Clash of the Titans: Albert Pujols or Joe Mauer as the Overall MVP?

PJ Ross is...wait, a SENIOR Analyst at ~~Blooper~~ Bleacher Report? Is this factual? There were many laughs to be had upon reading this article, including PJ arguing with an apparent 13-year old...

Basically, he makes an attempt (albeit of the losing variety) to prove the case of Joe Mauer being more valuable to his team than El Hombre. It's good comedy nevertheless.

9 months ago Epic 8 comments 0 recs |

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I don't disagree with his conclusion

but everytime I read some laundry list of all the bullshit responsibilities a catcher has, I want to shake someone. No position has their intangibles overblown more than catcher. It’s nonsense and no catcher does half the crap he alludes too.

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by azruavatar on Nov 25, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions

Obviously you were never a catcher

The catching position takes a tremendous toll on a player over a full season of 162 games. Catchers invariably have some of the shortest careers of any MLB players for this very reason. No catcher in the last 50 years has won the MVP award until Mauer did it this season — there have been numerous award winners at other positions over that period of time.

I get tired of people running down the difficulty of being a catcher in the MLB — make Pujols crouch behind the plate for 140 games a season and I’d bet you’ll see a decrease in his numbers.

Please consider any Hot Stove talk in the above comment is spoken under the assumption that the Cardinals are not signing Matt Holliday.

by fourstick on Nov 30, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

He never said anything about physical wear and tear, just intangibles

by astrostl on Nov 30, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

I love this

Another compelling piece of evidence in favor of Mauer’s batting prowess was his .400 average with two outs and runners in scoring position, which towered over Pujols’ mark of .243 in the same situation.

Pujols had all of 37 atbats in that situation and had an OBP of .563.

Souce.

It’s amazing how stupid people are.

by vivaelpujols on Nov 25, 2009 5:28 PM EST reply actions

It's not like Pujols led

the league in homers, was 3rd in RBIs, and is considered one of the best players in baseball or anything…

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by zoomzoomj88 on Nov 25, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

An All-American at Cretin-Derham Hall high school in St. Paul, Mauer has excelled at being a hometown hero

I would love to go to the Cretin school, personally. It must open a lot of doors in later life when applying for village idiot positions.

I think this is a pretty decent article, really; Mauer was arguably better than Albert this year. All things being equal, however, I know which player would be the first name on my All-World roster to take on the Mars All Stars.

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by Felonius_Monk on Nov 27, 2009 8:00 AM EST reply actions

Albert

Don’t forget that Albert led the league in 2 run sacrifice flies this year too.

I was in the middle of what I thought was going to end up as a fistfight in the bathroom next to the Cardinals Legends suites during the Jun. 27th game between the Twins and Cards over this exact issue. A Twins fan made the comment that not only was Mauer the best hitter in baseball but also the best player and a drunk Cards fan took exception.

by WizardofOz1982 on Dec 3, 2009 12:57 PM EST reply actions