Should Mauer be moved to another position?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

From Peter Gammonds


Joe Mauer is sitting on Rod Carew numbers in Minnesota, which to anyone who has watched him is no surprise.

There never was much doubt that his astounding hitting skills -- his ability to spit on borderline pitches, drive balls hard to the opposite field, his intelligence -- would eventually make him a star. In fact, only a knee injury slowed his progress toward stardom.

Mauer is now, at the age of 23, the Twins' franchise player and will be so visibly when Torii Hunter is gone at the end of either the 2006 or 2007 seasons. Where he will be the franchise player is another issue. He's had the knee operation and some leg problems, and some on the Minnesota staff believe that eventually getting him out from behind the plate will free his legs and allow him to be a middle-of-the-order star.

Not that Mauer isn't a good catcher. He is. He has soft hands, an excellent presentation, a good arm and a selfless approach. But like Joe Torre and Craig Biggio, sometimes a player is so good offensively that he needs to get out from behind the plate and let his offense be a priority. Ron Gardenhire believes Mauer is so athletic that he will have no problem playing third base.

If Mauer does move, where should he move to?

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

From Peter Gammonds



If Mauer does move, where should he move to?
I read that in Insider too, I think that they should keep him where he is, after all, he is a pretty good fielding catcher, then again, when Batista is gone...yeah, he should play 3B soon, but who could replace him?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I'm not sure if Mauer is athletic enough to play the outfield. I don't see him as a middle infielder, either. So that leaves first and third base. He doesn't have the power one normally wants from those positions. I dunno what the Twins should do.

[yankillaz]

I would really like him to stay behind the plate. But if i had to pick a position, i'd place him in first base.

[Big_Mac]

wherever is he is most comfertable is where he should play. hes the man in minny. if i had to pick, i would say 3rd thoiugh.

[KCGHOST]

Leaving him at C gives the Twinkies a large advantage in most games.

[baseball junkie]

Scary, our minds are thinking alike. I just posted something like this in my .400 BA thread.

[The Big C]

I voted to keep him at Catcher. But if he has any more problems with that knee, moving him might be a necessity.

[CROM]

here shortly people may be saying the same thing in regards to brian mccann.. hes a lot like mauer..

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I'm not sure if Mauer is athletic enough to play the outfield. I don't see him as a middle infielder, either. So that leaves first and third base. He doesn't have the power one normally wants from those positions. I dunno what the Twins should do.

Athletic enough? Wasn't the guy an all-world quarterback and basketball player in high school? How athletic do you want him to be :eek:

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Athletic enough? Wasn't the guy an all-world quarterback and basketball player in high school? How athletic do you want him to be :eek:
Ok, so Mauer is tall but can he run? And I don't think "runs well for a catcher" is fast enough to play the outfield. :o

[Sweet Lou]

From Peter Gammonds



If Mauer does move, where should he move to?
The Mariners. :D

[Honus Wagner Rules]

On a side note, no one is laughing at the Twins for taking Mauer over Mark Prior in the 2002 draft anymore. I wonder why? :D

[Outta Here]

I think if he goes anywhere it will be to 3rd base.

More importantly, he needs to move out of Minnesota, to a better team :eek:!!

[Captain Cold Nose]

I think if he goes anywhere it will be to 3rd base.

More importantly, he needs to move out of Minnesota, to a better team :eek:!!
I'll never understand why some begrudge any team that isn't doing well of present any good players. The Twins of recent vintage have a few playoff appearances. How many other teams can say they've won multiple World Series titles the last 20 years?
How is a currently bad team going to get better if they're not allowed good players? Mauer is fine where he is.

[yankillaz]

The Mariners. :D

C'mon, aren't you glad to have one of the top three young catchers in the game in Johima??? Along Mauer and McCann he's tops.

BTW, is this a trend? Young talented catchers? The three aforemention plus Ross, Bard and others...

[yankillaz]

I'll never understand why some begrudge any team that isn't doing well of present any good players. The Twins of recent vintage have a few playoff appearances. How many other teams can say they've won multiple World Series titles the last 20 years?
How is a currently bad team going to get better if they're not allowed good players? Mauer is fine where he is.

I'm with you on this one...