Joe Mauer vs. David Wright

[BCWWF]

Probably the two top young players in the league, which one would you rather have on your team for the long haul?

I was just thinking and I remembered that last year, Peter Gammons said that Joe Mauer was the best young player in baseball. At the time, some random poster on TPWW made the comment that David Wright should kick Gammons ass or something.

Well they both had good seasons last year, but now they are both some of the top players in the game. So the question remains, who would you rather have on your team?

Joe Mauer
Age: 23
██████████ Catcher
Avg .375, OBP .444, SLG .517, OPS .960
38 Runs, 31 RBI, 5 HR, 7/8 SB, 26 K

David Wright
Age: 23
██████████ Third Base
Avg .338 OBP .405 SLG .601 OPS 1.006
48 Runs, 60 RBI, 17 HR, 11/13 SB, 53 K

Right now, Mauer has the pure batting slightly better, but Wright definately has the power. Also, Wright bats fifth behind Beltran and Delgado while Mauer bats third, so their stats should differ in some ways.

--------------------------------------------------

For me, I would say that right now David Wright is the more complete player. He doesn't hit for as well of an average, but he still has a great average and hits for power. In the long run, if Mauer can develop some more power he might be the more valuable player though.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Personally I'd go with Wright. Catchers usually aren't avabiable to play as much (I know Veritek takes every 5th day off) and they get much more wear and tear on their body. A 3rd basemen self life is much longer, plus having a power at a corner position in the infield is always nice. Even if they did play the same position, I'd still take Wright, both are really good though

[The Icon of Elisim]

Wright for the same reasons as Stima

[OssMan]

Mauer probably because great hitting catchers are a lot more rare than great hitting 3B

[FakeLaser]

I don't know if I can make this decision. Mauer is a rarity, a catcher with speed and a great hitter. I don't know how he is defensively really. Catchers break down a lot faster than 3rd baseman though, and Mauer has already had his share of injury issues. Catchers also don't typically add as much to a team offensively as a third baseman, but then again there is the chemistry a catcher has with pitchers and knowledge of the league's hitters which is valuable as well.

Wright is already an elite hitter with speed but he has a weakness with the glove. I feel like he can work on it though and become a decent fielder.

I think I'll go with Wright, for longevity. He's the kind of guy you can build a franchise around, he's already as respected as Jeter is around here. Mauer is no slouch though.

[OssMan]

WRIGHT!

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Isn't Mauer like unbelievable at throwing out attempted base stealers though? That could factor into the decision since that kind of changes the game, but still, even without an injury catchers are still taking about 1 game off a week or so.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mauer is the shit, but having seen nearly every Mets game this year...I have to go with Wright. It is a wonder watching the kid play. He is the complete package...his weakest point being his defense which has been improving greatly.

Plus, as others have mentioned, he plays every day. I'm pretty sure Wright has only missed about 3 or 4 games in his career thus far.</font>

[RP]

I'll take Albert Pujos

[Joey Slugs]

Wright

[OssMan]

http://static.flickr.com/78/168337714_a274d4aac0_o.jpg

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Mauer is going to be one of the best catchers of the next 10 years but Wright will more than likely be up there with Pujols and Cabrera as the best hitters of this era.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I think I'd rather have Grady Sizemore over Mauer too.

[ct2k]

Wrighty, even if he is a Met, seen him a few times this year and looked at highlights and he looks like the real deal. Not seen the Twins at all this year so can't comment on Mauer really, but that BA definitely stands out a little!

[OssMan]

Wrighty, even if he is a Met, seen him a few times this year and looked at highlights and he looks like the real deal. Not seen the Twins at all this year so can't comment on Mauer really, but that BA definitely stands out a little!http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/multimedia/tp_archive.jsp?c_id=min

All the Mauer highlights in there

[The Miz]

Mauer is doing it in the hard league and Wright is doing it in the Gaytional League so I want to pick Mauer but Wright is a 162 game type player and Mauer is a 130 at the most because of his position. Also Wright is excellent at 3rd and what I've seen from Mauer defensively he is just average.

Mauer > Sizemore though

[RoXer]

Oh wow. I voted a while ago thinking it owuld be kind of close. I guess I better explain myself.

I guess I'm the only one who thinks Mauer is more of a rareity than Wright. Mauer more rareity Wright. Go ahead and say that out loud. But from what I've seen, Mauer's D is more than above average (I don't want to go stat hunting right now) and thats what does it for me. The fact that he can put up those type of numbers, play solid D, and has great speed for a catcher.

To each their own. I choose Mauer.

[BCWWF]

Mauer is definately above average defensively, a Gold Glove should be in his future.

[Terra Ryzin]

being a mets fan i extremely bias to wright, although id like mauer in a heartbeat on my team anyday.

one thing i want to add about wright is that some people have mentioned is defence. if you have seen highlights of wright he makes some absolutly amazing plays at third, then he will boot an easy roller right to him or misjudge a tricky hop. his D will only get better with time and become more solid. i think before his career is done he will own more than 1 gold glove.

also D Wright at 22 is already becoming a leader on that team. now i cant talk about mauer in that sense as i have no idea, but wright is known as the hardest worker and a great attitude for the clubhouse.

and as big vito said, it is a wonder to watch him play everyday!

[The Miz]

Also, I can't believe Miguel Cabrera wasn't included in this poll

[BCWWF]

I guess the reason I connected these two together is because they both kind of got their start last year. I know Mauer was up in 2003 but he played like 40 games or something due to injury. I'm pretty sure last year was both of their first full seasons up, so I kind of put them on the same level, whereas Cabrera has been up for a few years and has established himself before this season.

If it did include everybody though, Cabrera, Sizemore, Ryan Franklin, Chase Utley, how old is Jason Bay?

[The Miz]

Utley and Bay are 27. Cabrera is the best player under 24

[OssMan]

Ryan Franklin

[treen007]

Very tough poll. but I would give manny to the mets straight up for Wright in a heartbeat, so I guess thats my answer. I do like mauer alot tho, cant really go wrong with either player. I think it was that bare handed catch Wright made that had me jump on his bandwagon. best play I've seen in baseball bar none.

[Ruby]

Wright by a long shot. I don't mean any disrespect for Mauer in stating that, but I'm quite confident, barring any major injuries to the two, Wright will be the better player by a very wide margin.
I would chose Wright over Caberra too. More so because of the positions they play. It's tougher to fill the position of 3B with a top caliber player than it is OF.

[The Miz]

Cabrera is a third baseman. Only reason he played OF last few years was because of Lowell, he's back to playing his natural position full time now.

[Ruby]

I didn't realize that. Boy, that's a tough call then.
I just briefly looked up some of their stats and I would state I would still take Wright by the slightest of margins over Cabrera. He's got a little more speed it seems.
I'm going to have to bow out of this debate though, because I don't get a chance in my market to see these two guys with enough regularity to form a real solid opinion. Looking up stats isn't a solid method of forming a complete opinion. There are so many variables, not to mention the players they play with.

[DaveWadding]

I'll throw this out there right now: I'd rather have Victor Martinez than Mauer.

[The Miz]

Martinez career: .365 OBP, .462 SLG; in a great hitter's park
Mauer career: .398 OBP, .470 SLG; in an awful hitter's parl

Joe Mauer has better numbers despite being 4 years his junior. If you want to call their offense a push, fair enough, but VMart is a joke behind the plate and Mauer is at least above average. More importantly, you don't take a 27 year old putting up the same stats as a 23 year old

[BCWWF]

Victor Martinez is shit. He had one good year in 2004 and has been a big name with average results ever since.

[AlphaBean]

Isn't Mauer up in the 390s now?

Also, I heard that because of Mauer being a catcher, he can see the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand, and know what pitch is coming, just from the release. He can see the seams on the ball.

The only other player I have heard who can do that is Albert Pujols, who might be one of the best players of all time by the time he's done.

[OssMan]

Mauer is 14 for his last 21

[Ruby]

Mauer was .392 yesterday.
Griffey Jr used to state how he could see the seams and make instant recognition of pitches.

[AlphaBean]

Griffey also would pull his eye when he did that and miss half the season. :(

[The Outlaw]

I don't think it's that unusual to be able to see the seams and know what pitch is coming? I did that when I played. Obviously, it didn't result in me batting like Mauer though.

LOL@ Griffey pulling an eye

[BCWWF]

Yeah I was kind of under the impression that being able to read the seams was a big part of batting...not that everybody can slow it down and read it or whatever, but if you couldn't do that you'd be pretty fucked on every curveball wouldn't you?

[AlphaBean]

I don't think it's that unusual to be able to see the seams and know what pitch is coming? I did that when I played. Obviously, it didn't result in me batting like Mauer though.

LOL@ Griffey pulling an eye

Yea, the seams in softball are a lot bigger... and in slow pitch, you have more time to read the seams.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Ruby]

I believe what was different about Griffey was what he deemed instant recognition. Basically while the ball was still in the pitchers hand.

[The Outlaw]

Yea, the seams in softball are a lot bigger... and in slow pitch, you have more time to read the seams.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

...

But, yeah, if you are a batter in baseball and you can't tell if a ball is a fastball or a breaking ball/whatever when the pitcher delivers the pitch, you are pretty much SOL and a worthless player, unless you are a good guesser.

[AlphaBean]

Yeah I think it's the Griffey thing Ruby is talking about.