Jason Kendall vs Joe Mauer

[Riverbrian]

Joe still hits the ball hard enough. I Think the Power could return. It's a matter of a swing tinker in my opinion... Just a hair more lift in that swing and his HRs could increase. Will that happen... No idea... But I think it's possible... He still hits the ball hard.

[Nick Nelson]

Plus, I'm convinced Joe's legs weren't totally right at the beginning of the season, and that they've gained strength over time. Since he sort of hit his stride (which I unscientifically peg as May 18, when he hit two doubles against Milwaukee) he's got 10 doubles and four homers over 40 games. That's about a 40 double, 15 HR full-season pace. Perfectly respectable power – maybe MVP caliber if attached to an elite batting average and OBP.

[Shane Wahl]

Plus, I'm convinced Joe's legs weren't totally right at the beginning of the season, and that they've gained strength over time. Since he sort of hit his stride (which I unscientifically peg as May 18, when he hit two doubles against Milwaukee) he's got 10 doubles and four homers over 40 games. That's about a 40 double, 15 HR full-season pace. Perfectly respectable power – maybe MVP caliber if attached to an elite batting average and OBP.

Exactly. So comparisons to Jason Kendall should just stop. Right now.

[Beton Brut]

These last several posts bring the thread full circle nicely since its resurrection. The initial responses, while on the surface didn't address the HR spike in '09 and instead somewhat distractedly discussed Joe's penchant for watching first pitches go by (something he's always done and thus aren't relevant to '09), nevertheless served to somewhat calm my uneasiness about the outlier stats of '09. Nick's comments about the doubles, coupled with my own observation of the across-the-board Twins' power drop at TF in '10 vs HHH '09 do offer an explanation that is as reasonable as the more nefarious alternative. Some of the more statistically inclined could investigate Joe's 2010 doubles landing spots further to see if they would have been potential HHH HR's, but that would be pushing already 2nd degree speculation into the 3rd degree. The subsequent injury issues in '11 and now Joe being an older, different player on a different team goes some way toward explaining the drop off.

 

I appreciate the Twins Daily community not jumping all over me on my first post.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Joe still hits the ball hard enough. I Think the Power could return. It's a matter of a swing tinker in my opinion... Just a hair more lift in that swing and his HRs could increase. Will that happen... No idea... But I think it's possible... He still hits the ball hard.

 

TF isn't kind to lefties at all. Right handed pull hitters on the other hand love it. Not sure how much tinkering unless there's evidence that a leftie dead pull hitter could hit more out down the line than in the right center gap.... that said, Morneau (pre concussion) didn't seem to have much problems hitting there.

[Riverbrian]

Yeah... I think there is something to Target Field. Could be a funnel of wind through the plaza coupled with the high walls.

 

Regardless he still hits the ball hard. A little more lift could still mean more homers on the road and more doubles at TF. Opposite field stuff.