Just heard a rumor from a baseball insider that Minnesota's Joe Mauer has been taking ground balls at third base. IT'S ABOUT TIME!
Joe has been really struggling this year. Best example would be his choice to try and lay down a bunt with one out and runners at first and second. A confident Joe Mauer would have stepped in and hit an opposite field line-drive base hit. But his confidence is at an all-time low. There could be many reasons for this. It could have something to do with the new contract and an inevitable letdown. Maybe the added pressure of the contract is getting to him a little bit. It's possible that last year was a complete mirage and he'll never have a season like that again. Or, the stress of being a giant playing a position that will wear down any player, especially a player his size, is starting to take it's tole physically on him.
It appears the Twins are hoping the later is the reason for his struggles this year. If they can successfully convert him to third base, a position the Twins have been trying to fill for years, he could take a lot of stress off his body and extend his career. Another benefit would be that the Twins would no longer need to sit him every third game, he could finally be an everyday player.
Here's one Twins fan that hopes he'll be able to make the transition either this year or during the off-season.
NO MORE BUNTS JOE, PLEASE SWING AWAY!
