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Minnesota Twins: Five Bold Predictions for 2016

By Jordan Wickstrom

Jun 19, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Eduardo Escobar (5), center fielder Byron Buxton (25), and left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) jump up and celebrate after beating the Chicago Cubs at Target Field. The Twins won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Eduardo Escobar (5), center fielder Byron Buxton (25), and left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) jump up and celebrate after beating the Chicago Cubs at Target Field. The Twins won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 11, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) hits a RBI double in eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Target Field. The Twins won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) hits a RBI double in eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Target Field. The Twins won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

JOE MAUER WILL HIT .290 AND MAKE HIS SEMI-COMEBACK

No, hitting .290 is still not worth $23 million. No, he will not hit 28 home runs again. No, he’ll probably never even come close to that .365 average from 2009.

But if we can get a the former Most Valuable Player to hit .290, that’ll be a victory.

Look, it hasn’t been any honeymoon for Mauer post-concussion but if he feels healthy after struggling with blurred vision then that’s all the more to feel optimistic.

Sure, one can take the blurry vision as more of an excuse than anything but in light of his most recent seasons, it makes sense.

Mauer is firmly locked in at first base and the Twins will probably not trade/release him so we might as well give up on that. But a healthy Mauer and a batting average of .290 seems to be the step in the right direction for not only him but the team as well.

Having someone who can consistently take walks, drive it to the gap and hit for average will be all the Twins need from Mauer. Yes, the contract is still large but work with me here, the less pressure on Mauer to perform the better for the team.

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