In 10 years, if his name happens to come up, your kids might ask, "Who's Mark Prior?" That's because recent further setbacks have it looking like Mr. Prior won't ever contribute much to the Major Leagues.
On the other hand, they won't have to ask, "Who's Joe Mauer?" because they'll know. Mauer is putting together a career that will have many talking about him for years after he hangs up his gear.
At one time, these two were part of a torrid debate. The Minnesota Twins held the first pick of the 2001 draft, and it was apparent one of the two would be chosen with it.
Should the small-market club take the 6'5" California pitcher with a chance to win immediately in the majors, or should it select the 6'5" high school catcher with a flawless swing? There was a catch with each of them.
Mauer was a local kid from St. Paul whom Twins fans would have no problem rooting for. That wouldn't hurt making him what many considered a signability pick. However, Prior was known to have huge bonus demands, and signing him would certainly be a circus. In the end, the Twins went with the local product.
Mauer received the highest bonus given out that year—a $5.15 million deal—six weeks after the draft. He went to rookie ball and hit .400 in 32 games.
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Prior went to the Cubs with the second pick, receiving a $4 million dollar bonus. However, Prior commanded and received a five-year major league contract worth $10.5 million dollars. He signed five weeks after Mauer but missed out pitching in the 2001 season.
Prior was in the Cubs rotation the next year, though, winning six games and showing unbelievable stuff. Mauer was moving up the minor league ladder, hitting .302 at Low-A ball.
The next year, Prior had his only dominant season, as he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and helped the Cubs make a serious run at the World Series. He was looking like a true ace, but had made his second trip to the disabled list. Meanwhile, Mauer was climbing another rung and showing off his hitting prowess with a .340 average between High-A and AA.
Prior showed more fragility in 2004 and his numbers, though solid, were showing effects of his recurring injuries. Mauer made the Twins out of spring training but also suffered a serious injury. He spent most of the season on the DL with a torn meniscus in his knee, playing in just 35 games.
It's here we can use the cliche, "Injuries are a part of the game." Both Mauer and Prior sustained serious injuries to parts of their bodies that could seriously affect how they played their respective positions.
A pitcher with a torn ligament in his elbow or a tear in his rotator cuff can't throw a baseball very effectively. Yet a catcher with a tear in the cartilage of his knee can't squat three hours a night.
Mauer was back in 2005, hitting .294 and playing in 131 games, catching 116. Prior also came back and made 27 starts, posting a solid 11-7 record with a 3.67 ERA. Despite his injury, Mauer was making an impact in nearly five times as many games at a key position.
As Mauer was winning a batting title in 2006 and playing in 140 games, Prior was struggling with a 1-6 record in 9 games. He hasn't thrown a major league pitch since.
Injuries are a part of the game. But these players show that an arm injury to a pitcher can be much more devastating to his career than a knee injury to a catcher.
These guys also illustrate that this game isn't just about money. It's mostly about money. And teams that use their money wisely, whether they have a little or lot of it, will be successful.
The Twins made a sound baseball decision in 2001 and they've fielded a competitive team since then; selecting Joe Mauer has been one of the main reasons why.
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3 months ago
Regarding the starting pitcher vs. positional player argument from the standpoint of contribution to games over the course of the season, please keep in mind how much starters contribute to the games in which they do appear.
There's a reason win-loss records are a big stat for starters. They have more impact on a particular game than anyone else on the team.
Consider the math:
A batter hits about 600 plate appearances over a full season.
A starter hits about 200 innings over a full season, or 600 outs.
That doesn't even include the plate appearances that don't go well for the pitchers, which is about another 250 to the equation.
So, over the course of a season, a regular starting pitcher will directly affect what happens in far more at-bats than a regular starting position player. Considering the defense a position player can bring, that can be adjusted to say it's more or less a wash, and elite starting pitchers are scarce, so they often win out. The interesting thing about Mauer-Prior is an elite catcher is also a scarce commodity.
Still, I generally agree that pitchers are riskier, even without injuries. Simple control is a bigger issue than plate discipline for a hitter because bad control and more runs obviously impact a team more negatively than some free-swinging.
from 3 months ago
Still, you always take a position player first. Out of every 10 starting pitchers drafted in first round, maybe 2 pan out to be worthwile. All 10 first round position players usually (and there are occasions) pan out.
from 3 months ago
I generally agree. Still, why do you think plenty of salaried major league executives pick pitchers very high in drafts, as the Rays did with David Price last year?
Having an ace starter can completely change a team's outlook; make it feel like it is going to win every day he pitches, etc. Like I said, going with a pitcher is riskier with the injuries and control questions (if there are control questions), but there are plenty of hitters who don't pan out, too.
Take a look at 2004 first-overall pick and shortstop Matt Bush, who, ironically, has been converted to a pitcher.
It comes down to what you need and what you're scouting tells you, along with signability, etc. If you believe a pitcher will be an ace, it is often worth the risk.
3 months ago
Great, great, great article. I love pieces like this going back to history. Prior was the kid with the flawless motion who would never get hurt because his mechanics were so sound. Mauer was the local legend who turned down a football scholarship and signed with the Twins at age 18. Being a Cubs fan, it's hard to reflect on this draft, even though any other GM wuld have taken Prior #2 if Mauer went first.
Another guy who has emerged from this draft has been Gavin Floyd. I am no White Sox fan, but until the end of last year and the beginning of this season, Floyd was considered a major bust after going #4 in that same 2001 Draft.
Great job Michael and the research you put into this piece shows the professionalism of your writing.
3 months ago
Great article, Michael. I really enjoyed this. I love reading about rookies' traveling through the minor league system.
Keep it up!
3 months ago
You ALWAYS go for the position player first. All of the baseball tonight announcers just talked about that the other day. Pitchers appear once a week and are WAY more likely to get injured over the course of a year. Position players play every game and for the most part stay healthy. So the risk factor is far lower. With drafting a catcher, like Mauer, that is a different story. Catchers have a short life span.
Unless you get a stud that can hit for power and average, like Mauer or Geovanny Soto for the Cubs. You can move them to DH or 1B later in their career and they can go on to play another 5 years or so.
So, always take the position player. Good article.
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