All Things 2022-2023 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread

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Gophers1992

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You guys are more optimistic than me. I absolutely think he should get in, but I don't think he will.
 


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howeda7

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Gophers1992 said:
You guys are more optimistic than me. I absolutely think he should get in, but I don't think he will.
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I think it's a pretty safe bet he makes it. Scott Rolen just got in. Great player, but he never led the league in any offensive category. Not once. Mauer won 3 batting titles while playing catcher. Something no one else had even done twice.

Mauer is viewed more negative locally for his injury issues/salary than he is nationally. If he'd simply retired after he was done catching in 2014, I don't even think it would be a question. His career batting average would have been ~.320 and his career length similar to Kirby's. That his transition to 1B was not optimal, shouldn't really be held against him. Plus he still hit .300 one of those seasons.
 

short ornery norwegian

short ornery norwegian

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I heard someone - might have been Reusse - make a comparison to Puckett. Puckett got in because he was really good over an injury-shortened career.

If Mauer had been forced to quit playing after 2013, and his HOF case was made strictly on an injury-shortened career as a catcher, I think that would actually improve his chances, because he would have been judged only on the most productive years of his career.
 

Ope3

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Gophers1992 said:
You guys are more optimistic than me. I absolutely think he should get in, but I don't think he will.
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I am pretty confident that by 2030, Mauer will be enshrined in Cooperstown.
 
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GophersInIowa

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short ornery norwegian said:
Mauer is an interesting case.
for the first part of his career, when he was healthy and playing C full-time, his production during that period is up there with any HOF catcher. 6 all-star games, 5 Silver Sluggers, 3 AL batting titles, 3 Gold Gloves, 1 MVP and 3 other seasons where he was top-10 in MVP voting.

but after the injuries and concussions, he finished out his career as a 1B with very little power. his OBP, Slugging, RBI's all went down and K's went up.

so from 2005 to 2013, Mauer had a HOF career. the last 5 seasons, not even close.

how will the voters judge his career?

I think - given the current standards - that Mauer gets in. But it might take 3 or 4 years.
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I don't know if that should matter that much. A lot of people don't realize it but Sandy Koufax was very average for half of his career. No one would question if he's a Hall of Famer.

Mauer's 5-6 year stretch was arguably as good for his position as someone like Koufax's 6 year run.

Not saying Mauer is as good as Koufax or anything but just to put things into perspective.
 











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howeda7

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GopherVotary

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Mauer should have been moved to 3B early in his career. Might have won a couple more batting titles and still be playing today. 1B was a waste of his arm.
 



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#2Gopher

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GopherVotary said:
Mauer should have been moved to 3B early in his career. Might have won a couple more batting titles and still be playing today. 1B was a waste of his arm.
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I hadn't thought about this move. Did he play third base in high school?
 

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We just traded away our batting title winner. Slap hitting batting title winners are blah.

Mauer in the hall of fame would be.......LMAO
 



short ornery norwegian

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Well, I thought the Twins might make some more moves before Spring Training.

FWIW, Doogie was on Skor North and said the Twins have not had any contact with Michael Fullmer. I thought Fullmer was OK - not great. If Alcala is healthy, he probably replaces what they got from Fullmer - but that is another big IF. That new trainer had better be good!

didn't hear much about Twins Fest. I did listen to Gleeman & the Geek's podcast which was taped live at their Winter Meltdown. Had Reusse on and then Glen Perkins. Perk was interesting talking about how he has learned more about analytics and is trying to bring that to his work on BSN. Also talked about the difference between starting and relieving.
 

GopherVotary

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#2Gopher said:
I hadn't thought about this move. Did he play third base in high school?
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Not that I know of. I don’t know that he played first either. But he was such a gifted athlete, I have no doubt he would have made a good third bagger.
 

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howeda7

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short ornery norwegian said:
Well, I thought the Twins might make some more moves before Spring Training.

FWIW, Doogie was on Skor North and said the Twins have not had any contact with Michael Fullmer. I thought Fullmer was OK - not great. If Alcala is healthy, he probably replaces what they got from Fullmer - but that is another big IF. That new trainer had better be good!

didn't hear much about Twins Fest. I did listen to Gleeman & the Geek's podcast which was taped live at their Winter Meltdown. Had Reusse on and then Glen Perkins. Perk was interesting talking about how he has learned more about analytics and is trying to bring that to his work on BSN. Also talked about the difference between starting and relieving.
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What's the argument against bringing back Fulmer? He'll cost something like 1 year $5 million. We can always use bullpen depth.
 

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