World Series Predictions
- Thread starter BAMMER
- Start date
i would also take the yanks and the sox but my third team would be the Twins.
Look out for their new catcher. he has the potential mo exceed ivan rodriguez defensively and a potential .300/30/100 hitter.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/03top10s/twins.html
Joe Mauer
Their most anxiously awaited arrival, however, is 2003 Minor League Player of the Year Joe Mauer. He’s the best prospect in the game and the best all-around catcher to come along since Pudge Rodriguez. His rapid development allowed the Twins to part with Pierzynski.
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http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/03top10s/twins.html
Top Prospect: Joe Mauer, c
Age: 20 Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 230 Bats: L Throws: R
Drafted: HS–St. Paul, Minn., 2001 (1st round)
Signed by: Marc Wilson/Joel Lepel
Background: Growing up in St. Paul as a Twins fan just 10 minutes from the Metrodome, Mauer seemed destined to play for the hometown team. He was regarded as one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation and nearly followed fellow Cretin-Derham Hall grad Chris Weinke to Florida State. Twins scouts saw Mauer play more than 100 times as an amateur and ultimately chose him over Mark Prior with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. While Prior has become a star in the majors, Mauer isn’t too far behind. He won BA’s Minor League Player of the Year award in 2003 and is set to make his big league debut at 20 when he opens this season as Minnesota’s regular catcher.
Strengths: Mauer combines a picture-perfect lefthanded stroke with impeccable strike-zone judgment to generate high batting averages and on-base percentages. His natural approach and swing path lend themselves more to a batting title than a home run crown. He’s geared to hit line drives back up the middle and toward left-center. Defensively, Mauer had no equals at the minor league level. Some scouts say he’ll be the best receiver in the American League when he debuts in April. Despite his size—only Sandy Alomar Jr. is bigger among major league catchers—Mauer expertly blocks pitches with his soft hands and moves quickly on balls in front of the plate. Outstanding arm strength gives him a third present 80 tool on the 20-80 scouting scale to go with his bat and glove. Mauer has a quick release and puts his throws on the bag with uncanny accuracy; he nabbed 52 percent of basestealers last year. He’s a quiet leader who exudes confidence but maintains a low profile. The Twins wanted Mauer to become more comfortable at running a pitching staff, and he did just that. He runs better and has more athleticism than most catchers.
Weaknesses: Though Mauer has hit just nine career homers, Twins scouts insist he has the power to one day hit 35-40 in a season if he wants to. He showed signs of adding more loft to his swing in Double-A.
The Future: Most scouts give Mauer the nod over Devil Rays shortstop B.J. Upton as the best prospect in the game. The Twins cleared Mauer’s path to the majors by dealing all-star A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants in November. Mauer, who will bat seventh or eighth to start 2004, is an early favorite for American League rookie of the year. There’s no reason he shouldn’t develop into a perennial all-star.
Look out for their new catcher. he has the potential mo exceed ivan rodriguez defensively and a potential .300/30/100 hitter.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/03top10s/twins.html
Joe Mauer
Their most anxiously awaited arrival, however, is 2003 Minor League Player of the Year Joe Mauer. He’s the best prospect in the game and the best all-around catcher to come along since Pudge Rodriguez. His rapid development allowed the Twins to part with Pierzynski.
----------------------------------------------
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/03top10s/twins.html
Top Prospect: Joe Mauer, c
Age: 20 Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 230 Bats: L Throws: R
Drafted: HS–St. Paul, Minn., 2001 (1st round)
Signed by: Marc Wilson/Joel Lepel
Background: Growing up in St. Paul as a Twins fan just 10 minutes from the Metrodome, Mauer seemed destined to play for the hometown team. He was regarded as one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation and nearly followed fellow Cretin-Derham Hall grad Chris Weinke to Florida State. Twins scouts saw Mauer play more than 100 times as an amateur and ultimately chose him over Mark Prior with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. While Prior has become a star in the majors, Mauer isn’t too far behind. He won BA’s Minor League Player of the Year award in 2003 and is set to make his big league debut at 20 when he opens this season as Minnesota’s regular catcher.
Strengths: Mauer combines a picture-perfect lefthanded stroke with impeccable strike-zone judgment to generate high batting averages and on-base percentages. His natural approach and swing path lend themselves more to a batting title than a home run crown. He’s geared to hit line drives back up the middle and toward left-center. Defensively, Mauer had no equals at the minor league level. Some scouts say he’ll be the best receiver in the American League when he debuts in April. Despite his size—only Sandy Alomar Jr. is bigger among major league catchers—Mauer expertly blocks pitches with his soft hands and moves quickly on balls in front of the plate. Outstanding arm strength gives him a third present 80 tool on the 20-80 scouting scale to go with his bat and glove. Mauer has a quick release and puts his throws on the bag with uncanny accuracy; he nabbed 52 percent of basestealers last year. He’s a quiet leader who exudes confidence but maintains a low profile. The Twins wanted Mauer to become more comfortable at running a pitching staff, and he did just that. He runs better and has more athleticism than most catchers.
Weaknesses: Though Mauer has hit just nine career homers, Twins scouts insist he has the power to one day hit 35-40 in a season if he wants to. He showed signs of adding more loft to his swing in Double-A.
The Future: Most scouts give Mauer the nod over Devil Rays shortstop B.J. Upton as the best prospect in the game. The Twins cleared Mauer’s path to the majors by dealing all-star A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants in November. Mauer, who will bat seventh or eighth to start 2004, is an early favorite for American League rookie of the year. There’s no reason he shouldn’t develop into a perennial all-star.
IVE BEEN A A'S FAN SINCE I WAS 5 WHAT WE NEED ARE PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO THE GAMES NO MATTER WHO WERE PLAYING AND BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED A NEW STADIUM THE RENOVATIONS THE RAIDERS MADE TURNED IT IN TO A TERRIBLE PLACE FOR A BASEBALL CLUB........GREAT FOR FOOTBALL ......BUT THEY NEED A BRAND NEW STADIUM JUST FOR BASEBALL.........................OH AND ABOUT THE OWNER THE A'S HAVE AHISTORY WITH HAVING GREAT GM'S BUT TERRIBLE OWNERS........CHARLEY FINLEY....AND FOR THOSE THAT SAW REBELS OF OAKLAND ON HBO FINLEY WAS MORE OF A TIGHT ASS WITH MONEY THAN SCHOTT IS HE DISMANTLED A TEAM THAT HAD WON 3 STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS A TEAM THAT WOULD HAVE WON ALOT MORE HAD HE NOT BEEN A TIGHT ASS....LOOK IM NOT A BIG FAN OF SCHOTT BUT WE KEEP PULLING THINGS OUT NO MATTER WHAT BOTTOM LINE IS OWNERS DONT WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS........PLAYERS DO
LETS GO OAKLAND
IM TAKING MY NEW YORK METS WITH THEIR NO HEART AND CAMERON AND THE OTHER MATSUI LOL OKAY OKAY I KNOW I CAN DREAM LET ME STOP BEFORE I GET LAUGHED OFF THIS BOARD IM GOING TO GO WITH MY SECOND TEAM THE YANKS (I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE I AM A BANDWAGONER BUT IVE LIKED THEM SECOND SINCE 93) OVER THE CUBS IN 6 GAMES
