Why does Joe Mauer suddenly have so much homer run power?

Austin · Aug 19, 2009

Why is Joe Mauer suddenly an explosive power hitter?
I'm not suggesting PEDs, but his home run total this year is ridiculous.
His previous high in homers is 13.
I'd expect for his homers to rise and his batting average to shrink, but he's hitting .383.

Here are his homers year by year:

2005 - 9
2006 - 13
2007 - 7
2008 - 9
2009 - 25 (in only 94 games)

cgilmo · Aug 19, 2009

power comes with the ability to recognize pitches, and not miss mistakes

it isn't as much a physical attribute as we all like to think it is

Austin · Aug 19, 2009

cgilmo said:
power comes with the ability to recognize pitches, and not miss mistakes
it isn't as much a physical attribute as we all like to think it is

He's never had trouble recognizing pitches before.
Mauer's won two batting titles.
He's so big, I always wondered why he didn't hit more homers before.
I guess he finally perfected his swing.

Jays_Cards · Aug 19, 2009

It was always suggested that Mauer would eventually hit a lot of homers. He is 6'5 and strong and probably has the best swing in baseball outside of Junior.

thefatguy · Aug 19, 2009

Torii Hunter said a couple years ago on Rome that Mauer would mash once he got his 'man muscles'. One of the funniest lines and one I'll never forget. Looks like Torii was correct.

cgilmo · Aug 19, 2009

Austin said:
cgilmo said:

power comes with the ability to recognize pitches, and not miss mistakes
it isn't as much a physical attribute as we all like to think it is

Click to expand...

He's never had trouble recognizing pitches before.
He's won two batting titles.

Different types of recognition. Hitting whats thrown for a single is largely due to reflex, hitting the ball out of the ball park is often due to hammering a mistake, or knowing whats coming.

Rudzud · Aug 19, 2009

ped's from tex

AKA Coastal · Aug 19, 2009

Lots of doubles in the years before with the high average. The HR's would eventually come.

bradical · Aug 19, 2009

He grew out his sideburns.

cgilmo · Aug 19, 2009

Rudzud said:
ped's from tex

you can't treat PED's like 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon

rico08 · Aug 19, 2009

He's 26 with a great swing. This is the type of player we expect to emerge after being labeled a "top prospect."

Brett Keith · Aug 19, 2009

Don't rule out magic, possibly a genie.

All The Hype · Aug 19, 2009

Brett Keith said:
Don't rule out magic, possibly a genie.

+1

Rudzud · Aug 19, 2009

cgilmo said:
Rudzud said:

ped's from tex

Click to expand...

you can't treat PED's like 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon

could we atleast try?

UMich92 · Aug 19, 2009

AKA Coastal said:
Lots of doubles in the years before with the high average. The HR's would eventually come.

Exactly. All those doubles that were driven into the gaps are now HRs in the first 5 rows. Check out his spray chart. He might lead the league in opposite field HRs.

Alex

Lars · Aug 19, 2009

+1, though maybe the power is a fluke this year.

rico08 said:
He's 26 with a great swing. This is the type of player we expect to emerge after being labeled a "top prospect."

Pine Tar · Aug 19, 2009

Recognizing pitches is the best way to hit homeruns. plan and simple.

leatherman · Aug 19, 2009

AKA Coastal said:
Lots of doubles in the years before with the high average. The HR's would eventually come.

I remember back in the 80s when everyone said the same thing about Gregg Jefferies and his doubles. Everyone thought the power would come, and he would be hitting 30 HRs a year in no time. The doubles kept coming, but the HRs never did.

This could be a one year thing too. Wade Boggs had previously never hit more than 8 in a season when he clubbed 24 in 1987. He hit 11 in 1994, but never hit more than 8 in any other season.

d

Lars · Aug 19, 2009

Maybe it also has to do with the particular player - it is easier in general to predict someone like Joe Mauer doing the things he is doing now, as opposed to a player who maybe 5'7'' and 180 pounds.

leatherman said:
AKA Coastal said:

Lots of doubles in the years before with the high average. The HR's would eventually come.

Click to expand...

I remember back in the 80s when everyone said the same thing about Gregg Jefferies and his doubles. Everyone thought the power would come, and he would be hitting 30 HRs a year in no time. The doubles kept coming, but the HRs never did.

This could be a one year thing too. Wade Boggs had previously never hit more than 8 in a season when he clubbed 24 in 1987. He hit 11 in 1994, but never hit more than 8 in any other season.

d

Big Mac McGwire · Aug 19, 2009

i was watching a twins game back in june, and the twins broadcasters were talking about how in the off season mauer tweaked his swing. He tried to open up his hips more instead of just trying to spray it in left. He already had great hitting mechanics, so i guess all he could do is just make it even better.

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