What Is Your Joe Mauer Panic Level?
by RandBall's Stu on Feb 19, 2010 1:30 PM EST
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Players who aren't the manager's son have started showing up in Fort Myers. Pitchers and catchers report on Sunday, and the first workout is on Monday. And Joe Mauer still hasn't signed an extension.
Now: I fully expect him to sign. Jon Marthaler, perhaps Minnesota's leading sports fatalist (he's still waiting for the Twins to be stripped of their '87 and '91 World Series titles because Dan Gladden's mullet was on a banned cocktail of androstenedione and Mane 'N Tail), wrote on this very website that even he thinks Mauer will sign. I'd say that it's the consensus opinion in the Upper Midwest, from Ron Gardenhire to the Twinkie Town comments section.
However, and I think I may have mentioned this already, but it bears repeating: Joe Mauer still hasn't signed an extension.
As LaVelle noted yesterday, here's how your favorite baseball team's spring training plays out if there's no contract news before Monday:
A reporter from large market team No.1 will show up in camp one day to ask how he would feel wearing pinstripes. A reporter from large market team No. 2 will want to know his feelings about hitting doubles off a large,green wall in 2011. A crusty national writer will want to know of he's going to be distracted by all the contract talk.
In other words, Twins fan, welcome to Hell.
So, recognizing that there's still a couple days left to hash this thing out, and that I still can't conceive of Joe Mauer in anything else but a Twins uniform, I put it to you, Twins fan:
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First vote goes to me
Which is appropriate because this is what I have been talking about all week… with everyone… gah.
Make no mistake
I wrote this hoping I’d have to scrap it and scramble to write something about Mauer’s contract extension instead.
And we are all hoping
That you still will.
Seriously man. 2 days until P’s and C’s report. You know the press is going to be there and you know that no one is going to care about ANYTHING except the Mauer deal. I would much rather be hearing about Liriano’s fastball location, how Slowey’s wrist feels, etc.
He said he didn’t want it to be a distraction. Well then sign something and let’s move on.
If we can't sign him - trade now or midseason?
Straight up to the Mets for Johan? It would be cheaper!
Getting very anxious here!
+1
That’s crazy.
RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July
Let me introduce you
to the sarcasm font. Use it wisely. :)
RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July
I know I usually use it wisely
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks
But maybe I should just dispense with the childish sarcasm and actually say what I mean.
Well...yeah.
That’s always an option too.
RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July
I voted for the calm and collected
He still has a month or so to get this wrapped up, so don’t get to nervous about it… and for some unsubstantiated rumors… here goes:
http://www.battleyourtailoff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17774
by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 19, 2010 1:51 PM EST reply actions
I think I am going to go to church now
I’m an atheist, but I feel the need to pray to some higher being that this is true.
I think rumors on BYTO are like the Great Pumpkin
If you believe in them hard enough, they’ll come true.
I'm confident.
I’m not hearing any talk about from anyone (please correct me) that there are sticking points or that they are far apart at this point. Both sides know the value of the signal it sends for Mauer to come to camp with a contract.
"Sacrifice for the unknown" - Herb Brooks
I voted for the least funny one... which hurts me so.
I forgot about the battle your tail off …. and they’re need to offer each other blow jobs.
"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"
Today I'm a "B"
I’ll be a “C” on Sunday if we still haven’t heard anything.
"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series
by WindyCityTwinsFan on Feb 19, 2010 2:15 PM EST reply actions
I'm nervous as hell
If there isn’t a problem, why isn’t it done? I’m still hopeful, but if we get to the season, and every week he’s closer to free agency, it’s not going to be good.
by Eric in Madison on Feb 19, 2010 2:18 PM EST reply actions
"Welcome to Hell"
I don’t have a good feeling about this. No real basis in any facts or conjectures out there, but just an overall not good feeling.
Let's Go Wild!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 19, 2010 2:29 PM EST reply actions
I'm starting to worry because I was sure it would be done by now
But I’m still feeling confident.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 2:33 PM EST reply actions
That's kind of where I am, too.
I thought they’d have it done a long time ago, but I still think it’ll be done. Soon, hopefully.
RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July
It's sort of like a late inning game where we have a two run lead
And I’m still pretty confident we will win… but then Keppel starts warming up in the bullpen and I start to worry…
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
A two run lead...
Brings to mind a certain game vs. a certain team (that we are worried about stealing our guy). And it wasn’t Keppel….
OH NO!….
by z-squad on Feb 19, 2010 6:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
why the worry?
OK, if it fails, the Twins will put Mauer on the block. I wouldn’t be too nervous about it, because if they thought they have no chance, he’d be on the block right now and everyone would be lining up to aquire him. That isn’t the case. The fact that it continues on and that everyone close to it is saying it will get done tells me it’s a matter of when, not if. Settle down people. This is a complicated deal involving as many as 10 years.
by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 19, 2010 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think they'd put him on the trading block even if they thought they had no chance to extend him
First, the Twins are clearly in “win now” mode – trading Mauer is unlikely to net the team other players who would provide more value than Mauer next season. Second, imagine the PR blow the Twins would take if they traded Mauer right before opening their first season in a new stadium. I don’t think they’d trade him for those reasons.
But you are right that I don’t really have anything to base my worries on. Everything we hear indicates the talks are going well. It’s more worry based on what I was expecting, rather than based in any real evidence.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
PR vs stupidity
So if Mauer doesn’t sign, you are saying the front office will take a this year plus a potential first rounder and a compensation pick in exchange for an HOF calliber catcher entering his prime?
by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 19, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
Still have a chance to sign him
It would just cost more at the end of the season. There is no way they trade Joe Mauer. Assume the worst and there is no extension all summer, they still get an exclusive negotiating window before Joe declares free agency.
The Twins have to approach this assuming that it’s not over until he signs with another team.
Joe and JJ went ice fishing
At least he’s not worried, right? Linky
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 19, 2010 2:45 PM EST reply actions
I hope you mean because of spring training
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 19, 2010 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
my first thought was that it was a bad global warming joke
then I thought spring training
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
Sadly
I was thinking about how no one ice fishes near Boston or New York City
Well isn't that depressing.
RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July
Is Morneau vs. Hardy Mauer-friendship jealousy a possibly complicating subplot this season?
I don’t like it.
Grady Sizemore is probably jealous too
Maybe Joe went ice fishing with JJ to get back at Sizemore for the internet photos
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
ha ha
Justin is old news, now “just a friend” and JJ is the rebound?
Maybe Mauer hasn’t signed b/c of these jokes?
actually they already secretly signed the extension
Part of the contract is that Mauer gets to tell JJ first, and no one is allowed to tell Justin about it
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 19, 2010 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe they just wanted to wait on the announcement
because Mauer was out fishing.
He needs to be available for a big press conference.
I'm hoping this is the case
that the big press conference will be the day P&C report.
by Adam Peterson on Feb 19, 2010 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
he said he doesn't want to be a distraction
I can see him not wanting contract talks during the season so the Twins better get it done now. Hey Bill Smith don’t play chicken w/ a future HOFer.
In other news the Dodgers are offering Kemp and Billingsly + AA prospect for Mauer!
I just got off the phone with Rob Antony.
He didn’t sound concerned. Transcript will be posted Sunday night.
It’s only a matter of time, guys. I voted calm.
Well, that makes the steady trickle of pee slow somewhat
Did I tell you I pee when I’m nervous? One of the reasons I got out of teaching.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
You're welcome
Also, I’m nasally challenged. Makes for a lot of embarrassing moments with glasses.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Me too
but that’s more because I drink a lot of beer when I’m nervous…
by Adam Peterson on Feb 19, 2010 8:51 PM EST up reply actions
I am already to terrified. Joe has said that he does not want contract talks to be a distraction during the season. I am just waiting for the announcement that contract talks have stalled and there will be no further negotiation until seasons end. If that announcement is made I will be sick to my stomach indefinately. ( I am a natural pessimist).
This doesn't have to happen before spring training...
The national writers and smug scum from the eastern beasts will be very annoying for a little while, but that’ll just make it sweeter when he’s signed before a trip over to Bradenton to play the Pirates.
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
"Just imagine the looks on their STUPID FACES."
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
Bah
I am taking the bar exam on Tuesday, and I’m still more nervous about the Mauer situation than I am about the ever more likely possibility that I fail this sucker. Maybe if he would SIGN already, I could focus on conflicts of laws and secured transactions. Mauer has no idea what he is doing to his legions of fans in twins territory. I am not “Keppel up in the bullpen” worried yet, but I am “Crain up in the bullpen” worried.
There are reasons
for the Akeppelypse and Crainwreck nicknames…
RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July
Conspiracy
This whole Mauer contract is all just a ploy to get hits on Twins blogs. I have been refreshing this site every half hour for weeks waiting for the signing to happen. Once I figured out the conspiracy, I stopped worrying.
by Disorderly Conduct on Feb 19, 2010 3:58 PM EST reply actions
You figured us out!
Dash clever of you!
Oddly enough, I’m doing the same thing on Twitter, MLB.com, MLB Trade Rumors, the Strib…
I think they're after something more than that, sir.
I don’t know what it is, but they’ve brought a flag.
DAMN! That’s dash cunning of them.
"Britain, what's that behind your back?"
“It’s India and a number of other small countries…”
by Jesse on Feb 19, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
crazy
This is crazy. We have almost 20,000 full season ticket packages sold and we’re all wondering when JM will sign. Give him what he wants. He’s a hall of fame ballplayer. He’s got us for ransom.
Of course, there is that outside shot that Joe wants to try another town. He’s young. He may want to play for the Steinbrenners. It’s hard to see the Twins low-balling Mauer.
He doesn't want to play for the Steinbrenners.
At least, not more than he wants to stay in Minnesota. Actions speak louder than words.
If he wants to play in New York,
he doesn’t have to play for the Yankees. I’m sure if he put a stipulation in his contract stating that the Twins have to move to NYC for a year or two they would do that for him.
MPR, Lefsa, 3M, Sun Country Airlines, Grumpy Old Men movies, Joe Mauer. What a blessed state!
by By Allen's Mullet on Feb 19, 2010 7:44 PM EST reply actions
Stu, you owe me a new set of drawers...
After making me pee my pants laughing at the poll.
Calm and collected, everyone. It’s the Joe Mauer way…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Maybe Jesse should post Mauer speculation every day
After all, it’s a surefire way to make the site hit count look great. :-)
Haha...we're doing great even without all the Mauer speculation.
We’re going to top 100K visits this month.
I don't see the big deal on why he has to be signed
before the season starts. He isn’t a fa for a year….
It's like Favre Watch
It’s only going to be a distraction in and out of the clubhouse until he gets signed.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 19, 2010 11:50 PM EST up reply actions
Basically
We have a year to get an extension signed, or else we are going to be in a situation where one of these happens..
1) We keep him on our team all year. Every week there will be more stories about Mauer’s imminent free agency. While the team just wants to focus on playing baseball and winning. Then the season ends and he becomes a FA. Then we are bidding against all of the other teams in the league who want him. As you might guess, there are two teams out east that have much bigger payrolls and could offer him a lot more money and (maybe) a better shot at a championship. If another team signs him, we get a couple draft picks as compensation.
2) We have to trade him to prevent situation 1. We end up waiting until the deadline, and we have to take whatever we can get for him and who knows what types of players/prospects teams will be willing to give up to get him.
Both of these situations end with Mauer (most likely) on another team.
This is why we worry.
Plus, it's never good to have something that serious weighing on a player's mind.
It’s always going to be there. I think both sides would rather have it done with asap.
For the record...
…my friend’s baby was born, but there were a lot of complications. Mama and daughter going to be okay (though it’s a little slow-going), but there were a lot of scary moments.
Unfortunately, I must blame Joe. If he’d just signed the damn contract, the baby would not have fought so hard or been so far overdue. She would have been perfectly happy to enter such a bright, beautiful world wherein she was guaranteed to spend the next ten years happily seated at Target Field, covered in hot dog mustard, learning about the time her very favorite player won MVP of the World Series for the second year running. Instead, faced with the possibility of a bleak Mauer-less future, she struggled and difficulties ensued.
I hope you are proud of yourself, sir. Hrmph.
http://www.realityfish.com
Glad your friend and baby are okay...
…and I guess it just goes to show, life goes on.
Hint hint, Joe!
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