tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post3415958986321683356..comments2023-11-12T06:43:15.351-05:00Comments on Twins Fan From Afar: Joe Mauer's 2012: What's a Good Outcome from the Fan's Standpoint?Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01193037924987429075noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-39062818140513141182012-02-04T22:48:42.863-05:002012-02-04T22:48:42.863-05:00i think it is sad that any player with mauer's...i think it is sad that any player with mauer's size can't hit at least 30 home runs a year. remember.... mantle hit for average and power, so does albert. no reason joe can't. he is in the prime age years now. time to step up and be what you can be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-15343647555225402242012-02-04T10:49:21.577-05:002012-02-04T10:49:21.577-05:00Last 2 Anonymous, thanks for the comments. In a pe...Last 2 Anonymous, thanks for the comments. In a perfect world, I agree that Mauer would hit over 20 HR and drive in over 100 RBIs. I was trying to be realistic and think -- apart from HR and RBIs -- how Mauer can rack up enough value to be worth the salary. And it comes down to excellent defense and batting over .300. There still aren't many catchers that get on base at more than a .400 clip, and Mauer will almost certainly do that if healthy. <br /><br />Look at Matt Wieters last year. Here was his line: .262/.328/.450, 22 HR and 68 RBIs. Fangraphs says that he was worth $19.2 million. He had a .995 fielding percentage and threw out 37% of runners. That's just one example, but clearly a catcher that can hit better than average, and can throw out a decent percentage of runners, provides more value than, say, an outfielder or a first baseman with a similar offensive stat line. When you're talking about Mauer's value, Wieters is a better comp than Crawford or Quinten, in my opinion.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193037924987429075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-42418710231356775912012-02-03T17:52:27.352-05:002012-02-03T17:52:27.352-05:00Only in Minnesota would you pay a guy MVP money an...Only in Minnesota would you pay a guy MVP money and call getting not quite Carlos Quentin numbers "earning" his salary. There is ZERO reason Mauer can't be expected to have 20+ HRs and 100+ RBIs. You can get guy that hits 10 HRs out of AAA on callups. For all the gimmicky stats in baseball today your #3 hitter needs to play almost every day, reach base, and drive in runs period. For $23 million that's not a lot to ask.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-48774209349668256592012-02-03T17:23:03.943-05:002012-02-03T17:23:03.943-05:00Mauer has to hit .300 with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI to ...Mauer has to hit .300 with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI to "earn" his contract. I mean let's be honest here, there are no other hitters making $20+ Million/Yr that have never had 30 HR or 100 RBI in a season. Well, maybe Carl Crawford but that was a bad contract also. His value is as a catcher, so he should catch 130-140 games. Since he his not going to be a .900+ OPS He has to be the best catcher in baseball. Otherwise they could have Verlander and Avila for $23 Mill/Yr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-57630047941123445212012-02-03T13:08:42.451-05:002012-02-03T13:08:42.451-05:00I want to see him catch 125+ games,Hit at least .3...I want to see him catch 125+ games,Hit at least .320,40+ doubles would be nice,15 HR's & 90+ RBI'S would be great,cut way down on his ground balls to 2nd base,along with his K's,and just come thru with more clutch hits like he use to. To be the guy that you don't want to pitch to with guys on base(like he use to be)!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-49718495758050819222012-02-03T12:46:06.472-05:002012-02-03T12:46:06.472-05:00Hey Your blog is great!! Can I add it to my blog l...Hey Your blog is great!! Can I add it to my blog list? I also have a sports blog on blogger. it's wherefantasymeetsreality@blogspot. check it out! For Mauer I tend not to think about dollars and cents in relation to output. Fact is, Mauer is the heart of that team and he earns his money beyond x's and o's that show up statistically. After last season, all we can really expect is a much better year from both mauer and pretty much the entire team as a whole. Cheers brother!Brian Malenkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221469098523861420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-13780422883563407402012-02-02T11:11:38.871-05:002012-02-02T11:11:38.871-05:00JJ, thanks for the comment. In a perfect world, I ...JJ, thanks for the comment. In a perfect world, I think Mauer does have to catch 120+ games to justify his contract. <br /><br />With the reality of the last 2 seasons (limping into the playoffs in 2010, not having recovered from the surgery to start 2011, and everything that followed) I think the Twins might take a more cautious approach to the number of games caught. Dave St. Peter and Bill Smith have both hinted at 120 being the "magic number," so hopefully you're right. But I would add to that equation: 120 healthy (enough) games. Sure, a half-healthy Mauer is probably better than Butera on his best day, but I think we saw that an ailing Joe Mauer is really just a singles hitter at best.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193037924987429075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-7994054639867739862012-02-02T10:45:21.812-05:002012-02-02T10:45:21.812-05:00If Mauer is not catching 120-125 games in 2012 he ...If Mauer is not catching 120-125 games in 2012 he is not doing the job the Twins paid him to do. Simple as that.jjswolhttp://www.twinstrivia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-63948642372410105232012-02-01T20:41:11.690-05:002012-02-01T20:41:11.690-05:00Thanks for the comments. Yes, I think the 1-senten...Thanks for the comments. Yes, I think the 1-sentence version of what I'm seeking is a 2010+ season. I don't expect 2011, but I hope for a little better than 2010, and also that Mauer isn't limping (metaphorically or physically) into September.<br /><br />Thrylos, I would be fine with 20 games or so at first. I think it's good for the present, and good for long-term planning (depending on what happens with Morneau, and how ready Parmelee is). Depending on what happens with Morneau this season, it's probably a safe bet that Mauer will be, at the very least, taking grounders there in spring training. <br /><br />PK, you're right about the cleanup hitter. Mauer is going to need the opportunity to see some good pitches to hit. That's been part of the problem the last few years. It'll be interesting, on a similar note, to see if there's a reduction in power for Ryan Braun without Prince Fielder batting behind him.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193037924987429075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-40239560527250197382012-02-01T18:40:25.103-05:002012-02-01T18:40:25.103-05:00A/K/A the heel bruise. (I really do know the diff...A/K/A the heel bruise. (I really do know the difference although as I recall, he had a bit of trouble getting the heel to heal.)JB_Iowanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-45906379721354016582012-02-01T18:10:50.209-05:002012-02-01T18:10:50.209-05:00Basically, you're asking for just a little bit...Basically, you're asking for just a little bit better season than he had in 2010 (the year of the heal bruise and the infamous bunt as I recall). If he can stay healthy, he should have no trouble reaching those targets.<br /><br />And I'd be satisfied with that. The big question is whether he can hit the 115/140 target.JB_Iowanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-46542739401207686892012-02-01T17:56:35.983-05:002012-02-01T17:56:35.983-05:00I'd take that from Mauer and consider that a s...I'd take that from Mauer and consider that a successful season. A bonus if he has that kind of year is we will not see much of Butera.<br /><br />One factor that will have at least some impact on Mauer's numbers will be who bats behind him and how well will he/they do. If Morneau is back to form, Mauer will have a big year. If Morneau struggles and Willingham is not moved to bat cleanup, Mauer draws a bunch more walks or starts swinging at too many pitches out of the zone out of frustration.PKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708825681733358856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902093917256814919.post-32195633576167670012012-02-01T17:10:53.672-05:002012-02-01T17:10:53.672-05:00I think that and .850 or .900 OPS with a bunch of ...I think that and .850 or .900 OPS with a bunch of doubles and those 140 games would be fine. <br />I think that the lack of home run power is one thing, but someone like Mauer should be racking up the doubles at Target Field.<br />I suspect, since Doumit in on the squad and there will be a wait and see for Morneau, some of those games will be at 1B as well as at DH. Maybe catch 100 and play 20 each at 1B and DH.thrylos98https://www.blogger.com/profile/15729211884114784386noreply@blogger.com