“Amazing” Joe Mauer, who has won two batting titles and is closing in on a third during his sixth season in the major leagues, has frequently prompted speculation that he could become baseball’s first .400 hitter since Ted Williams in 1941. But what may be more likely is a Triple Crown.
Mauer, who never hit more than 13 home runs in a single season prior to this year, has become the Twins’ new “Pop Eye” with his muscle producing 25 home runs so far. The 25-year-old All-Star catcher missed the first month of the season and if he had 70 or more at-bats could be in pursuit of becoming major league baseball’s first Triple Crown winner since 1967.
Mauer has driven in 77 runs, ninth best in the American League but that number could be 90 or more if he had played in most of the team’s 121 games so far. Boost his home runs by six and a Mauer total of 31 is tied for best in the A.L. If Mauer was hitting even .360 (his average currently is .378) with 31 home runs and 93 RBI’s he would be first in batting average, tied for the home run lead and second in RBI’s. (The A.L. home run and RBI leaders respectively are Carlos Pena of Tampa Bay and Mark Teixeria of New York with 31 each, and Twins teammate Justin Morneau at 94).
The left-handed hitting Mauer probably won’t catch the home run and RBI leaders this season but it’s possible, perhaps even likely, he’ll one day be the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski. Mauer’s power numbers should continue, perhaps improving with his ability to drive home runs to all fields including left field.
Lately Mauer has been excelling at the plate even by his standards. In his last 10 games he’s hitting .488. During last week’s home series against Cleveland he had seven hits in 12 at bats and made a big impression on the Indians. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talked about Mauer last Sunday on his KSTP morning radio show. “Their pitchers are saying this guy is amazing,” Gardenhire said. “They’re trying everything. They’re throwing all kinds of pitches up there, inside, outside, breaking balls, changeups. He just keeps hitting ‘em all, and he’s also puting them in the seats, too. …”