Joe Mauer vs Albert Pujols

[Red_on_the_head]

Place Joe Mauer and each of his 8 clones in each spot, 1-9, in your lineup.

Do the same with Albert Pujols... bat him 1-9.

Who scores more runs in 1,000 innings of baseball?

[jamo]

Place Joe Mauer and each of his 8 clones in each spot, 1-9, in your lineup.

Since Pujols is in the National League, does he have to pitch too?

Either way, I'm taking Pujols. More power, better career average, more RBIs (or RsBI or RBI, depending on where you stand on that), more runs scored, and more versatility (he's been a consistent starting left fielder, 3rd baseman, and 1st baseman). Mauer is of course a better catcher, but Pujols wins everywhere else. I'm guessing you disagree?

[wrx_junki]

Don't understand the point of the scenario but I'd take Pujols.

[max power]

Pujols-it's not even close.

[newtogolf]

In your scenario, it's almost impossible to not select Pujols. If I was starting a team and got to pick one to build a team around I'd take Mauer because he's a great defensive catcher with an outstanding bat.

[Bryan SD2]

Pujols crushes him. Albert's career averages after 10 seasons are .331 batting average, 41 HR, and 123 RBI. He's also an excellent baserunner and Gold Glove winner. Ability to play multiple positions as previously posted.

Mauer has had ONE season in his career with more than 13 home runs. Some of his full season HR totals are 9 ( three times ) and a seven (only had 406 at bats). Mauer has also NEVER had a 100 RBI season. Pujols has NEVER been below 100 RBI's in any season.



In the history of baseball, no player has passed the good, but not otherworldly, thresholds of .300 batting average, 30 homers, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored for more than two seasons to start his career. Not Ruth, not Williams, not Stan The Man, not Mantle, etc.

Pujols did it to start his career for six seasons -THREE TIMES LONGER than anyone else ever, and only failed to surpass these marks (he's crusing them by the way) in EVERY season he has ever played by ONE RUN, one year.


Just look at HR's, and the discussion is over.

Pujols - 37, 34, 43, 46, 41, 49, 32, 37, 47, 42. 6 full seasons compared to 10
Mauer - 6 (rookie year 35 games) 9, 13, 7, 9, 28, 9

Unless you're 60, Pujols the best hitter you have ever seen..... And don't even start about the juicing Bonds please. Unless you want his 180 pound days in Pittsburgh to come into the equation, as well as perjury and his buddy Greg who is sitting in prison right now.

[og512]

Pujols... Aside from being the most feared in baseball for quite sometime... he is probably the smartest player I have ever watched.

I watched a game last year where the Cardinals were tied late in a game... nothing exciting about either offense... he came to the plate, fouled off 7 pitches, and ended up drawing a walk. The stole 2nd base... and then on the next pitch scored from 2nd on an infield hit (part his hustle and part his awareness of the defense around him). he ended up being the winning run... and I thought to myself, "that is why this guy is the mvp"... he's a power hitter, that hits for average, has arguably the best eye in baseball (Ichiro might be a little better), and can beat you in a number of different ways. Oh yeah, and he's a Gold Glover @ 1st base.

[allin]

Since Pujols is in the National League, does he have to pitch too?

I like your take but if they play defense I would take Mauer. Great HS quaterback, even though a catcher runs well, ( maybe not much longer seems to be devloping chronic knee issues) and has a much better arm tha Pujols. Based on offense only Pujuols is going to be seen as one of the all time greats, Mauer as a catcher, with the extra wear and tear, can't be expected to perform at Pujols level in the long run.

[og512]

I like your take but if they play defense I would take Mauer. Great HS quaterback, even though a catcher runs well, ( maybe not much longer seems to be devloping chronic knee issues) and has a much better arm tha Pujols. Based on offense only Pujuols is going to be seen as one of the all time greats, Mauer as a catcher, with the extra wear and tear, can't be expected to perform at Pujols level in the long run.

Pujols does have arm issues... That's how he ended up at 1st base. He was initially an outfielder but he had that elbow problem in 2003. he needed the ligament replacement surgery then but he managed to keep himself in the lineup by agreeing to not make any throws from the outfield. They would have the short stop run out to him for him to make a short throw and let them handle it from there. They settled on 1st base because the long throws would be virtually eliminated... and he turned out to be a gold glover...

[SouthernILGolfer]

Pujols is the best hitter in the game. Mauer is a great player, but Pujols is all time great, 1st ballot hall of fame great. His numbers will only be limited to how long he decides to play. I would love to see him break both the regular season and all time home run records to get Bonds name off both of them, though A-rod my set the all time mark too high for Pujols to catch. It will be hard for him to hit 70+ homers in one season as he gets walked so much.

[Bryan SD2]

Anyone taking Mauer is insane. The center field Albert will hit more homers than ALL THREE of the Mauer outfielders. The Pujols at 1B and 2B will out-homer the entire Joe infield including the catcher.

So more long balls from three Pujols' v's ALL the Mauers in the lineup, with six more Alberts to bat! The Alberts could play defense with no gloves and still outscore the very good Mauer team. It's not all about HR's of course, but there is too big of an offensive gap here.

[Bryan SD2]

Mauer as a catcher, with the extra wear and tear, can't be expected to perform at Pujols level in the long run.

Problem is, Mauer has never performed at Pujols' level to begin with, and although atop tier catcher, I doubt he starts pitting up Pujols numbers anytime soon. Batting average being the only stat Joe can compete in. Forget it when it comes to HR (ridiculous gap), slugging, extra base hits, RBI (ridiculous gap) Runs, Pujols even steals more bases Doesn't he?

A 9 Joe Mauer vs 9 Tulowitski's, Nelson Cruz's, or Matt Kemp's is an actual matchup in my opinion.

[sean_miller]

I vote for whoever would make the best pitcher.

[Bryan SD2]

I vote for whoever would make the best pitcher.

That is probalby Mauer. Contrary to what you might think about my previous posts.... I do not type on my iphone with my toes and post here. :)

[tristanhilton85]

I think most people would agree that they'd rather a lineup of 9 Albert Pujols clones over pretty much anybody else. However, if I was picking one of the two to build a team around, it'd be Joe Mauer hands down...

[sean_miller]

I think most people would agree that they'd rather a lineup of 9 Albert Pujols clones over pretty much anybody else. However, if I was picking one of the two to build a team around, it'd be Joe Mauer hands down...

I don't know enough about their games to say the battery two Pujolses would form is comparable to two Mauers.

[goblue107501]

The biggest reason why Mauer is so highly regarded is because he plays catcher. He provides excellent production at a position that you normally can't count on much production. There are 4-5 first-basemen that are + defenders that can also put up the offensive numbers close to what Pujols does. As far as a team production value goes, Mauer would probably edge him out. There haven't been many guys who can hit like him from the catchers position, and still play decent defense.

Not to take anything away from Joe Mauer, he is a great baseball player, but a team of 9 Alberts destroys a team of 9 Joes.

[Bryan SD2]

Mauer plays excellent defense and hits for a high average. RBI production is above average for a catcher, but average among good hitting C's and probably slightly below average for a middle of the order guy. Recent HR totals for entire seasons have been 9,9,9,13,7. Plenty of C's surpass that, but don't hit .320 w his defense of course.

Personally, I believe he is slightly overrated.