doesn't fit the way the Twins want to build a team here, but in Boston he would have well over 100 RBI per year until he can't wave a stick anymore.

Jimbo,

Thats exactly what Ive been trying to say.

thanks

I don't get that blog, huhguy? I don't know why I'm even responding. No, you're not going to sit him on the bench. You're going to play him pretty much every day when he's healthy, and you're going to hope and assume that he'll be a .300/.380/.450 type of guy the next four years. 

 

Like Paul said.. who cares about the money? It's spent. Can't take it back, and they would have done the same thing 4 years ago when they did it. 

I am right with you Seth.  Had the Twins not signed Joe to an extension (years/$$$ can be argued) the fan base would have been MORE THAN ENRAGED...moving into new park not spending $$$ you said you would etc.....an extension had to be done.  He is having an off year this year NO DOUBT!!!!!  He is NEVER EVER going to hit 20+ dingers/year on a consistent basis.  I would be very surprised if next year he isnt in the .330/.430-obp 45 doubles 15HR range.  That is something that we as fans should expect and he should deliver on.  Those type of stats are not out of line at all. It can certainly be entertained in the not too distant future about a position move if you can get more power out of 1b elsewhere.  I have always thought LF would be an ideal position if not 1b.  Catching again is NOT going to happen!!!  I believe he also has a pretty solid no trade clause in the contract as well.  I just don't see Joe wanting to jump ship to chase a ring.  I see him as wanting to win one here or not win one at all.   

I really doubt that,if he could win a ring, he would be NOT be willing to motor...I think LF is a very good option for him if not center.....but we really cant afford to waste the easiest position on the field on a no pwoer, no rbi guy...what I expect to happen is for Minnesota to swallow hard eat the contract as Joe ages out...and you know what thats not the worst thing in the world, he would retire as one of the best if not the best Twin ever..our franchise could use a few more role models