Article: What is the matter with Joe Mauer?

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1652-What-is-the-matter-with-Joe-Mauer

[Pius Jefferson]

It might be time to give him a day off if only to clear his head. Twins are off Thursday so he'd get two full days off before the Cleveland series.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Or he may go 10 for his next 16.

[Thrylos]

the one thing I noticed about Mauer this season (even from 4/6-4/20) is that he has been taking some hacks out there of the type that Morneau and Willingham take resulting in some bad swinging strikes. Not sure whether he has been listening to the detractors and want to prove that he can hit home runs or something, but that's got to stop...

 

I am really not worried about him. Everyone is entitled to a bad week of games (esp. if played every other day, like the Twins' were because of weather...) Sitting down when you are in a groove does not help.

[jimbo92107]

Mauer's mechanics are about as simple and efficient as you can get. Step in, pivot the hips, shove hands forward like you're going to slice an apple in half with a katana, follow through over shoulder. About the only thing that goes wrong with a swing like that is when you try to hit the ball too hard. Maybe Mauer should back off the throttle for awhile and just stroke some easy singles. He can do that anytime he wants.

[fairweather]

Maybe he's secretly bothered by being moved from the 3rd spot in the batting order? Maybe he thinks that if he shows more power he'll be moved back to the 3 spot? From the start of the season he's been striking out at an un-mauer like rate. Age could be starting to affect his vision or he could be beat up from catching more. Most likely it's just a slump.

[gunnarthor]

I'm not going to worry about Mauer. He knows how to hit and he'll be fine.

[biscuit]

Hey, now. Don't be dissing on St. Cloud State arts majors. Unless you happen to be one.

[chuchadoro]

I'm not going to worry about Mauer. He knows how to hit and he'll be fine.

 

I'm also not concerned about Baby J. On the other hand, that guy that used to be Justin Morneau looks hopeless. He flies open so early that he's going to get beaned in the junk one of these days.

[Parker Hageman]

On the other hand, that guy that used to be Justin Morneau looks hopeless. He flies open so early that he's going to get beaned in the junk one of these days.

 

It's basically the same thing that has plagued him since 2011. I had a post on my old site that showed this in action. It's two years later and he still has the exact same issue. Might revisit that for Friday.

[Willihammer]

Mauer's approach does seem more aggressive this year. Maybe he resents the move to no. 2? Maybe the new batting coach is pushing him? Maybe he is just in a bad rut. I would be curious to get Bruno's take.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's basically the same thing that has plagued him since 2011. I had a post on my old site that showed this in action. It's two years later and he still has the exact same issue. Might revisit that for Friday.

 

And now Parker has admitted that he's completely phoning it in by copying and pasting an article from 2011.

 

I find it incredibly odd that Morneau is still having this same problem. This should be something that is identified and fixed within days.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Mauer's approach does seem more aggressive this year. Maybe he resents the move to no. 2? Maybe the new batting coach is pushing him? Maybe he is just in a bad rut. I would be curious to get Bruno's take.

 

Maybe he's just tired of receiving notes slipped under his door every night that read:

 

"You swing like a girl.

-Scotty"

[Rosterman]

I believe Mauer is best suited at #3. Of course, the Twins have NO #1 and #2. But let's still experiment with Dozier, maybe give Escobar more time. If I have a complaint of Gardenhire, it is usually line-up construction. Bat Hicks 9th. Have Morneau followed by Willingham (or vice versa). Okay, Gardy also leaves pitchers in a batter or two too long. And I get mad when he fields a totally unwinnable line-up some days giving everyone rest (why have Plouffe, Willingham and Morneau on the bench for a game).

[cmathewson]

What's amazing to me is how minute the difference is between success and failure in this game. Aaron Hicks offered lesson #1. But Mauer is an even more instructive case.

[cmathewson]

Also, I don't think this is mechanical as much as pure fatigue. He hasn't caught this much, this soon since his mid 20s. It's taking a toll on his hands, which are a little slow to the ball. I used to count his pop ups in a season on one hand. I have needed to use my second hand just in the last week. When he tries to speed up his bat to compensate, he pulls off the ball, rolling over to second.

 

It should also be noted that he has hit the ball hard several times during this slump. But they position him well (in and toward the line in left), catching all the line drives.

[Parker Hageman]

Also, I don't think this is mechanical as much as pure fatigue.

 

I tend to agree. If you watched the broadcast last night, Coomer made it sound as if there was some mechanical issues (i.e. pulling open) but reviewing film from the past two weeks, there hasn't been anything that jumps out. At least not as obvious as say Morneau. There are some terrible swings such as the one induced by Verlander above, but that may be pressing while fatigued. Two days off should give him some time off to recoup and collect himself.

 

It should also be noted that he has hit the ball hard several times during this slump. But they position him well (in and toward the line in left), catching all the line drives.

 

"All the line drives"? He's hit three line drives during the slump. He knocked into a smashed grounder double-play in the Texas series that was a well-hit ball but it was right at Andrus who was playing up the middle for two. Outside of that, not recalling too many other instances where he's squared up well. It's just not there.

[Linus]

Of all the things that I think / worry / obsess about the Twins, I can honestly say that Joe Mauer and hitting is not one of them. The idea that Ron Coomer is breaking down the mechanics of his swing is basically laughable - a product of too much air time to fill. I also think all the notions of him being out of sorts due to the lineup change etc. are ridiculous - the guy doesn't get riled up about anything. When asked about the slump, he didn't even know the number of at hitless at bats - "I know they aren't falling right now...." Before we get done pontificating about this, he will cracking line drives.

[cmathewson]

I

"All the line drives"? He's hit three line drives during the slump. He knocked into a smashed grounder double-play in the Texas series that was a well-hit ball but it was right at Andrus who was playing up the middle for two. Outside of that, not recalling too many other instances where he's squared up well. It's just not there.

 

Well, I haven't looked at all the film. Some of it is just listening to the game, 'cause, you know, work an' stuff. Perhaps what Provus describes as a line drive is actually more of a fly ball.

[Mike Sixel]

1. He's 30, man, that is old

2. His hair style is stuck in his HS days look, really, it's time to move on now, right?

3. he's married, so now he's all pre-occupied with non-baseball stuff. If Chris Kluwe proved anything, it's that having a life oustide sports is BAD, very BAD.

4. He's kind of boring, so it's hard to be funny about him, actually*

 

*or maybe, just maybe, I'm not that funny today.....nothing is wrong with Joe Mauer the baseball player.

[70charger]

I came to this site today looking for this specific post/article. Crazy slump in Mauer terms.

 

Good article by the way.

[chuchadoro]

It's basically the same thing that has plagued him since 2011. I had a post on my old site that showed this in action. It's two years later and he still has the exact same issue. Might revisit that for Friday.

 

The fact that Morneau looks the same as the 2011 version is what is the most aggravating. I was optimistic that this year he would somewhat resemble the great hitter he was. If this casual baseball rube can see the issue, I'm sure the coaches have. I know the Twins are just a poor, little small-market team but they surely have access to a couple of tees, right?

Looking forward to your next article. Keep up the good work, Parker.