Mauer’s May
Joe Mauer stepped up to the plate for the first time this season on May 1st and with one swing sent his first hit over the wall in left field. This was the first at bat for a record breaking month for Joe Mauer where he hit 11 home runs and knocked in 32 RBIs.
The 11 home runs surpassed his season total from last year, which were nine in 536 at bats. It has only taken a total of 99 at bats this year for Mauer to send 11 over the wall. Mauer is also two home runs away from tying a career high of 13. If he keeps the pace he is currently on, he will have tied that mark by the end of the week in their series against Seattle.
Aside from the career numbers, Mauer has been adding his name to the club record books as well. Mauer joined the likes of Harmon Killebrew and Justin Morneau to become the third Twin to hit 10 or more home runs in the month of May. Mauer also surpassed Killebrew in the single month RBI record with 32 RBIs. The old record was 29 set by Killebrew in 1961. On top of that, his batting average is .414 with a .838 slugging percentage – both of which lead the league in the month of May.
The power Mauer displayed in the month of May seems to have been contagious as the Twins were uncharacteristically hitting the ball over the fences. The team hit a combined 41 home runs in May with Morneau hitting nine, Michael Cuddyer with eight and Joe Crede with six. Denard Span and Brendan Harris hit two a piece and Jason Kubel, Brian Buscher and Matt Tolbert each hit one. In other words, an awful lot of power for a team known for small ball and having to manufacturing runs.
Unfortunately, with all of the power displayed by the team over the month, the Twins are still two games under .500 after going 14-16 in May, which includes four tough losses in New York. Even if the power surge continues, June could prove to be a struggling month as well.
At first glance the schedule looks soft with the likes of Cleveland, Seattle, Houston, Pittsburgh, Oakland and Kansas City, however, the Twins only have nine home games over the course of the 27 games throughout the month. The team has struggled away from home and is currently sitting at a 6-16 road record, the worst in the American League.
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
