Joe Mauer and Max Kepler

[jbissell]

So, am I seeing correctly that in the last 7 games, Joe Mauer, is hitting .545 with an OPS of 1.734 and Max Kepler is batting .478 in the same stretch with a 1.730 OPS?

 

Thats insane, and I hope the good times keep rolling through at least 8-13, which is when I have tickets to watch them play the Royals. Hopefully Buxton is back by then as well. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Concur.

[SwainZag]

Vintage Joe right now and hopefully a glimpse of what Max has in store for us for years to come

[diehardtwinsfan]

I wonder if Mauer's approach tends to excel when those around him are doing well too. 

[h2oface]

Is Mauer OK? Does he need tested? ;-) i just wish it would carrying over into his lackadaisical base running. That was embarrassing today especially.

[Dantes929]

 

Is Mauer OK? Does he need tested? ;-) i just wish it would carrying over into his lackadaisical base running. That was embarrassing today especially.

He is considered a very good base runner but absolutely no evidence of that today.   Thrown out three times on very unconventional plays.    Probably hasn't had three like that his entire career but it sure snuffed out rallies today.

[Old Twins Cap]

• Hard to blame Mauer too much for each of the plays individually, but taken as a whole, it has to be Mauer's worst game ever in terms of being a baserunner.  He is a good baserunner generally, so kind of hard to be too critical.

The first one, he was screened and could not see the ball slip out of the glove of LF, and he was headed back to first.  But, realistically, with the LFer on the ground, "what's the rush" to turn and head back.  Okay, he can be faulted for that.

 

The second one, I mean, in the real world, the fist baseman goes to take the cut off to home, and maybe Joe was sensing that.  But, as it turned out, the line shot is caught, the 1B goes back to the bag and the throw is perfect.  That one, was just bad luck and good judgement on their part.

 

The third one, the line shot delayed Mauer's start at 1B and so, he assumed that he could not get to third, which was a fair assumption.  Unfortunately, the RF bobbled, Kepler saw that and took off for 2B where Joe had laid anchor.

 

So, a bad day on the bases.  Joe is a good baserunner.  Just kind of funny how baseball can humble you, even when you are not doing anything particularly wrong.

[twinsnorth49]

Is Mauer OK? Does he need tested? ;-) i just wish it would carrying over into his lackadaisical base running. That was embarrassing today especially.

You make it sound as if this is typical of Joe. Today especially? More like, today incredibly. Mauer is not a poor base runner, it was an aberration, albeit a costly one.

[jorgenswest]

It was a bad day on the bases. He made a mistake in the first inning and followed with three occasions where he let the out on the bases in the first inning lead to being tentative on the bases later. He should not have been doubled off. He should have been aggressive in his own hit. He should have been aggressive on Kepler's.

 

Did he pick up his coaches on two of those occasions (returning to 1B and Kepler's hit)? Where was his head?

 

If a young player like Sano sits after poor over aggressive base running, a veteran like Joe has to sit for at least one game if not a series. Molitor should have higher expectations of Mauer than Sano and it is critical he responds. After his first two gaffes and tentativeness on his third hit, Molitor should have pinch run for him with Rosario.

[h2oface]

I agree, Mauer is usually a good base runner. Sure wouldn't know it by his gaffes today. I am not a Mauer apologist, or a hater. It is what it was. Nice to see some hits lately, especially for extra bases.,

[FormerMinnasotan]

I have to think that the emergence of Kepler has taken some of the load off of Mauer. I don't know, maybe Mauer isn't pressing too hard or with a potent bat or two in the line up it is taking some pressure off of Joe allowing him to get back and play the best way he knows how.

[bluechipper]

Joe is up to a .794 OPS and 117 OPS+, and is in line for his best season since 2013. Hopefully he can continue the success and finish the season strong.