Mauer believes he can return to form
Mauer hit .321 last April. He hit .253, .223 and .250 in the next three months but found his stroke in August, batting .337. Few noticed, because few were watching Twins baseball by that point.
On Aug. 16, Mauer was batting .284 with a respectable .801 OPS. That day, trying to score from first in a game at Atlanta, he strained a quadriceps muscle. He would hit .111 in September and October.
If you want to believe Mauer can resurrect his career, you can point to the injury and its aftermath as the cause of his swoon. If you believe Mauer will never again be an impact player, you can note that Mauer has spent the past six seasons facing physical impediments.
Other than his manager, Paul Molitor, few players have ever become healthier and more durable late in their careers.
Molitor has been one of Mauer’s most vocal supporters, in part because he respects the art of the quality at-bat. This spring, Molitor has hinted that Mauer’s role could change.
“I’ve had some conversations with him as well as some other people, particularly top-of-the-lineup contenders, that you’re going to see yourself in some different roles as we try to put together somewhat of a plan,” Molitor said.
Mauer said he’s happy to bat anywhere in the lineup and believes his struggles against left-handers were an aberration. Asked if he enters 2017 with optimism, Mauer nodded, “Yeah.” He paused, perhaps to consider further explanation, nodded again and said, “Yeah. Absolutely.”