Statistically in doesn't matter because the numbers are close to his previous highs at home and the road. As I said he had 7 in the Dome in a year he was hurt and 10 on the road in a year he wasn't hurt. That in itself is 17 HRs for his high total on the road and home...so he comes back and hits 6 more at home and 5 more on the road...and he comes back healthy to do it. That isn't PEDs.

Hitting 50 HRs when you have never hit 50 HRs is more suspect for PEDs...

Well he's already got a built in excuse there too: The Yankees are a good team. That's why he didn't hit at Yankee Stadium. Same goes for the Rays. Then we he gets back to TF it will be the ballpark's fault again. And round and round we go.

"" Hitting 50 HRs when you have never hit 50 HRs is more suspect for PEDs...""

Not really if you continue to hit around that level. Just look at Jose Bautisa.

Hitting 28 home runs on your contract year when you hit only 35 prior to 5 seasons and totally losing your power and only hit 13 home runs since then is more of a suspect for PEDs.

Two years for Bautista and he dropped 11 HR in one season. He has hit more HRs in two season than he did in his prior 7...

Brady Anderson 15 season 201 HRs in 1996 he hit 50...

Well I can throw another name too for the sake of the argument but that doesn't changed the facts that I put out there which you called " A conspiracy theory " does it, HUH ????

"" Two years for Bautista and he dropped 11 HR in one season. He has hit more HRs in two season than he did in his prior 7...""

Are you serious and you are gonna go with this petty argument now ?

Well Mauer did not hit half the home runs he hit in 2009 after that, did he ????

Sure it does...he is statistically in the realm of putting up the numbers he did. Especially when health and maturity add to the mix.

Now over the last couple of seasons he has seemed to have lost strength and I don't think he sees the ball as well as he used to...he also struggles mightily with inside pitches...and that's where the pitchers have been pounding him.

So you keep that conspiracy theory close to your chest...because you don't want it to get away from you.

I think the point he was trying to make is that Bautista, since his breakout year, has maintained the power numbers. Mauer is more Brady Anderson like. Was never a power hitter, exploded one year for a ton of HRs, then reverted back to what he was before.

""Now over the last couple of seasons he has seemed to have lost strength and I don't think he sees the ball as well as he used to...he also struggles mightily with inside pitches...and that's where the pitchers have been pounding him."""

You don't make any sense. Loss of strength ? what a coincidence huh ?

""So you keep that conspiracy theory close to your chest...because you don't want it to get away from you.""

I will and every time I see him grounding out to a feeble liner to the IF. He might be 6' 5" but he is a nancy wittle boy with no personality and leadership quality. The twins will suffer a long time from this contract. Gnite and don't forget to kiss that Mauer's poster by your night stand before you go to bed.

It isn't petty...facts are facts like it or not. I am also not saying either player used PEDs. They demonstrated that they have clear differences in those players seasonal numbers. No different than Mauer's numbers.

So don't give me the petty argument it won't hold water.

You also make no sense on your recent Mauer comment...

Mauer hit 44 HRs prior to the 2009 season...why is that different then the two examples I listed?

There isn't any difference Bautista 60 HRs prior to his last two season which totally 97...you tell me the difference...

"Well Mauer did not hit half the home runs he hit in 2009 after that, did he ????"

Didn't say he did...but it also doesn't matter because statistically the numbers not large enough to have the same comparison as the other two mentioned.

My bad forgot to add 2008 home runs which was 9. And then he hit 28 the next year. A jump of about more than 300 % on his contract year. Another stat to dream about him when you go to sleep.

No problem, and I understand that. My point is his numbers dropped off from his 54 high and by a significant amount 20% to be exact. Those numbers may not be a big deal, but Mauer dropping off from 28 to 9 isn't as big a deal as he is making it.

...and Mauer has not been healthy in the two years following 2009. That alone plays a large part in what has happened.

I also believe Mauer could regain his long ball power...but as 4th mentioned I agree that there still looks like something going on with Mauer.

"You don't make any sense. Loss of strength ? what a coincidence huh ?"

You make me laugh...you need to investigate the Roswell incident and the JFK assassination. They may be more interesting.

I don't obsess with him like you do.

The statistics explain it all. All players have big seasons but they all end up back to their career averages.

So Royal ya going to buy a Mauer jersey tomorrow?

At this point in time in the season, I think Willingham should be moved up to the #4 spot and Morneau moved down to #5 for the simple reason that Willingham has earned it. Everyone who has watched the games knows that a lot of runners have been stranded on the bases this year, so the move wouldn't hurt the teams chances of capitalizing on some of them potential runs.

In terms of the M & M boys, I like to look at the big picture. Both guys missed a lot of games last year and Morneau had concussion issues. I get that. It doesn't surprise me that Morneau is not the same MVP caliber player he once was, I didn't expect him to be after his concussion issues. In terms of Mauer's drop off, I understand that he can't hit .365 every year.

My concern about the teams success or lack there of is with the amount the Twins are paying the M & M's. If they're making $42million+/season (combined) and the Twins' entire payroll is roughly $100million, then obviously those two players alone eat up over 40% of the payroll. And I understand why.. they're both proven MVP caliber players. However, with the Twins only having a $100million payroll, not having the M & M's play MVP caliber baseball prevents the team from going out and signing MVP caliber pitchers and players in general to help the team win games.

Morneau's contract is up soon, at the end of next year IIRC, so that's not too shabby. However, Mauer still has many years left on his, so hopefully he can get some of his magic back as time goes on. I don't expect Morneau to ever be an MVP caliber player again with his concussion issues, but I do still hold optimism that Mauer can at least manage a .300+ batting average throughout a season.

It's still early in the season, so there's no point in getting too negative or upset. We all knew this was likely to be a tough season.

So, you want to take Willingham's bat out of the lineup?

If you make that move Willingham will be walked every time there is a situation he can hurt you. Right now Parmalee and Valencia offer some protection for Willingham...Morneau doesn't.

Of course, what reider82 said just happened. Morneau was bumped to 5th and Willingham takes over the no. 4 spot. You make a good point about protection for Willingham, but at this point, who cares. Maybe it will be the spark Justin needs. Also, Morneau is playing 1B today. Hopefully this will prove to him he can still play and he continues to play 1B, bringing him back to a sense of normalcy while taking the mental pressure off of him hitting clean-up. I mean, it's worth a shot. I like it. Kudos to reider82 on the prediction.

We'll see how the lineup goes...I think the twins will care if Willingham's offense drops of...because then there will be none...

But, the move may benefit Mauer...because Morneau was provided zero protection. That's one good reason Mauer was walked twice with runners in scoring position yesterday...the ending result for Morneau led to a strike out and a GIDP...

Ooh, good observation with Mauer. This move could be good on a lot of fronts. You're also right about the Twins being concerned if Willingham struggles, but I don't see any reason for that to happen. Now if only we could improve Willingham's defense...