Minnesota Twins: Predicting Joe Mauer's Full Season Stats in 10 Categories

There are many people in today’s society that grab the nation’s attention and run away with it. The player that takes a hold of Minnesota Twins fans' collective consciousness, it is St. Paul’s own Joe Mauer.

The hometown boy has had some injuries, but he looks to be healthy early in Spring Training. So why not look at what may be ahead this season for Joe statistically…

Batting Average

Last year: .287

Obviously, last year was a down year for Mauer. Twins fans are used to Mauer competing for batting titles and I think he’ll be around there again in 2012. Mauer’s best average was his MVP 2009 season when he hit .365, but he also won the batting title in ’06 and ’08 hitting .347 and .328.

Mauer will bounce back.

2012 prediction: .331

Home Runs

Last year: 3

Mauer is not known for power. In fact he has only hit double digits in home runs twice in his career (13 and 28 in ’06 and ’09).

Target Field has not proven too home run friendly either, which won't help Mauer’s power numbers.

He will get more than three though.

2012 prediction: 9

Hits

Last year: 85

Joe Mauer averages 137 hits a year. Last years numbers brought that down. Last season and 2004, when he only played 35 games, were the only years that Mauer did not get more than 115 hits. To put it in perspective, in 2009, Mauer had a whopping 191.

Mauer will rebound from last year.

2012 prediction: 161

RBI

Last year: 30

The RBI may be the most important stat there is for a hitter. It tells you how many runs a hitter is responsible for. With what Joe Mauer is getting paid, he should be responsible for a lot more than 30. He should be a lot closer to the 96 he had in ’09.

2012 prediction: 77

Doubles

Last year: 15

You don’t realize how much of a down year Mauer had last year until you compare the stat line to previous years. 15 doubles is just horrible for a man who is supposed to have a fantastic batting average. Good thing he’ll bump up the two-baggers this year.

2012 prediction: 34

Strikeouts

Last year: 38

This is a category that Mauer will top last year’s total just because I’m hopeful Mauer might play a couple more games this year. Mauer has a good eye and he might just get a little protection from Justin Morneau if he can also stay healthy.

2012 prediction: 56

Walks

Last year: 32

Walks go hand in hand with strikeouts. If Mauer can get back to hitting like a batting champ, he might see the intentional walk a lot. He might not see the intentional walk if Morneau can stay healthy… déjà vu?

2012 prediction: 68

Triples

Last year: 0

Mauer does not hit a lot of triples, but that makes it fun to predict what he’ll get.

Mauer has hit four triples twice, but not this year.

2012 prediction: 3

Errors

Last year: 5

He’s a Gold Glove winner so he won’t commit too many, but Mauer will be playing some more time at 1st in 2012. Mauer committed four errors behind the plate last year and only one at first.

2012 prediction: 5 (3 at catcher, 2 at first)

Games

Last year: 82

This is the stat that matters.

If Mauer is on the field, it gives the Twins a much better chance to win. Mauer has had multiple injuries over the years, but they have to stop eventually, right?

2012 prediction: 145