Joe Mauer’s other-way bomb gives him 9 in a month. Which ties him with last years number in 459 fewer at bats. The question now is how many can he get in 2009? How many should be expected of him per year? Does it matter if Joe hits for power or should he just focus on that amazing average of his?…
Mauer’s injury issues have been well publicized through-out his career. His battles with knee problems are the most troubling but to say the least he hasn’t garnered the title or tag or durable. I am not about to claim that as a fair charge against him but as a fan it is troubling to watch one of if not your best player only being in the game 2 out of three games a series. This season Mauer has been DHing on his off-days and so far he has really brought his sweet swing to the park everyday.
Every year in spring training you hear coaches and media types alike saying that its only a matter of time before Mauer is able to add the long ball to his arsenal. Has it finally happened? Right now Mauer’s Slugging .844 which is close to double his career number of .471. With his 9 homers in 77 at bats ESPN projects Mauer to hit 60 over the season, which has already been shortened by a month due to injury. We all know that Mauer won’t hit 60 this year but he’s only 4 shy of his career high-water mark or 13. 25-30 is extremely do-able for Mauer this season and that is where Mauer should be every year.
Last nights opposite field shot was an example of just how good a hitter Mauer has become so far in his short career. At that point int he game he already has flared a single into right-center and into short left. The Brewers have been pitching him outside, probably due to his early season power numbers and due to the fact that the baggy in right has become his easy RBI machine. With Gomez, Span, Tolbert/Cassila on the bases a well played blast off the baggy can score a run from first. Cuddy, Crede, Morneau and Harris should all be able to get in from 2nd and all of these guys (depending on the arm in right field-which is usually a place to put a decent to strong arm) should be able to move up 2 bases on a baggy ball. Mauer has shown power to center and to left this season. I don’t remember any moon shots to right like Morneau and Kubel but Mauer’s cleared the baggy at least once himself. The more power Mauer shows to all fields the less likely he is to be thrown a steady diet of outside pitches. Really when it comes down to it Twins fans want to see Mauer helping the Twins win, sure homers are fun to watch. I would rather see gappers to right center and balls blasted off the baggy in right leading to extra bases and RBI’s that help the Twins win then meaningless solo shots in the ninth. For only having 9 dingers last season I can remember 2 of them being of the meaningless ilk in blow-out wins/losses. This season Mauer’s power has been coming at more clutch moments in games. Over the past three season when Morneau steps to the plate whether it be the first or the bottom of the ninth of a tied game anything is possible. Whereas if Mauer was up in the same situation over years past I can remember hoping, damn near praying, for a single the other way so Morneau could get up and actually do something for the team. This year Cuddy is starting to round back into form, Kubel has become more of a legit bat in the order, and Crede has added the depth to the order that forces teams to pitch to the M & M boys. Mauer and Morneau seem to be getting more pitches to hit and when they don’t Kubes and Cuddy have been picking them up more often then in years past.
Maybe the real question should be has the supporting cast finally improved enough to allow for Mauer and to a lesser extent Morneau blossom into more of the complete package they are purported to be? To that question I would already say that Morneau is the real deal complete package. Morneau’s only weak point (outside of the fact that he’s just not that fast of a runner) is his defense. So far this season and for most of last season Morneau has played at or close to gold glove caliber defense. Its been almost four years since I felt shaky having Morneau at first and then it was only because Dougie-Baseball was so slick at first. Mauer is everything you want in a catcher(outside of not being able to catch a knuckle ball?). The way he calls a game, controls the oppositions running game, and the way he hangs in on collisions/blocks the plate on close plays Mauer does it all. The hole in his game has been power and extra bases. The extra bases could be due to a slight lack of speed and conservative base-running. The power I just couldn’t explain his lack thereof in the power department. Mauer still has the sweet swing its just now a few of those other-way singles are finding their way into the home-run porch. Which leads me to the best question to ask of all “Why care?” just enjoy the season!
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