Mauer's Decent Spring

[Teflon]

Mauer has put up a .273/.342/.455 slash line in Spring Training so far and has only struck out 3 times in 38 at-bats. While the BA and OBP aren't vintage Mauer numbers, an .OPS returning to .800 along with the lower K rate have been encouraging.

 

To any of TD's visitors to Fort Myers this spring - do you get the impression that Joe is looking more like his old self or am I reading too much into this? (Also realizing there are probably not as many "Mauer Shifts" put on by opposing D's in spring games) 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Mauer has put up a .273/.342/.455 slash line in Spring Training so far and has only struck out 3 times in 38 at-bats. While the BA and OBP aren't vintage Mauer numbers, an .OPS returning to .800 along with the lower K rate have been encouraging.

I thought that too at first glance, but looking at his past spring training performances, 2016 doesn't seem special at all:

 

http://m.mlb.com/player/408045/joe-mauer?year=2016&stats=career-s-hitting-mlb

 

In 2013, Mauer struck out only twice in spring training, then proceed to shatter his previous career high strikeout rate in the regular season.

 

His performance this spring is virtually identical to his performance from spring 2015 -- the difference is essentially one extra double, and two fewer strikeouts.  If MLB's "GO/AO" ratio is accurate, he may even be hitting more ground balls this spring than last, which probably doesn't bode well for him.

 

Doesn't mean he can't bounce back this season, but there is zero evidence of it so far in his spring training stat line.

[Mike Sixel]

the drop in Ks is definitely an encourage sign. I think, maybe, he might be realizing he's aging, and that he has to change his approach. We'll know by June, I'd think.

[70charger]

I'm really torn between "I want this to be a good sign" and "spring training stats don't matter."

 

I'm past the point of expecting Mauer to bounce back to hall of fame numbers, but solid improvement on last year would be a real help to this team.

[Jerr]

Spring training really is just a workout

Means very little.

[DaveW]

I usually don't put much stock into ST stats, HOWEVER the small k rate is very encouraging, I am on record anyways saying Mauer will have a .830+ OPS year anyways, so this just adds to my confidence in this.

[Drew]

Stay healthy. Otherwise I don't really care what happens in March. Stats are meaningless in Spring*

 

 

*Unless you're Tyler Duffey.

[Loosey]

I will say it's better than him struggling and somewhat encouraging.  But again like everyone has said, ST numbers don't matter.  It would be interesting to see the pitches he has been getting.  Are veterans just working fastballs on him or are they really trying to strike him out like it's a real game.

 

I bet we will know for sure if he is back to "Old Joe" in month though.

[h2oface]

I can't talk about Mauer anymauer. Good luck to the man in the Foster Grants, er, Oakley's, or whatever they are.

[DrNeau]

Teams are going to continue with their defensive zig-zag shift (infield to pull, outfield away) against him until he demonstrates he can keep them honest. As it stands now, I'm not convinced he even realizes there is a problem. 

[D. Hocking]

I agree about the spring training stats not meaning a heck of a lot (or even a good chunk of April's stats), but at this point of the year, I am going to be optimistic even if it is not based on a lot.  

 

I did hear Reusse get asked about how he thought he looked, and he did say it did look like he was hitting the ball more solidly than last year.

[Twodogs]

 

the drop in Ks is definitely an encourage sign. I think, maybe, he might be realizing he's aging, and that he has to change his approach. We'll know by June, I'd think.

Well I'd guess that if he were changing his approach that maybe he'd do some more off season strength training, but it doesn't appear that that has happened?

[DaveW]

Teams are going to continue with their defensive zig-zag shift (infield to pull, outfield away) against him until he demonstrates he can keep them honest. As it stands now, I'm not convinced he even realizes there is a problem.

People can bash Mauer all they want for his performance (I don't agree with it but whatever), but claiming he isn't smart and doesn't see the shifts is a huge stretch IMO. I'm pretty sure he knows what is going on, not only is this from watching him play, reading his interviews etc but also knowing people who grew up with him and know him personally.

 

If he can keep his k rate down, good things will happen regardless of shifts, if he can find a little bit of his old power/pop he ends up being a .830 or better ops type guy IMO

[DrNeau]

 

People can bash Mauer all they want for his performance (I don't agree with it but whatever), but claiming he isn't smart and doesn't see the shifts is a huge stretch IMO. I'm pretty sure he knows what is going on, not only is this from watching him play, reading his interviews etc but also knowing people who grew up with him and know him personally.

I'm certainly not making a claim regarding his intelligence level. Facts are facts, however. He did not hit one ball down the right-field line in 2015. Also, it is well-known that he does not swing at the first pitch, and it is typically a guaranteed and immediate advantage for the pitcher - if a strike is executed. If he thought there was any problem, I imagine something would change. This leads me to believe he does not see any issue with his approach. All of this being said, I am rooting for him to become productive again. 

[Willihammer]

I watched about 15 of Mauer's PAs this spring and I'll be damned if 13 of them weren't grounders to the right side. I really, really hope I just caught noisy, nonrepresentative sample of how he's hitting the ball these days..

[Halsey Hall]

 

I watched about 15 of Mauer's PAs this spring and I'll be damned if 13 of them weren't grounders to the right side. I really, really hope I just caught noisy, nonrepresentative sample of how he's hitting the ball these days..

Could be he was working on pulling the ball more.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I watched about 15 of Mauer's PAs this spring and I'll be damned if 13 of them weren't grounders to the right side. I really, really hope I just caught noisy, nonrepresentative sample of how he's hitting the ball these days..

According to the "GO/AO" stat at MLB.com, Mauer is indeed hitting more groundouts this spring than last spring.