BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,761
- Reaction score
- 16,134
- Points
- 113
per Sinker:
In about 4 1/2 years, baseball writers will face with the question of whether Joe Mauer belongs in baseball's Hall of Fame.
There are people who think it's sacrilege to even pose the question because there's absolutely no doubt in their minds that Mauer is a Hall of Famer, and that even debating whether he should go in during his first year on the ballot is silly.
And there are people who are just as convinced that Mauer isn't worthy of the greatest individual honor in baseball despite winning three batting titles as a catcher, which had never been done, because of the statistics from his post-concussions move to first base.
If nothing else, Twitter can be a fine place to fan the flames for this kind of question.
So I posed it last weekend toward the end of the Joe Mauer number retirement celebrations at Target Field.
First off, as evidence that the answer isn't obvious, here are links to a couple of blog posts on the subject:
In April, the website Cooperstown Cred's Chris Bodig analyzed Mauer's changes and offered this caution: "Mauer will get credit for his good numbers as a catcher but it should be noted that, even when catcher was his primary position, he started a lot of games at first base or as the team’s designated hitter. Mauer only caught 100 games five times in his career. His 921 career games behind the dish are just 146th in the history of the game."
My thought, right now: Mauer will be a Hall of Famer. Probably not on the first ballot. But his achievements as a catcher will overshadow the years at first base.
My other thought: This is going to be a great debate. Do everyone a favor and keep it civil.
http://www.startribune.com/joe-maue...s-no-shortage-of-contrary-opinions/511725842/
Win Twins!!
In about 4 1/2 years, baseball writers will face with the question of whether Joe Mauer belongs in baseball's Hall of Fame.
There are people who think it's sacrilege to even pose the question because there's absolutely no doubt in their minds that Mauer is a Hall of Famer, and that even debating whether he should go in during his first year on the ballot is silly.
And there are people who are just as convinced that Mauer isn't worthy of the greatest individual honor in baseball despite winning three batting titles as a catcher, which had never been done, because of the statistics from his post-concussions move to first base.
If nothing else, Twitter can be a fine place to fan the flames for this kind of question.
So I posed it last weekend toward the end of the Joe Mauer number retirement celebrations at Target Field.
First off, as evidence that the answer isn't obvious, here are links to a couple of blog posts on the subject:
In April, the website Cooperstown Cred's Chris Bodig analyzed Mauer's changes and offered this caution: "Mauer will get credit for his good numbers as a catcher but it should be noted that, even when catcher was his primary position, he started a lot of games at first base or as the team’s designated hitter. Mauer only caught 100 games five times in his career. His 921 career games behind the dish are just 146th in the history of the game."
My thought, right now: Mauer will be a Hall of Famer. Probably not on the first ballot. But his achievements as a catcher will overshadow the years at first base.
My other thought: This is going to be a great debate. Do everyone a favor and keep it civil.
http://www.startribune.com/joe-maue...s-no-shortage-of-contrary-opinions/511725842/
Win Twins!!