Joe Mauer--What do you expect?

[Robert]

What do you think Mauer will do this season? Will he be worth anything offensively? Can he hit for average right now? And when do you think he'll start hitting for power?

[denvermax]

i think.....

mauer could do good offensively
probably hit for good average, .270 to .280?
probably not much power, 10?

compared to some other catchers he should be good.

but, i dont know that much about Mauer
maybe a Twins fan or someone else could fill you in better

[Budworth22]

Living in Ft. Myers (home of Twins A-Ball), I got to see him for about 250 AB's. He is phenomenal behind the plate. Absolutely brilliant defensively. He's Benito/ Pudge smooth. He handles the bat well, and hits well to all fields. I think that he can hit for average, around .280. But he advanced extremely quickly, and never had a second time around against any pitcher really. Major league pitchers will figure out his act. But the adjustment will come. Expect a typical rookie season, and at this point he will be more for D than o. I think he oculd hit #2 or 7 in that twins lineup. I believe that with weights th power will come. Remember that he was the #1 prep QB in the nation out of minnesota. As a qb, they discourage weights so now consider this his second year lifting. I believe within two years you will see a power spike.

[M_Zimm]

I don't know a whole lot about him but I do know that he got the minor league MVP the same award that Rocko Baldelli got last year and Mark Prior got the year before. I never saw the guy play though but I hear that people are raving about him and his monor league numbers were awesome.

[BigLebowski]

I don't know a whole lot about him but I do know that he got the minor league MVP the same award that Rocko Baldelli got last year and Mark Prior got the year before. I never saw the guy play though but I hear that people are raving about him and his monor league numbers were awesome.

Why do people keep saying Prior won a minor league MVP?

I don't ever recall this happening. Am I nuts?

[CrimeDog]

Prior could not have had a minor league MVP, he pitched 4 years in college, and then like a month and a half in the minors before being called up. Unless he got the MVP for the 8 or 10 minor league starts he made, I doubt it.

[Guest]

.220 and a minor league demotion

Perhaps up at the end of the year. I'd love him to succeed as I own him in my league, but I think back at what an equally great hitting Hank Blalock did at 21 and have to put down any lofty expectations.

Very Best Case: .300 10 HR 60 RBI.

I don't think they'll hesitant to send Joe down either -- with LeCroy and Prince (or another FA they'll likely pick up) to fill the void -- this is if he even makes the team outta spring training.

[Madison]

I don't have him on my draft lists for next year. He's on my players to watch, but unless I had a weak catcher and I was drafting him strictly for the bench, I wouldn't touch him yet.

[HOOTIE]

I don't know a whole lot about him but I do know that he got the minor league MVP the same award that Rocko Baldelli got last year and Mark Prior got the year before. I never saw the guy play though but I hear that people are raving about him and his monor league numbers were awesome.

Why do people keep saying Prior won a minor league MVP?

I don't ever recall this happening. Am I nuts?

Prior didn't win it. He never spent enough time in minors, because he had 4 years of college.

[HOOTIE]

If it's a non keeper, i wouldn't bother. In a keeper, i ride him all the way. He's the best guy coming out imo. His defense is major league right now. He's still really young, and his power will come. Many guys struggle who come up at such a young age. Mauer hits for a big avg, his oba is unreal. He actually walked more then he k'd. He also did this in a pitchers league,and at about a year younger then the comp. At this point in career, he matches Pudges defense, and is the better hitter. Take the bumps this year. In 3 or 4 years, he will be the best C in bb.