D. Hocking

This was kind of cool:

Sometimes the most logical answers are the ones that get missed.

Nice article. Yes -- I always thought a good portion of who was perceived as a leader largely hinged on being verbose when talking with the media. It actually sounds like Joe did more actively take a leadership role the last few years and his teammates do seem to look up to him. I think if you asked them, they would want him back next year. His even keeled -- stick to the routine and focus on the current game -- probably helped set an example that helped prevent the team from completely imploding when they dismantled everything in July. I suspect he was still getting to the ball park early and preparing for the game even when it was apparent that the front office had called it a season. The Twins did a nice job with this video: Watching him put on his catching gear you can see he is almost overwhelmed. https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1046876533313363969

While I am sure this is/was a very hard decision, it does seem like he will be at peace with it. In some ways he already had his big professional heartbreak when he gave up catching. He did a podcast with Corey Koskie about a month ago, where he said he went in a room and cried when made that decision. (the fact that he did that fairly long interview and was pretty open is when I began to think this might be it). I think he grieved when he had to give up the tools of ignorance, where this decision is one of his own making - and while hard, more bittersweet than just bitter. This was a nice gesture:

The way those two little girls ran and jumped into his arms makes me think that he will be just fine if he never plays another game.

Playing both games in a double-header when there is nothing at stake, does make me think that he at least thinks this could be it if he has not already made up his mind. It probably is best for him (not sure I would have said that prior to the latest concussion - because I think he still loves to play), and where the team is at it is probably best to get some of the younger players of the future playing the position (watch they will sign some player past his prime next spring for a veteran presence), but it does seem a little sad to think he will be done. He is the last person from that 2000's Twins era and in many ways he seems like a throw back to another time with his demeanor and style of play that we probably won't see again for awhile. It is nice that he has had a few good moments and milestones the last few weeks and he has been playing pretty well, so if this is it, he will be going out on as positive note as you can for a team that under-performed. Side-note, while the team has not exactly been good the last couple of months, they also did not just completely mail it in when the team was dismantled in July. They have had some bad games, because they aren't that good, but I feel like they are still trying to win and it does not seem like the club house is toxic (although who knows for sure). I don't think you will be hearing any stories of how Mauer was a dark cloud at the end of the losing season.

Taking from the title of this thread "Let's Enjoy It" am not going to do any analysis of whether he should come back or not (think there are enough other threads for that, but just going to enjoy the week. Glad he was able to reach a few more milestones at the end (including tonight. He has really seemed to appreciate some of these moments (which does tend to make me think this might be it). I know a lot of people don't think he has been a good leader, but this past year there have been a few comments from teammates where I have really gotten the impression that they respect him and there could be a lot worse examples in the club t house than him.

Joe does not exactly love doing interviews, and this might mean nothing, but the fact he did this in-depth (for him) interview with Koskie (not to mention his statement to LaVelle) makes me think he is getting ready to say good bye. https://anchor.fm/linklete/episodes/Joe-Mauer--Minnesota-Twins-e264ri/Joe-Mauer-Minnesota-Twins-a57gk0?utm_content=buffer918e6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&sf92548376=1

This might not belong in this thread, but since we probably don't need another Mauer thread, I did think this was kind of a cool story. https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/25/not-vocal-twins-joe-mauer-has-a-quote-on-a-t-shirt/

Yes - whenever he retires there probably won't be an announcement until he cleans out his locker for the last time. They can have a Joe Mauer night at one of the home games the following season. The beginning of the year I would have liked to see him play another year or two, but after the concussion this year, I am leaning towards where I was with Justin at the end and thinking it might be better to retire now to protect the health long term. I suspect having a new baby and the girls entering the age of school age activities might also factor in to his decision.

I am not anti-Molitor, but I think it would be really beneficial having Ripley on the coaching staff somewhere. I am not sure she knows baseball, but she could put together a winning team. While selling is probably the right thing, I can help but feel bad for the players who are left behind. I am sure at some level they still had hopes of winning, and they are seeing their team get dismantled and basically having their bosses concede that they don't have what it takes and they still have two months left to play.

After yesterday's somewhat ugly loss, losing today would have really put a damper on what was otherwise a good home-stand I feel like if it were the 1980's Mauer and Go-Go could have stared in a sitcom of two unlikely roommates with slightly different personalities: https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1018603114541166592 .

Thanks- I think I might hold off. I probably watch too much TV as it is, and cutting out 8 to 10 hours by not watching Legion might not be a bad thing.

How did the season end? Did it remain weird for the sake of being weird or would you recommend it? I liked season 1, but two seasons of weirdness without a sign of a little more coherency might be a bit much.

Hopefully if enough of the other players hit, Dozier can relax a bit and get some hits. I feel like I have seen Mauer nail a pitcher hard more than anyone.

Now that you mention it, this year might be more like 2011 than 2016, or a combination of both. Not that makes me feel any better. Mauer and Morneau were 23 and 25 in 2006. I am not sure I appreciated how young they were when they became key players.

The main question now, is who will play the lead in the movie Hocking - Utility Hero? Sadly, Brad Pitt is now too old for the part. Maybe he could play the role in the sequel that takes place during the LumberKing years.

They played some pretty bad baseball over that period, but I do wonder how much losing four days to the winter that did not end and then flying off to PR messed them up. It certainly does not excuse that stretch and there were flaws exposed that had nothing to do with a disruption of games, but I wonder if that stretch would not have been quite as ugly.

Think he can navigate a space ship?

Luckily it does not matter, because I just mute the announcers and get some excellent commentary and baseball insight reading the TD game thread instead.

Think of some of the pitchers that came up 2011 - 2014 - most of whose names have been banished from my memory. It is nice to see someone with true talent and potential and not someone you break into a cold sweat when you see his name in the line-up.

Nicknames are a lot harder to come up with in the post-Gardenhire era.

Nothing like grasping at straws, but it does seem like two of the more recent losses were not quite as epically disastrous. It really could have been 4 and 11, so really they are practically back in contention... It is nice to see someone have a strong debut and hopefully he can continue to contribute.

This would be pretty amazing with today's special effects. (I have heard it is worth checking out, esp. after the first few episodes). [and yes - how in the hell did they not just shoot Smith in the original series.] http://www.thiel-a-vision.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tybo2.jpg

Are you talking about TV or some of the game threads?