April 1, 201313 yr Rallying cry for the season. http://i.imgur.com/yN12NPK.jpg Courtesy of r/baseball.
April 1, 201313 yr It's a little shocking to see the Dodgers above the Yankees. I knew it was coming but still, shocking to see someone other than the Yanks riding the top of the list.
April 1, 201313 yr New ballpark and already bottom third in payroll, with nearly a third of that going to a singles hitting part time catcher.
April 1, 201313 yr New ballpark and already bottom third in payroll, with nearly a third of that going to a singles hitting part time catcher. Give em time, they should be in the bottom quintile by as early as next season.
April 1, 201313 yr with nearly a third of that going to a singles hitting part time catcher. Who also happens to be a top five (or at least top ten) hitter in baseball.
April 1, 201313 yr Who also happens to be a top five (or at least top ten) hitter in baseball.He's a good hitter, but do you honestly believe he's a top 10 hitter? Sure, he'll always finish top 10 in the batting race, but that doesnt make him a top 10 hitter!
April 1, 201313 yr He's a good hitter, but do you honestly believe he's a top 10 hitter? Sure, he'll always finish top 10 in the batting race, but that doesnt make him a top 10 hitter! On Base Percentage is more important than Slugging Percentage (not making an out is the most important thing a hitter can do). Once you properly weight OBP against slugging, Mauer is absolutely a top ten hitter. No question.
April 1, 201313 yr On Base Percentage is more important than Slugging Percentage (not making an out is the most important thing a hitter can do). Once you properly weight OBP against slugging, Mauer is absolutely a top ten hitter. No question. I guess for Mauer to be good in some people's minds he can never make an out and must hit a home run at every at bat and must carry the team to victory every time despite the 'weaknesses' around him. Yeah, ok, a bit over the top, but I seriously fail to understand anyone's anti-Mauer arguments.
April 1, 201313 yr I guess for Mauer to be good in some people's minds he can never make an out and must hit a home run at every at bat and must carry the team to victory every time despite the 'weaknesses' around him. Yeah, ok, a bit over the top, but I seriously fail to understand anyone's anti-Mauer arguments. I don't know about some people, but in my mind I don't think it's too much to expect a HR once a week.
April 1, 201313 yr Im not anti-mauer! I think he's great. But he's paid to put up 2009 numbers. That's what got him that contract. I dont expect him to duplicate that season, but for god's sake atleast try to turn on a ball with authority once in a while. His entire focus seems to be his batting average. Im not hating on him. I just expect more. He's still one of my favorites.
April 1, 201313 yr Im not anti-mauer! I think he's great. But he's paid to put up 2009 numbers. That's what got him that contract. I dont expect him to duplicate that season, but for god's sake atleast try to turn on a ball with authority once in a while. His entire focus seems to be his batting average. Im not hating on him. I just expect more. He's still one of my favorites. I blame Target Field, not Mauer. The park just isn't suited for his skillset without a drastic re-tooling of his approach (which I'm sure would lead to a significant drop in average and on-base percentage). Six of one, half dozen of the other. What's more valuable? 10 more homers or .040 of OBP?
April 1, 201313 yr I dont even care about HR's. I'd just like to see him hit more gappers and rbi's. HR's are overrated.
April 1, 201313 yr I dont even care about HR's. I'd just like to see him hit more gappers and rbi's. HR's are overrated. Mauer is an extremely good hitter with runners on base. He converts plenty of runners into RBI... But he needs runners on base in front of him to do it.
April 1, 201313 yr A number of publications are listing the Twins payroll at 75-76 million.USA Today | Sports | MLB | Salaries 2013 Baseball Payrolls, List - MLB - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice
April 1, 201313 yr Mauer is an extremely good hitter with runners on base. He converts plenty of runners into RBI...His statistics dont support that.
April 1, 201313 yr His statistics dont support that. His career OPS with men on base: .921 His career OPS with bases empty: .830
April 1, 201313 yr RBIs lol Now that I know you're on the forum, how have you resisted the temptation to yell MARK DE ROSA in the thread "Players You Would Like the Twins to Sign/Claim"?
April 2, 201313 yr It's a little shocking to see the Dodgers above the Yankees. I knew it was coming but still, shocking to see someone other than the Yanks riding the top of the list. The Yankees will do whatever is necessary to get below the 189M luxury tax threshold next year. It will be interesting to see if they can stay the course and not sign anyone after what looks to be a dreadfully awful season for them. Youk is their 2nd best hitter until Granderson/Tex returns.
April 2, 201313 yr Now that I know you're on the forum, how have you resisted the temptation to yell MARK DE ROSA in the thread "Players You Would Like the Twins to Sign/Claim"? Ha!
April 2, 201313 yr A number of publications are listing the Twins payroll at 75-76 million.USA Today | Sports | MLB | Salaries 2013 Baseball Payrolls, List - MLB - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice It depends on if you count money to starting pitchers in the minor leagues relearning how to pitch again once they are healthy.The other way to put it would be the total for contracts on the major league roster versus total for all major league contracts. Semantics on how you want to make things look.
April 2, 201313 yr Author I'm going to love seeing the Dodgers number go a lot higher next year too. Kershaw is going to be making stupid money.
April 2, 201313 yr His statistics dont support that. Except for all of his...ummm...actual statistics.
April 2, 201313 yr His statistics absolutely support that Funny, it's so easy to twist statistics to make them say whatever you want them to say. When I said statistics, I was referring to his rbi totals, which except for 2009 have been embarrassingly low for a #3 hitter.
April 2, 201313 yr Funny, it's so easy to twist statistics to make them say whatever you want them to say. When I said statistics, I was referring to his rbi totals, which except for 2009 have been embarrassingly low for a #3 hitter. RBI totals, by themselves, tell you nothing. The way he hits with runners on base and the way he hits with RISP tell the story. There's no way to twist those....they are how they are. Willingham with RISP last year: .287/.424/.535 in 205 plate appearances. 8 HR/73 RBI/46Ks Mauer with RISP last year: .372/.500/.514 in 192 plate appearances. 3 HR/72 RBI/22Ks Who did better with RISP? Mauer did...even with Josh having an overall career year for him. Edited April 2, 201313 yr by ThePuck
April 2, 201313 yr All in all, I still like Joe Mauer. I just expect more. I want numbers similar to what he put up in 2009. That's what he's getting paid to do. That's what got him his monster contract. How is this so hard for some people to grasp?
April 2, 201313 yr RBI totals, by themselves, tell you nothing. Now I know you're screwing with me. And I swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. Stupid me.
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