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  • 2015 Projections and Rankings: Joe Mauer

    Seth Stohs

    By Seth Stohs

    Earlier, we discussed Kurt Suzuki and the rest of the AL Central catchers. Now, we take a look at Joe Mauer and the AL Central first basemen. Mauer had a tough season in 2014 and looks to rebound in 2015. There are some really good first basemen in the division as well.

    As we continue through this series, we’ll be taking a look at the Twins roster. We’ll make some projections and compare the Twins players to the rest of the American League Central.

    Image courtesy of Kim Klement, USA Today

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    MINNESOTA TWINS – JOE MAUER

    After ten years as a major league catcher, foul tips to the mask finally caught up to Mauer and he made the move to first base in 2014. Did the concussion(s) affect the beginning of Mauer’s 2014 season at the plate? I think it would be hard to argue that it didn’t, and Mauer had the most difficult offensive season of his career. (Admittedly, he had set the bar very high) He hit just .277/.361/.371 (.732) with 27 doubles and four home runs.

    One big question for the Minnesota Twins in 2015 has to do with the soon-to-be 32-year-old Mauer. Will he be able to get close to those remarkable offensive numbers he put up for most of his first decade in the big leagues, or did that decade behind the plate do him in and he’ll continue to “struggle” in 2015? That’s the question, and of course, there is no way to answer that question with any certainty.

    So what are we projecting from Joe Mauer in 2015?

    The projections of our Twins Daily writers:

    Seth – .296/.371/.428 (.799) with 37 doubles and 8 HR.

    Nick – .315/.410/.445 (.855) with 40 doubles and 10 HR.

    Parker –

    John – .300/.380/.400 (780 OPS) with 35 doubles, and 8 HR.

    AL CENTRAL FIRST BASEMEN

    Opponent – Player – 2015 Age – 2014 Statistics

    Chicago – Jose Abreu – 28 - .317/.383/.581 (.964) with 35 doubles, 36-HR

    Cleveland – Carlos Santana – 29 - .231/.365/.427 (.792) with 25 doubles, 27-HR

    Detroit – Miguel Cabrera – 32 - .313/.371/.524 (.895) with 52 doubles, 25-HR

    Kansas City – Eric Hosmer – 25 - .270/.318/.398 (.716) with 35 doubles, 9-HR

    AL CENTRAL FIRST BASEMAN RANKINGS

    #1 – Jose Abreu – Chicago

    #2 – Miguel Cabrera – Detroit

    #3 – Carlos Santana – Cleveland

    #4 – Joe Mauer – Minnesota

    #5 – Eric Hosmer – Kansas City

    NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

    Give it a little thought and then go to the comments section below and post two things. First, make your statistical projection for Joe Mauer in 2015. Second, how would you rank the AL Central first basemen? Of course, then discuss with the rest of the Twins Daily community. Finally, check back throughout this next week as we’ll do these same things for each of the positions.

    Seth Stohs has been blogging about the Minnesota Twins since May 2003. A founder and owner of Twins Daily, Seth has been a Twins fan for 40 years and has a passion for covering the minor leagues and prospects.
    Follow Seth Stohs on Twitter: sethtweets

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    Featured Comments

    mikelink45

    mikelink45 10,958

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Three years?

     

    His 2013 was very good until the concussion (which is out of his control), his 2012 was also very good. So not sure what you were hoping for or how you think he hadn't rebounded. The people telling you he'd rebound must not have known his mean either.

     

    2014 was an off year for him for sure, but he was showing good signs in the 2nd half as he gets further from his concussion.

    You make a good quote and I have to back off some, but the quotes I have read - many in this TD site have really been the continuing thread of frustration over power.  His peak year with 28 has turned everyone's head.  He is a modern incarnation of Wade Boggs who also frustrated with one big power year. 

     

    You win this round (I am quite neutral about Mauer).  11 years 1540 hits - what is your odds he will get to 3000.  I say no chance, he would have to stay on the field more than his body will let him.

     

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    jimmer

    jimmer 9,961

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    You make a good quote and I have to back off some, but the quotes I have read - many in this TD site have really been the continuing thread of frustration over power.  His peak year with 28 has turned everyone's head.  He is a modern incarnation of Wade Boggs who also frustrated with one big power year. 

     

    You win this round (I am quite neutral about Mauer).  11 years 1540 hits - what is your odds he will get to 3000.  I say no chance, he would have to stay on the field more than his body will let him.

    Hey there!

     

    I don't think he reaches 3000. either. If he somehow could, he'd be the first guy who was primarily a catcher to get over 2637 hits.  There are only 7 guys in history who were primarily catchers to reach 2000. He could exceed the 2637 though.

     

    And yes, I get the frustration over seeing him have that big year in power and then not ever do it again, but I also get players have years that are just so out of whack in some areas in relation to the rest of their careers that what I do is enjoy that year for what it was.  An extreme outlier. And that's what Mauer's HR power was that year.  Some of those doubles/outs went a bit further than normal in a climate neutral environment we no longer play in.

    Edited by jimmer
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