Joe Mauer retires

[MMC]

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[MurrayBannerman]

Count me in with the Mauer to the Hall crowd.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Not at all surprising. Minnesota boy, his contract is up, and he isn't very good anymore. Great start to his career that plateaued rather quickly.

 

[Terry Yake]

from 06-10 he was just ridiculous, but then had just a few good seasons afterward

i don't think i'd say he's HOF worthy. hall of very good for sure

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

He is HOF in my book and catchers as dynamic as he was in all facets of job are rare

Even though Sox often were victim of him and Morneau the Twins were great to watch in prime of both players

 

[darko]

Posada fell off the ballot. Same should happen to Mauer. Mauer is better than Posada but not by much.

 

[EpochLink]

Six time all star, 2009 MVP, 3 time batting title, 5 time silver slugger and 3 time gold glove.
One of the best catchers during his time beside Yadier Molina.

I think he has a shot at the hall of fame.

Man..looking at back at the Twins during that time (Mauer, Morneau, Hunter, Santana, Nathan)
They had their time, too bad they never got a title.

 

[ref19]

Posada fell off the ballot. Same should happen to Mauer. Mauer is better than Posada but not by much.

Classic case of Posada being in NY. Mauer was the best player in baseball for a few years.

 

[darko]

Classic case of Posada being in NY. Mauer was the best player in baseball for a few years.

1 lone year and he never repeated those numbers again.

 

[ref19]

1 lone year and he never repeated those numbers again.

Not really. Too bad he dealt with concussions as well.

 

[darko]

Not really. Too bad he dealt with concussions as well.

It was the injuries that cost him HOF IMO. At one point he was looking like a 1st ballot.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

He was the top prospect in baseball in the first Baseball Prospectus yearbook I bought. Time flies.

 

[Voight]

One of the most likeable players in baseball.

If it wasn't for his post-2010 injuries he'd be in the hall of fame discussion. Those mid/late 2000's Twins teams were too good.

 

[Voight]

Not at all surprising. Minnesota boy, his contract is up, and he isn't very good anymore. Great start to his career that plateaued rather quickly.

Not true, he was a 5 win player as recent as 2013. From 2005-2013 he was good for minimum 3 fWAR a season.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Not true, he was a 5 win player as recent as 2013. From 2005-2013 he was good for minimum 3 fWAR a season.

He had good years after 2010, but nothing compared to those. Aka plateauing.

 

[Voight]

He had good years after 2010, but nothing compared to those. Aka plateauing.

You said he plateaued quickly.... which was incorrect

 

[MS]

If Mauer isn't inducted into the BHOF, he'll be the best catcher ever not inducted, and it wouldn't really be all that close.

7-year peak WAR is 5th all-time for catchers.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

I wonder how he fell off so fast though. He left the C position just after turning 30.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

For those who say he is not in the Hall Of Fame discussion or will not be in the Hall of Fame, you are wrong.

Average of 15 HOFer catcher's WAR 53.5 Mauer 55.1
Average of 15 HOFer catcher's WAR7 34.5 Mauer 39.0
Average of 15 HOFer catcher's JAWS 44.0 Mauer 47.0

Mauer is going into the Hall of Fame, there is no doubt about nor should there be. He was clearly better than Posado too who was below average of the 15 HOFers listed above in all 3 categories and that was while playing in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks and a great lineup his entire career.

A little off-topic, but if Buster Posey can bounce back from his injury and put together merely good seasons from here on out, he will be in the HOF as well.

 

[Halladay]

To me, Posey is a better player. But I would still elect Mauer.

 

[Voight]

Mauer being a one-club guy + hometown hero will really help him too IMO, he was one of the most feared hitters in baseball during that 2006-2010 stretch.

 

[tony d]

Guy had a good career, I have him as a Hall of Famer.

 

[Neutrinos]

I wonder how he fell off so fast though. He left the C position just after turning 30.

I wouldn't say he just "fell off"

He batted .282 with a .351 OBP this year

From 2014 - 2017, he hit .277 with a .361 OBP, so his final season was right in line with his recent production

 

[rangerssharks414]

I wouldn't say he just "fell off"

He batted .282 with a .351 OBP this year

From 2014 - 2017, he hit .277 with a .361 OBP, so his final season was right in line with his recent production

His wRC+ from 2014-2018 (when he was primarily a first baseman) was 103, which is barely replacement level.

I'm not sure if he's a HoFer. I'll have to dive into the stats more.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

Also, only one 20-HR year. That's astonishing. I know, he was a hit-for-average guy. Not sure if his 2009 year was a fluke in terms of power but I guess Target Field ruined his rising power numbers. But still, at 6'5" 225 and the type of his hitting ability, you'd expect a little more power. He was basically a prime Pujols without the power.