After 113-plus comments and 27,658 votes the result is in, and it is definitive: Twins first baseman Joe Mauer is not a Hall-of-Famer.
So: No soup for you; you are the weakest link; and better luck next year.
That, at least, according to non-scientific Twitter poll crafted by Dallas Morning News Rangers reporter Evan Grant over the weekend while the Rangers were in town to play the Twins.
Sixty-three percent of respondents voted against Mauer's candidacy, citing many of the familiar lines heard round Minnesota:
"It's a good career—just not a hall of fame career. Certainly, he's a Twins hall of famer—not Cooperstown." -@bryandolgin
"If he was a catcher longer and played at that level the whole time then certainly." -@AshleyJeramy2
"Let's just say that if you sign a $20 mil (or thereabouts) per year contract and it's almost universally agreed that your team regrets signing you to that then you're not a Hall of Famer (or even in the discussion)." -@HBKevin91581
"He was a HOF catcher and a below average 1B." -@titosaysfu
That's not to say Mauer didn't have his backers – 37 percent thought he was worthy:
"3 batting titles and MVP as a multiple gold glove Catcher. it not for concussions he is greatest catcher ever perhaps, YES YES YES he is HOF." -@therotowhiz
"If he's not, then it's basically impossible for a catcher to go in." -@uofmike
"Yes, because of what he accomplished as a catcher." -@tylermelroe
And, as is always the case with Twitter, there were the questionable takes:
"Never was a difference maker !" -@ronSchulz2 (He's right: MVP-winners usually aren't.)
"Mauer might be first ballot for taking the Twins out of obscurity when he came in." -@dudedonnie (Mauer's MLB career began in 2004, and the Twins were coming off two consecutive playoff appearances.)
"Should have stayed behind the plate. That was a bad career decision." -@democratcirca71 (Guess the thought here is you can make impact your team from the DL?)
But there is also this caveat: Grant put "No" ahead of "Yes," which tripped up a few participants:
"Who puts No first?" -@bill_style
"You gotta put yes on top! I voted no :/" -@andy_hawe
"Why'd you flip yes and no. I demand a recount." -@snagholorelite
Let the conspiracy theories begin.
Or then again, maybe there is a simpler explanation for why "No" was listed ahead of "Yes."