Skip to main content

Mauer gives advice to Giants’ Posey about catching

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Minnesota Twins catcher-turned-first baseman Joe Mauer has some advice for San Francisco Giants All-Star Buster Posey: play catcher as long as you can, and enjoy doing it.

“There will be a day when he can’t catch anymore and a day where we can’t put the uniform on anymore,” Mauer said before the Twins played at San Francisco on Friday night. “He’s a special player and he’ll be able to make that transition if he wants to. I’d like to see him catch as long as he can.”

Minnesota is making a rare visit to San Francisco this weekend for a three-game interleague series, giving fans an even rarer opportunity to see two of the greatest hitting catchers of their generation play against each other, with one major twist: neither started at catcher in the opener.

Mauer, the 2009 AL MVP and a three-time batting champion, moved to first base this year after a concussion last August ended his season. Posey, the 2012 NL MVP and batting champion, is planning to catch for the Giants for the foreseeable future but has spent some time at first base the past couple years to rest his body during the season, including a nerve irritation in his lower back that sidelined him for two games in Colorado this week.

Kurt Suzuki was catching for the Twins, as usual, while backup Hector Sanchez was behind the plate for the Giants.

But make no mistake: Posey has no plans to move to first base permanently, at least not anytime soon. And manager Bruce Bochy, a former catcher, reiterated the Giants are paying him to be their starting catcher.

The debate about where Posey should play has still raged on in San Francisco since he suffered violent, season-ending left leg and ankle injuries in May 2011 — a year after winning NL Rookie of the Year honors. He came back better than ever to help San Francisco capture its second World Series championship in three years in 2012.

Mauer might relate to Posey’s predicament more than anybody. He played his first 10 seasons at catcher and, despite years of public pressure to change positions for fear of injury, he stuck with it until last season’s concussion.

Mauer, who said he probably had some undiagnosed concussions while playing quarterback in high school, called the lengthy recovery time “frightening.” Given the severity of the head injury, he said “it really wasn’t much of a decision” to turn in his catcher’s mask for a first baseman’s glove.

“It’s difficult anyway you look at it,” Mauer said. “I caught for 10 years and really enjoyed that position. That’s what I worked my whole life to be. I put in a lot of time at that position and I’m fortunate enough that I could go somewhere else and play. I miss it, definitely. But once you make that decision, you have to move on.”

There are also financial components, too, though both players have brushed that aside.

Mauer, now 31 years old, is less than halfway through a $184 million, eight-year contract. The 27-year-old Posey signed a $167 million, nine-year contract before last season.

But just as the Twins never forced Mauer to move, the Giants have never said publicly that they want Posey to change spots. And Posey, who started as a shortstop at Florida State, has said repeatedly that he wants to stay behind the plate because he likes being involved in the pitch-to-pitch strategy of the game — just as Mauer did.

“I miss calling the games. I miss being behind there,” Mauer said. “I don’t miss foul tips.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote