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Yes, another "Is he HOF?" post - this time JOE MAUER

doog71doog71 Posts: 405 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I'm a Mauer fan and I suppose I've always thought of him as an HOFer, but looking at his age and current numbers I'm not so sure.

1,414 hits and .323 career BA. It'll have to be hits/BA that would need to approach HOF numbers as there are no other stats that stand out.

He's going to be 31 in a few weeks. If he plays until he's 38, and averages 160 hits a year he still doesn't get 3,000 hits.

Would say, a career .315 average and 2.500 hits get him into the Hall since he's popular and played catcher most of his career?

Comments

  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    Would say, a career .315 average and 2.500 hits get him into the Hall since he's popular and played catcher most of his career? >>



    Yup. Plus he's done Head And Shoulders commercials. That alone makes him a shoe-in

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  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
    April 1 is Tuesday.


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  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,615 ✭✭✭✭
    He's not quite there yet, but I'd say he's well on his way. Three batting titles and a career .323 batting average are mighty impressive. I can only think of one player with more batting titles who's not in the HOF (Bill Madlock - 4). The fact that Mauer will have played most of his career at catcher is a big plus. Hopefully he can stay healthy and productive.
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  • MeatloafMeatloaf Posts: 1,308
    IMO, his inability to stay healthy does not help his cause
  • olb31olb31 Posts: 3,484 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No way.
    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • jay0791jay0791 Posts: 3,552 ✭✭✭✭
    For a catcher that isn't the best around defensively and no power numbers...it will have to be batting titles and avg that gets him in.

    He needs to do it that well for a while longer.

    AS Andy has mentioned 4 titles isn't a shu in
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  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Actually, all kidding aside, his numbers thus far for the years he's played are very impressive, and his position at catcher makes them all the more impressive, but the key will be how well he performs over the next 5-6 years, and if he can sustain those levels. His history of injuries and lack of power numbers will hurt his case, but if he can replicate his first 10 seasons over the next 10, he will get in. He's certainly not there yet, unless we are going to welcome in Don Mattingly first.


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  • akuracy503akuracy503 Posts: 1,923 ✭✭✭
    Yadier Molina's name gets thrown around quite a bit as greatest defensive catcher in the game with a future hall of fame spot.
    I don't see why Mauer would be excluded if Molina gets the nod.

    Overall Mauer has the better offensive numbers with 3 gold gloves.
    Molina, 5 gold gloves, 2 WS rings.

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  • EchoCanyonEchoCanyon Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭
    Tim Raines before Mauer
  • 3BoyzTrading3BoyzTrading Posts: 798 ✭✭
    More time please.....
  • cardsnbeadscardsnbeads Posts: 870
    He's certainly has a shot . His average is higher than Mickey Cochrane . If Ray Schalk and Rick Ferrell are HOFers than Joe Mauer is for sure . Right now , I'd say Joe Mauer is absolutely a Hall of Famer , .323 Average and no steroid controversy unlike Pudge Rodriguez and Mike Piazza .
  • beagle25beagle25 Posts: 9
    The answer is probably going to be no because Mauer is no longer a catcher. This surprised me because I thought the Twins were going to wait another couple years until they fully switched him over. If he continues to hit like the last few years at a .300 clip, but no power then no chance. I would say those are actually below average #s for the 1st base position. If you look at his stats, he would have only played 8 full seasons at catcher. That means he's then going to have half of his career at catcher and the other half at 1st base and probably a couple at DH to end his career. He had that one awesome year where he hit 28 hr and .365 at catcher, but those power #s have turned into an aberration.
  • doog71doog71 Posts: 405 ✭✭
    Never underestimate a player's popularity with voting sportswriters. It helped one Twin get in already (Kirby, no disrespect intended).
  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 12,000 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well on his way as a catcher. Position move will hurt unless he can AT LEAST maintain his position as one of the top hitters for average in the AL.

    He should play in more games and if he is healthy the next 5 years will tell a lot.

    I am a big Twins and Mauer fan, but feel he is borderline at this time.
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  • Cokin75Cokin75 Posts: 243 ✭✭
    I don't think that he will be able to stay healthy enough for long enough to put up HOF counting stats. He's going to need another 8-10 full seasons playing at a high level. This would get him in the mid to high 2,000's in hits. Otherwise, if a guy like Mattingly can't get in, I don't see much hope for Mauer regardless of career batting average.
  • jay0791jay0791 Posts: 3,552 ✭✭✭✭
    Molina has been a superb catcher defensively.

    First induct Pudge and Piazza then maybe Mauer.

    IMO I would take Ted Simmons over Mauer any day. Yes he has a decent average..but most of his hits are all singles.

    As a Yankee fan...what do ya think about Posada.???
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  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 12,000 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mauer has a pretty good OPS+ 136 so he is by no means a singles hitter, his 162 game average for doubles is 39 which is quite good.

    He hasn't been able to play enough games (even for a catcher) but he has won THREE batting titles, one with an OPS+ of 1.031.

    Also a very good defensive catcher and GREAT guy to have on your team.

    Simmons had a great career, but his offensive numbers are no where near Mauer's. Simmons' OPS+ was 118, he did play his entire career at catcher, which Joe will not be doing.

    Let's see what Joe can do if he stays healthy and can concentrate on hitting. If he ever figures out how to pull the ball, he could hit for very good power. He needs about 10 more years of service and IF he has 5 great years as a hitter at first base he has a chance at the HOF in my mind.
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  • vladguerrerovladguerrero Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭


    << <i>his 162 game average for doubles is 39 which is quite good.

    Let's see what Joe can do if he stays healthy and can concentrate on hitting. If he ever figures out how to pull the ball, he could hit for very good power. He needs about 10 more years of service and IF he has 5 great years as a hitter at first base he has a chance at the HOF in my mind. >>



    162 game average for doubles is 39 except he's never played a full season and averages 112. Joe's been "developing power" for literally a decade in the majors without success. ...105 hrs in 10 years?
  • coachnip13coachnip13 Posts: 464
    "...if he ever figures out how to pull the ball..."

    I can't believe I just read that. Um, I'm pretty sure Joe Mauer knows how to pull a ball. The fact that he hits to all fields and hits .323 while doing it makes him one of the best hitters in the game. Contrary to popular belief among 21st century marginal baseball fans, not every player walks up there trying to yank the ball out of the park.
  • slum22slum22 Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭
    Mauer is an excellent player but I think the missed time is going to hurt his chances at the HOF. It is still a little early in his career to consider him as a candidate. He would have to have a prolonged stretch of continued good/great play to get in, at least in my opinion.

    It is even earlier in his career so it is even more of a stretch to project possible HOF induction but I think Buster Posey is off to a great start. He will also have to stay healthy but I think he is off to one of the best starts of a career for a catcher that I can remember. ROY and WS champion in his first year. Missed his second year due to injury. MVP and WS champion in his third year. Last year was the first full season he played where he didn't win a major individual award or the World Series. And he was still producing at the top 3 of his position (along with Mauer and Molina in some order). He's got a long way to go, but that is a lot of hardware in a short amount of time.
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  • skrezyna23skrezyna23 Posts: 908 ✭✭✭


    << <i>More time please..... >>



    +1
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  • skrezyna23skrezyna23 Posts: 908 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I don't think that he will be able to stay healthy enough for long enough to put up HOF counting stats. He's going to need another 8-10 full seasons playing at a high level. This would get him in the mid to high 2,000's in hits. Otherwise, if a guy like Mattingly can't get in, I don't see much hope for Mauer regardless of career batting average. >>



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