It's official. Joe Mauer is done for the season. With just a few games left, it really makes no sense for Joe to come back this year. But if you read between the lines of what was announced at Monday's press conference, you'll see that lots of "stuff" is still in play that could easily effect next year's season.
First of all Mauer says he plans to be be back healthy and ready to play, but secondly, and this is the part that disturbs me, he says he plans on spending most of his time behind the plate. He's always asserted that he "is a catcher."
Now anyone paying attention since Joe's concussion KNOWS that one of the very few bright spots for the Twins this last month has been the play of NEW, YOUNG catcher Josmil Pinto. I think the eight fans that are still left following the Twins this late in the season were kind of assuming that Pinto would be our new catcher permanently. We were also assuming that a battered Mauer, who has battled one bad injury after another because of his catching assignment would gracefully and graciously move over to first base next season where Justin Morneau's absence has left a gaping hole in our lineup.
Mauer's comments demonstrate to me that he is NOT the team player people think he is. He must be following Pinto's incredible rise to mini-stardom, but instead of embracing Pinto as someone who can clearly help the club, he took the time to mark his territory at the press event instead.This is going to cause some conflict for next season.
Worse, and I don't want to read too much into this, but Terry Ryan made further comments on a radio pre-game show later, and if you were once more paying attention, you'd have heard something even MORE disturbing. He admitted that Joe's statement about being behind the plate next season is not a given, but that would have to be something worked out between Mauer and Gardy.
Did you catch it? Ryan is alredy assuming that Ron Gardenhire WILL be back next season. AND the only person who would know that within the Twins organization IS Terry Ryan. My guess is that he and Gardy have already talked about it an Gardy will indeed be back next year.
Our starting rotation isn't going to improve greatly next season. Our bats have basically went to sleep. Mauer wants to fight for HIS catching position, and Gardy is going to be back next season managing this entire mess.
And people wonder why I jump OFF the Twins bandwagon so often?
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