Mauer looking like a lock for MVP
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 – 7:55 AMBy Joe Christensen
I think Joe Mauer’s a lock for MVP today. The official announcement comes at 1 p.m., but we could hold the press conference now.
The BBWAA strongly encourages voters not to reveal their choices before the announcement gets made, but to get a feel, note that Mauer received 20 of 22 first-place votes in ESPN’s in-house poll, with Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter getting the others.
Jeter and Teixeira had fantastic seasons. Mauer’s was historic. He was the first AL player since George Brett in 1980 to lead the league in batting average (.365), OPB (.444) and SLG (.587).
Teixeira tied Carlos Pena for the AL lead with 39 home runs and led the league with 122 RBI. That’s impressive, but it’s worth noting that Teixeira also played in a hitter’s paradise and had more RBI chances than anyone. According to Baseball Prospectus, Teixeira had 508 runners on base for his plate appearances this season. The next closest AL hitter was teammate Robinson Cano, with 476.
Mauer ranked 49th on that list with 355 runners on base and still managed a career-high 96 RBI. For more on Mauer’s MVP chances, click here, or to see La Velle and I break it down on video, click here. Howard Sinker weighs in today, noting that the MVP is not a lifetime achievement award.
Update: Mauer won with 27 of 28 first-place votes. The Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera got the other first-place vote. Counting the vote totals, Mark Teixeira finished second behind Mauer, with Derek Jeter third, Cabrera fourth and Kendry Morales fifth.
Jason Kubel received one eighth-place vote, and Michael Cuddyer received both an eighth and a 10th.
58 Responses to "Mauer looking like a lock for MVP"
In early September, with the Twins a half dozen games behind the Tigers and appearing to be dropping, there was a legitimate debate to be had. Whether you agree with it or not (and I don’t), it’s fair to have a discussion about whether a player should be on a team that is going to make the playoffs.
The team’s success in catching and passing the Tigers in game 163 erased any possible argument about Mauer’s worthiness for this award.
On one hand, it is not reasonable to “expect” more seasons matching this past year’s production from Joe.
On the other hand, Joe is just entering his prime years of age, abilities and experience in the league. Under those auspices, there is no reason to think that he cannot keep getting better.
And for that reason, I for one am happy to be a Twins fan! (assuming they re-sign him, ha)
PS - And to that vail, thanks alot Joe for (presumably) winning this stupid award and making yourself even more expensive! (sarc.)
The only down side to this is that it means an extra boost to his yearly paycheck…one that is going to be big already.
Right heetcpa. You beat me to it, I didn’t see it.
***
Trade Joe Nathan
We couldn’t have won the 87 series without Frank Viola. We couldn’t have won the 91 world series if we didn’t trade Viola. I hope we sign Mauer but I am only a fan of his as long as he is a Twin. If we make him a fair offer and he decides to go elsewhere I hope we get a lot for him, that he wins 0 rings and the Twins win a bunch of them.
Interesting to note on the link Joe put up, Mauer drove in 19% of the runners on base ahead of him this season, good for second best in the AL. That makes his 96 RBI all the more impressive when you realize how efficient he needed to be to get that many.
Criminilities,
Viola was 17-10 with a 2.96 ERA in 1987. The Twins already have some pitchers that are capable of matching those numbers. Not to mention, it takes more than one pitcher to make a winning team. I’d rather have five No. 2 pitchers than a dominating No. 1 and a bunch of suspect pitchers. If you don’t believe me, just ask the Royals.
joe is there any buzz about any free agents the twins might be talking with?
Joe, thanks of the insight into the RBI issue. My math may be off, but it looks as if Tex drove in 24% of the runners he had on base while Mauer drove in 27%. That’s the main reason why RBI is not the world’s greatest stat.
“Mauer ranked 49th on that list with 355 runners on base and still managed a career-high 96 RBI.”
impressive stat, that.
ES16, I agree with you. I guess my point was I am a Mauer fan but more of a Twins fan. If we have to let Mauer go I hope we get the pieces in return that will get us more championships.
He seems irreplaceable but it is still a team game and it is just like when we lost Hunter and Santana (or Viola). You lose on talent in 1 or 2 positions but if you gain in 3 or 4 positions as a result the team will be better.
ES16, the Royals have so many problems it’s unfair to use them as an example. I think you can get to the postseason with a gaggle of #2’s, and it’s even possible to win a WS that way (although the only example I can think of off the top of my head is the 2002 Angels). However, in ‘87 the Twins had Viola, Blyleven as a #2, and well, nothing else. In ‘91 the Twins had Morris as their ace with Tapani and Erickson going #s2 and 3. They didn’t use another starter in the postseason, primarily b/c it got scary after that. Virtually every other WS champ in recent memory has had an ace at the top of the rotation. Think Hersheiser, Stewart, Cone, Brown (although he didn’t pitch all that well in ‘97), Johnson, Schilling, Beckett (twice), Hamels, Sabathia, etc. Depth in the rotation is a good thing and helps a team weather the 162 game marathon. But the tope of the rotation is so big in the postseason. Give me the ace.
Congrats to Joe!!! A little premature yet, but sounds like a lock.
I’ve seen a lot of great players, since they came to Minnesota, but what Joe has accomplished at age 26 is unbelievable!! The best I’ve ever watched, and I’m 63. My dad who is mid 80’s, tells me that he is the best he’s watched also. (And he’s watched a lot!)
Being huge Twin fans for all the years we’re really looking forward to watching the rest of Joe’s career. If they lose him, it’d really be bad, NO MATTER WHAT they got for him. You just don’t lose a 26 year old catcher, 3 time batting champ, 2 time gold glove, mild mannered MVP who never toots his own horn and is the ultimate team player. If you could pick just 1 player in all of MLB to be on your team, it should be Joe Mauer.
HAVE FUN !!! GO TWINS !!!
Boneyard, I can list a lot more instances of teams that had aces yet did not win it all. Usually, I can name 6 or 7 each year. Your stance is skewed by the fact that most playoff teams have an ace so of course the team that wins it all is gonna have one also. Aces are good things to have but a guy like Blackburn can still beat them also. No team I know has ever had 5 #2 guys. I would certainly like to see it on the Twins and take my chances every year in the playoffs.
mickey mental says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 am
“Mauer ranked 49th on that list with 355 runners on base and still managed a career-high 96 RBI.”
impressive stat, that.
I agree. Good work Joe.
27 out 28 first place votes with cabrera getting the other 1st place vote, was that you len3?
How in the hell does Miguel Cabrera get a 1st place vote?? Congrats Joe!!
Probably some homer from the Freep that voted for Cabrera
Poor Derek Jeter… I hope he can find comfort in polishing his 5 World Series rings and frolicking on a beach with Minka Kelly.
Mitch Albom
ESPN news is reporting that there’s a contract in place as well???
hey Todd, could you link that?
HA! I was just thinking how cool it would be if the TWins announced an extension with the MVP award at the 3pm press conference.
That’s just it, I’m not finding it…my brother just sent me an email stating that ESPN News is reporting that a contract is in place…I’m slightly dubious myself (hence the “????” above). I’m wondering if anyone can substantiate this…
Crimilities, of course 6 or 7 teams with aces don’t win in a given year (the number is probably higher). Of course, 29 teams with clean up hitters don’t win every year, too. You are correct in that most playoff teams have an ace; talent gets you there, not mediocrity.
Regardless, congrats to Mauer. The honr was deserved.
Not seeing anything about a contract.
I can’t substantiate it, TA. The Twins are holding a press conference this afternoon, though, but I seriously doubt anything has gotten done this quickly and quietly.
It would be cool if the MVP announcement was paired with the official presser about his contract.
As far as being “under the radar”, didn’t the extensions for Morneau, Cuddy, and Nathan come without much notice in 2008?
I also recall Baker and Kubel’s extensions this season being revealed without much build-up.
The Twins are holding a press conference this afternoon
“Ladies and Gentlemen….we got him.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen….we got him.”
Jarrod Washburn?
^cries
I don’t remember 2006, and don’t typically pay attention to MVP votes…so somebody will have to remind me if they have press conferences for winners ever year.
I don’t see why not. The media would be interested in his reaction, and I’m sure there would be lots of questions regarding how this may impact his career going foward.
WTF is a writer for the Kyodo News doing having a vote in this thing? I mean… Miguel Cabrera. Seriously?
Actually, I can see Cabrera before Jeter (the Tigers would have been sunk without him). But I agree, JC. It should have been unanimous.
And T, I think you’re right about the recent extensions being pretty quiet negotiations. Bill Smith seems to be able to get things done pretty qucikly and quietly(albeit with mixed results). The Garza trade came out of the blue, too, as I recall.
Like I said before, we had a lot more wins after OC joined our team. Maybe that is who the Kyoda News guy thought he was voting for.
Miguel Cabrera : Most Vilified Partyboy
mlb.com will have joe’s news conf. at 3:00.
What a joke. I thought Jeter should win it hands down. He did lead his to the the World Title. How can you not get more MVP than that!
good post JC. Unfortunately, you overlooked the fact that MVP ballots are due before the playoffs start. Hence, the World Series thing is irrelevant. That’s why they give out separate awards for Series MVP. Incidentally, Hideki Matsui won that one. See how it’s appleas and oranges?
I think you are not serious. First of all it is a regular season award. 2nd, various people think Jeter, Texeira, Arod (my choice), CC, or Mariano Rivera led the Yankees to the World title. Oh yeah, and they gave the WS MVP to Matsui.
That is 6 different players different people thought were the key player for the Yankees. Not much doubt on the Twins.
“How can you not get more MVP than that!”
I dont even know what this means.
I’m wathcing the press conference. And I can’t recall a nicer guy anywhere in professional sports.
Bill Smith looks like he’s in pretty good shape too. That’s gotta help with the mental faculties.
JC - must have been collusion among all the voters, since no one else saw it your way.
Not to beat a dead horse, but if Mauer had had the same # of runners on base that Tex did, he would haveprojected to drive in 137 runs. Conversely, if Tex had only had the same number of runners on base that Mauer did, he would have projected to drive in only 85 runs. Gotta love Mauer.
lets face it mauer is the best we have seen for a long time
the only problem is that his price keeps rising, i only hope Bill Smith isn’t banking on a home team discount like Kirby Puckett agreed to
espn has a tweet on the website that says
“@MLBRumorCentral Mauer’s contract could pushMorneau, Nathan out of Minnesota #twins #mlb”
yes i quoted that from the site
yeah i saw that on the site. totally bogus. Morneau ‘maybe’ because he’s commanding a lot of money already and he isn’t even on his really big deal yet, but still. thats absurd.
Look, it’s not that Miguel Cabrera didn’t have stats to warrant some votes…
but let’s not forget, this is the guy who went on a drunken binge with a bunch of WSox players during a late season series in Chicago, which certainly didn’t help the Tigers’ chances of holding off the Twins.
That incident ALONE should keep him off of anyone’s “MVP” ballot… let alone a 1st place vote.
It ocurs to me that, in the NFL, aside from the team at least fining a player for doing what Cabrera did on the eve of a big game, the Commish may have gotten involved due to the fact there was an arrest. Cabrera faced no discipline if memory serves. Also, if an NFL player got busted for marijuan a la Tim Lincecum, that player would get invited to Roger Goodell’s office for a little chat. In MLB, nothing happens. Interesting.
ESPN’s rumor central is a farce. It’s just a bunch of their “experts” making predictions based on projected need or salaries, etc. However, if Mauer really wants to be on a team contending for the World Series, he will have to take a home-town discount so the Twins can afford to keep talent around him, or sign with someone like the Yankees or Red Sox who will just spend, spend, spend. Here’s hoping he takes the discount.
B-Good, Mauer and his agent are going to face some challenges, no doubt.
Winning is important to him, obviously. One would assume one of the factors he would consider would be whether the Twins plan to do what it takes to keep Morneau, as well, when the time comes.
But if Mauer agrees to take too much below “market value” (which is clearly established by the Yankees and Red Sox), the players union will object.
Unfortunately, the system in MLB now makes superstars who play for mid market teams choose between signing with their old team and accepting that the team probably wont be able to afford anyone else of his caliber so they can compete… or going to a big market team that can afford multiple superstars.
And they say the system ain’t broke.
It’s broke, no salary cap and never will be.
The only way the Twins can keep Mauer is by spending a large chunk of change from the Pohlad wallet. He is going to need at least 7 years and 145 million dollars before the agent isn’t offended to be in the room with the Twins. I am already reading comments in Boston and New York where they are speculating 8 years and 200 million plus, and both teams can pretty easily afford it. We have the richest owners in Baseball, and we have a brand new taxpayer stadium so it is possible.
However, if we can trade Mauer to the Yankees for Cano, Hughes, and 3-4 prospects… along with using that money saved on Jolten Joe to buy an ACE, and a 3rd baseman… we have Morales, and we have Ramos, and we have the ability to pick up a stop gap Catcher as well it may make this team actually better, deeper, and Mauer will actually get his chance to win a World Series so the Twins fans should all be happy all the way around.
I hope the Twins can get creative.
do an 8 year 200 million dollar deal if that is what it takes, but defer some of the money because seriously no one would need all that money at once… it’s ego, it’s prestige, and all of that… It would also allow the Twins to put money into the team on the field right now.
Much credit was given to TR for drafting Mauer over Prior.Is this same Terry Ryan that Beneke,Fire and that bunch say he was so terrible?
One of these days voters will stop vastly overrating first basemen with sexy RBI totals and realize that actually having to play defense matters too.
“if we can trade Mauer to the Yankees for Cano, Hughes, and 3-4 prospects…”
That (type of) trade will NEVER happen, because the Yankees believe they can wait for Free Agency, pay Mauer the high salary that is required (trade or FA) and NOT have to give up “Cano, Hughes, and 3-4 prospects”
Why would the Yankes give up all that talent, when it is not necessary.
Plus, if Mauer signs a Twins contract, it will have a NTC clause. Otherwise, he is giving away the extra money he could get with a Yankees FA contract.
