Joe Mauer Deserves To Make The Hall Of Fame

Gregory Shamus. Getty Images.

I made my picks for the Hall of Fame but was really undecided on Joe Mauer. I don't know if it was the lack of power or post-season success but I had a hard time clearly saying: Joe Mauer is a Hall Of Famer. I didn't even have him when Phil asked me to make out a ballot last week.

I was wrong. Joe Mauer should absolutely be a Hall Of Famer. First off, I was incorrect in that video when I said he didn't have 2,000 hits. He actually had 2,123. But I didn't pay close enough attention to his .388 career OBP or his 124 OPS+. His peak was relatively short but pretty incredible. From 2006-10, he hit .334/.416/.491.

Those are incredible numbers for anyone, much less a catcher. His 2009 season is one of the greatest seasons by any catcher in baseball history. I didn't pay enough respect to the position he played. 

I'm not a fan of not putting someone in simply because it's the first ballot. If you're a Hall of Famer, you're a Hall of Famer. I do, however, understand needing more time to make a call on someone. I wasn't high on Todd Helton or Billy Wagner at first but I've come around to thinking they should be in. 

Here's where things stand currently in the HOF voting. The official results will be announced next Tuesday January 23rd.

Adrian Beltre is the only lock. I know Mauer, Todd Helton and Billy Wagner are all at 80% but it's important to remember that the voters who don't make their ballots public typically don't vote for many guys. They are also older voters typically which could be really bad for Helton and Wagner who have more sabermetric reasons to get in. Will older voters check the box for Mauer?

If I had to bet, Beltre and Mauer get in next week and no one else. This is Sheffield's last chance on the ballot so he's likely fucked. I do think Helton, Wagner, Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltran do get in eventually but just not this year. Also, if Mauer doesn't get in this season, he almost certainly will next year. Writers love holding this power over the same players they chased for quotes their entire careers.

So, I apologize to Twins fans for leaving out Mauer to begin with. He's absolutely a worthy HOFer who should soon rightfully join recent Twins HOFers like Kirby Puckett, Bert Blyleven and Jim Kaat.