“Covington is also an incredibly disruptive defender who continuously impresses the hell out of me with his strips, steals, and deflections. The timing, skill, and awareness needed to pull those off so regularly is remarkable. The rest of the team seems to be playing with more urgency and intensity on defense since the trade as well, Towns especially."

Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Daily content and conversation, on Twitter and Facebook.

Our three weekly Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs are released on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

An apology to Derrick Rose, the teams constant winning (especially their impressive victory against the Spurs), the new life Covington and Saric bring, Wiggins' woes, and more are discussed this week. As usual, Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland interviews Wolves analyst Beartrap McManus.

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Since we last spoke, the Wolves have won four of five games, including killing the Spurs 128-89. They look like a completely different team post-Butler. How are they doing it and what are they doing differently? Obviously they're playing better defense, but why/how has there been such a sea change in that part of the game?
Covington and Saric are both excellent (and fundamentally sound) team and positional defenders. They seem to have helped stabilize things on that end. Covington is also an incredibly disruptive defender who continuously impresses the hell out of me with his strips, steals, and deflections. The timing, skill, and awareness needed to pull those off so regularly is remarkable. 

The rest of the team seems to be playing with more urgency and intensity on defense since the trade as well, Towns especially.

Was the Spurs game the most impressive win of the Wolves season?
Easily. The Spurs aren’t what they once were, and were at the end of long road trip, but it was still an impressive stomping of a pretty good team.

Is Andrew Wiggins playing as terribly as most Minnesota sports talking heads say he is?
Pretty much, especially over the last few games. When he’s not scoring, he doesn’t bring enough other stuff to the table to make up for it. There have seemingly been flashes of improved effort at times but it never seems sustainable. I’m ready to give most of his minutes to Josh Okogie at this point.

It’s ok though, Glen Taylor made him promise to work hard before giving him a max contract so it should all work out just fine.

If Derrick Rose keeps playing like he is now, would you sign him to a contract extension, trade him, or just sit tight?
First of all, let me take a moment to admit that I was wrong about how much Rose has left in the tank. After a so-so start, he’s been phenomenal offensively this year. His newly developed 3-point consistency seems less and less fluky as the season goes on, and he seems to have regained much of his slashing ability. He’s still not great defensively, especially at the 2 where bigger guards can shoot over him with relative ease, but his offense has more than made up for it.

I think the Wolves should still sit tight or the time being. His injury history still worries me and there’s still 3/4 of the season left. If the team ends up struggling it might be a good idea to see what we can get for him.

Have you re-evaluated your expectations for the team this year? What percentage chance is there that they make the playoffs?
Definitely. I've been feeling good about the team and its future for the first time all season. Replacing Butler with RoCo and Saric seems to have breathed new life into the Wolves. Even Thibs has made some adjustments to his decade old defensive schemes, as I’ve noticed a lot more switching on D lately.

I’m gonna go ahead and give them a 50.5% chance of making the playoffs this year. A lifetime of following this team has taught me to guard the hell out of my optimism, but I’m feeling pretty good about them right now.

Beartrap McManus is an NBA and Timberwolves expert. He has been a life coach for Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland since before time, a consultant for Rambling On since its founding, and Timberwolves analyst beginning in Series Five. He resides with his wife and twelve kids in Hurley, Wisconsin, where his wife owns a popular supper club.

"The Wild, when healthy and playing well, can compete with any team in the league."

Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content and conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

Our three weekly Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs are released on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

Nino to the fourth line, Dumba's offensive surge, a disappointing loss, and a couple good victories are discussed in this edition. As usual, Wild analyst Peter Ripka answers questions from Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland.

Thanks for your support!

First, the stinger: other than simply not being able to finish, what the hell happened to the Wild in their 4-3 home loss to the Arizona Coyotes, in which they blew a 3-1 third period lead? 
They simply stopped playing. Dubnyk was not sharp and the Brodin and Dumba pairing was absolutely horrible. They came out in the third like the game was going to be handed to them.

As you predicted, though, the Wild had rebounded at home, winning their prior two games. What are your thoughts on their high flying, 6-4 win over the Senators?
That was another game that they had blown a 3rd period lead, only they were bailed out by Staal who scored the winner. Dubnyk didn't look sharp in this game either, eventually getting pulled in favor of Stalock for the last seven and change of the game. With that said, the Senators are a very interesting team, as they lead the league in goals scored while also having the most goals against. 

The Wild also looked impressive in their 4-2 win over the Jets. How did they manage to beat their playoff foes from last year? How impressed are you with Alex Stalock’s season?
Stalock played phenomenal in that game. The Wild, when healthy and playing well, can compete with any team in the league. They didn't let the Jets dictate the play.

Matt Dumba has an astounding ten goals so far this year. What has he done to find his offensive mojo?
He has fine tuned his shot. It's as hard and quick as it has always been, but now he's finally finding the net. What used to be two feet wide or high is now within the 4x6.

How is Niederreiter looking on the fourth line? Do you agree with the move?
I agree with the move to him on the fourth line. It puts him on his natural side, allowing him to play a simpler game and not press as hard. With that said, that line was a-3 against the Coyotes, so I'd expect something to change for the game tonight in Columbus. 

Peter Ripka is the original Rambling On podcast co-host and has been a contributor since its inception. He’s currently the Wild analyst, a position he’s held for several years. A Wild and Twins season ticket holder, his writing combines the passion of a fan and the insight of a beat writer. 

“The Vikings beat a Packer team that will not make the playoffs. It would have been impressive had they beaten the Bears, Rams, or Saints. But the hapless Packers? Not so much. They got the win, though, and that’s all that matters."

Rambling On is your home for Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content, and join the conversation, by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook.

We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, one on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), one on Thursday (Minnesota Wild related), and one on Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

In this weeks edition, Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland asks Vikings analyst Mike Coenen about their victory against the Packers, their biggest issues this year, and the upcoming game against the Patriots (Mike makes a bold prediction).

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The Vikings hung on to beat the injury-riddled, hapless Packers 24-17. Were you impressed with how they played?
The win was not all that impressive, considering the fact the Packers are just not very good this season.  Every team is injury riddled at this point of the season, so unless it is somebody the caliber of an Aaron Rodgers, injuries are not an excuse for losing games.  (Erik: I politely disagree. If the Vikings were missing even more of their offensive line and half their d-backs, as the Packers were, this would have been a completely different game. It's not an excuse for losing, but it definitely factors in).

That said, the Vikings beat a Packer team that will not be going to the playoffs this season.  If the Vikings would have beaten the Bears, Rams, or Saints at this point in the season, that would be impressive.  But against the hapless Packers?  Not so much.  They got the win, though, and that’s all that really matters.  
Do you think that this Vikings team could beat the Bears on the road, much less the Saints or Rams?
No.  And especially not in the playoffs.  The Vikings would at least stand a chance against the Bears on the road in the playoffs, however.  But in New Orleans or Los Angeles?  No way.  Those two teams are just too good the year.  

What the hell happened to the Packers?
Poor defense and the inability to win on the road.  No road wins yet this season for the Pack.  Playoff teams need to be able to win at least half their road games.  They have two more road games left this season: the first is in Chicago, the second is against the Jets.  They might beat the Jets, but even that might not happen. The Packers might have new coach next season.    

How important is the Xavier Rhodes injury?
It is pretty important. Should the Vikings make it to the playoffs and play either the Saints or Rams, their secondary will get lit up even with Xavier Rhodes.  Without him they will get lit up even more. 

Tell me the order in which these things concern you and explain why: 1) Turnovers 2) Kicking game 3) Offensive line
1)    The offensive line is the biggest problem the Vikings have. There is no way the Vikings can go deep in the playoffs with such a poor offensive line.  It is the most overlooked aspect of the today’s game, but quite possibly the most important.  The Rams and Saints have great offensive lines and they average 35 and 37 points per game respectively.  The Vikings average 24.  Enough said.

2)    Second on the list of concerns is the kicking game.  Dan Bailey is proving to be just as erratic and unreliable as Blair Walsh.  The kicking game will cost the Vikings at least one more game this season, maybe more.  It’s a real liability, a ticking time-bomb ready to go off at any moment.

3)    Turnovers are never good, but they are going to happen, even to the best players and teams.  The Vikings actually have more takeaways than they do giveaways this season, and are somewhere in the middle of the pack in the league when it comes to coughing up the ball.  It is not a major problem.  (Erik:  Again, I respectfully disagree. The stats don't show everything, as both Cousins and Cook have given up key turnovers in points in the game that have cost multiple games, making it a concern. Takeaways are practically irrelevant if your team gives up turnovers at inopportune times. And as far as turnovers themselves go, the Vikings are tied for sixth worst in the league with 18, which is far from average or normal. I'd still put it #3 on the list, but I'd definitely call it a fairly big problem).

The Patriots, who the Vikings play next Sunday, have underachieved a bit this year. What is your prediction for next weeks match-up?
On paper the Vikings are a more talented team, but Mike Zimmer is no Bill Belichick.  Does coaching make that big of a difference? Yes, I think it does.  The Patriots have enough talent for Belichick to get them to the Super Bowl yet again, and the Vikings will not stand in their way on Sunday.  The Vikings will keep it close, but in the end Bill Belichick will outcoach Mike Zimmer and get the win. 


Mike Coenen is a writer, historian, professor, and author from Little Falls, Minnesota. He is the Vikings analyst for Rambling On and is the co-host of the Minnesota Sports Ramble podcast. Since 2016 he has been creating content for Rambling On as sports analyst and podcast co-host.

"This team has had a problem starting games for a long time. It takes them a bit to get their legs going for some reason. It's hard to figure out what the problem is without being in the room, but it is very frustrating to watch."

Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content and conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

Our three weekly Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs are released on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

A dominant performance against the Canucks, a disappointing one against the Sabres, why the Wild start slowly, and a look around the league are discussed in this edition. As usual, Wild analyst Peter Ripka answers questions from Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland.

Thanks for your support!

It seems like a long time ago, but the Wild manhandled the hapless Canucks 6-2 last Thursday. Was it all the Canucks being awful, or did the Wild also play well? 
The Wild did play well in that game. They did what they needed to do and looked sharp while doing it. The Canucks were short handed, however, with six players out with injuries and on the sixth and final game of their road trip. So that also played a part in the completely dominating performance. 

Then the hammer sort of fell, beginning with the Wild blowing a two-goal lead and losing to the Sabres 3-2 at home. What happened? Why have the Wild lost their mojo at home? 
Simple answer: they didn't put them away. When you allow a team to hang around they gain confidence and can turn a game around in their favor.

And it was, fittingly, very Minnesota sports that former 30 goal scorer for the wild Jason Pominville scored the winner with 90 seconds left.

They haven't lost their mojo at home, it's just a bit of a hiccup in play. I expect them to have a good showing in their next three games at home.

Other than another slow start, what went wrong in their Sunday loss to Chicago?
Finish, finish, finish. They had a lot of opportunities to tie the game, and even take the lead, but they didn't finish. Also, the Dumba/Suter pairing was a train wreck again.

Why do the Wild keep coming out so slowly? Is there any way they can change that?
This team has had that problem for a long time. It seems like it takes them a bit to get their legs going for some reason. Perhaps the scouting department doesn't develop a good report on the team we are playing, so Bruce has to readjust his game plan after the first period. Or maybe the players just don't warm up hard enough. It's hard to figure out what the problem is without being in the room, but it is very frustrating to watch.

Who are the best teams in the Eastern and Western Conference and why?
In the East, the Maple Leafs are a trendy team people have been talking about, and the Capitals are good as well (both are loaded offensively). In the West the clear leader is Nashville. They are playing good team hockey and have a ton of front end talent.

What teams have surprised you the most so far this year?
The Penguins have surprised me because they have been so bad this year. I think age has finally caught up to them. 

What sleeper picks do you think will make the playoffs?
The one team I think will surprise a lot of people this year is a team we already discussed. The Buffalo Sabres have something about them that I noticed when they beat the Winnipeg Jets and and the Wild in back-to-back games. They are a gritty team that has some fire power. And the former number one pick from last year, Rasmus Dahlin, is the real deal.

Peter Ripka is the original Rambling On podcast co-host and has been a contributor since its inception. He’s currently the Wild analyst, a position he’s held for several years. A Wild and Twins season ticket holder, his writing combines the passion of a fan and the insight of a beat writer. 

“Kirk Cousins does make some critical mistakes at inopportune times.  As I’ve mentioned in previous weeks, his numbers are solid.  But a lot of games have those critical moments when they are sometimes won or lost.  Kirk Cousins is not stepping up in those moments and getting it done.  Instead, he’s making critical mistakes that are costing his team games. ”

Rambling On is your home for Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content, and join the conversation, by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook.

We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, one on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), one on Thursday (Minnesota Wild related), and one on Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

In this weeks edition, Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland asks Vikings analyst Mike Coenen about the teams loss to the Bears, the NFC North, and more.

Thanks for reading!

So now what do you think of the Bears?
I was skeptical, but the Bears appear to be a legitimate playoff team.  While they are not an elite team the likes of the Rams and Saints, they are a solid 10-6 or 11-5 caliber club.  

I realize that through the magic of free agency an NFL team can now literally go from cellar dweller to division champion from one year to the next, but last year’s 5-11 record made me doubt the Bears despite the good start.  

Their defense is most impressive.  Although no one will mistake them for the ’85 Bears, the Khalil Mack acquisition has solidified the defense and made them into one of the better units in the league.  Like the Vikings, the Bears won’t be able to compete with the likes of the Rams and Saints come playoff time, but they are definitely a team on the rise, and just might be one of the elite teams in a couple years.

Are Kirk Cousins’ turnovers starting to concern you?
Kirk Cousins does make some critical mistakes at inopportune times.  As I’ve mentioned in previous weeks, his numbers are solid.  But a lot of games have those critical moments when they are sometimes won or lost.  Kirk Cousins is not stepping up in those moments and getting it done.  Instead, he’s making critical mistakes that are costing his team games.   

Both the Vikings offense and defense seemed outplayed for most of the game. What was wrong with each of them? 
The Vikings simply got outplayed on both sides of the ball on Sunday night. No doubt about it. 

However, I do not believe that the Bears are really that much better than the Vikings.  They are two evenly matched teams, one just happened to get dominated by the other.  It happens. When they play in Minnesota later in the season, the roles could very likely be reversed. This time, though, they got outplayed, bottom line.  

What is your current assessment of the NFC North? If the Lions (who upset the Panthers this week...) beat the Bears and the Packers beat the Vikings this coming week, the division begins looking a little interesting...
The NFC North is bogged down in mediocrity this season.  I definitely think it’s the Bears division to lose at this point, with the Vikings as the only team that might be able to catch them.  

The Lions had a nice win on Sunday against the Panthers, but their defensive woes will keep them from rising above .500, which is the same problem the Packers face.  Aaron Rodgers is still one of the league’s top three quarterbacks, but the Packer defense is terrible.  The Packers have had two of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game at the helm for the past 26 seasons (1992-2018) with Favre and Rodgers, and they’ve managed only two Super Bowl wins in that time.  

I know that it’s two more than the Vikings have, and my answer has veered off track a bit, but it is pretty significant that the Packers have so little to show for the past 26 seasons with two consecutive quarterbacks who could both be legitimately ranked in the top 5 of all-time.  That said, the Packers won’t make the playoffs for the second straight year. 

Do you think any team in the North that doesn’t win the division will make the playoffs?
If the season ended today, the Vikings would be the second wildcard team in the NFC along with Carolina.  So yeah, I definitely think the second place team in the North could make the playoffs. Other teams in the wildcard hunt as of right now include the Seahawks and Cowboys, both at 5-5, as well as the Packers and Falcons, both at 4-5.   

Mike Coenen is a writer, historian, professor, and author from Little Falls, Minnesota. He is the Vikings analyst for Rambling On and is the co-host of the Minnesota Sports Ramble podcast. Since 2016 he has been creating content for Rambling On as sports analyst and podcast co-host.

by Peter Ripka

"The Parise-Koivu-Niederreiter line has finally developed their chemistry and are playing with confidence. Continuing that confidence and getting pucks and bodies to the net is essential for their continued  success."

Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content and conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week: on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Thursday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

In this Minnesota Wild edition, Rambling On Wild analyst Peter Ripka discuss the Wilds impressive road trip, which lines are succeeding most, defensive play, and the egg they laid against the Caps at home.

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After the Wilds longest road trip in history, in which they went 5-2 including winning the last three, they came home and laid an egg against the Capitals. What went wrong? Are the Caps just that good? Had fatigue finally set in? 
They were not clean and looked very slow. Especially Suter, who had possibly the worst game of his wild career.

Also, of course, the Caps are the reigning champions for a reason. They have a lot of talent and are the best team in the league off the rush.

It is strange that, no matter the team, the last game of a long road stretch and the first game after are always the ones in which they seem to flat.

The Parise-Koivu-Niederreiter line combined for six points against the Kings. Are they finally gelling? What will they have to do for their success continue?
They seem to have finally developed their chemistry and are playing with confidence. That is the biggest factor in the success of that line. Continuing that confidence and getting pucks and bodies to the net is essential for their continued  success.

What else did you get out of the Wilds 3-1 victory against the Kings?
That the Kings are not a very good team. They are struggling offensively, even with the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk. With that said, the Wild played great defensively and looked dominant on offense for stretches of the game.

How impressed are you by the Wilds defense as a whole? Who is overachieving? Who is underachieving?
They have been very dependable and have been contributing on offense a lot. I'd like to say the third pair of Seeler and Pateron are over achieving, but they've sustained it, and as such expectations have been raised.

The underachiever of the group is Suter. I don't know if it is his injury playing a part or if age has caught up. He seems slow, almost like he's skating in quick sand.

The Zucker-Staal-Granlund line stepped up in the Wilds impressive 5-1 victory in Anaheim. Have they been consistent? Is it nice that different lines can step up on different nights, or does that just mean that none of them are consistent?
That line has been consistent when together as far as applying pressure, but that doesn't  necessarily always lead to scoring. Throughout the season you need all your lines to contribute. Depth in scoring is what brings teams to the pinnacle of the sport. 

Any other takeaways from the Anaheim game?
Anaheim is a shell of the franchise they used to be. Their defensive zone coverage is horrendous. 

What did you think of the Wilds gutsy win in St. Louis?
That was a big win. They did not play as well as they had the other games of the trip, but they gutted it out by playing a good team game and being opportunistic with their scoring chances. A team that is willing to make big blocks and sacrifice their bodies shows its willingness to battle with each other every night. 

The Wild went 5-2 on their longest road trip in history. How did they pull it off?
They didn't quite play the NHL elite on the trip, but they played solid defensively, got good goaltending, and played within the system on offense. 

Peter Ripka is the original Rambling On podcast co-host and has been a contributor since its inception. He’s currently the Wild analyst, a position he’s held for several years. A Wild and Twins season ticket holder, his writing combines the passion of a fan and the insight of a beat writer.

by Mike Coenen

“Because of his huge salary, people already think Cousins is a major bust after nine games.  In reality, Cousins has put up Hall of Fame type numbers (17 TD to 5 INT and a 71.3 completion percentage for 2,685 yards).”

Rambling On is your home for Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content, and join the conversation, by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook.

We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, one on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), one on Thursday (Minnesota Wild related), and one on Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

We have an extra fun Vikings update this week.  Since it's the Vikings bye week and we're little over halfway through the season, here are analyst Mike Coenen's By the Bye Week Awards. ​

Thanks for reading!

Offensive MVP     
Adam Thielen gets this, hands down.  Not only has Thielen played as well, if not better, than any other Viking receiver in Viking history through the first nine games, he has done so much more banged up than people realize.  He’s not walking around with a serious injury, but other receivers/running backs on the team, whom shall remain nameless, are sitting games out with injuries that probably are not as troublesome as what Thielen is dealing with.  

Latavius Murray is the runner-up.  He has again had to come off the bench and carry the Viking running game because of injuries to Dalvin Cook, and again he has been phenomenal. There was some talk in the off-season about trading him, and that would have been a mistake. 
 
Defensive MVP
Danielle Hunter gets the nod as the Defensive MVP. The 24 year old has 11.5 
sacks through nine games.  If he stays healthy, he’s a future superstar in this league.  

Runner-up goes to Harrison Smith.  He’s having another stellar season, and just seems to have a knack (get the knack) (brilliant! -ed) for being around the football. He can defend deep, stop the run, and pass rush.   
 
Special teams MVP
No MVP.  Special Teams play sucks.  
 
Biggest surprise player    
Another award for Adam Thielen.  He just keeps getting better and surprising a lot of people.  Remember, this guy was a walk-on, he was not drafted.  If he was drafted, even as the first pick in the draft, he would still be blowing people away with how good he is, much less as a walk-on.  Thielen has taken his play to the next level this season.  He is even better than he was last season, and a lot of people are surprised by that.
 
Biggest letdown player
Dalvin Cook, only because he can’t seem to stay healthy.  When he’s on the field he plays well.  The only problem is that he’s not out on the field very much.
 
Best moment
Definitely the Cousins to Diggs 75 yard bomb with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter with the Vikings down 23-14 to the Packers. That was the moment that many Viking fans came to believe in Kirk Cousins.

Worst moment
Not long after the best moment, when Daniel Carlson missed the 35 yard field in OT against the Packers. There's a reason he was cut from the team after that. Without that tie, the Vikings are looking a bit better in the divisional and playoff hunt.  
 
Most underrated offensive player
Kirk Cousins. Because of his huge salary, people already think he’s a major bust after nine games.  In reality, Cousins has put up Hall of Fame type numbers through 9 games (17 TD to 5 INT and a 71.3 completion percentage for 2,685 yards).  These are really good stats.  Do they justify such a big contract?  No, but this is not about the contract. Cousins’ critics have him competing against his contract when they should really be comparing him to other quarterbacks.
 
Most underrated defensive player
Eric Kendricks, who always seems to be in the mix.  For example, he has 24 assists, while the next closest Viking has 13.  This shows that Kendricks is a hustler, often getting to where the ball carrier is.  He definitely doesn't get enough credit for the range of field he is capable of covering.  
 
Biggest reason for hope for the rest of the season
The defensive seemed to be coming on strong before the break.
 
Biggest reason for despair for the rest of the season
The fear that the Viking offense will not be able to keep up with such offensive juggernauts as the Saints and Rams in the playoffs.  They will not get through either one of these teams should they meet them in the playoffs. 

Mike Coenen is a writer, historian, professor, and author from Little Falls, Minnesota. He is the Vikings analyst for Rambling On and is the co-host of the Minnesota Sports Ramble podcast. Since 2016 he has been creating content for Rambling On as sports analyst and podcast co-host.

by Peter Ripka

"If I were to base everything on his career behind the plate solely, he would be a no doubt Hall of Famer in my mind, because of his batting titles and MVP. He managed to do something what a lot of catchers throughout history couldn't manage."

Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content and conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week: on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Thursday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).

For this special edition, Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland asks our Wild and Twins analyst Peter Ripka what he thinks of the many angles of Joe Mauer's legacy.

Thanks for your support!

Joe Mauer announced his retirement yesterday. It seems like people are in two camps: gushing about him and complaining about his contract and his injuries. Where do you stand and why?
I've been vocal in the past about how he was overpaid towards the end of his career for an offensively under-performing first baseman. However, he was still decent at first, especially after he adjusted to playing there. He was an outstanding catcher the entire part of his career that he spent behind the plate. Additionally, he was probably one of the best hitters in a league when hitting with two strikes, especially considering that putting the ball in play is a dying art.

His approach at the plate frustrated me like it did others at times. For example, he wasn't all that clutch in big moments. With all of that said, a 15-year career isn't something that can be scoffed at. He had one hell of career aside from the injuries, some questionable at best.

Do you think Mauer is HoF material? Why or why not? 
If I were to base everything on his career behind the plate solely, he would be a no doubter in my mind, because of his batting titles and MVP. He managed to do something what a lot of catchers throughout history couldn't manage.

If I look at his career as a whole he is a bit more of a fringe candidate, as his offensive production diminished over his last few years. However, I would still put him in because of his career hit numbers and batting average. 

Will Mauer’s postseason play have a negative impact on his legacy?
Fans will always hold it against him. But, to bring in a comparison from another sport: is Dan Marino not considered one of the best all time? He never won a Super Bowl and wasn't spectacular in the playoffs. The  stock of the teams' success in the playoffs shouldn't reflect a single players legacy.

And to add to that, the ball down the line in 2009 was fair and his story may have been different if that was called correctly.

When all is said and done, what will Mauer’s legacy be?
Mauer's legacy will be as one of the all-time best Twins players. I'd put him with the likes of Harmon, Tony O., Hrbek, and the rest. I don't think I would be alone in saying that no other player should wear the #7 for the Twins.

Unfortunately, he will also be remembered as the quiet kid in the club house who kept everything level and never showed any fire. As well as, of course, the bilateral leg weakness.

Any other thoughts on Baby Jesus?
He never lived up to that nickname. He was supposed to be out savior but, because of the management of this franchise among other things, he ended up being a hindrance more that a savior because of their unwillingness to pay over a certain amount. When Joe signed the contract he was worth it. Unfortunately that wasn't true towards the end of his career. He had one helluva a career and was always very professional. He was one of the few professional athletes that was a good role model to kids across Twins territory. He should go down as one of the best catchers to play the game.

Peter Ripka is the original Rambling On podcast co-host and has been a contributor since its inception. He’s currently the Wild analyst, a position he’s held for several years. A Wild and Twins season ticket holder, his writing combines the passion of a fan and the insight of a beat writer.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. Founder of Rambling On, he has written hundreds of articles and hosted almost a hundred podcasts. He also directs all of the content on Rambling On, created and maintains the website, and is social media content director. Previously, he was Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music by visiting his music page or buying his music on BandCamp, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.