Mauer Should Not be Hitting Third for Minnesota Twins

Joe Mauer's hitting statistics for the season indicate he is hitting much better in the two spot in the order and 53 RBI out of the three hole just isn't good enough at this juncture in the season.

Mauer is batting .304 while second in the order and .264 in the three hole. His total batting average after 123 games is .268. This is a career .314 hitter. I will say he is hitting very well with men on base and with runners in scoring position, according to the MLB statistics, but that tells me the hitters in front of him aren't getting on base either, necessitating some lineup changes.

Mauer really needs to change his approach at the plate. Pitchers know he isn't going to swing at the first pitch a majority of the time and so they groove in pitches to get ahead in the count. He is no longer the two-strike batter he once was. This season Mauer is hitting .091 when the count is 0-2. The average is .383 with a full count, and to prove my point, Mauer has had a 2-0 count for just nine at-bats this season and is hitting .556 when that happens. (See, grooving pitches to get ahead.)

Mauer has just four hits when the count has been 0-2. Overall he's been fanned 83 times and walked 45 and his eight home runs and 53 RBI is very poor compared to other first basemen. His average versus right- or left-handed pitchers is pretty consistent and that's another reason why I would change my approach if I were Mauer. Swing at more first pitches and pitchers might think twice about pounding the strike zone.

Of course if I were Mauer, I would be making $23 million a year and wouldn't have to worry about much at all.

So who should be hitting third? When he's healthy, I suggest Aaron Hicks. He's been hitting between .280 and .300 since coming back to the lineup before his injury. Lead with Buxton, have Mauer bat second and Hicks third, then Sano followed by Plouffe and Dozier in the six hole. Dozier just doesn't hit for a high enough average (in my opinion) to be in one of the top three spots, and with Sano being a true power hitter I would only bat Dozier behind Plouffe, with the theory there might be people on base when he cranks a homer. This also scatters power throughout the lineup.

Do you think Molly should keep writing Mauer in the No. 3 spot in the order? Who would you suggest hit there?