The Best Hitter Since Gwynn?

PerfectMisnomer · 04-24-2007, 12:59 AM

The talks are all about A-Rod right now, but are we witnessing the next great hitter in Joe Mauer? He has another two hits today, raising his average currently to .400 for the young season. Maybe those who know saber's can let me know if Mauer is on pace to keep up these stats or what his projections are.

At just 24 years old, can he get even better with experience?

Luis_Rivera · 04-24-2007, 01:14 AM

A-Rod is a better hitter than either of them. Bonds and Pujols are far and away better hitters than anyone listed in that post.

edit: not far and away better than ARod by any means actually... but you get what I'm saying

Luis_Rivera · 04-24-2007, 01:18 AM

WRT Mauer...

He's projected by PECOTA to hit 331/411/500. I wouldn't expect him to keep up that .471 BABIP... he should come down to where his expected performance lies which is still FILTHY. He was my pick for MVP last year.

You also have to take into consideration that as a catcher, his body takes a beating, and historically catchers fare less well in the second half.

DougWyatt · 04-24-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerfectMisnomer

The talks are all about A-Rod right now, but are we witnessing the next great hitter in Joe Mauer? He has another two hits today, raising his average currently to .400 for the young season. Maybe those who know saber's can let me know if Mauer is on pace to keep up these stats or what his projections are.

At just 24 years old, can he get even better with experience?

Not sure if this is where you're going but ...... April 23rd is waaaayyyyyy early to be talking about hitting .400

Skipaway · 04-24-2007, 01:40 AM

The topic obviously isn't really about best hitters, but best among those with average power.

Prodigal Son · 04-24-2007, 01:52 AM

It's about best hitters strictly for average and about wondering about the future of a young guy.

mikev · 04-24-2007, 02:24 AM

You have to wonder if Mauer will continue to be a catcher for his career. With a bat like his, subjecting him to the rigors of catching doesn't seem to be the best idea.

I'd work him at third base ala Brandon Inge.

His Own Bad Self · 04-24-2007, 02:36 AM

What about Ichiro?

DougWyatt · 04-24-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikev

You have to wonder if Mauer will continue to be a catcher for his career. With a bat like his, subjecting him to the rigors of catching doesn't seem to be the best idea.

I'd work him at third base ala Brandon Inge.

Ya know, I've often wondered that.

On one hand, you want your big offensive weapons on the field as much, and for as long as possible. As you say, the catcher won't do that. He has to rest more during the season, as well as they usually have a shorter career.

But, on the other hand, if you can get that kind of production out of the catcher spot - whew - that's a big advantage you'll have on most other teams.

I think in this type of situation that it's such an important position, it all comes down to how good defensively the catcher is.

IE.. If it's Pudge, ya gotta leave 'em there. If he's an average to below average catcher - put 'em somewhere else & let 'em swing.

Prodigal Son · 04-24-2007, 02:41 AM

I think the Twins will leave him there for a number of years...as long as he proves he is durable. He has the luxury of being able to DH whenever he needs a rest from behind the plate. The only way I see the Twins moving him is if he becomes injury-plagued or his performance drops off significantly. Getting his offense (and defense, for that matter) out of the catcher spot is a lot more helpful to a team than getting it at 1B.

Jonzard · 04-24-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougWyatt

Not sure if this is where you're going but ...... April 23rd is waaaayyyyyy early to be talking about hitting .400

What about when he is hitting .400 on April 23rd. That's all that was said.

In regard to the Catching/3b talk, he is a very good defensive catcher. That cannon was once atop the college football quarterback recruit list (sorry Florida State fans).

mikev · 04-24-2007, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonzard

What about when he is hitting .400 on April 23rd. That's all that was said.

In regard to the Catching/3b talk, he is a very good defensive catcher. That cannon was once atop the college football quarterback recruit list (sorry Florida State fans).

I wasn't bringing it up in regards to his defense though. I was bringing i up in regards to elongating his career.

jbergey22 · 04-24-2007, 03:14 AM

Mauer will be changing positions. It has already been talked about that he has grown another inch in the last year(6-6 now, much too tall to be a catcher for any long period of time). He is a fine athlete and feel he could make the move to 3rd or 1st w/o any problems.

PerfectMisnomer · 04-24-2007, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis_Rivera

A-Rod is a better hitter than either of them. Bonds and Pujols are far and away better hitters than anyone listed in that post.

edit: not far and away better than ARod by any means actually... but you get what I'm saying

Sorry, I'll be more clear and say best average/slap sticker. Pujols obviously is ahead of him at the moment in that department too.

PerfectMisnomer · 04-24-2007, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougWyatt

Not sure if this is where you're going but ...... April 23rd is waaaayyyyyy early to be talking about hitting .400

No, Tony Gwynn never hit .400. The topic was just me stating that he's off to a wonderful start for his career in terms of BA (I know you Sabers love that stat). Gwynn was easily the best hitter in the 90's when it came to average, and we might be staring at the next dominant hitter to win multiple batting titles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prodigal Son

It's about best hitters strictly for average and about wondering about the future of a young guy.

Thank you

I thought my "since Gwynn" would explain what I meant, but apparently some people thought I meant Gwynn was better than Bonds, Arod, Pujols, etc. Two totally different styles of batters.

But back on topic: Is he the type of hitter who can snag those multiple batting titles and dominant the era in the hits category?

Big Hugg · 04-24-2007, 03:55 AM

He's going to have some nice competition from Howie Kendrick. He's a batting title waiting to happen.

Jonzard · 04-24-2007, 04:18 AM

BUT MAUER's ISO is WAAAY TOO LOW FOR BE GOODE HITTER NUB!!!

Luis_Rivera · 04-24-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prodigal Son

I think the Twins will leave him there for a number of years...as long as he proves he is durable. He has the luxury of being able to DH whenever he needs a rest from behind the plate. The only way I see the Twins moving him is if he becomes injury-plagued or his performance drops off significantly. Getting his offense (and defense, for that matter) out of the catcher spot is a lot more helpful to a team than getting it at 1B.

Mauer has had knee problems for a few years now, and one of his knees is now bone on bone. He needs to be moved from that position in the near future or his career is going to suffer. They talked a few years ago about moving him to 3B, which would be great.

darkhorse · 04-24-2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougWyatt

Not sure if this is where you're going but ...... April 23rd is waaaayyyyyy early to be talking about hitting .400

I may have a better chance of playing in the major leagues than a catcher does of hitting .400.

darkhorse · 04-24-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis_Rivera

edit: not far and away better than ARod by any means actually... but you get what I'm saying

Bonds career equivalent average is 33 points higher than ARod's. Just saying.

04-24-2007, 12:59 AM	#1
PerfectMisnomer All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,221	The Best Hitter Since Gwynn? The talks are all about A-Rod right now, but are we witnessing the next great hitter in Joe Mauer? He has another two hits today, raising his average currently to .400 for the young season. Maybe those who know saber's can let me know if Mauer is on pace to keep up these stats or what his projections are. At just 24 years old, can he get even better with experience? __________________ PCBL -- Commissioner, Troy Heroes GM Current Avatar: SP Keith Ellison 20-8, 2.59 ERA and CL All-Star Game Starter

04-24-2007, 01:40 AM	#5
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	The topic obviously isn't really about best hitters, but best among those with average power. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

04-24-2007, 02:24 AM	#7
mikev Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 4,014	You have to wonder if Mauer will continue to be a catcher for his career. With a bat like his, subjecting him to the rigors of catching doesn't seem to be the best idea. I'd work him at third base ala Brandon Inge. __________________ Global Unified Baseball Association - Vice Commish and Oakland Oaks GM

04-24-2007, 04:18 AM	#17
Jonzard Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,647	BUT MAUER's ISO is WAAAY TOO LOW FOR BE GOODE HITTER NUB!!! __________________ For a scientist must indeed be freely imaginative and yet skeptical, creative and yet a critic. There is a sense in which he must be free, but another in which his thought must be very precisely regimented; there is poetry in science, but also a lot of bookkeeping. — Sir Peter B. Medawar FTB

04-24-2007, 01:14 AM	#2
Luis_Rivera Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,177	A-Rod is a better hitter than either of them. Bonds and Pujols are far and away better hitters than anyone listed in that post. edit: not far and away better than ARod by any means actually... but you get what I'm saying

04-24-2007, 01:18 AM	#3
Luis_Rivera Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,177	WRT Mauer... He's projected by PECOTA to hit 331/411/500. I wouldn't expect him to keep up that .471 BABIP... he should come down to where his expected performance lies which is still FILTHY. He was my pick for MVP last year. You also have to take into consideration that as a catcher, his body takes a beating, and historically catchers fare less well in the second half.

04-24-2007, 01:52 AM	#6
Prodigal Son All Star Starter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iahiodo a.k.a. the flyover Posts: 1,635	It's about best hitters strictly for average and about wondering about the future of a young guy.

04-24-2007, 02:36 AM	#8
His Own Bad Self All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,221	What about Ichiro?

04-24-2007, 02:41 AM	#10
Prodigal Son All Star Starter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iahiodo a.k.a. the flyover Posts: 1,635	I think the Twins will leave him there for a number of years...as long as he proves he is durable. He has the luxury of being able to DH whenever he needs a rest from behind the plate. The only way I see the Twins moving him is if he becomes injury-plagued or his performance drops off significantly. Getting his offense (and defense, for that matter) out of the catcher spot is a lot more helpful to a team than getting it at 1B.

04-24-2007, 03:14 AM	#13
jbergey22 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,481	Mauer will be changing positions. It has already been talked about that he has grown another inch in the last year(6-6 now, much too tall to be a catcher for any long period of time). He is a fine athlete and feel he could make the move to 3rd or 1st w/o any problems.

04-24-2007, 03:55 AM	#16
Big Hugg All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 933	He's going to have some nice competition from Howie Kendrick. He's a batting title waiting to happen.