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A Mauer Resurgence Will Prove Vital


Shane Wahl

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Joe Mauer's first season as a first baseman has been a major disappointment. Not only did he not hit well, he was also injured for a month and has proved to be barely above replacement value at first base. I do think that 2015 and 2016 will mean a return to about career averages for Mauer. Now, let's actually consider what this could mean for the Twins:

 

Insert Mauer's .320/.401/.461 line into the second spot of the order for the next two seasons. Next envision about the latter 75% of this time with this supporting cast: Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Kennys Vargas, Brian Dozier, Oswaldo Arcia, Josmil Pinto, Danny Santana, and Aaron Hicks.

 

Buxton, CF

Mauer, 1B

Sano, 3B

Vargas, DH

Dozier, 2B

Arcia, RF

Pinto, C

Santana, SS

Hicks, LF

 

Buxton is going to be in scoring position a lot for Mauer, and the hit and run potential is clearly there. Aside from that, Mauer's OBP in from of Sano, Vargas, and Dozier is going to be huge.

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I agree that Sano and Buxton will both be pushed up into the bigs next year! Buxton will have to tear the cover off the ball to be up by July I'm thinking though. I was thinking September callup unless if we have a lot of injuries, etc. Sano has a lot of work to do missing a whole season. I'm up in the air with Sano. Part of me feels like if he crushes AFL (assuming he's going?). If Sano is ready, move Plouffe back to super utility player again.

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Absolutely right about Mauer, Shane. Some are so focused on what he doesn't do..."how come such a big strapping guy isn't a pure power hitter"...that they lose focus of what he can and does do. It is not hyperbole to say he is one of the current generation's best pure hitters. Nor is it off base to compare him to Puckett, Gwynn or Boggs as earlier generation hitters.

 

Healthy, and he has been most years of his career, he hits .300+ day, night, home, road, bases empty, runners on, days ending in Y, in the shower, in bed, falling out of bed, etc. And he'll toss in 38-42 doubles as well. Probably double digit HR's. He may never hit 20 HR again, but who knows. I do think healthy, post concussion, 150 games, fresher at 1B than behind the plate, I do think an uptick in most of his offensive categories shouldn't be unexpected. This would include at least slightly better HR numbers.

 

While it could be an illusion, I sure hope not, Mauer was starting to look like Mauer before his recent DL stint. And when I toss out statements like "Mauer being Mauer", it's not meant to be glib. It simply indicates how special he is just being himself, not trying to be something others would make him.

 

I do disagree, however, as to him hitting second. I still maintain a team's best pure hitter is best off at the third spot. With the likes of Santana, Buxton, Dozier...to a lesser degree Escobar and possibly Hicks...Rosario and Polanco on the way...I think the Twins have quality options for 1 & 2 to set the table for the offense, offering nice overall skill sets. One of those listed might also provide a dangerous option at 9. With Mauer at the 3rd spot, you've got an RBI producer and R provider right before Sano, Arcia, Vargas and others.

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I still can't get over this Dozier situation here. He was basically the only non-Mauer legit leadoff candidate until Danny Santana emerged. Santana emerging right now as a leadoff hitter doesn't mean that Dozier bats second. That's stupid. Dozier, right now, should bat third behind Mauer. Fifth and eventually sixth will be where he ends up, but for now, third please.

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