Article: Can Joe Mauer Rebound From Poor Start?

[nytwinsfan]

Agreed, he should go back to his old approach. It can't be worse than this (famous last words).

[Twodogs]

Seems like moving him further away from the plate would do the opposite of what they wanted??  If he was driving the pitch on the corner of the plate for doubles down the line, moving him away would move that corner pitch further towards the middle of the plate, wouldn't it?  Then the ball that he should hit up the middle would also move further inside and the pitch that he should pull would end up somewhere out of the strikezone towards the inside of the plate.  Seems like if he moved closer the the plate, that pitch on the outside corner would be the one he can hit around the middle of the field and he could start pulling pitches middle in.  It just seems weird to me to move him away from the plate if you are trying to not hit the ball down the left field line??  Maybe I'm wrong.  

[DaveW]

He will be fine. The whole team sans dozier is hitting like dog doo doo lately.

[Kwak]

 

Another sign his head isn't in the right place is his decisions in the field. On Monday night the pitcher squared to bunt in a sacrifice situation and lined a hard bunt on an easy hop to Mauer who was already rushing in to field it. Joe had an eternity to pivot and throw to 2nd to force the lead runner and I'm sure Suzuki was yelling second base. (Actually I'm not sure about that.) Instead, Joe waited for the pitcher to jog up the line further and then eventually applied a tag. Maybe Suzuki didn't call the right base. Maybe Joe has self-doubt about making that 270 degree pivot and long throw to second. Maybe he forgot the game situation once the ball was put in play. Either way, Mauer's baseball sense didn't seem to be working on that play.

Frame this quote about Mauer's mistake(s) at 1B--then move it to any of the Sano threads.  Include a discussion about the difficulty of playing Catcher and the skills required there and how well that would translate to another infield position.

[twinsfaninsaudi]

He needs to hit the weight room.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dad bod to blame?

[DocBauer]

Nobody wants to blame the concussion. Not Mauer, not the FO, not the staff, so fine, I won't either. A strong close to last season and an Ok start to this one would suggest the elephant has left the room. (But then why such maddening swings of inconsistency?)

 

I can't buy physical. Is he over 30 now? Sure. We're there obvious rigors in catching? Sure. But he just turned 32, he's not ancient, he hasn't really caught in almost 2 years now, believe, and supposedly had a great offseason workout. Something he didn't have the offseason before.

 

Could his bat be slowing? Sure. But this much this fast AFTER the concussion supposedly healed and almost two years AFTER his last game a as catcher? I have to wonder then about the mental side of things. Too many adjustments? Trying too hard to be something he's not?

 

One of the truly great things about Puckett was the simple philosophy of "see ball, hit ball". And he did. All over the place, a lot of the time right back up the middle. Mauer is more patient as a hitter, and he's never had the uppercut to produce HR's despite his natural size and strength. But he always seemed to previously have the ability to put the bat on the ball. You would think just doing that, with his natural strength, would produce wicked line drive after wicked line drive...with a few duck snorts in there too, obviously. I don't mean to sound simplistic, but is it possible Mauer's approach should be as simple as "don't swing at crazy crap...otherwise...see ball, hit ball, and just see where it goes"?

[Sam Morley]

I feel like Mauer's defense has been pretty good. I have nothing to validate that, I just feel it.

 

I don't feel like he has been a total disappointment this season at the plate. I think he's been slumping during this bout of losing, along with pretty much everyone else, but I think his performance at the plate was positively significant during their success in May. All of Parker's analysis in this piece is fascinating. It would be interesting to split some of the highlighted stats between pre-slump and post slump and reconsider whether or not they are really indicative of overall downward trending performance, or just a regular slump.

 

It's easy to speculate in general that the concussion is responsible for a great deal of his offensive struggle, but it's really hard to specify why. His average was good through May and he was driving in runs, so the concussion wasn't affecting him then, but now that he slumping, it is? (obviously, I'm over simplifying).

 

If Mauer's efforts to conquer the shift by focusing on learning to pull with more frequency and authority are behind his recent struggles (and I think this is a better hypothesis than concussion) I think he has earned a significant measure of patience. I also think it will be worth the patience. I think we have seen some signs of success- both of his home runs were pulled and hit with serious authority. If you revisit those clips and freeze frame the point of contact and then freeze the follow through, it's a thing of beauty. I remember watching the second one with my brother, and him saying something like, "jeez, why doesn't he do that all the time?" which sounds sort of silly, but when you see Joe hit a homer like that, it does look like he should do it all the time. Anyway, I think that with time, the grounders he rolls over to the right side will turn into line drives and even deep flies. Mauer's swing is perfect. As Parker presented, his bat speed is fine. I think the difference between grounders and liners is subtle, and that he'll find it if he persists. I think he should persist, because the payoff is worth it.

 

I don't think he should be working on it from the three spot.

 

I do think the down and away calls going against him are disgusting, and I hope he sticks to his guns and keeps taking them. Don't give in to the bastards, Joe! You're Joe Mauer. You tell them where the strike zone is. Show them your batting titles and MVP trophy. (God, that would be the ultimate demonstration. The next time he gets rung up on that down and away crap, he should come back to the plate in his next at bat with his trophies, and just leave them at the plate when he gets tossed... and throw his batting gloves and jersey).  

[tobi0040]

I think Joe should alter his approach at the plate, back to taking more pitches and working counts.  I don't know if he made an effort to be more aggressive or if this is a reaction to Molitor telling him he needs to produce more runs. 

 

His BB % is 8.6% this year, compared to 14% in 2012, 12% in 2013, and 11.6% in 2014. His career average is 11.1%. As boring as it was and as many times as everyone complianed about him taking pitches, the guy that takes 35-60% fewer walks and chases balls out of the zone is 1) Not Joe Mauer and 2) Not as good of a hitter

 

Parker, quick question for you.  Do you think Mauer is less capable of getting out in front of balls and pulling them down the right field line (as he once was) or do you think he is just slow to adjust his approach?

[puckstopper1]

At least Molitor moved him out of the "3 hole" in last nights game, and the early line-up shows him batting 2nd again today. That maybe the start of the recognition that Joe is not performing at the level to merit him batting 3rd.

[tobi0040]

 

At least Molitor moved him out of the "3 hole" in last nights game, and the early line-up shows him batting 2nd again today. That maybe the start of the recognition that Joe is not performing at the level to merit him batting 3rd.

 

2 is better than 3.  1 is better than 2 IMO.

[Steve Lein]

 

Somewhat of a tangent - Mauer not hitting as a first baseman, or Mauer being the worst hitting first baseman is not the thing to focus on. Teams can construct their lineups differently defensively. Dozier's homers and XBH in general are welcome regardless of where he's playing on defense. If the Twins had another player that had no other place in the field and was outhitting Joe right now, then sure, bench Mauer for this other guy that provides more value. I don't see that guy on the current roster.

 

If you wanted to pretend that Joe was at second and Dozier was at first, would it be better somehow? If a team has a cleanup guy an he's a catcher, or a SS, or a 2B... that's great. I don't subscribe to the idea that certain defensive positions have a duty provide a specific brand of offense. 

 

What is significant is comparing Mauer to other hitters batting 3rd in the lineup. That feels like fair ground for criticism. In that sense, there's a big problem. Most of the team is slumping right now, so it's not just Mauer, but it couldn't hurt to try some other configurations, they can't hit much worse as a group as they are now.    

 

So much THIS. I hate the pidgeon-holing of positions to be a certain type of hitter. You can get power or whatever else from wherever it shows up in your lineup. You don't need to be, and shouldn't be, cookie-cutter. A team like the Twins can't survive that way.

 

Also, to Kirby's point, you might be very surprised to know how Mauer stacks up against the primary #3 hitters of all teams over the past 4 seasons (and I know he has been very good in those seasons). BUT, a lot of #3 hitters have been, it's the nature of that spot in the lineup. I've wanted Mauer batting second all the time for forever, but unfortunately for the Twins, they haven't really had a guy who fit better at #3 during those years, either. That's not the case this year, however.

 

[troyhobbs]

The old Joe Mauer is gone and he ain't coming back. His contract pretty much makes him untradeable so it is what it is. He'll be a decent player that's getting way overpaid but who still deserves to be in the lineup every day. If he's got any juice left after this contract is up maybe he'll re-sign for league minimum to stay in MN for how ever much longer he wants to or is able to play.

[Mike Sixel]

Players don't play batting order, they play positions. Compare his offense to others at his position. That's how it works, not by batting order. No one is saying he can only be good by hitting only for power.....getting on base 39% of the time with bunches of doubles (like the old Mauer) would be great. He's not doing that either.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Mauer could always retire to take up Florida State on that football scholarship offer, Chris Weinke style...

 

EDIT: Let the record show that I posted this seconds before his HR today!

Edited June 18, 2015 by spycake

[Parker Hageman]

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/611619292111630336

[Mike Sixel]

Mostly dead?

Edited June 18, 2015 by mike wants wins

[USAFChief]

 

Mostly dead?

"It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do."

[twinsnorth49]

 

Mostly dead?

Yes Mike, you're still right about Mauer, don't worry. But that was a little bit of fun watching him hit that HR, wasn't it.......just a little?

[Mike Sixel]

I don't know if I'm right or not.....I hope not.

 

It was fun watching gamecast, yes. I somehow managed to get a ton done at work today, like a scary amount of productivity.

 

and, that was completely a princess bride reference, not an opinion at all.....

[Parker Hageman]

I somehow managed to get a ton done at work today, like a scary amount of productivity.

 

 

Sick "I got a lot of work done" brag. 

 

[twinsnorth49]

 

I don't know if I'm right or not.....I hope not.

 

It was fun watching gamecast, yes. I somehow managed to get a ton done at work today, like a scary amount of productivity.

 

and, that was completely a princess bride reference, not an opinion at all.....

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcikdenyMb1r4qfp8.gif

 

Just yanking your chain....

[Rosterman]

Maybe he should shave the beard and sees what happens.

[Craig Arko]

"It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do."

Go through his pockets and look for the emery board.

[D. Hocking]

If anyone paid attention to the always analytically-packed, heavily-intellectual game-thread yesterday, all that is needed is for Chief to keep making home run calls.  Problem solved.

[Craig Arko]

 

If anyone paid attention to the always analytically-packed, heavily-intellectual game-thread yesterday, all that is needed is for Chief to keep making home run calls.  Problem solved.

If Joe gives up on trying to pull the ball and just whacks it deep to left a few more time like that, that also goes along towards solving the problem. That always was his power alley.  No voodoo required.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Mostly dead?

 

Not dead yet!

 

http://blog.earthlinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/mp1.jpg

Edited June 19, 2015 by TheLeviathan

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Parker, quick question for you.  Do you think Mauer is less capable of getting out in front of balls and pulling them down the right field line (as he once was) or do you think he is just slow to adjust his approach?

I keep going back to this being a problem but then Mauer does things like rip a ball *just foul* down the first base line on a 95mph fastball, like he did in the HR at-bat yesterday.

 

The dude is an enigma right now.

[DaveW]

Say what you want about his struggles, but his hits (and more specifically his HRs) seem to come when the Twins need them the most.

His HR yesterday may end up being the most important at bat of the season for the Twins if they make the playoffs. The Twins were in a massive slide and about to drop 3 of 4 extremely well pitched games against the Cardinals, it was 1-0 in the 8th inning with 2 outs. That HR may have very well saved the season for this club.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Say what you want about his struggles, but his hits (and more specifically his HRs) seem to come when the Twins need them the most.

His HR yesterday may end up being the most important at bat of the season for the Twins if they make the playoffs. The Twins were in a massive slide and about to drop 3 of 4 extremely well pitched games against the Cardinals, it was 1-0 in the 8th inning with 2 outs. That HR may have very well saved the season for this club.

 

They wouldn't need saving if he did his job more often.......finding a nut once every week or two, and not doing so most games, that's why they NEED the big hit, they have no margin for error because he and others just aren't that good right now.