Briefly: General manager Terry Ryan said the Twins won't necessarily break camp with three catchers, which has been assumed since they signed Ryan Doumit to back up Mauer. Drew Butera was the backup the past two seasons.
"We're not locked in to three catchers," Ryan said. "Somebody has to step up and take a job here."
-- Danny Valencia has changed his number from 19, which he wore the past two seasons, to 22, which he wore in high school and at the University of Miami.
Well now we can hope there are only two catchers coming North after Spring Training.........
Way too often we've been told things like this and, in the end, what happens is what was easily predictable all along.
Here's to being pleasantly shocked out of our minds...
Remember though, Doumit is already been penciled in as primary DH by Gardy...so, if that's the case, that's an even bigger indicator Butera is in.
If push comes to shove and Gardenhire is pushing for a third catcher, I hope Ryan shoves back with a resounding no........
have a good one!
YOu need quotes from actual players to believe that something was amiss in that dugout between Mauer and his teammates? ARe you for real?
Cuddyer himself said there was a lack of accountability in the clubhouse. What more do you need than that? Delmon Young supposedly said "why should I play hurt when Mauer doesn't?" and that got him traded. Mauer is a sacred cow. Why would any player step into the middle of a controversy and assassinate their own image by killing Mauer in the press?
Do we REALLY need actual quotes here to validate what Souhan said? We observed this team on a daily basis last year. There was certainly tension with Mauer not getting on the field. Just about everyone was wonder what was going on with him on a daily basis. Certainly his teammates had to be confused with the situation. You don't think there was any resentment? Dan Gladden gave you all you need to know from the player perspective when he said this on a Chicago radio station:------------------------------------------------"You've got to, I don't want to say sugarcoat it, but it's a fine line: He's your player, your $23-26 million guy and you're not going to bash him," Gladden said. "You gave him the money because he was a good player. The problem is, the good player in the first year of this eight-year deal isn't able to come out and perform right now due to injuries and a lot of people can speculate as to what happened in spring training. Did he come into camp or not in shape, did he work at it real hard in spring training? Those are the question marks.
"It didn't work out for him and then bilateral weakness popped up, which Joe adamently denies that that's what it was, people just keep talking about it. He had some leg problems, he wasn't in shape when he came in camp. He didn't have enough time in camp, I think he hurt his arm and that was the big deal, was that he had a little arm problem and rather than try to play through it, let's just shut him down and start over."------------------------------------------------
When an ex-player/ team employee openly questions a player's work ethic--ESPECIALLY a player on the order of Mauer--it takes an awful lot to get there. He wouldn't say stuff like that just for kicks ya know!
To think there is no validity to what Souhan said because there is no quote to attribute to anyone really is bizzare to me. I just gave you that one from Gladden. Cuddyer said there was a lack of accountability. Delmon SUPPOSEDLY questioned him behind the scenes. There ya go. Do you really think players would line up Mauer in the media like that? Maybe if something similar happens this year you have anonymous comments starting to pop up.
yes, I'm for real...it's easy to 'report' whatever you want when no one can go back and do any fact checking...and it's easy for 'sources' to say whatever they want, true or not...when THEY don't have to have their facts checked either.
'Cuddyer himself said there was a lack of accountability in the clubhouse. What more do you need than that? '
...where does he point out Mauer? Besides, YOU want to quote CUDDYER? The guy who does his t-shirts about 'no excuses' then says a season is a success after getting swept in the playoffs again and then use the 'excuse' that everyone was tired?
I think it's funny you want to quote Cuddyer when you're constantly slamming him and saying that the stuff he says is BS. I guess now that he said something that IMPLIES something about Mauer...something you believe...NOW Cuddyer isn't full of it. Now it's okay to quote him. Cause he's only full of it when he says something you don't agree with it and he's telling teh truth when he says something you do agree with.
and then you wanna quote something Delmon SUPPOSEDLY said?
...and all Gladden did was say he was injured....none of the other carp Souhan said about what players said or didn't say, what players thought or didn't think...and then Gladden speculated on stuff...asked questions to which he had no answer for either...just restated questions people had.
And Mauer came into camp not 100% in shape because a decision was made to delay the surgery he needed...then he had the surgery late....which delayed his ability to get in shape in time for camp. He didn't report in bad shape because of bad work ethic. Kind of like Cuddyer waiting to get his wart removed and coming into camp in bad shape as well.
Souhan himself said he wanted another shot at Mauer before ST started. He has an agenda...like many do.
If you think the Mauer situation wasn't the cause of a lot of tension in clubhouse last season then you would have to prove it to me with quotes. Where are the quotes saying Mauer's mysterious stints on the DL didn't frustrate his teammates? At no time did we get any clarification on what was happening. His teammates were in the dark just like the rest of us. Don't you think at least a few of the guys in the dugout were uncomfortable with the Mauer situation? Gardy himself even made comments about Joe's offseason conditioning--or lack of it. For Gardy to say things like this:http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/128539088.html"He's going to do some different things this winter and really get after it," Gardenhire said. "He realizes he can't sit around and not do anything as you get older. He's going to stay after it. He's going to do some different things this winter and prepare a little bit more and a little bit longer and come to spring training ready to go."
Also, from the same article:------------------------------------------------The drama started Thursday when manager Ron Gardenhire revealed that he had warned Mauer that he would need him if there was an emergency. Mauer looked even worse when Michael Cuddyer told Gardenhire he wanted to play one day after getting hit squarely on the left wrist with a pitch. Afterward, Cuddyer spoke of how important it is to play despite being banged up.
Mauer, after that game, said he would have been unable to play and bristled when asked about perceptions that he's soft.
"The next day, Gardy and Cuddy both apologized," Mauer said. "They kind of got blindsided by it, too. Things are going to happen. I thought it was unfair, but it is what it is."------------------------------------------------
Cuddyer indirectly called out Mauer there. And when he did both he and Gardy had to apologize. If you think things like that didn't bother anyone in the clubhouse then you are lost. You usually are when it comes to discussing Mauer.
Oh really? Well Russell Martin had the same procedure also in December. Why was he ready to go no problem? Why did he come into camp in shape?
You are an excuse computer for the guy. He did some things wrong. EVERYONE makes mistakes, but he made million dollar mistakes right in the public eye. You make it sound as if he is blame free and that any criticism made in the article is unfair or unfounded. That's ridiculous.
You want me to prove a negative?
You keep breaking out other stories when the point I originally made is SOUHAN's article is messed up...that HE has an agenda. All of what Souhan said COULD be true...but when a guy comes right out and says he wanted one last shot at Mauer before St happens, that gives me pause to believe what he's saysing...to take it all as gospel more than bias specualtion and exageration. Especially when there's nothing to actually back it up.
And, again, you're reading into what Cuddy said when he said there was no accountability...you read into it as he's pointing to Mauer...because that's what YOU think. You don't know he's talking about Mauer there.
And, again, the fact you point to Cuddyer at all shows how far you'll go to try and prove your point when you're always on his case and always saying that the stuff Cuddy says is BS. It's hypocritical....it's hypocritical to pick and choose what he says is BS or not BS depending on what side of the argument you're on. With as much as you rag on him, you using him as a source is silly enough, but when you use him as a source saying, with certainty, he was IMPLYING that his statement was Mauer is ridiculous.
Oh, and PLEASE tell me you aren't saying I'm lost on a discussion about a player. If ever there was a pot calling kettle black, that would be it. Mauer is not now, nor ever has been, a favorite player of mine. I can't remember a time he was even in my top 5 favorite Twins any given season.
The whole Mauer mess could've been avoided had the Twins just been 100 percent honest about the whole thing. But instead, we were constantly getting conflicting information about it. First the Twins said he had bi-lateral leg weakness, then Mauer comes out and denies that to be true. Then throughout the year you have the Twins, the media, Gardenhire, teammates and Mauer himself giving us a different story every time. No consistency to any of the things they were saying in regards to Joe's health.
The truth is none of us, not me, not you, not Ewen, not Souhan know what was going on with Mauer last year. Was he hurt or wasn't he? I can't answer that. Was he milking his "injuries" if he had any at all? I can't answer that either.
Mistakes were made by ALL the involved parties. Mauer, Gardy, the media. No one person is responsible for the mess, they are all to blame. Had they all just gotten on the same page and been forthcoming as to what was really wrong with Mauer this whole mess could've been avoided.
I'm sorry, but I just don't think Joe is that person. I agree with you, every team needs a player like that. I just don't think Joe has to be the Twins' guy to do that by default simply because he signed the big contract and makes the big bucks. It's just not within Mauer's personality.
I'd be okay if Mauer shaped up and led by example . . . thus, by his play in the field.
The problem is, that this team is in transition, and it's hard to tell who is the type of guy to step up and do that. Before last season, I could see Denard being that guy, now I'm not so sure. Valencia maybe. But he doesn't have the support of Gardy so I don't see him putting himself out there.
There just isn't anyone. The team's two "leaders" in Mauer and Morneau, just don't have the personality makeup to be those types.
Joe just needs to focus on being healthy and playing this year. Get a full season in. Gain the trust back from his teammates. Then he can start becoming more of a vocal leader.
Well here is a contradiction...Ryan says one thing, Gardy says another.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120221&content_id=26781492¬ebook_id=26781498&vkey=notebook_min&c_id=min
My favorite part of that: Gardy says, 'But if you've been around me, you know I've never had a problem with three catchers if I have a good enough baseball team to carry three catchers and have enough thump from the other positions that I don't have to worry."'
Two questions:
1: Who thinks this team has enough thump in it's lineup to carry three catchers? Anybody?
Followup question:
2: Who thinks we'll carry three catchers anyway?
Bonus question:
How close do you think we are to hearing a statement like this?
"If everybody else does their job in the lineup, Drew Butera is fantastic. When other people start struggling ... then people starting saying, maybe he can't hit. Drew can do it. He can hit. Too much emphasis gets put on his offense; his defense, you can't replace that." :-)
I've heard this one before: "It's not his personality" Hmmmmmmm. I don't understand that. Are you saying that he is too feebleminded to communicate the importance of execution with his teammates? I can't believe that. He probably does that to an extent. He was groomed to be a catcher afterall! Aren't catchers incumbently required to be good communicators--at least with the pitchers? To me all has to do is produce more and just get on the field. That would equate to leadership for me. No one expects Joe to suddenly start turning buffet tables over or become the media liason Michael Cuddyer was. He's gotta make 600 PAs this season in my opinion. He just needs to step up on the field and get in the fray a whole lot more to be a leader. If it means playing other positions and DHing more then so be it. Just do it. If he's healthy and got himself together like we are hearing this SHOULD happen. If he does that he'll NATURALLY evolve into a leader.
With three longtime vets now gone and Morneau being in his situation Joe is going to have to assume part of the responsibility. He's too big to be just one of the guys. When he goes to play in other towns it is "Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins". He has been on the cover of SI and was put on a pedestal. He has signed a major contract and done a whole campaign of advertisements. He's produced big numbers, has been a perennial a ALL STAR and is now the veteran with the longest tenure on the team--save Morneau. I don't think there is any way around it. He can play the reluctant superstar bit and of course, it's his choice. He just needs to be a better teammate by getting on the field a lot more. For his price he needs a lot more plate appearances. The Twins AND Mauer need to endevour to optimize that to the maximum. If that's not his personality then not only isn't he a leader....I wonder if he even likes baseball.
Some comments
1. Joe Mauer is not a big social / outgoing person, he tends to be quiet and reserved. He is by no means feebleminded, he just doesn't say much.
Mauer doesn't have the right personality mindset for being an effective leader, since leadership positions tend to favor those who are social or outgoing people. While the Twins can encourage Mauer to be more social / vocal, it won't radically change his base personality.
2. Mauer has been in the Twins system for years now, yet the Twins have shown no desire to change Mauer's behavior or personality. The Twins seem content to let both Mauer and Morneau remain silent and reserved most of the time.
On the other hand, the vocal and outgoing players like Valencia have been thrown under the bus by Gardy and the Twins front office. The Twins seem to have a vendetta against guys who stand up and say something, or quest what is going on.
When Santana and Hunter questioned Gardy and the front office, the Twins threw them under the bus and got rid of them. Santana was traded, and Hunter was allowed to walk via free agency.
The Twins system as a whole, seems to emphasize conformity, silence and obediance. People who don't do things the Twins way or who speak out and challenge someone, they seem to get branded as trouble makers and shown the door.
3. Gardy and Anderson already have the pitching routine worked out, Mauer is simply relaying whatever the coaches want the pitcher to throw. The whole "always throw it over the plate for a strike", "don't try to do to much", "don't walk anyone" or "use all your pitches" factors in to what Mauer does at the plate.
The team dictates the pitching philosophy, and Mauer simply selects pitches that are consistant with Gardy / Anderson's philosophy. It may result in poor pitch selection at times, but he just follows the coaching staff's direction.
4. Real leadership by Mauer, would be to ignore Gardy / Anderson and abandon the insane idea of asking low speed control pitchers to throw meatballs to the opposing batter. When the manager avdocates a strategy that isn't working, Mauer should abandon it and do something different.
That would anger the management, but it would be leadership.
5. Mauer is playing the system at this point. He sees how Gardy / the front office play favorites and how the team treats certain types of players, such as trading Delomn Young for junk prospects, while praising Revere and Casilla, and giving them starting jobs.
Mauer is already HOF material with a big contract, so no need to risk damaging his reputation and image by getting into a dispute with the team or front office. A dispute he likely would not win.
RE: Brian Duensing
http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_20012551
Nick Blackburn, manager Ron Gardenhire said, has the "inside track" on the fifth starter's spot, though Gardenhire declined to specify what Minnesota wants from Duensing in 2012.
"We have an understanding," the manager said. "He knows what my thoughts are, and I've explained that to him. But as far as coming out publicly and saying this, this and this, I don't have to do that. I have to see what happens at the end of spring training."
WOW - sure is a lot different from last year..............................................................