Catching up with Joe Mauer
Posted on November 12th, 2009 – 7:21 AMBy Joe Christensen
Spoke to Joe Mauer on Wednesday night. I know everyone’s biggest question is about his next contract, and he did address that, saying talks haven’t really started. But he was responding to an interview request made Tuesday, after he’d won his second Gold Glove.
Turns out, Mauer was in Chicago while we were there for the GM Meetings. I saw an item in the Chicago Tribune about how Mauer was there as part of a new product unveiling for Gatorade. Mauer said it was a deal where the soft-drink company brings in employees from all over the country and introduces its new products. Turns out, Mauer was invited to speak.
“They made it a little easier for me, with a Q&A, and it worked out real well,” he said. Today’s special guest will be Serena Williams. Later, in the conference, it’ll be Usain Bolt. “Some pretty good athletes and then me,” Mauer said.
Does that mean Mauer will be part of Gatorade’s next ad campaign? “Well, I hope to be,” he said. “It was a good thing for me to kind of get to know them.”
GOLD GLOVE #2
Last year, Mauer said winning his first Gold Glove ranked among his proudest achievements. This one meant a lot, too.
“Being a catcher, especially, taking a lot of pride on the defensive side of things,” he said. “You’re an on-field manager. I take a lot of pride on the defensive side. It’s definitely cool to be voted by coaches and people that are watching you every day, that’s a good thing.”
Mauer remains one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, but this year’s numbers were down. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Mauer had a career-high nine passed balls (after having four in 2008) and caught 26 percent of opposing baserunners, compared to 36 percent last year and 53 percent in 2007.
“I think I might have said this last year — it was kind of a struggle, to tell you the truth,” Mauer said. “We had a very young staff. With a young staff it gets tough to control the running game, calling out pitches and trying to put them in situations where they can succeed. I wish I would have been a little better at throwing out runners and stuff, but I think we all know that takes a little more than the catcher.
“It was a frustrating year, but it was a very rewarding year also, to see those guys improve, definitely toward the end.”
I heard that Mauer led AL catchers in range factor. Not sure that’s the most important stat for a catcher, though, if you remember Mauer’s game-saving tag of the Yankees’ Brett Gardner on May 17, it comes in handy. It was one of the most unbelievable plays I’ve ever seen, and it’s interesting hearing Mauer describe what went through his mind.
“One of the things I like to do is kind of envision myself in different situations, so when they come up, it’s nothing new and I’m not overly excited or anything like that,” Mauer said. “That play, just in general, was one of those kind of plays that I’ve never seen before or even thought of, but just kind of reacting to the situation, knowing what the situation of the game was — if that guy scores, we’re done.
“I knew who was on second base before it happened, so you’re thinking, ‘OK our outfielders are going to be in to have a chance to throw this guy out.’ So you know what kind of speed you have on second. When I saw the ball coming my way, my first thing was try to get an out at first. But it was a long run out there, and the guy Gardner was in the back of my head, too, that he’s probably going to score from this. It all happened pretty quick, but you’ve got to know the situation going in, and if I can get that out at first (second out of the inning), the game’s over anyway.”
I’ll have more from the interview in coming days, including — ahem — coverage of a certain award announcement on Nov. 23 (AL MVP).
96 Responses to "Catching up with Joe Mauer"
It’s funny to me to think of all of that thought process going through Mauer’s head during that Gardner tag and then thinking about what would be going through Gomez’s head in a similar situation. Of course, it would probably also be in spanish… but “Hey, baseball, throw it, where?, anywhere, hard, oops almost fell down, plantain tastes good, how many outs? can’t wait to do some hih-fives…” You get the idea.
Mauer is really something. A true ballplayer.
No worries. As we’ve seen in the past, the Twins keep fairly quite on contract talks.
We’ll know they’ve started once the extension is announced.
Big worries—–Only when the name Joe Mauer is on the dotted line will those be over.
You know the Yankees would probably make him the highest paid player in the history of baseball. Posada is getting older and Joe would make them like an all star team playing the rest of the league.
HAVE FUN !!! GO TWINS !!!
There are lots of plays that Joe has made over the years that are great but the one you referenced is my all time favorite - just outstanding playing and mental awareness to know what was going on in the game and what would happen if that run scored. Can’t imagine that many other catchers in the league could make that play. It’s good to see Joe getting some endorsements going on so that he gets more press since we’re not an East or West coast team. I believe he will get the AL MVP award on the 23rd with maybe Jeter coming in 2nd.
The Twins won’t drag their feet on Mauer. They know he needs to be resigned, and they’re currently working on assembling the team they will step forward with and say “This is who you will be playing with.”
Young, Hardy, Span, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel…
They want to be sure they can put the best product in front of Mauer so he knows they are serious about putting together a run with him at catcher.
The Twins, from a PR stand point, almost have to make this work somehow. First year in new ball park made possible in part because of public money and then the club lets All-Star, maybe MVP and HOF, catcher go after season? Not good PR. We’ll see, I guess.
I knew they should have traded Mauer for Gerald Laird when they had the chance.
Joe
Thanks for rocking this coverage.
It is appreciated.
Interesting that he said “havn’t really started”
So that means probally some back and forth has happened…
Whre is LENIII?
Is he full time at KFAN now?
Yankee fans will never love Mauer like they love Jeter. ARod found that out and he had trouble with it, at least until this recent post season. So, Mauer could go to NY, make a ton of $$$, and be a very good player on a very good team and probably see a lot of post season play. Or, he could sign a hometown discount with the Twins, make a lot of $$, and be hero worshipped. Also, would be assured that his number would be retired and that his kids and grandkids could have a place to come remember him once he’s gone. Hopefully, he thinks like that.
clutter
last I heard he was enjoying himself in vegas. he was there with PA the previous week.
Wherever Mauer winds up playing his next contract out, I think it’s safe to assume it will be a long one. If Mauer plays somewhere for a long time, I think it’s likely his number will be retired there. No problem for his kids and grandkids. Further, he would be more than “a very good player on a very good team.” In his prime, he will be a great player on whatever kind of team he plays for. Further, it’s hard to argue that his chances of winning rings are better here than they are in the Bronx. Or Fenway. I think the Twins simply have to show Mauer the money.
The money and a team capable of winning a playoff series.
this i think to be true:
the yankees, red sox, mets and a few other teams can and will offer more money if he goes to fa.
if the twins low ball (15-18m) him expecting a hometown discount i won’t blame him for leaving. after all the new stadium is partly tax funded and the owners are the richest in baseball.
if they make a real offer in 20m a year range and he turns it down, so be it don’t let the door hit you in the a**.
with the payroll limits the pohlads put on this team paying anyone over 20m a year will make paying for winning talent very hard, see timberwolves and kg.
at this point with nathan, morneau, mauer and cuddy they have 1/2 the payroll tied up in 4 guys. add another 7-8 for a mauer ext. and no money for the help we need.
same as with the wolves if you pay the superstar market rate then you can’t afford to put the best players around him unless you are in ny, bos. big market mega buck making teams.
this imo we have to learn to live with.
I agree with what you said, ggg, but there is another option for the Twins. Payroll is capped at 50 - 52% of revenues per year. That’s a reasonable business model.
However, Joe Mauers, Johan Santanas, and Kirby Pucketts don’t grow on trees. You don’t come by players like that very often. I would like to see ownership say, “We’re sticking to the business model, but we’re going to look at it over a 10 year period; at least while Mauer is in his prime. We’re going to spend maybe as much as 60% while this special player is in his prime. Caveat: we’re going to tear it down and re-build the sucker over the following 5 years. Don’t be surprised if payroll dips to 35% of revenues for a year or two. When we’re in the re-building phase, maybe we’ll find the next Joe or Kirby or Johan and start the cycle all over again.”
As a fan, I wouldn’t mind that.
So, how many years should the Twins offer him? 5, 7, 10?
Boneyard - I don’t have your patience.
The Twins have no one who looks really promising but Revere and Hicks in the minors. With Morneau & Mauer, the time is now. Either they go for it or we are waiting at least another half a decade.
If they let Mauer go they might as well trade Morneau. And Nathan.
they have to treat mauer as if he doesn’t count more than 50% towards the payroll - otherwise, they can’t sustain their “business model”, keep mauer AND field a consistently, competitive team.
this may be a mind-numbing amount of years on the contract, if it gets done - the type of thing where, to pay him near his market value, they have to structure it over more years than he could ever play, with all of it gauranteed. something like that. so, if you hear that mauer signed for 20 years, it could make (or end up making) a lot of sense.
We all believe Mauer wants to win. So in return for a huge contract, I think the Twins should ask Joe, as team leader, to guarantee that he will not allow Morneau to go into any late season mega-slumps.
I do not understand where people are going when they talk about trading Nathan and seeing what we can get for him. Santana was FAR more valuable than Nathan and the Twins didn’t get a ton for him. I also don’t get where people come off when they talk about how superior the Yankees offer was for Santana. I am fairly certain that no one here was actually part of the discuss with any of the teams mentioned so everything is simply a rumor. Mauer WILL sign with the Twins. The team can offer him whatever the team model calls for and the owners can offer up a share of their percentage to cover any difference there might be. The team can not afford to have Mauer leave. The team should make a larger profit with Mauer than without him so pull from that profit margin for him.
Charlie -
Santana was going into a walk year and wanted a HUGE contract. Nathan is signed for 2 more seasons at what is a reasonable amount given his production.
That makes Nathan more valuable.
Imagine what the Phillies would give for Nathan. I suspect quite a lot.
Still not buying that the Twins can get a huge deal for Nathan. The Phillies gave up a bunch of players for Cliff Lee and their farm system is depleted. Yankees and Red Sox don’t need Nathan so that drops his value as well.
Twins need to worry about winning now and keep the guys they have. Worry about 2012 when it comes.
Let’s not over look this:
Carl Pavano’s agent, Tom O’Connell, confirmed that he met with the Twins on Wednesday night in Chicago and called it an excellent first meeting.
Good to see the Twins still trying ot retain Pavano’s services. I still believe that the Twins are making all of the OTHER moves first, with the goal being laying the roster out and going “Okay. Here’s who are the types of guys we hope to see you play with for another 5-6 years…”
“Okay. Here’s who are the types of guys we hope to see you play with for another 5-6 years…”
and also see what their total salary exposure looks like before signing on the dotted line with Mauer.
What am I missing regarding Pavano? His ERA was decent only in comparison to Liriano’s. I really hope we don’t commit too much to him, if anything.
I haven’t followed the blogs closely the past couple of days so pardon this sidebar if it has already been noted, but did the Twins and Brewers know that Carlos Gomez was going to qualify for “Super two” status? I just read where he did.
That’s going to cost the Brewers a few bucks and appears, to me anyway, to make the Hardy trade an even better deal for the Twins, since they wouldn’t have been able to keep Gomez’s salary at serf levels another year.
Re: “Imagine what the Phillies would give for Nathan.” I agree that it’s not much, but in my baseball dream life it’s Nathan for Utley, straight up! 
OK, we’ll throw Casilla in, then. Naysayers! 
Jim
yes good catch. I recall that as well.
regarding Pavano: I really don’t want to see him back except maybe at 5 mill for one year. I like the guy, and appreciate what he did, but lets face it, he was far from lights out and his numbers show it. in addition, no one seems to mention his atrocious start against Detroit at the end, which would possibly have otherwise helped us avoid game 163 and helped us to be more rested for NY…
On the market, he’s one of the better ones, but at the same time they would be better suited to find themselves a guy like Sheets and take a flier on him. the upside is just too great and money wouldn’t be a huge difference.
they are best served in looking via trades. Josh Johnson might be attainable. and there are veterans out there that might be had as well.
Duensing is your fifth starter, Liriano as a reliever. you just need one more starter assuming Slowey is 100% (and all indications he is).
mlbtr reporting that Gomez is indeed super two:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/mike-fontenot-gets-super-two-status.html
if josh johnson is put on the market there are 10+ teams that will be ahead of the twins in line that have better prospects to trade.
“Gomez is indeed super two”
Bill Smith just avoided having Scott Boras as a house guest for the next three months, while negotiating Mauer’s
contract in another room.
That’s dodging a BIG bullet.
Yeah, Johnson would cost a boatlaod of prospects. I just don’t see that happening.
It does look like the Twins got rid of Gomez just in time. It’s not so much that Boras is his agent (although that’s some of it), it’s the payroll room. Big difference in Super Two status.
define a ‘boatload’? Twins have a ‘boatload’ of them; some great, some good. this is a win now type team at the moment. in a few years when this ‘boatload’ of prospects comes, just how good will this team be? its likely they won’t be as good as this team is now. you’d have ot think they’d at least kick the tires and see.
they should also continue to look at Uggla; ‘uggla’ defense, but you can’t argue with right handed OBP and HRs. and the team would actually allow him to play 2B and DH against lefties (other teams that have shown interest want him at 3B or in LF…)
Can’t argue with kicking the tires, matt. However, the Marlins are going to want at least one major league -ready starter with no appreciable service time. For starters, that is. My guess is they’d also want a high level position player who will be in the majors in a year and another starter from the lower levels. Just a guess, mind you. But I do know #1’s come at a high price. The Twins won’t get Johnson for Perkins, Casilla, and just some kid from A ball. I don’t know if the Twins have a package that would fit the Marlins’s likely demands. Still, why not kick the tires?
Sane, I like your 12:43 take. Nice one!
Boneyard
no no, I bet not (although Santana was had for nothing, granted of how expensive he was and we ended up getting Hardy and Rauch..but thats another story).
I was thinking Perkins and/or Liriano (both could use a change of scenery), maybe Swarzak, offer Revere or Bromberg, and then whatever else.
Johnson AND Uggla from the Marlins for Perkins, Liriano, Casilla, Revere and somebody
“and then whatever else”
Offer that, and we might get something back.
CM:
I have a hard time buying that deal if I were the fish. Are they as anxious to dump Johnson as they are Uggla?
sane
you have the Marlins GM on speed dial? I could offer him ‘and then whatever else’ and I bet it’d work.
Whether intentional or not, it seems us Twins fans are witnessing somewhat of an organzitional paradigm shift. For the first time in decades it seems like it is allowable to trump the defensive whiz with a player of higher offensive prowess.
Delmon runs down the slip ‘n slide to balls in left, Cuddy is “zone rated” as bottom tier, Uggla is a lamp post in the field, but who cares, he can hit HR’s!!!
I’m not saying I’m against it, just that it feels new and refreshing. (Until a hailstorm of balls start dropping in for hits that cost us games we’re not used to watching)
Thought process: If Punto hadn’t popped up or hit into a double play …
Here’s what I know about Larry Beinfest. He got Hanley Ramirez back for Josh Beckett. He also got out from under Lowell’s contract in that one. Jury’s out on the Cabrera trade, but Miller is still nothing to sniff at and Maybin may still develop. In other words, he didn’t fall off the hay truck yesterday. He will get something of value.
I love how some people think that quantity makes up for quality when it comes to possible trades. Five mediocre players do not equal one great player.
I think Joe Mauer is so savvy, he may end up owning the Twins one day!
Steve
maybe he’d stay and play for a discount if the Pohlads give him part ownership of the team.
BC/ND
Perkins, when healthy, shows top starter stuff. he was lights out earlier in the year. you think he’s ‘mediocre’? Swarzak is still a top prospect pitcher in the system, despite his poor final couple of outtings last year. he has been very tough and all indications he can turn it around. Revere hits for average has tons of speed and plays great defense (he could be Span #2 when all is said and done). they have plenty of value…
That’s a great idea medschoolmatt, maybe he could even get into the film business with them at some point.
yes, they could call it “Baby Jesus goes to Target Field”
As a fan, I don’t want to hear anything from the Twins or Mauer about “negations” until their done. Keep it out of the headlines and just get it done in a way that makes everyone happy.
Don’t let this be a soap opera. There is a lot of other stuff this team needs to get done to try to take that next step. A soap opera only drags on and ends badly.
Get’er done and then get on to taking care of the pitching staff & 3rd baseman spots.
“negations”
Positations would be preferrable.
For that matter, their = they’re.
Signatations on the dotted linations would work for me.
Nonetheless, I concur.
Whether intentional or not, it seems us Twins fans are witnessing somewhat of an organzitional paradigm shift
I’m glad people are finally catching up to what I was saying back in 2008.
I love how some people think that quantity makes up for quality when it comes to possible trades.
It’s been that way on here for a LOOOONG time.
“If we give them *three players I don’t like and also Punto* then surely they’ll hand over *their all-star player*.”
I’m a bit slow T, but usually I catch up eventually, ha.
Joe says he is in “no rush” to have contract talks.
He has a contract for 2010. He can have contract talks after next season. That is what I am expecting. Nothing now.
T, do you mean that a package of Perkins, Casilla, Pridie, and Punto won’t net the Twins anything of significant value? How can you say that? It’s not like opposing GM’s do their homework or anything. Geez!
“He has a contract for 2010. He can have contract talks after next season. That is what I am expecting. Nothing now.”
~NO FRIG’N WAY. They will NOT take the Yohan path on this one. This will get done before the season starts. They will not play the season of daily speculation game. Unless Joe is determined to test his true value, that’s the only way.
Easy, heetcpa, don’t let Bunting Twins get under your skin. Breathe, breathe, there ‘ya go!
The 40-man roster now stands at 36 players. Twins have until Nov. 20 to finalize the 40-man roster. The Rule 5 Draft is on Dec. 10.
I am wondering if the Twins don’t plan to remove more players that are currently on the 40 man.
Brendan Harris? Luke Hughes?
I still can’t believe they put Juan Morillo on the 40 man. Hahaha. Those guys in the front office are comedians.
I think the Twins infield isn’t as bad as I first envisioned.
I see Hardy moving over to third with Punto, Casilla and Tolbert handling chores up the middle.
Bunting Twins
how do they finalize their 40 man with FA just starting?
also, Morillo - upper 90s fastball and greater than a K/inning with improving control. had an ERA under 4 at AAA last year with some closer experience. just think if he can cut his walks in half - no so funny anymore is it?
I see Drew Butera and Jason Pridie making the team out of spring training. Both as reserves of course.
Pridie is known as a slick fielder. He is fast. Not as fast as Gomez, but a better base stealer. Unlike Gomez, he will be happy with a bench job.
Butera is a solid fielding catcher with a good arm. Morales has neither skill. Butera is not much of a hitter, but that silly swing of Morales will never work now that the pitchers figured him out. Butera won’t bat much anyway, so he’s a good choice.
“I’m in no rush to have contract talks” = “I want the FO to think I’ll wait a season and take offers from the Red Sox and Yankees”.
BT, in your scenario Butera would have to bat a lot because Mauer would be getting plenty of DH duty.
matt, They have to finalize in in anticipation of the rule 5 draft on Dec 10th. It’s a 3 week window.
As to your question, I don’t know for sure how they handle a free agent signing. There must be some provision where they add a free agent to the roster after Dec 10th if he’s signed during that period.
Benny, I think Mauer will get less DH duty next season. Especially if Young hits well. They won’t sit Young and put Kubel in left as much.
What Joe went on to say is that he isn’t putting pressure on anyone to get a deal done. I sort of told half the statement.
I think Joe is just laid back about it. He isn’t pressuring anyone, and I would guess he doesn’t want anyone pressuring him.
Joe also said he was going to be talking to his agent (Ron Shapiro) and he thought something would probably get worked out.
He’s wrong about that unfortunately. Shapiro knows the market and the Twins can’t afford Joe after 2010.
“Can’t” is not to be used interchangeably with “won’t.” And that remains to be seen.
It’s not Joe’s fault or the Pohlad’s fault. It’s just the market.
Joe’s salary won’t fit on a team with such a low total team salary like the Twins. Just plug in the numbers, it makes no sense at all to keep him. He needs to be on a team that can carry about 120 mil or better in total team salary.
Boneyard, The team would be handcuffed with such a salary.
Joe is my favorite Twin, and one of my favorite all-time players. I hate to see him go, but the writing is on the wall.
team wins world series = team can spend more on payroll due to increased revenue.
seriously, this team made the playoffs without arguably their best overall pitcher in Slowey and one of their best hitters in Morneau slumping/out. they can make the playoffs with what they have currently. make a couple strong moves and thist eam can make a run. the better they do this offseason, the farther they go and they farther they go the more revenue they get with ticket sales, TV contracts, etc etc.
As much as I love the Twins, I know that not seeing Mauer as a Twin will give me less incentive to drive up to Target Field to watch them.
Cause and effect…
Just a theory, but I’m inclined to believe the Twins will invoke the HOF Exception for Mauer, just as they did for Puckett when they handed him the richest contract in MLB. But even this has limits. Let’s assume they stick with the 50%+ discipline on revenue/payroll, but add a 5% premium for HOF Mauer. Assume revenues of $200M. The 5% Mauer premium adds $10M, which gives them the budget to offer $18-20M over five years and retain $90M to cover the other 24 players.
Everyone makes this too complicated. The reason Joe will not sign elsewhere is simple: Playing for the Twins is the only possible way that Joe can stop at his favorite barbershop for a haircut on his way to the ballpark. It would be too long of drive from any other ballpark. Done deal.
What would anyone rather have, immaculate sideburns or an unneeded extra $100 Mil? Chicks dig the sideburns.
I, for one, keep going back and forth on Uggla. Sometimes, I think the Twins need to make a play for him and then I look at his defense and wonder if I’m completely wrong. If the Twins want to make a deal for him, and I know this is only the beginning, I think a deal starts with Casilla and probably includes a couple of pitchers who have some MLB experience. Am I completely off base here? For example, we still don’t know how Target Field is going to play. Will it be a hitter’s park; a pitcher’s park? I assume the Twins field staff has already kicked the tires over there and have some idea what to expect. I’m also not that familiar with the characteristics of Land Shark Stadium and how Uggla’s homers will translate at the Target and from the National to the American League. The thing you can’t ignore is his consistentcy. I mean, to misquote Denny Green, with Uggla, you know who he is; you know what you’re getting. And his offense can overcome the offensive sins of Punto and we can still keep Punto in the field without losing our lunches. There’s a lot of savvy baseball guys here - - what do you think of Uggla?
“what do you think of Uggla?”
What you think of Uggla is determined by your answer to the following question:
How much bad defense can you tolerate at defense-first positions like 2B and 3B?
We aren’t talking about LF, RF and DH, here.
Sane,
You’re probably right - and there are a lot of questions with a guy like Uggla. Maybe I’ll just get a good night’s sleep and forget about him. Thanks for bringing me back to reality.
“How much bad defense can you tolerate at defense-first positions like 2B and 3B?”
If he hits 31 hr with 90 rbi and .243/.354/.459/.813 in exchange for the bad defense (his 09 #), compared to the 2 hr 43 rbi, .209/.302/.267/.569 we got last year i’d be happy to put up with some bad defense!
What about O-Cab at 2nd? I know he probably wouldn’t want to do that but I keep thinking that playing on grass will give him another year or two and he’s probably affordable in next year’s budget. Has he played at second? His arm is probably better suited there than at SS. I guess I’d rather see the guys go with someone they know rather than someone they don’t. And, gobble, I see your point too - that’s why I’ve been so conflicted about Uggla. I just can’t watch Casilla/Punto at second anymore…I just can’t
i’m not a big fielding stat guy but uggla had a uzr of -10.1 not so good, the twins 2b combined for a -8.3 (hope that’s right) not much better for worst possible offense at the position.
Now you got me started again - I agree that fielding stats are really misleading. The number case in point is Jeter - how did he go from being an average or below average SS to the talk of the town in one year? I’m inclined to believe the fielders with “pizzazz” are just a function of the ESPN generation. For those of us who grew up with Killebrew at 3B, well, let’s face it, his offense more than made up for any lack of defensive skills he had. The same could be said of any number of ballplayers whose offensive contributions far outweigh the few defensive shortcomings they might possess. And I think we absolutely have to give up thinking about playing in the Metrodome and moving to grass. Most defensive slugs are okay when the ball isn’t screaming past them on turf. I remain conflicted. I wonder if Billy is experiencing the same.
forget uggla, his defense is poor and he may not hit the american league like he did national-i like a healthy crede or beltre at 3rd and then i am very comfortable with a punto at 2nd, but only if 3rd is filled with solid talent….and i definately dont like the idea of cabrera coming back and playing either 2 or 3rd- i dont think he has the arm for 3rd anymore and punto is an awesome 2nd baseman defensively, so lets fix 3rd and live with punto…
“If he hits 31 hr with 90 rbi and .243/.354/.459/.813 in exchange for the bad defense (his 09 #), compared to the 2 hr 43 rbi, .209/.302/.267/.569 we got last year i’d be happy to put up with some bad defense!”
If the difference in offensive production is large enough, I am also willing to tolerate some bad defense at 2B/3B.
I wouldn’t turn my back on the 2nd coming of Harmon Killebrew…..but Gardy might.
Mj1 is the only one who has made any sense in this whole thread. Uggla is a terrible idea.
Uggla would be a nice addition, but hardly worth serious persuing. Chone Figgins would be someone to look at…not real sure who the strong candidates are for 3rd… I’ll get back to that later. One thing I do know, is that the Twins LOVE defense, i.e. Nick Punto. Some clubs/managers wouldn’t play him, much less sign him. So Uggla, from that standpoint at least, is pretty much out.
Piching. That’s what we really need is pitching. (Starting pitching to be exact).
Offensive was NOT the problem last year, (except for the Playoffs), and the addition of Hardy should bolster that area further. What we truly need is an ace, or, in lieu of that, at least 2 solid veterans/a REALLY promising young guy through trade.
I have mixed feelings about Pavano, but if nothing else is out there, I’d probably take him back (for the right price, of course).
***
Trade Joe Nathan
here is what I don’t get about suggestions to trade Nathan: who closes? please don’t say Guerrier. Neshek will not be fully recovered for at least a year.
“here is what I don’t get about suggestions to trade Nathan: who closes?”
~Nobody closes. Effectively. We watch game after game be given away after 8 innings of winning baseball. The blogs light up with anger and misery.
“~Nobody closes. Effectively. We watch game after game be given away after 8 innings of winning baseball. The blogs light up with anger and misery.”
If you get enough value back, it probably doesn’t matter who closes. Heck, go with a closer by committee aspect if you want.
The Phillies made the World Series this year, and their closer led all of baseball in blown saves. If you can move Nathan, and replace him with valuable parts, then I don’t see why you wouldn’t do it. Shed payroll, get younger, improve your team - it looks like a good idea.
This doesn’t mean move Nathan for anything. But there are a few relievers on the squad now - Guerrier, Mijares, Rauch - that while not as good as Nathan, could probably fill the roll of closer just fine. Or try someone else - perhaps Liriano could become a dominant closer or something.
$11.25 Million per year is a lot to pay for 70 innings of work.
Glen Perkins has the stuff to be a closer
yes I said it.
“Glen Perkins has the stuff to be a closer
yes I said it.”
He probably does.
test
I’m gonna break up a post dealin with the “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” thig again. Sorry.
IMO the suggestion of Liriano as closer has merit. He has proven he can overpower batters when he throws in an unrestricted manner. I don’t mean this derogatorily, but he might not have enough years left in his career to wrap his mind around the program the team has got him on.
You can just see the confusion in the kid.
I bet his whole focus is on mechanics. From my perspective the kid’s not in the moment. He’s lookin in instead of out. And his new motion is not that different from the old one. Might be the best thing for him and the team to unrestrain him and limit him to 20/25 pitches every couple of days. Let his body deal with smaller amounts of repair more often. He won’t forget the things Andy has taught him, but when he gets his confidence back, and gets in the moment, maybe he’ll be able to apply these things better.
Boy that was painful. Sorry guys.
