Joe Mauer and his home run

[jwmiller33]

I think Ben Revere is going to be replacing Span in center and at the lead off spot come next year. Revere reminds me a lot of span. Hits for average, great speed, elite defense and doesn't have much power. What sets him apart is he is a great base runner and doesn't strikeout as much as span.

[Big Dave2]

You have to look at value by position sometimes, like ted is saying above. D. Span is a decent player (a .300 hitter and 30 stolen bases is pretty valuable)...but outfielders are a dime a dozen compared to catchers.

If star outfielders are a dime a dozen, why don't the Twins have at least one?

[jwmiller33]

D. Span is a decent player (a .300 hitter and 30 stolen bases is pretty valuable)

Span is yet to steal 30 bases in a season and hit 300 once. Last year he stole 26 and batted 263. I'd hardly call that decent

[SledNeck]

I think Ben Revere is going to be replacing Span in center and at the lead off spot come next year. Revere reminds me a lot of span. Hits for average, great speed, elite defense and doesn't have much power. What sets him apart is he is a great base runner and doesn't strikeout as much as span.

I don't see that happening

[jwmiller33]

I don't see that happening

ya... and I don't see Span hitting .300 w/ 30 SBs anytime soon. I do however see him getting caught stealing 30 times sometime soon

[Big Dave2]

He's a great player, no doubt. But his contract is going to be the death of the twins.

AMEN!

[blue_healer_guy]

If your talking about mauers contract I agree 100%. Its not that he isnt worth it, which i think he is not, its an excuse why we cant ad 4 players like him becuz of the twins way. Actually i wouldnt want 4 more like him, to soft.

[Big Dave2]

Yes, it is the fact that Mauer's contract will be the death of the Twins organization that I was AMENing.

Everybody always says that outfielders that hit near .300 with power are a dime a dozen. If that is the case, why then wouldn't you rather stick 23 mil a year into 3 outfielders that will bat .300 with power instead of 1 catcher who may bat .320 with inconsistant power and will play less games per year than any outfielder would?

[greebs]

the math makes sense except you won't find three outfielders that hit for .300 and with power that you can sign for that kind of money. that's basically what the team has right now for salary for the three outfielders.

[bowhunternw]

When you look at them both, and take away Joes 1 great year, they have pretty similar stats in the only 2 that count (runs batted in and runs scored). Not saying he isn't a good guy to have but to me he is average. Funny how some of these guys have standout years when it is time to sign contrats. I think they should have performance based pay in sports. 1 million for signing, 1 million if batting over .300, 1 million for every 10 homeruns etc....

[mainbutter]

I think they should have performance based pay in sports. 1 million for signing, 1 million if batting over .300, 1 million for every 10 homeruns etc....

There are plenty of "incentive" bonuses in players' contracts, but I am a fan of the idea that there should be MORE incentive bonuses with less up front money. Mandatory, regular testing for performance enhancers would have to accompany any such contract for any player.

[jwmiller33]

silly Twins... what were they thinking... going out and signing one of the best players at his position in baseball to a long term contract during his prime.... they should go back to the days of $30Mil payroll and being the cheapest team in baseball

[Big Dave2]

silly Twins... what were they thinking... going out and signing one of the best players at his position in baseball to a long term contract during his prime.... they should go back to the days of $30Mil payroll and being the cheapest team in baseball

They would probably win the same amount of World Series chamionships either way.

[jwmiller33]

They would probably win the same amount of World Series chamionships either way.

I'd rather see em swing and miss than strikeout looking. Pardon the pun

[Big Dave2]

I'd rather see em swing and miss than strikeout looking. Pardon the pun

In the scorecard it's still a strikeout.

[JBMasterAngler]

What good is having one of the best players in baseball if he only plays 3/4 of the season...and that's when he's healthy!!! And since he never is (and never was), knock it down to 2/3 or less of the season.

[jwmiller33]

In the scorecard it's still a strikeout.

at least they are making an attempt... would you rather see them go back to the days of being in the lowest 5% of the league in payroll? Because that is what it sounds like to me.... God forbid the Twins went out and actually signed a big time player to a big time contract, something many of you have been complaining for years that the Twins have never done...

Funny thing is, I'd bet those of you complaining about the Mauer contract are the same ones that would be whining if the Twins let his contract expire and Mauer went into free agency and signed with the Yanks. Similar to the Johan fiasco

Those of you opposed to the Twins giving Mauer that contract, let me ask you this... How many of you were in favor of shipping Ramos to Washington last year?

[mrklean]

only 8 more years of complaining about Mauer's salary to go

[jwmiller33]

only 8 more years of complaining about Mauer's salary to go

no one is forcing you to be a Twins fan

[zepman]

I don't think anyone would complain if he'd just grow a pair.

[jwmiller33]

if you don't like the show, change the channel

[InTheNorthwoods]

no one is forcing you to be a Twins fan

I think the same can be said to the people who are complaining about the 8 year deal. I'll assert it is more appropriate.

[CodyDawg]

Would you naysayers actually rather have 3-4 average players than one elite player? Really? Guess what, you dont win championships with average players. Might not with Joe either, but I darn well know that you dont with roster full of .270/10/60 type players.

[jwmiller33]

Would you naysayers actually rather have 3-4 average players than one elite player? Really? Guess what, you dont win championships with average players. Might not with Joe either, but I darn well know that you dont with roster full of .270/10/60 type players.

Exactly! And I like how everyone is writing off Joe and his contract THREE weeks into the first season. Geez. Talk about a tough crowd to please. God forbid a play gets hurt, burn him [and the organization] at the stake.

I commend the Twins for taking a step in the right direction [ie not letting his contract expire and let Joe test the Free Agent waters] for puting together a franchise that actually has a chance of advancing in the playoffs. Maybe they didn't do it last year, and maybe they won't do it this year, but I laugh at someone who says the Twins have a better chance at doing so without Joe Mauer than with him.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... No one is forcing you to be a Twins fan and if you don't like the show, CHANGE THE CHANNEL (literally and figuratively of course)

[DonBo]

Exactly! And I like how everyone is writing off Joe and his contract THREE weeks into the first season. Geez. Talk about a tough crowd to please. God forbid a play gets hurt, burn him [and the organization] at the stake.

I commend the Twins for taking a step in the right direction [ie not letting his contract expire and let Joe test the Free Agent waters] for puting together a franchise that actually has a chance of advancing in the playoffs. Maybe they didn't do it last year, and maybe they won't do it this year, but I laugh at someone who says the Twins have a better chance at doing so without Joe Mauer than with him.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... No one is forcing you to be a Twins fan and if you don't like the show, CHANGE THE CHANNEL (literally and figuratively of course)

I agree 100%!!!! The same people who are down on Joe and the Twins for this deal would be screaming twice as loud if they'd have let him go.

[SledNeck]

Trade Joe Mauer for a roof for target field??????

[jwmiller33]

if we are going to trade Joe Mauer for anything, it should be for some non fair weather fans

[luckyworm]

If I remember correctly didn't Joe Mauer start the 2009 season on the DL for the first month and a half? And I think everyone knows how he finished the season after he came off the DL.

Everyone needs to remember a baseball season is 162 games long. The season is a roller coaster with many ups and downs. The Twins have played 21 games...everyone needs to chill out!

Also, I truly believe Mauer will not be the Twins starting catcher within the next two years. I think he will be moved to one of the corner outfield or infield positions. In my opinion they need him healthy and playing every day...not 3 out of 4 days.

[jwmiller33]

luckyworm, GREAT reference to the 2009 season! you bring up a great point. he is 1.7% into his new contract (23 games into a 8 season contract) and people are already writing him and the Twins off... Minnesota might have the most fair weather fans out of any state/franchise

[mrklean]

this is what this entire thread reminds me of