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Mauer Must Prove Value Again

Posted on April 11, 2012April 11, 2012 by David Shama

 

Three years ago this June Sports Illustrated put Joe Mauer on its cover and pondered whether Minnesota’s homegrown hero could become baseball’s first .400 hitter since Ted Williams in 1941.

Two years ago we anguished about Mauer and the Twins front office being able to agree on a contract to keep him here for many seasons to come.

Today, four games into the 2012 season, we struggle with our expectations about Mauer and if he’s really worth the $184 million, eight-year contract he signed in 2010 (then among the richest in baseball history).  He turns 29 next week and that age usually means players can still perform at their best, but the fairytale story about the former Cretin Derham-Hall three-sport natural has come upon a dark chapter.

Mauer was just another ball player last season.  Injuries and illness reduced his playing time and effectiveness.  He played in only 82 of 162 games, appearing at the plate 296 times while hitting .287 with three home runs and 30 RBI.

It’s not much fun looking at those numbers.  Not for a guy who started this season with a career batting average of .323.  Not for a hitter who won three American League batting championships and one AL MVP award.  The Mauer numbers of 2011 are far below three of his best season totals which came in 2009.  That year he hit .365 with 28 home runs and 96 RBI.

After last season Simon & Garfunkel might have crooned: “Where Have You Gone Joe Mauer? Twins Nation turns its desperate eyes toward you.”

Desperate is probably the right word.  The Twins are coming off a 99 loss season and headed toward another losing year.  Maybe a bad one.  The pitching is hurting and even a Little Leaguer knows that’s what separates the winners and losers among big league teams.

The roster has only a glove full of players who are difference makers.  Glen Perkins looks solid in the bullpen.  Denard Span plays okay in centerfield and can be an effective leadoff hitter.  Josh Willingham, the team’s new leftfielder, will probably slug 20 home runs or more.  Justin Morneau, recovering from concussion symptoms and other injuries, is starting to make contact with the ball like the slugger we remember.

And then there’s Mauer, coming off last season and hitting just .143 so far in 2012.  He needs to reboot his hitting, stay on the field and consider how he can best help his rebuilding franchise this season and beyond.  Mauer figures to be a .300 hitter again for many years.  But the Twins need something from Mauer besides ground ball singles and doubles hit into the outfield gaps.  They need power.

Mauer is 6-5, 230 pounds. If he was called to the witness stand, it would be a difficult sell if he tried to convince a jury he can’t hit more than 20 home runs each season.  Yet he’s only done that once—with his 2009 total of 28—and 2006 is the only other season that he’s even reached double figures in home runs.

When the Twins had home run hitters like Jim Thome, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and a healthy Morneau, it was much easier to watch Mauer slap the ball to all fields for singles and doubles.  But the Twins have a power outage now and could rank lowest in home runs among major league teams this season.

With his size, athleticism and bat control, couldn’t the left-handed hitting Mauer modify his swing and try to produce more home runs?  A boost in his power production would likely help the Twins score more runs and put additional excitement into a season that could turn boring.

Baseball tradition calls for a team’s best hitter to bat No. 3 in the lineup.  That hitter is almost always a double digit home run guy, frequently someone who produces 25 or more home runs.  The Twins should think about moving Mauer out of the No. 3 slot for a couple of reasons and bat him No. 2.

The transition might deliver this message: “We need more power from you, Joe.”  Maybe instead of hitting long fly ball outs to left field, Mauer would pull some pitches to right field, or even aim home runs down the left field line.

Moving Mauer to the No. 2 spot in the batting order would also give him more at bats.  The Twins, 0-4 this season, have scored six runs in four games.  See where we’re going with more at bats for the team’s best percentage hitter?

Mauer has been a great hitter during most of his big league career that began in 2004.  His career batting average of .323 ranks No. 7 among best averages in MLB since 1950.  He’s too valuable as a hitter to remain a catcher.

All the seasons squatting in a catcher’s stance does his legs no favors.  Already in 2012 foul balls have targeted his body, potentially causing damage that players at other positions don’t face.  And even before the lost season of 2011 Mauer missed games because of injuries that caused worry about his durability.

Positioning Mauer for 115 to 120 games behind the plate might have to work with the team’s limited personnel options this season.  But the club’s decision makers ought to make it a priority to find other options for their All-Star catcher.  Move Mauer to the outfield, third base, or even first base if Morneau isn’t healthy enough to do more than be the designated hitter.

Mauer is young enough to be a major contributor to Twins’ success for 10 years or more.  That success seems more likely if he transitions away from the savage grind of catching.  The relief of playing a less demanding position in the field can do nothing but maximize Mauer’s hitting.

Who knows?  Maybe Sports Illustrated will again have a cover story speculating about Mauer chasing the .400 ghost of Teddy Ballgame?  Maybe we will yet believe that Mauer was a steal at $184 million.

Comments Welcome

Lurtsema on Vikes: Trade No. 3 Draft Pick

Posted on April 9, 2012April 9, 2012 by David Shama

 

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema is a close observer of the NFL including the Vikings organization. He told Sports Headliners the Vikings should trade the No. 3 pick in the first round of the NFL draft later this month to acquire more draft choices.

The Vikings had their worst regular season record last year since 1984. The club has numerous personnel needs on offense and defense.  “You go 3-13 and you’re not deep at every position,” Lurtsema said.

He believes the Vikings could move down in the draft order, pick up a couple of extra picks and help themselves more than staying at No. 3 in the draft.  “We need receivers, corners, we need a lot of help,” he said.

Lurtsema said the Vikings can give up the No. 3 choice and still be able to acquire players they want and need.  Among positions he places at the top of the list is a “good wide receiver.”

Such a player will not only help second-year quarterback Christian Ponder but also All-Pro runner Adrian Peterson, according to Lurtsema.  The impact of a deep threat will stop opposing cornerbacks from crowding the line of scrimmage.

Lurtsema expects Ponder, who threw 13 interceptions in 11 games last season, to be improved.  But he said at times the Vikings’ “predictable play calls” did Ponder no favors last season.

Despite the immense player talent in the NFL, team success is “60 to 65 percent coaching,” Lurtsema said.

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Worth Noting

Posted on April 9, 2012April 9, 2012 by David Shama

 

Lurtsema said choosing a player in the first round of the NFL draft doesn’t guarantee later performance.  “One-third will be total busts,” he said.  “One-third will be mediocre.”

Among the Vikings draft choices last year was tight end Kyle Rudolph in the second round.  The 6-6, 258- pound Rudolph impressed in part-time work during 2011 and Lurtsema described him as “the steal of the draft.”

Congratulations to the Fitzgerald family, including Larry Sr. and Larry Jr., for ongoing efforts to raise money for charities involving breast cancer, HIV and urban education.  The eighth annual Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund Benefit was held last Friday at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley.

In its March 26 baseball preview issue, Sports Illustrated predicts the Angels, who play at Target Field this afternoon in the Twins home opener, will win the American League pennant and defeat the Giants in the World Series.

The magazine reports that Albert Pujols’ new 10-year contract with the Angels includes a bonus payment of $7 million if he hits 763 career home runs, breaking the major league record of 762 held by Barry Bonds.  The 32-year-old Pujols has hit 445 home runs in his big league career that began in 2001.

Pujols ranked No. 3 nationally in Majestic jersey sales in 2011, according to a MLB.com news release last week.  The Yankees’ Derek Jeter was No. 1 with the Phillies’ Cliff Lee No. 2.  The Twins’ Joe Mauer ranked No. 12.

Despite numerous media reports linking Gophers assistant coach Ron Jirsa to the head coaching search at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said he expects no change in his staff for next season.

Smith had only two scholarships available for his 2012 recruiting class.  The two incoming recruits, Wally Ellenson and Charles Buggs, will attend summer school at Minnesota.

Smith is an “11-12” handicapper and would love to play Augusta National Golf Club.

Gophers senior Ralph Sampson III is expected to attend the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this week.  Also attending the pre-NBA draft event is Bloomington native and Badgers player Jordan Taylor, according to the tournament website.

The April 9 issue of Sports Illustrated includes a college basketball top 10 for 2012-13 and Indiana is ranked No. 1. The other schools in order are Louisville, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Syracuse, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Arizona and Memphis.

Charlotte coach Paul Silas was an NBA forward whose 16-year playing career began in 1964.  He’s impressed with the Wolves’ Kevin Love who in his fourth season is often referred to as the best power forward in the league.  “If he continues to do like he’s doing, for a good portion of his career, he’s going to be one of the best ever because you just don’t see anybody in this league scoring like he does and rebounding the way he does,” Silas said.

The Wolves are hosting three free TV viewing parties this month including Wednesday night’s game from Denver. The games aren’t on local TV and will be seen via NBA League Pass. The Wednesday night party begins at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen at Champps Americana in Eden Prairie.

Defending MIAC football champion St. Thomas opens spring practice on Wednesday.  The Tommies spring intrasquad game will be on May 12 starting at 1 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

Bethel’s Nicole Wriedt (volleyball), Gustavus’ Benjamin Ceder (soccer) and Brad Kruckeberg (football), and St. Thomas’ Dan Chapman (football) are among 58 women and men the NCAA announced have won postgraduate scholarships. The grants are $7,500 each.

The Gophers baseball team was 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference before losing three games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to Ohio State in Columbus.  In a preseason coaches’ vote, the Gophers (3-3) were predicted to finish No. 3 in the conference behind Michigan State (3-3) and Purdue (7-2).

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