Gardy quote about Mauer

[longstrangetrip]

 

Maybe a little hyperbole here, but the concept is still valid. It seems to me that defenses are taking a lot of hits away from Joe this year with their reverse shift. But many of those lineouts would be off the Green Monster in Boston. Sort of like all of those front row left center home runs Joe hit in his MVP year that are now flyouts at TC.

 

I'm still hoping that Joe will adjust to the defensive shift and begin pulling the ball, but it's not easy to change your approach to hitting when you're already in your 30's.

 

Since Boston is one of the only teams that would consider absorbing Mauer's contract, and because I'm convinced he would be a doubles machine in Boston, does a deal make sense? Mauer for some great prospects and a lot of payroll freedom? I never would have suggested this before this year because any thought of trading Mauer would have been a terrible idea from a PR perspective. But as I heard the boos last night, I realized that Joe is no longer untouchable.

 

Would you be on board with trading Mauer if we could get a decent return from Boston?

[amjgt]

But according to Jayson Stark, Mauer is one of the most "shift-proof" players. Which is, of course, ridiculous.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10992556/mlb-five-most-shift-proof-hitters

 

I guess Stark is only looking at the infield, because I'd argue that Joe has been hurt by outfield shifts more than any player I've seen.

[Kwak]

Mauer won't change--nor leave--he knows he doesn't have to change. He is so connected to the local machinery there is no reason to jeopardize that in hopes of winning a trophy. It is also likely that he too has "drunk the Kool-Aid" and "believes the Twins will rise again" and maybe win a World Series.

[amjgt]

http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=1857&position=C&type=battedball

 

Looks to me like Mauer would have at most 11 more hits off the green monster, and more likely 7 more hits.

 

Unfortunately we can't look at those 7 hits in a vacuum. He'd also have fewer line drive hits to LF because the left fielder would be playing in further.

[longstrangetrip]

But according to Jayson Stark, Mauer is one of the most "shift-proof" players. Which is, of course, ridiculous.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10992556/mlb-five-most-shift-proof-hitters

 

 

I guess Stark is only looking at the infield, because I'd argue that Joe has been hurt by outfield shifts more than any player I've seen.

 

It's amazing to me how many of Joe's outs are liners to left or 4-3's. An infield shift is not a good idea for Joe, but you're right about the effectiveness of the outfield shift.

[amjgt]

Mauer won't change--nor leave--he knows he doesn't have to change. He is so connected to the local machinery there is no reason to jeopardize that in hopes of winning a trophy.

 

Plus, then who would run Mauer Chev?

[amjgt]

It's amazing to me how many of Joe's outs are liners to left or 4-3's. An infield shift is not a good idea for Joe, but you're right about the effectiveness of the outfield shift.

 

I think it was last night, but it could have been two nights ago....

Joe hit a laser to the gap in left-center, right at the center fielder. The OF shift is killing him.

[Boom Boom]

Can we trade Target Field for Fenway Park?

[Mike Sixel]

Is it really a surprise that someone in this organization has an excuse, rather than being accountable?

[righty8383]

Or Maybe Mauer, supposedly one of the most gifted hitters this organization has ever seen, could adjust his approach a little so that more of his well struck balls aren't going to the same spot. Easier said than done I'm sure, but has to be done nonetheless if Joe wants to regain the level of respectability he once had.

[Boom Boom]

I wonder what Mauer's hypothetical batting average would be at Minute Maid, Great American, The Trop, Jacob's Field, Comiskey, Candlestick...

 

My guess is it would be about the same as it is right now.

[Marta Shearing]

I don't think joe has hit many balls this year that would have even reached the green monster.

[Mike Sixel]

His strikeouts are up, and his walks are down. His BABIP is low for him, sure.....but that is not the sole cause of his issues

[chuchadoro]

"Hey, let's give up some good prospects to add a declining singles hitter to man 1st base and pay him $23m/yr through his age 35 season" is something Ben Cherington would never say ever in his life.

 

The only way the Twins could move Mauer would include them picking up a large portion of his contract like an ARod or Prince trade (minus the Soriano/Kinsler-type return). This won't happen because:

 

A. the Pohlads are cheap

B. the parochial, provincial portion of the fanbase would revolt

C. the return would seem underwhelming to many

D. Joe feels at home and his mom always keeps the icebox full of delicious, nutritious Kemps products. I believe he just got his 10 and 5 rights

 

I came to appreciate Mauer again last year as an OBP machine playing a premium position. It's tougher to find a silver lining with a 1st baseman hitting .280 with a .079 ISO eating up 30% of the payroll.

[Marta Shearing]

I think it was last night, but it could have been two nights ago....

Joe hit a laser to the gap in left-center, right at the center fielder. The OF shift is killing him.

He could always adapt. Thats what great hitters do. Something's gotta change.

[cmathewson]

Two months of bad luck. How many players in Twins history had a career BA over .320? How many of them had a year like this at some point? People don't understand how much of baseball is luck.

[ScrapTheNickname]

"Hey, let's give up some good prospects to add a declining singles hitter to man 1st base and pay him $23m/yr through his age 35 season" is something Ben Cherington would never say ever in his life.

 

The only way the Twins could move Mauer would include them picking up a large portion of his contract like an ARod or Prince trade (minus the Soriano/Kinsler-type return). This won't happen because:

 

A. the Pohlads are cheap

B. the parochial, provincial portion of the fanbase would revolt

C. the return would seem underwhelming to many

D. Joe feels at home and his mom always keeps the icebox full of delicious, nutritious Kemps products. I believe he just got his 10 and 5 rights

 

I came to appreciate Mauer again last year as an OBP machine playing a premium position. It's tougher to find a silver lining with a 1st baseman hitting .280 with a .079 ISO eating up 30% of the payroll.

 

a) There may be no cheap way out.

If his decline continues the fanbase will revolt.

c) The return either way, if his decline is real, may be underwhelming.

d) As Joe gets into his 30s the Kemps products will cause him to get a belly, so he'll stop going to Mom's house.

[D. Hocking]

I think he will be able to adapt in time, but is not going to happen overnight. He is over thirty and has been hitting the same way for years -- how he hits is going to be pretty hardwired into him. Its not like he can just flip a switch and change his technque, esp. when you have to react in a split second when facing MLB pitching. Adjustments take time in baseball, even for the good hitters.

 

I also think he has had some bad luck, injury issues, adjusting to a new position etc. that have come into play. It does not take much to throw off one's baseball game. I think things will eventually swing the other way.

[jimv2]

I believe he just got his 10 and 5 rights

 

 

DO 10 and 5 rights have any real meaning when you already have a no-trade contract?

[Thrylos]

 

Maybe a little hyperbole here, but the concept is still valid. It seems to me that defenses are taking a lot of hits away from Joe this year with their reverse shift. But many of those lineouts would be off the Green Monster in Boston. Sort of like all of those front row left center home runs Joe hit in his MVP year that are now flyouts at TC.

 

I'm still hoping that Joe will adjust to the defensive shift and begin pulling the ball, but it's not easy to change your approach to hitting when you're already in your 30's.

 

If you cannot change your approach and adjust when you are 30 years old, you are not Joe Mauer, you are Chris Colabello. Hitters of Mauer's caliber (and paycheck size) must adjust.

[Twins Twerp]

Lets slow down. Joe is fine. He is still hitting above league average. It is a slow start, you guys talking about trades are ridiculous. Any team in the league would die for a star like this. He will turn it around like he always does and end up hitting .320, yet some guys on this site will bitch because he only hit 10 dingers...clueless fans.

[JB_Iowa]

Any team in the league would die for a star like this.

 

 

I strongly doubt that given his change of position and his salary. I think any trade would have to have a pretty good financial contribution from the Twins a la the Fielder deal with Texas.

[JB_Iowa]

• Phil Mackey ‏@PhilMackey 9h
  Per @Fangraphs, Mauer has been worth $500,000 so far this year. He was worth $26 million and $22m in 2013 and 2012. (D and position matter)
   
   
  If you annualize that, it puts his value at about 1.543 million.
   
  Now, I would expect that to go up somewhat but would it go up enough to entice a team to trade something good for him without the Twins kicking in a fairly substantial amount of cash? I highly doubt it.
   
  I'm not advocating trying to trade Mauer. I think the Twins have to make the best of the situation they have because unless your GM is Dave Dombrowski, I don't see how you come out of this smelling very rosy.
   
   
  

[drock2190]

In an ideal world we would trade Suzuki and Pinto would catch everyday. Mauer would spell him on occasion while Herman plays backup catcher. Mauer's value came from catching, at 1st base he is just another mediocre player.

 

Inb4 everyone points to the average and OBP. A 1st baseman is suppose to be a masher that drives in runs. Players that are better at 1st base: Freeman, Cabrera, Goldschmidt, Chris Davis, Anthony Rizzo, Encarncion, Votto, Moss, Abreu, Gonzalez. Even Morneau is debatable. And I didnt even include Pujols because of his monster contract.

 

Fact is, Mauer cant produce like the above mentioned players. I like Mauer, but hes not much of an asset right now.

[stringer bell]

Mauer has not been "fine". His batting average is down, his power is way down, and he has come up short at the most inopportune moments. I've noticed very good play on defense from him in the past week, which to me indicates his back really isn't an issue.

 

If Mauer's health is not an issue, then what can be done to get him hitting. Since he is an ex-MVP and a 31-year-old man, I think a challenge is in order. Put him at the #3 position in the lineup and expect him to be the best hitter on the team. Perhaps he will respond to such a challenge.

[Bark's Lounge]

Mauer has not been "fine". His batting average is down, his power is way down, and he has come up short at the most inopportune moments. I've noticed very good play on defense from him in the past week, which to me indicates his back really isn't an issue.

 

If Mauer's health is not an issue, then what can be done to get him hitting. Since he is an ex-MVP and a 31-year-old man, I think a challenge is in order. Put him at the #3 position in the lineup and expect him to be the best hitter on the team. Perhaps he will respond to such a challenge.

 

I 100% agree with this. I am a Joe Mauer Fan, but enough is enough. No more excuses. No matter how it looks on paper - get Mauer out of the 2 hole. Put him in a more demanding position in the line-up.

 

I understand that not every player can be filled with fire and glory. This may pertain to you Joe. You have two infant kids and a wife, and that can be a handful, you are blessed beyond almost everyone's Joe Blow situation, most men or women have children and they become better executors of their plight in a much, much, much, more lesser situation.

 

Joe. you do not owe any of us an apology, just get your "bleep" together. We will champion you!!!

 

It would be a great disappointment to find out you are complacent and empty.

 

I still believe.

[LaBombo]

Lets slow down. Joe is fine. He is still hitting above league average. It is a slow start, you guys talking about trades are ridiculous. Any team in the league would die for a star like this. He will turn it around like he always does and end up hitting .320, yet some guys on this site will bitch because he only hit 10 dingers...clueless fans.

He's a below-average hitter in the only relevant way to rank hitters, which is by position.

 

21st in wRC, 22nd in WAR (including a brutal -7.3 DEF), 22nd in wOBA, and 23rd in OPS. Out of 27 qualifiers. So he's closer to being bottom five than average, let alone above it or a star.

 

It's likely that at least some of Mauer's slow start is due to injury. It's also possible that some of it is not. If that's the case, and he can't at least come close to duplicating his 2013 numbers, then in less than a year he will have gone from a virtual lock for the HOF to being a non-All Star and one of the most overpaid players in MLB.

 

Big Mauer fan, but that's cause for concern, even when it's a popular local player.

[Jerr]

I love how any mention of Mauer brings out EVERYBODY!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Joe Mauer was one of the best Catchers to ever play. He's not a catcher and hasn't even hit to that caliber. LaBombo is dead on, he needs to get healthy or figure it out.

[LaBombo]

In an ideal world we would trade Suzuki and Pinto would catch everyday.

It would be fine to have Suzuki on the roster even when his Mike Remond hitting impression is over. All it would take is a manager who was willing to watch Pinto learn on the job, and a front office and ownership confident that the franchise would be the better for it.

 

On second thought, you're right. Trade Zukes, even though Mauer is done catching.