MLB Opening Day

[AZGrizFan]

Well... Mauer is playing first full time now...

He is 7th in runs scored
6th in total hits (1 out of 3rd)
more HR than sluggers like Chris Davis, Lyle Overbay, Mark Teixiera, Prince Fielder
T 2nd in stolen bases
2nd in league in walks
9th in BA (and improving and most of the guys a head of him won't maintain their averages)
5th in OB%
top 20 in slugging (a head of Miggy, Fielder)
one of just 9 first basemen to not commit an error
9th in range factor (whatever that is)

Not dumb enough to think he'll stay ahead of them in HRs BUT Mauer is a 2 hole hitter...not shocking he doesn't put up a ton of HR and RBI. However, it's safe to say he'll be a top 10 first basement

[clenz]

Well... Mauer is playing first full time now...

He is 7th in runs scored
6th in total hits (1 out of 3rd)
more HR than sluggers like Chris Davis, Lyle Overbay, Mark Teixiera, Prince Fielder
T 2nd in stolen bases
2nd in league in walks
9th in BA (and improving and most of the guys a head of him won't maintain their averages)
5th in OB%
top 20 in slugging (a head of Miggy, Fielder)
one of just 9 first basemen to not commit an error
9th in range factor (whatever that is)

Not dumb enough to think he'll stay ahead of them in HRs BUT Mauer is a 2 hole hitter...not shocking he doesn't put up a ton of HR and RBI. However, it's safe to say he'll be a top 10 first basement

.118 BA, 250 OB%, .235 slugging, 2 RBI's.

[AZGrizFan]

.118 BA, 250 OB%, .235 slugging, 2 RBI's.

I love how you can put lipstick on a pig with a straight face.

He has ONE HR. One. Singular.
He's batting .286. 45 points below his career average.
He has 14 hits. 11 of them are singles.
Mark Texiera has 12 AB all season.

You did get one thing right. He's a top 10 first basement.

The only thing worse than a Punch-and-Judy-hitting catcher is a Punch-and-Judy-hitting first baseman. If he was earning $7,000,000 year he'd be a decent pickup.

[clenz]

He's a notoriously slow starter. By the AS break he'll be over .320.

He'll be healthier than he has been.

I'd bet he'll hit 325 plus with 10-15 HR, 80-90 RBI, with an OBP over 400 and a slugging over 400

[bandl]

2-HOLE!

Gawdamm that should go in my signature.

[AZGrizFan]

2-HOLE!

Gawdamm that should go in my signature.

[VictorG]

I'm checking the AL West standing and can't find the Mariners.......oh wait....sorry.....didn't look down far enough.......

[AZGrizFan]

He's a notoriously slow starter. By the AS break he'll be over .320.

He'll be healthier than he has been.

I'd bet he'll hit 325 plus with 10-15 HR, 80-90 RBI, with an OBP over 400 and a slugging over 400

Down to .264 (6th). T14th in HR, 16th in RBI, 4th in OBP, 13th in SLG, 11th in OPS. Still a grand total of THREE extra base hits.

But hey, he's 3rd in SO's and 1st in BB's so he 's got that going for him.

He's not a two hole hitter. He's become an EIGHT hole hitter.

[89Hen]

Good Lord the Nats suck.

[AZGrizFan]

Good Lord the Nats suck.

No, the Diamondbacks suck. The Nat's are just bad.

[Ivytalk]

Good Lord the Nats suck.

No, the Diamondbacks suck. The Nat's are just bad.

[AZGrizFan]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10901 ... abled-list" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CLEVELAND -- Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer missed his fourth straight game with lower back spasms and manager Ron Gardenhire said the six-time All-Star could go on the disabled list.

Mauer played catch and hit off a batting tee Wednesday, but it's unclear when he'll be able to play.

The Twins have been playing short-handed throughout their four-game series with the Indians and their lack of depth became a bigger problem when outfielder Sam Fuld was placed on the 7-day disabled list with concussion-like symptoms before the game.

[Grizalltheway]

Over halfway through the season with the All-Star break coming up. How's your team looking so far?

Mariners have definitely exceeded expectations (granted, that's not hard to do with them). Holding on to the second wild card spot and only 4.5 behind MLB-best Oakland. I'm sure Joltin will claim that Cano has been a flop since he only has 6 dingers, but he's hitting .323 with 51 RBIs, and leads the AL with RISP.

Offense overall has been inconsistent, but you don't need to score a ton when you have the best bullpen in the AL, and one of the best starting rotations.

[bandl]

Nat's are a half game out of first and are finally healthy.
O's are a game out of first.

Lookin' good!

[Grizalltheway]

Yeah, saw they finally got Harper back. Kid is a beast.

[bandl]

BTW, Yankees are 41-41. Can you imagine how bad they would be without Tanaka?

[Grizalltheway]

Joe is sending letters to Cano everyday begging him to come back.

[VictorG]

Over halfway through the season with the All-Star break coming up. How's your team looking so far?

Mariners have definitely exceeded expectations (granted, that's not hard to do with them). Holding on to the second wild card spot and only 4.5 behind MLB-best Oakland. I'm sure Joltin will claim that Cano has been a flop since he only has 6 dingers, but he's hitting .323 with 51 RBIs, and leads the AL with RISP.

Offense overall has been inconsistent, but you don't need to score a ton when you have the best bullpen in the AL, and one of the best starting rotations.

Angles 3 1/2 behind Oakland (Seattle is 6 behind). I just wonder how good the Angles would be IF they had a bullpen....But they are hitting pretty good lately and my guy Trout is starting to hit again.

Their pullpen just made a major improvement last week when they traded their closer....guy had a 6+ era......sucked from the day they got him a few years ago. Glad to see him go!!!

[AZGrizFan]

Diamondbacks are looking stellar, I must say.

[AZGrizFan]

He's a notoriously slow starter. By the AS break he'll be over .320.

He'll be healthier than he has been.

I'd bet he'll hit 325 plus with 10-15 HR, 80-90 RBI, with an OBP over 400 and a slugging over 400

Well, we're rapidly approaching the all star break, let's reassess Mr. Mauer's progress towards your prediction:

.271 average (a TAD bid short of .320).
2 (yes, that's not a misprint) HR's
28 RBI
.342 OBP
.353 SLG
.695 OPS
$21 million a year

He'd better have HELL of a 2nd half.

Oh, wait....he's on the DL. Again.

Just for comparison purposes, again, here's Lyle Overbay's #'s (in HALF the PA's I might add.... ):

.241 Ave
3 HR's
21 RBI
.324 OBP
.342 SLG
.666 OPS
$1.5 million a year

Mauer should be letting his agent fuck him in the ass for getting him that contract.

[Seahawks08]

Diamondbacks are looking stellar, I must say.

Phils too. Dbacks, Rockies, Astros and Cubs are the primary contenders for the #1 overall pick!

[DSUrocks07]

I'm happy with our season so far. Especially proud that we didn't fall apart once Jose went down for the year.

[clenz]

He's a notoriously slow starter. By the AS break he'll be over .320.

He'll be healthier than he has been.

I'd bet he'll hit 325 plus with 10-15 HR, 80-90 RBI, with an OBP over 400 and a slugging over 400

Well, we're rapidly approaching the all star break, let's reassess Mr. Mauer's progress towards your prediction:

.271 average (a TAD bid short of .320).
2 (yes, that's not a misprint) HR's
28 RBI
.342 OBP
.353 SLG
.695 OPS
$21 million a year

He'd better have HELL of a 2nd half.

Oh, wait....he's on the DL. Again.

Just for comparison purposes, again, here's Lyle Overbay's #'s (in HALF the PA's I might add.... ):

.241 Ave
3 HR's
21 RBI
.324 OBP
.342 SLG
.666 OPS
$1.5 million a year

Mauer should be letting his agent fuck him in the ass for getting him that contract.

And in the2.5-3 weeks leading up to his oblique issue he was hitting .325 with something like 15 RBIs and a OBP over 400

[clenz]

Over halfway through the season with the All-Star break coming up. How's your team looking so far?

Mariners have definitely exceeded expectations (granted, that's not hard to do with them). Holding on to the second wild card spot and only 4.5 behind MLB-best Oakland. I'm sure Joltin will claim that Cano has been a flop since he only has 6 dingers, but he's hitting .323 with 51 RBIs, and leads the AL with RISP.

Offense overall has been inconsistent, but you don't need to score a ton when you have the best bullpen in the AL, and one of the best starting rotations.

Twins are nothing if not consistently inconsistent. Lose 6 straight, win 5 straight, lose 4 straight, win 4 straight, lose 7 straight, win 5 straight, and repeat. It's amazing how good the Twins record could be if it weren't for the 13 blown saves through the first 81 games. It's not all the bullpens fault though...

MLB starting pitchers have 3.90 ERA. Twins starters:
3.95 - Hughes
4.17 - Gibson
4.95 - Correia
5.49 - Nolasco
6.52 - Deduno
7.99 - Pelfrey

Going back a couple years to prove how consistent the team has been

2014: 15-15 (currently 24-33)
2013: 15-15 (went 51-81 after that)
2012: 8-22 (went 58-74 after that)
2011: 12-18 (went 51-81 after that)

81 game mark 2011: 35-46
81 game mark 2012: 35-46
81 game mark 2013: 36-45
81 game mark 2014: 37-44



But yeah...this is all Joe Mauer's fault

Highest OPS in Twins history (500+ plate appearances):
.949 - Jim Thome
.901 - Harmon Killebrew
.862 - Joe Mauer

(pre injury)
Joe Mauer is hitting .333/.377/.474 in his last 14 games and .414/.433/.586 in his last 7 games (and .320/.401/.462 in his last 1249 games)

Oh...and more number fun (although I'm not dumb enough to believe Joe is as good as Tony was...)
Tony Gwynn: .338 AVG, .388 OBP, .459 SLG, .847 OPS, 132 OPS+
Joe Mauer: .320 AVG, .401 OBP, .461 SLG, .863 OPS, 133 OPS+

[VictorG]

Don't think I've ever seen a game where there were no RBI's........until the White Soxs beat Seattle yesterday 1 - 0. The White Soxs scored on a wild pitch in the 1st inning.....