Article: Clutch Joe Mauer Is Suddenly An RBI Machine

[Willihammer]

There's no denying Mauer is a bit better with men on. But the RBI streak he's on right now can't possibly last. I mean, scoring Dozier from 1st on a grounder to the left side? Reminds me of Colabello cca. April 2014.

[jimmer]

Mauer's got an sOPS+ (which is OPS + relative to the league) of 158 with men on (and 175 with RISP which might be more applicable since we are talking about RBI).  Remember league average is 100.

 

So, while I'd disagree with the idea that Mauer has only been a bit better with men on, I'd agree with the part that it can't last because it's so high. 

 

And we need to remember, severe short sample size. It's only 52 PAs.

Edited May 22, 2015 by jimmer

[diehardtwinsfan]

Apparently, Mauer got tired of reading on Twins Daily how he didn't get enough RBIs.

[Willihammer]

 

Mauer's got an sOPS+ (which is OPS + relative to the league) of 158 with men on (and 175 with RISP which might be more applicable since we are talking about RBI).  Remember league average is 100.

 

So, while I'd disagree with the idea that Mauer has only been a bit better with men on, I'd agree with the part that it can't last because it's so high. 

 

And we need to remember, severe short sample size. It's only 52 PAs.

SSS, in which his BABIP is .464. Again, grounder to the left side = 3 RBI.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Apparently, Mauer got tired of reading on Twins Daily how he didn't get enough RBIs.

 

Pfft, little did he expect we always had home runs in our back pocket if we needed it.

[jimmer]

 

SSS, in which his BABIP is .464. Again, grounder to the left side = 3 RBI.

I went out of my way to say it was a severe short sample size, and he beat the shift on the hit, which he should get some credit for.  Again, I don't overly care about the RBI stat (actually, practically not at all), my post was talking about how he performed in those situations (men on and men is scoring position) in regards to OPS relative to the league.  RBI isn't part of OPS, so knock him for getting 3 RBI, fine, but that's more a shot on overvaluing the RBI as a way to evaluate a player than anything else, not a shot in how he performed with men on or men with RISP.

Edited May 22, 2015 by jimmer

[Willihammer]

 

I went out of my way to say it was a severe short sample size, and he beat the shift on the hit, which he should get some credit for.  Again, I don't overly care about the RBI stat (actually, practically not at all), my post was talking about how he performed in those situations (men on and men is scoring position) in regards to OPS relative to the league.  RBI isn't part of OPS, so knock him for getting 3 RBI, fine, but that's more a shot on overvaluing the RBI as a way to evaluate a player than anything else, not a shot in how he performed with men on or men with RISP.

Understood. My first comment was directed at the perception that has dogged Mauer, discussed earlier in the thread, that he's not clutch. Perhaps I should have been clearer. In this particular stretch  of 52 PAs it seems to be he's been exceptionally lucky, in addition to clutch, and that has allowed him to stockpile RBI (the thread being about Mauer's RBI).

[Dantes929]

 

I don't buy the conclusion of the article at all. Any article that says power does not matter at all, well, I am not buying that.

 

He's just not good compared to other 1B right now. Can that change? Can he get back to elite hitter status? I don't believe it, but I would give him the year to prove me wrong. If he's not MUCH better at the end of the year, I approach him about taking early retirement. Because you are not SUPER likely to win with a 1B that doesn't hit well, and they aren't benching him while he is on the roster.

There are tradeoffs with power, OBP and average.   I have stated I don't care if he ever hits another homer as long as he bats .320 gets on .400 and hits a lot of doubles.    I agree his current production does not overcome his lack of power.    I am not giving up hope on him getting back to elite but am not real confident that trying to pull the ball will get him there.    I am not really sold on the idea that hitting from the 1B spot is much different than any other.   If he plays good D and is better than the next option and is better than 2/3 of the other hitters is enough of a standard. for him to be out there.  Of course as the rest of the guys get better it becomes a higher standard.    We agree he needs to do better than he has so far.    I am really hoping that .400 BA for a month is still in him.

[goulik]

Success breeds success. Mauer's numbers looked better earlier in his career in part because he was on better teams. This isn't to say He hasn't declined but I believe part of his decline is lack of hitting around him the last few years. I don't believe he will ever be what he once was but a return to health and the progression of youth I believe is also part of his rebounding numbers.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I kind of wonder how shifting is going to affect BABIP. I think teams shift b/c the assume Mauer will always go the opposite way. If he continues to pull it, those shifts will stop, but until then, those will go for hits far more often than not.

[jimmer]

 

I kind of wonder how shifting is going to affect BABIP. I think teams shift b/c the assume Mauer will always go the opposite way. If he continues to pull it, those shifts will stop, but until then, those will go for hits far more often than not.

he's being shifted to pull nowadays though due to his approach early in the season, right? Or is that just in the IF.  In any even, he's pulled more than he's gone opposite field this year, I believe.