Only 25, already has two batting titles, and he is a career .324 hitter.

 

Hitting .429 as of June 16.

Only 25, already has two batting titles, and he is a career .324 hitter.

 

Hitting .429 as of June 16.

 

Not a chance. His BABIP is .424. There's just no way that's going to hold over the course of a season (or in Mauer's case, 5 months). .350 is much more realistic.

Edited June 17, 200916 yr by Jordan4life

I say he does, and what about the power? On pace for 43 hrs in 138 games. If he can maintain anything close to these type of numbers, he becomes the most untouchable franchise player in baseball, imo. No offense to someone like Pujols, but Stud Catcher> Stud Any position.

I say he does, and what about the power? On pace for 43 hrs in 138 games. If he can maintain anything close to these type of numbers, he becomes the most untouchable franchise player in baseball, imo. No offense to someone like Pujols, but Stud Catcher> Stud Any position.

Stud catcher only if his back will hold up.

Best average ever of any catcher in the history of baseball with over 2,500 plate appearances.

 

Third best ops of any catcher in the history of baseball with over 2,500 plate appearances.

I think the important thing to remember when looking at his career numbers, is that he's 25. I'm confident in saying that he's not even close to hitting his professional peak, and that's just plain scary...

I think the important thing to remember when looking at his career numbers, is that he's 25. I'm confident in saying that he's not even close to hitting his professional peak, and that's just plain scary...

 

The power surge is what's shocked me. Not so much the average. He won't keep up his current HR pace. I agree that he probably hasn't peaked yet.

Doubt it. He'll probably end up hitting .360-.370. As somebody said, his BABIP is way too high.

Not a chance. His BABIP is .424. There's just no way that's going to hold over the course of a season (or in Mauer's case, 5 months). .350 is much more realistic.

You do realize that, by definition, a hitter must have a BABIP over .400 in order to average .400 on the season, right? That his BABIP is high goes without saying. It's like saying "No way his batting average will stay that high--because obviously his batting average is too high."

Edited June 17, 200916 yr by JorgeFabregas

You do realize that, by definition, a hitter must have a BABIP over .400 in order to average .400 on the season, right? That his BABIP is high goes without saying. It's like saying "No way his batting average will stay that high--because obviously his batting average is too high."

Not really, a player can hit a bunch of homers and that wouldn't factor into BABIP.

 

I think his point was that he has been getting lucky and that it will eventually go down back to his career average, which is probably .350.

Stud catcher only if his back will hold up.

He's easily the best hitting catcher Ive ever seen.

Not really, a player can hit a bunch of homers and that wouldn't factor into BABIP.

 

I think his point was that he has been getting lucky and that it will eventually go down back to his career average, which is probably .350.

Ah, you are correct. My bad. I was thinking that BABIP included homeruns. However, Ted Williams' BABIP was .429 when he hit over .400. His BABIP was higher than Mauer's in most other years as well--obviously he was a better hitter and I'm guessing he was playing in larger parks on the road.

Edited June 17, 200916 yr by JorgeFabregas

He probably will not...and he probably won't stay at catcher much longer.

By the time Mauer is 28 (if not sooner) the Twins will have moved him from that position. There's no sense in letting someone with this offensive ability ruin his legs and back squatting for 9 innings a day.

 

On a related note, I remember how many people ripped the Twins for taking the hometown kid and letting Mark Prior slip to 2 over financial reasons. I guess it worked out.

With the time he missed, does he have any chance of accumulating enough AB's to qualify for the batting title?

With the time he missed, does he have any chance of accumulating enough AB's to qualify for the batting title?

he is about 20 hitless plate appearances away from qualifying

I think if anyone in the league could do it, it's him. That said, I don't think he can maintain it over an entire season.

I've never thought anyone could realistic hit .400 this late into a year before now.

 

I don't think he'll do it, but if Vegas or Atlantic City had odd of him hitting .400 at 10-1 I'd probably throw $100 down on that.

I've never thought anyone could realistic hit .400 this late into a year before now.

 

I don't think he'll do it, but if Vegas or Atlantic City had odd of him hitting .400 at 10-1 I'd probably throw $100 down on that.

 

It is only May 15th for him. Didn't Berkman go into June last year.

 

If Ichiro could not hit .400 nobody will.

 

Mauer does not get the speed hit.

Not a chance. His BABIP is .424. There's just no way that's going to hold over the course of a season (or in Mauer's case, 5 months). .350 is much more realistic.

thanks for posting the BABIP, I was just going to look at that. Yeah, with it being .424, I'm in the no camp. Obviously he's a hell of a player and will continue to be for a long time, but I don't see .400, at least not this year

It is only May 15th for him. Didn't Berkman go into June last year.

 

If Ichiro could not hit .400 nobody will.

 

Mauer does not get the speed hit.

 

But he does play in a place that is conducive to getting cheap hits.

 

And Mauer is a farrrrr better hitter than Berkman.

 

 

thanks for posting the BABIP, I was just going to look at that. Yeah, with it being .424, I'm in the no camp. Obviously he's a hell of a player and will continue to be for a long time, but I don't see .400, at least not this year

 

People keeping justifying their "no" answers due to his BABIP being so high. Well, if you're gonna hit .400 wouldn't you think you're BABIP would be that high?

Edited June 17, 200916 yr by ChiSox_Sonix

Not really, a player can hit a bunch of homers and that wouldn't factor into BABIP.

 

I think his point was that he has been getting lucky and that it will eventually go down back to his career average, which is probably .350.

 

Or he hits a f*** ton of line drives.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, the real Joe Mauer.

He's easily the best hitting catcher Ive ever seen.

Oh, I totally agree. I just meant that his back will be the deciding factor in whether he can spend a majority of his career behind the plate.

He probably will not...and he probably won't stay at catcher much longer.

 

Which will create a bit of a problem for the Twins. Do you cycle Mauer and Morneau at DH/1B and pay them both boatloads of money?

Twins still should have taken Prior....