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No Position Change
for Twins' Mauer
Joe Mauer’s new contract through 2010 assures he will be with the
Twins. Talk to general manager Terry Ryan and he will tell you
Mauer will be catching during those years and not playing another
position.
It’s
common to hear speculation that Mauer, 23, will switch to another
position sooner rather than later. He injured a knee while chasing a
foul ball and played in only 35 games in 2004. Catching is not a
position that is kind to the body, demanding endless crouching and the
non-catching hand is vulnerable to foul tips.
Mauer’s athleticism and batting skill (American League batting champ
last season at .347) not only make him extraordinarily valuable as a
catcher but also versatile enough to play other positions. Don’t expect
it to happen anytime soon, though.
“We’re going to keep him behind the plate,” Ryan told Sports Headliners
recently. “That’s where he’s always played, that’s where he wants to
stay and there’s no reason to move him. He’s arguably one of the best
catchers in the game right now at the age of 23. And I don’t think
there’s any design, desire or thought to moving him out from behind
there. That’s very premature. He’s been (recently) injury free so
everything is straight ahead now as far as him staying behind the
plate.”
Ryan
was asked if in seven years when Mauer is 30 years old a position change
might occur. “How about 15?” he answered. “You know Pudge Rodriguez
(35 years old) is still catching and he’s been catching for a long, long
time, and Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone and some of those
guys caught for over 20 years.
“I
haven’t quite understood why everybody would think about moving Joe. …
He’s a good catcher. He’s a good thrower. He handles the pitching
staff. He can swing the bat. He’s everything anybody looks for in a
receiver and offensive guy. I just don’t see why anybody would want to
mess with that and move him as long as his health holds out, which it
has.”
Ryan
said Rodriguez, Fisk and Boone kept their skills “like they were back in
their early 20’s” even after they had played for many years. It’s clear
he expects no less from Mauer. “Joe Mauer is a special kid,” Ryan
said. “He’s got that athleticism. …He’s one of those catchers who can
run and there’s a lot of positives for him to stay back there. It’s
tough to find catching and Joe is one of the best catchers in the game.
We’ll keep him there unless something happens that would dictate (to) us
we have to make the necessary move.”
Mauer
may catch 125 games or so this season, than perhaps DH in another 10.
Ryan said the latter number could go up if the Twins carry three
catchers instead of two on the roster.
The
third catcher behind Mauer and valued reserve Mike Redmond could
be Matthew LeCroy, the former Twin who has rejoined the
organization after signing a minor league contract. Ryan said the Twins
think they can help LeCroy through some past arm trouble and they like
his power as a hitter. “He’s the type of guy who fits into the
clubhouse well,” Ryan said.
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