Mauer near-unanimous pick as American League MVP

I realize catchers do not actually pitch the pitches, throw the strikes, Mauer is good at managing the tempo of the game and helps keep the batters off balance. He may not be the best at throwing out runners but with all of his tools put together in one player, he has an impact in the outcome of a lot of game.

NY Yankees 2009 World Champions. Sucks to be you Yankee Haters

Mags- There is not one player more that deserves this award this year than Mauer. This is Mauer's 2nd year in a row wining the batting title not to mention the gold glove..... HE IS THE MVP because of what he did for the team!!

11th is pretty good??? I could have caught and they would have only dropped to 14th. Regardless, I was just making a point that the comments about how good Mauer did managing his pitching staff are not supported by any evidence, and this does not strengthen his arguement for MVP. Personally, I don't think a catcher has much to do with his pitchers' performances anyway. Schilling, Big Unit, Pedro, Maddux, Clemens all managed to be effective regardless of their catcher/team over the years.

416. Posted by jmiles10 Wed Nov 25 3:01pm EST Report Abuse
Also, you mentioned how Mauer did such a great job managing his pitching staff. I don't know if I would consider it a good job when the pitching staff was ranked 11th in the AL.

Without looking, name one starting pitcher for the Twins.

11th is pretty good when the only pitcher on the staff you can name is the closer.

Actually, I think too much credit is being given to Mauer for being a defensive catcher.

By looking at the statistics, it appears to me that Joe Mauer is a below average defensive catcher. Mauer was ranked 8th in the AL in Caught Stealing Pctg.; 12th in Passed Balls; 13th in Assists; 9th in putouts -- he ranked behind Jorge Posada (considered a defensive liability) in all of these defensive categories.

Also, you mentioned how Mauer did such a great job managing his pitching staff. I don't know if I would consider it a good job when the pitching staff was ranked 11th in the AL.

Don't get me wrong, I realize you can't tell everything by looking at the statistics. But, I have only seen Joe Mauer play a handful of games, so statistics are really all I have to go by.

Before the grammar police hit my message, I realized I spelled know (no) used an is when I should of used are and used the wrong (to).

Everyone is talking about Mauer's offensive stats, which are very impressive. But what about how he he manages a game and that young pitching staff, which many consider to be full of no-namers; that is another element that many people on the board have either overlooked or do not no about. Most people, who do not follow the Twins, do not understand that dimension Mauer brings. Jeter is just as valuable to his team, especilly on the defensive side.. If Mauer did not get it, I think Jeter should have gotten it. The defensive plays Jeter made in the ALDS and ALCS was a display of the everyday Jeter. Jeter probably would of had a better chance if there was not another Yankee there to split the votes. Tex had a big year but the leadership, presence and most importantly, the positions Mauer and Jeter play, factor into the equation as well. If Morneau does not go down, there would of been two Twins taking votes from each other, just as the case between Jeter and Tex. Plus, Tex plays a position where he is supposed too and is expected to put up the numbers he did. The average 1st baseman is expected to put up at least 30+ homeruns, 100+ RBI's and around a .300 average and a decent glove. From a SS or catcher, half those numbers is considered a decent season. That goes to show how impressive Mauer and Jeter's numbers have been.

Bret, I hope all these are just as part of a friendly discussion. No disrespectful to anyone. true Yankee fans appreciate their team winning as much as others.

However, baseball is not a game anymore but a business. Players are represented by lawyers (teams of lawyers) and owners are also represented by teams of lawyer. It is more like a business deal than an negotiation.

Bret, you actually believe there are still players out there willing to play for mininum for their love of the game ? wow..I am shocked. Don't mean to be disrespectful, but do you want to buy the brooklyn bridge for $100 ? I will sell it to you. If that person (impossible to use personS) actually do exist, the player union will not allow that to happen. You said SOME players would do that. Don't have to mention all..just one, just one name to back up your claim.

I honestly think Mauer will remain at MN because the three sons of Carl Polhad would be killed in MN if they let him sign with NY or Boston or Anaheim. A riot will be happening on the streets of St. Paul on the day Mauer signs with different team. He is an amazing player and deserves to be the MVP but what evident do you have to claim that he would rather play for mininum to remain as a Twin. You must know Mauer personally to read his and his agent's mind.

Once again, why people are discussing his whereabout in 2011 when today is still 2009 ?

For all the Yankee fans out there, let Mauer be the MVP....any harm done ? Apparently not !! the WS rings have already been sent to NY. I don't care if the Phillies Mascot win the MVP or the Cubs ball girl win the Cy Young award. It just doesn't matter.

Mags,
There is more to life than money. Joe Mauer knows that. As far as that buisness question you asked me...that is exactly why I am not a buisness man so I don't have to make decisions like that.
Money is not the key to happiness regardless what you think. But of course someone like you would not understand that.

Sai...You don't come off as arrogant.

average_joe.. you are funny. Not all Yankee fans are self centered. I hope I don't come across as arrogant but simply pointing out the obvious anti-Yankees sentiment. It is part of being a Yankee fan...you have to take the abuses when they screw up and also abuses when they win.

However, you are funny about A-Rod. With the steroid taking, are you sure he still has two observable testicles. Manny needs medication to get his family jewels back....Even if A-rod has two, it might only be counted as one LOL

378. Posted by Sai Tue Nov 24 7:19pm EST Report Abuse

For all those Jeter/Yankees haters, you would give up your left tesicle to be jeter in real life for 1 day. The money, the attention, the women or men, the coverage....plain jealousy and sour grape whom ever for hating Jeter.

I have to agree with you Sai. But if I had to listen to self-centered, elitist snob Yankee fan for 1 day, I would ask for two left testicles back.

And then I could have a "who has more testicles" contest with A-Rod.

I would win by three.

Lol Mags you are pretty funny thinking Joe Mauer has that little of class to sign with the @#$% yankees, keep dreaming buddy it will never happen :)

Mags, I find it very ironic that you tell others to pick up a dictionary, yet you use the pronoun "their" multiple times instead of the adverb "there". That's as basic as the English language gets. So which one are you, the idiot black kettle or the moron pot?

bret, Get out from underneath your rock you neanderthal. Let me ask you a question, if one of your companies competitors came to you and said they would triple your salary for the next 8 years guaranteed, but you had to move to NY would you go? Enough said. Of course you would moron. The only reason Mauer would not come to NY is if THE YANKEES DID NOT WANT HIM! That means they do not want to pay the money. I'm not even going to discuss your comments on Mariano because it would be like arguing with an unarmed man. Its obvious you are a football fan and know absolutely nothing about baseball. Stop with all the small town hick crap you keep dishing out. Your owner is a chump and the fans are lame. If the money is their Mauer goes, if its a championship he desires, you will be watching him ride down the hall of champions in 2011.

Morons, You are all Morons that cannot read and lack basic comprehension. Their is not one post that I have read that said Mauer or Morneau did not DESERVE their MVP awards. We are simply (not simple enough obviously) pointing out that the voting process is flawed and subject to the whims and biases of the sports writers. In addition, a case (a very strong case) can be made for a number of other players based on some of the stupid and ridiculous criteria several neanderthals on this blog have use to defend Mauer and Morneau achievements. Take a few moments, grab a dictionary and thesaurus and read some of the comments from those who defend Morneau and Mauers selection. Maybe (thats a big maybe) you will understand how really stupid the state of MN. is. Their is constant contradiction of thought which supports my conclusion which is, you will construct and manipulate the criteria for MVP voting as long as it leads to Mauer and Morneau. This is not about Jeter, its a reflection of the the anti yankee sentiment that permeates the hearts and minds of so many fans (and sportswriters) that never experience the joy of winning. So you (and sportswriters) attach yourself to the one shinning light in your life (mauer and morneau) and you begin to believe you are equal to everyone else in the world, well your not. This false sense of achievement only blinds your judgement and gives you temporary satisfaction. In other words, you (and sportswriters) have a major inferiority complex and will desperately hang on to anything that gives you the power to fit in - Well you don't. If winning is the criteria you want to use for selecting an MVP than Mariano Rivera should win every year. Get It! We know Mauer and Morneau are great, but stop trying to justify their MVP awards with moronic comments about leading their team to the playoffs or yankees have a team full of great players so they cannot have an MVP or the yankees would still win with out Jeter, A-Rod, or Tex etc.... Those are NOT THE CRITERIA. Several of you said: stats matter, then they don't, then their only a part of the criteria, then its winning, no, its leading your team to victory blah blah blah. Can anyone tell me what the criteria is for selecting the MVP? You folks try to justify their MVP award by giving credibility to your own flawed criteria as a way to deal with your teams pathetic existence. Sports writers do the same, they vote for the MVP using their own INDIVIDUAL criteria then use all their god given biases and prejudices to justify their selection, period. Look at the moron that voted for Cabrera - I rest my case.

Oh Mags I forgot one other thing. Your last post lacked any real criteria. I especially laughed hard when you said "Tell me their is someone in MLB more valuable to their team than Rivera?" Do you proofread what you write? If not I suggest you start.
Closers are a dime a dozen. How many saves did Riveria have this year? With a team that won 103 games he only saved 44. That means they did not rely on him much because they were usally dominating everygame.
Of course we should let you decide who is MVP along with all the other Yankees fans. You know more than professional writers. Money has clouted your judgment. You are a typical NY arrogant fool. Some of us still have hometown pride. I can honestly say if I were Mauer and I were offered triple the salary to play for a team that uses dollars to win, I would say no. How much money does one man need to play a game he loves? If I had Mauer's talent I would play for the league minimum. Some athletes still feel that way.
One more thing, you all say that money is not the reason your team is successful? What a load of crap. Look at the NFL that has a salary cap. The Vikes, playing in the metrodome just like the Twins are losing money like crazy but still are the best team in the NFL. They have no advantage over any other team because they all follow the same rules. I would go into salary caps more in depth but since your posts sound like your an uneducated NY boy from the hood why waste my time explaining it to you.
Like I said...Mauer will be signed soon by the Twins. Mauer has too much class to play for the arrogant Yankees.

Ok..... Yankee fans.
Yes you should have gotten some first place votes. But whoever leads the league in avg and plays catcher and hits almost 30 home runs with two months off should be the MVP.

Mags...
Once again your lack of intelligence shines through.
You are a typical NY Yankees Fan. You are offended I have exposed the truth because in reality you know I am right.

Now don't get me wrong. I actually like Jeter. He is a great player and leader. It's the fans like you I hate.

It just saddens me that a team like the twins who have a 57 million dollar payroll is as successful as they are.

Mauer in pinstripes? LOL...I have saved this post profile under my favorites. Once he signs with the Twins in the next few months, you'll be hearing from me and I'm going to rub it in like crazy that the Yankees were unable to buy the best in the buisness.

Why is there even an argument about whose MVP here??? Mauer was clearly the MVP. How the hell do you guys consider Jeter the MVP of a team whose lineup up and down is stacked to the brim. I mean they hit like 240 HR's or so and almost scored a thousand runs. A team that missed the playoffs last year and NEEDED to sign the top 3 free agents in the off-season to make it. Exactly how did he "lead" the Yanks this year is what I'd like to know.

Mauers "slugging average" of .587 is not correct because the formula for SA , TB / AB, is flawed. His true SA is .402.

Mauers "slugging average" of .587 is not correct because the formula for SA , TB / AB, is flawed. His true SA is .402.

post # 396

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