Mauer to first

Joe Mauer will make his Major League debut at first base tonight against the White Sox.

Many have called for the 27-year-old Mauer to switch positions full time because he's proven injury prone to this point in his career.

Opponents argue that until this year's strange bout with what was termed "bilateral leg weakness" that he had actually logged more innings than almost every big league catcher in the past five years. Furthermore, a good chunk of his value comes from being the best defensive catcher in baseball.

His numbers and his sweet stroke are special, but would they be as special coming from first base -- a position where gaudy offensive stats are more of a norm?

Mauer has resisted a long-term switch from catcher, and that's wise because of how valuable he is as a catcher. But will the occasional spell from squatting behind the plate donning the tools of ignorance be all that bad for his value?

Can Mauer be the type of player to catch four games a week, DH for one and play first for the other? Do the Twins have a competent catcher in the organization worthy of catching two games every single week besides Mauer?

What do you think? Vote in the poll on your opinion on the Mauer-to-first move. Drop comments if you've got something to say.