If Mauer was in the NL, he wouldn't even make the All Star Team as a bench player. Buster Posey and Yadier Molina are much better defensively and know how to hit the ball over the fence. Maybe if he played first base his power number might increase, but for now we have to just sit back and enjoy watching him hit 2-out singles up the middle to pad that batting average

If Mauer was in the NL, he wouldn't even make the All Star Team as a bench player. Buster Posey and Yadier Molina are much better defensively and know how to hit the ball over the fence. Maybe if he played first base his power number might increase, but for now we have to just sit back and enjoy watching him hit 2-out singles up the middle to pad that batting average

 

You mean the same Yadier Molina that has 27 dbls and 7 HR's compared to Mauer's 30 dbls and 8 HR's?

Mauer, Molina, and Posey are all within .4 WAR of each other on Fangraphs. I didn't run the numbers through any statistical programs, but, I would wager those are not statistically significant variations.

 

Statistically, here is how they break down:

 

Offensive value- 1. Posey 2. Mauer 3. Molina

Defensive value- 1. Molina 2. Mauer 3. Posey (keeping in mind that defensive metrics have subjective elements)

Baserunning value- 1. Mauer 2. Posey 3. Molina

 

The Giants have played two more games than the Twins; the Cardinals have one more than the Twins. A couple good or bad games by a catcher can move the WAR a few tenths of a digit: why else would Chris Herrmann be the Twins' 5th most valuable hitter in 16 PAs?