Mason: Mauer hopes to reap rewards of healthy offseason

[Seth Stohs]

FSN's Tyler Mason made his way to Ft. Myers and today wrote an article on Joe Mauer having a healthy offseason this year. Obviously, he is hoping to have a better season in 2015 than he did a year ago. Last offseason, he was unable to work out much because of his concussion. 

 

 

But that concussion not only forced Mauer to change positions. It shortened his offseason prior to 2014. For months, he had to find dark rooms in his house so as not to be disturbed by light. Dealing with the concussion wasn't made any easier by the fact that he was also a new father of twin girls at that time. Because of the injury, Mauer didn't begin his offseason workouts until late January, just a few weeks before spring training began in 2014.

 

Molitor had comments on Mauer's approach and how much he can help the star.

 

 

"I told Joe this winter that I didn't really want to give him much advice," Molitor said Saturday, the first day of the Twins' full-squad workouts. "I think he's a guy that knows how to make adjustments on his own. I think some people on the outside think that he's maybe not willing to either listen or change, when my experience with him is the opposite. He trusts what he does, but he knows that day to day, pitcher to pitcher, how he feels, he's got to do things a little bit differently to try to be successful."

 

 

 

[Bark's Lounge]

I truly hope that Molitor's take on Mauer is correct (making adjustments) and I am glad that Joe has been able to work out this off season at full speed.

 

Having a .320BA and .850OPS hitting Joe Mauer is something I hope we have not seen the last of. I am going to be optimistic and say we haven't seen the last of that.

[Seth Stohs]

Rhett Bollinger had a similar story on Mauer's ability to work out more this offseason. Here's a link to his article that includes video. 

[Paul Pleiss]

Joe Mauer is a washed up bum. He's married with kids and has exactly zero fun left in him. Even his sideburns have lost their luster. His hair isn't even the best hair on the team anymore (Dozier).

 

That being said, if he his .280/.370/.400 I'd be really happy with his production, even for a first basemen.

 

I love Joe Mauer. And that guy who shaved the Mauer jersey into his back hair. I love that guy too.

[jimmer]

This thread should provide a ton of fun, Mauer-bashing posts.  Better find some popcorn, :-)

[USNMCPO]

I still believe that Joe was suffering from the concussion well into the season. I can't imagine trying to hit a MLB pitch while not being able to completely focus (Joe, not me lol). I hope he is past that and can return to a more normal season for him.

[D. Hocking]

This thread should provide a ton of fun, Mauer-bashing posts.  Better find some popcorn, :-)

 

The Strib also had a similar article -- but for once was smart enough to avoid the comments (which I should probably do for any article on the strib).    I am sure they were well-reasoned, balanced, and rational and prompting some thoughtful, complex debate.

 

This board is actually fairly balanced when it comes to Mauer. 

 

It is possible that he is just breaking down, but I would have to think that with being a year further removed from the concussion, a year removed from a position change, not worrying about the home all-star game, he is a good candidate for at least a partial rebound.  Then at the end of the year, Souhan can write an article about how Torii helped him.

[jimmer]

 Then at the end of the year, Souhan can write an article about how Torii helped him.

You made me laugh quite hard with this comment.  Thanks for that!  

 

Yeah, I think we saw Mauer coming back to normal in the 2nd half of last season and I think he'll be close to normal, and maybe even all the way back to normal, this year.  Our list of problems doesn't have him on it, IMO.

[kab21]

I think Morneau is a pretty good example of how it can take time to come back from concussions.  IIRC Morneau wasn't able to do offseason workouts for a couple of offseasons due to the concussion and the wrist injury.  He was finally able to do some offseason workouts and he had a nice season again last year.

[Linus]

I think Morneau is a pretty good example of how it can take time to come back from concussions.  IIRC Morneau wasn't able to do offseason workouts for a couple of offseasons due to the concussion and the wrist injury.  He was finally able to do some offseason workouts and he had a nice season again last year.

This.  The split second timing required to be a successful major league hitter has to be affected by the effects of a concussion.  I don't think it is unrealistic for Mauer to bounce back in a major way this season.

[HitInAPinch]

From the Star Tribune this morning:  In Hammond Stadium, Joe Mauer took his first batting practice in a ballpark this year, dropping two perfect bunts before lining a single to left off bullpen coach Eddie Guaradado.

 

2 bunts and a slap to left field?  That ain't no way to get the juices flowing

[Richie the Rally Goat]

From the Star Tribune this morning:  In Hammond Stadium, Joe Mauer took his first batting practice in a ballpark this year, dropping two perfect bunts before lining a single to left off bullpen coach Eddie Guaradado.

 

2 bunts and a slap to left field?  That ain't no way to get the juices flowing

it is spring training w/ the same team that earlier this week had a lengthy TD write up about first base coverage drills.

 

That being said, Joe Mauer is, who he is, and while I'd like to see Arcia-like power from the position, not really feasible at this point. I too would be happy to see Joe return to form somewhat this season, but like Paul, I am disenchanted with the notion that he'll come out of the concussion fog a new man.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Mauer never had the best hair on the team, unless your judge was Floyd the Barber.

[Craig Arko]

I hope Joe has a great year. He deserves it, the team deserves it, and the fans deserve it.

[USAFChief]

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/16833-article-what-happened-to-joe-mauer/?hl=%2Bmauer+%2Bproductive

 

The claim Mauer couldn't work out prior to the 2014 season seems at odds with this article, where he told the PP his 2013-2014 offseason was "very productive."

 

I have no idea if Mauer's 2013 concussion affected his 2014 season. But I don't recall any actual statements to support that theory.

 

In any case, lets hope he's healthy, can stay healthy, and he can put up a string of .900 OPS's to finish out his contract.

[Thrylos]

He was clearly hurt in the first half.  Mauer was already back in the second half after he returned from the DL.  Here are his numbers during the first half: .

 

271/.342/.353, 34:64 BB:K (339 PA)

 

And during the second half:

 

289/.397/.408 26:32 BB:K (179 PA). 

 

That .805 OPS would had been the fourth best for an AL first baseman behind Abreu, Encarnancion and Cabrera.   Not bad.  And he has to only get better the more removed he is from his injuries.  There should be no question whether "the good Mauer" will return.  He already did in the second half last season.

 

That said, I feel like I hear the same story every off-season, about how much better he feels and that he is feeling better than ever etc.  I don't think that Mauer is doing himself any favor by saying all that stuff.  My advise to him would be when asked, to just say that he will talk with his bat during the season and then walk that talk.  Simple.

[KGB]

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_24962055/minnesota-twins-joe-mauer-feeling-good-taking-it

 

 

I hope the story is correct this year.

[TheLeviathan]

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_24962055/minnesota-twins-joe-mauer-feeling-good-taking-it

 

 

I hope the story is correct this year.

 

1,000 times this.  I HATE this aspect of spring training where we try and find a hundred excuses for the failures of the previous year and bang the drum of false hope.

 

I have real hope, but articles like this repeated every year about Mauer actually make me more cynical than anything.

[gunnarthor]

I'm not sure we should expect much more from Mauer.  He'll be 32 next year, I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to be something else now.  He doesn't seem the type of guy who will age well.  According to BP, he averages missing about 38 games/season to injuries so I don't really expect him to play more than 130 games now.  His krate has moved in the wrong direction while his walk rate has gone down the last several years.  He wasn't unlucky last year, his babip was right around career norms.  So I think he's adjusting to shifts by losing power and not going for the gaps.  I think he'll have slightly better numbers than last year but he's never going to be an elite player again, maybe a .300/.370/.400 3 WAR-ish line?

[jimmer]

I hope Joe has a great year. He deserves it, the team deserves it, and the fans deserve it.

I think he will.  I find it hard to believe he hit as well as he did in 2012 and 2013 and in one year just fell so far off the map.  Doesn't seem to make sense to me.  Doesn't make sense to believe it's a normal age drop off (especially at his age) to go from a wRC+ in the 140s (like he had in 2013 prior to the concussion), to what his overall season was last year ( wRc+ of 106).

 

So yeah, IMO, no reason at all to doubt that the concussion in 2013 had an effect on his 2014. There seems to be plenty of study to show that the longer people are out with the concussion, the longer it takes to get back to normal. Seems as the 2014 season went on, he was starting to come around and his 2nd half gives hope that's the case.  

 

I imagine he plays 130 or so games, with a wRc+ in the 130s. (and for those who like OPS, around .830 or so).

[Twins Twerp]

From the Star Tribune this morning:  In Hammond Stadium, Joe Mauer took his first batting practice in a ballpark this year, dropping two perfect bunts before lining a single to left off bullpen coach Eddie Guaradado.

 

2 bunts and a slap to left field?  That ain't no way to get the juices flowing

 

I wonder if mauer does this in spring training when he gets the bunt sign. Buntung is the worst. Kent Murphy is the best.

[nicksaviking]

 

This board is actually fairly balanced when it comes to Mauer.

I'd actually argue it's pretty unbalanced in his favor, simply anti-comments always just stand out more, for any topic really. Some people resent the unemotional Minnesota demean it's, plenty disagree with his paycheck, but I think by and large he is still widely supported. I think he has a big year this season myself.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm hoping for a bounce back. I'd like to see that OBP back up around .400. Add in some doubles and a dozen home runs, and I think we'd be in for a good year. That would be nice out of the two spot.

[gunnarthor]

I'd actually argue it's pretty unbalanced in his favor, simply anti-comments always just stand out more, for any topic really.

Yeah, I agree with this. It's incredible how many excuses people have given him over the years. I like the guy and I think he should get into the HOF but he has some considerable downside at this point in his career.