Joe Mauer to 1st, Rut Roh

The Twins signed the Minnesota Kid for a 8 year, bazillion dollar deal last year. They did it with the thoughts he would be the Twins starting catcher for the next 8 years, however, after tired legs and whatever injury he just returned from, Mauer is now taking balls at 1st base. The best thing about Mauer is that he had great production from a relatively weak offensive position. Now that he is moving to 1st the writing is on the wall that he won't be a catcher for his whole career. Also, that makes his value go down a lot if he eventually moves there permanently.

I want to give Mauer the benefit of doubt and say he will go back to being himself, however I have a bad feeling.

Mauer Finally Coming Back

It sounds like Joe Mauer will be back Thursday. He is going to catch a couple more games, but the Twins seem happy that he has been able to play back-to-back games behind the plate, and feel he is ready to come back. The Twins have been given a lot of shit, for not having Mauer come back to be a DH, since he would've been back a lot sooner. It is an interesting argument, because right now the Twins sit in last place in the AL Central and 9 Games back of the Indians/Tigers. I don't see them being able to get back in this race, even though they are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Mauer means so much to this team, but with him being out so long they look like their season may already be over.

Joe Mauer to the DL

Never good to hear that your catcher in the 2nd week of the season has to be put on the DL for leg weakness. Mauer had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason. With that he had a very light spring. But I have a bad feeling about the Twins all together this season.

If the White Sox could close a game they would be running away with this division. The Royals are a surprise team and the Tigers are always in the hunt. But with the loss of Mauer and the overall shittiness of Fransisco Liriano it could be a long year in Sota. I have a gut feeling this will be 1 of many injuries that slows Mauer down all season.

At least the Wolves have a shot at the number 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Twins/ Sota Keep Their Son

All-Star catcher Joe Mauer and Minnesota completed an eight-year, $184 million deal.

I'm surprised he signed that low actually. I know that is ridiculous to say about a 184 million dollar contract, however, he's 27, and has won three batting titles and two Gold Glove Awards, and last year, he began to hit for power, posting a 1.031 OPS. It's pretty good if you ask me. The Twins are going to struggle this year but be competitive in an always weird AL Central division. If the Twins can commit to another great hitter to play around Mauer, and hope their young pitching works out this team could be very good. This will be a telling year of what direction the Twins will be headed.

Mauer About To Sign 10 Year Extension

A television station in Minnesota reported that Joe Mauer has agreed to a 10-year deal with the Twins. There are some reports that say this isn't true, but seemingly everyone agrees that it is just a matter of time until the Twins do resign him.

I am fine with this, because it means he won't be a Yankees. I would like to see Mauer is a Sox uniform, but as long as he isn't on the Yankees it's all good. If Mauer signs you would think the Sox will try to resign V-Mart as quick as possible, as they are two of the best catchers in the game.

The only concern I have with this extension is the length. Mauer is a hell of a player, and he is young (26), but 10 years is a very long time for a catcher. I guess their thinking is at worst he can become a DH/1st baseman when he reaches his mid 30's. Anyways, good for the Twins (if this is true).

Thoughts for baseball's second half

Seeing as it’s been months since I’ve written anything, I thought this would be a good time for some post-all star break MLB thoughts.

-I am worried about Mike Lowell’s hip and what losing him for an extended period of time could mean to the Red Sox. Theo Epstein is going to need to decide quickly (within the next few weeks, obviously) if Lowell is going to be able to continue being an everyday player when he returns from the DL. Despite his 25-game hitting streak, Scott Rolen would not be the answer. He's just as brittle as Lowell...and he's generally regarded as a douche.

Allow me to go on a random tangent here: I was thinking about all Lowell has accomplished in Boston the other day and I’m not sure fans realize how good he was in 2007. He and Mike Schmidt are the only two third basemen to drive in 120 runs and win the World Series the same year. Some pretty good company there.

-If I’m the Phillies I like the Pedro signing but they’re going to need Roy Halladay to have any chance at repeating. No one has really talked about it much but Cole Hamels is suffering from Josh Beckett syndrome – i.e. going deep into the post season and carrying a staff and paying for it the next year. Look at the 2005 White Sox. How many of those guys were the same after all those playoff innings? Halladay could take a great deal of pressure off of Hamels to return to October ’08 form.

-How is it that the Rangers have been relatively healthy (with the exception of Josh Hamilton) while the Angels have been ripped with injuries all year (John Lackey, Earvin Santana, Vlad…the list goes on) yet Anaheim is 1.5 games ahead of Texas? This might be Mike Scioscia’s best year managing.

-Did anyone else see how fast Justin Upton got down the line when he nearly beat out a hard ground out to short in the All-Star game? I would love to watch him play every day.

-Those who think Joe Mauer is going anywhere are dreaming. I’m talking to you, WEEI caller who proposes Javier Lopez and Julio Lugo for the best young hitter in the game. There is no way Minnesota will let a hometown, home-grown talent get away when they’re moving into an outdoor park.

Side note: The Twins new park in March and early April will make San Francisco’s seem like a sauna. That place is going to brutal to play in early in the season.

-David Ortiz’s resurgent June (7 home runs, 18 RBI) was a good sign and certainly gives us optimism for the second half but from a historical perspective it doesn’t tell us much. The two guys he has been most compared to are Jim Rice and Boog Powell. Powell completely fell of the face of the earth and never at any point after his last good season in 1975 did he come close to Ortiz’s June.
Rice, on the other hand, was up and down his final few years. He had some very good months like a 5 home run, 15 RBI July in 1987 or 4 homer, 23 RBI June of 1988. That trend actually scares me because Ortiz’s June might not be a prelude of things to come but more of a blip on the radar like Rice’s quality stretches.

2009 Homerun Derby Tonight

Well the HR derby is once again upon us, and yet I don't think I could care less. It is damn obvious the AL doesn't give a shit. I mean look who is in it for them...

Nelson Cruz
Carlos Pena
Joe Mauer
Brandon Inge

I mean what a fucking joke. I will probably still watch, but I have to say the HR derby bothers me. First off the baseballs are so juiced it's crazy. It looks like a superball coming off the bat, but enough of my hating lets get to my picks.

The NL squad is...

Prince Fielder
Adrian Gonzalez
Ryan Howard
Albert Pujols

At least the NL put their best players out there. Pujols is obviously the favorite, then Howard, but I am going to have to pick Pena. The guy hits bombs, and I just think he will be all jacked up about being in the event. Call me crazy, but that's my pick (it doesn't hurt he is on my fantasy team).

BMack's Pick: Carlos Pena

Red Sox 6 Twins 5

This game really symbolized a lot of the Red Sox season. Big name players were letting down the Sox, their starting pitcher was puking between innings, and yet somehow they were able to get the win.

The Sox started out how lighting Liriano up for 5 runs thought he first 4 innings. The thing is they should have had a lot more, since they collected 11 hits during those innings. Penny had another solid start giving up 3 runs over 5 1/3 inning, but it was made impressive since in between innings he was throwing up in the dugout.

This game looked to be in the bag when Bailey hit a solo HR in the 8th to put the Sox up by 3 runs, but the Twins made it interesting in the 9th when Papelbon let up a 2 run HR to Joe Mauer. Papelbon has been struggling over his past two outings. He has been living dangerously all year, and I really wouldn't be surprised if he goes on the DL soon, since the Sox bullpen is so deep and could probably live without him for a couple weeks.

Anyways, the win keeps the Sox in first place in the AL East. They are now 1 game up on the Yankees who have won their last 8 out of 10 games.

Joe Mauer Put On DL

"The Twins put right-hander Boof Bonser and catcher Joe Mauer on the DL on Thursday. Bonser had shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the season. Mauer is recovering from inflammation in his lower back, which will keep him out for at least the next few weeks (Sportsline)."

For all you people who drafted Joe Mauer I am sorry, but you should have seen this coming. Mauer hasn't played at all this spring after issues with his back, and now will be out for at least a couple of weeks. Then you would think he is going to need some time in the minors to get his swing back. Mauer is the best catcher in the AL, but his time at the top may be short if he can't stay on the field. For the Twins sake I hope he is back soon, because this team seems to be hurting as Scott Baker is also going to miss at least a week (at least 2 starts) because of shoulder stiffness.

Oh yea and what the hell were Boof Bonser's parents thinking naming him that??

Mauer Is A Fruitcake

Mauer, the reigning American League batting champion, will undergo a magnetic resonance arthogram Tuesday. Doctors will inject the All-Star catcher's back and stomach area with dye as part of the exam. ESPN

Mauer is a fruitcake. The reasoning is because he will continue to be injured his whole career. He will be a what if player, just like Griffey, Baldelli, and Drew. I was planning on picking Mauer in the DC baseball league, but now I am just going to stay away from him and all of the BS injury baggage he will have.

Revisiting Mauer vs Varitek Debate

Joe Mauer

.325 Batting Average, 4 Homeruns, 37 RBIs, .415 OBP, and .454 Slugging
Jason Varitek

.219 Batting Average, 7 Homoruns, 27 RBIs, .301 OBP, .360 Slugging

Give one point to Captain on this one. Looks like Brian B. was caught up in the moment with the no hitter. Mauer and Captain run away with this great debate.

Mauer Finally Hits First Homerun

Breaking news out of Minnesota, Joe Mauer (yes the former 1rst overall pick), hit his very first homerun of the year last night. While Mauer has a solid .319 average and a .405 on base percentage, he has shown zero power this season. It’s a shame Mauer and Power rhyme, because the two have never intertwined. Mauer’s career high for homeruns in a season is 13, which is one fewer then A-rod’s home run total for last April. There is no question that Mauer will go on to have a great pro career, but for a number one pick, the Twins were probably hoping for somewhere in the 25-30 homers a year range out of the St. Paul product. Every one of the Red Sox everyday starters (except Julio Lugo) has homered more then once… That includes Coco Crisp. Chase Utley hit 20 homeruns before Mauer hit his first. On the plus side, he is only 15 home runs behind A.L. leader Josh Hamilton.

-Brian B