News
Kubel enjoying career year with Twins
DH putting up numbers comparable to Mauer, Morneau
By Tyler Mason / MLB.com
09/03/09 12:00 PM ET
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the past several years, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have been the Twins' two biggest threats in the lineup, with teams often shaping their game plan around the M&M boys. Jason Kubel is making a case for a new three-man J. Crew. Kubel, now playing in his fifth season with the Twins, has set new career highs in home runs and runs batted in -- and he still has a month to play. He currently stands at 22 home runs and 79 RBIs, besting his previous highs of 20 and 78, both of which came a season ago. "[My] numbers are a little better than last year, which is a good thing," Kubel said. "It's my goal to be able to do well enough so that we can do better." Kubel's numbers stack up pretty nicely next to Mauer's 26 homers and 80 RBIs and Morneau's 29 and 96. In nearly every offensive category, Kubel ranks right up there with the two All-Star sluggers. "When he walks to the plate, you expect good things to happen," Minnesota skipper Ron Gardenhire said of Kubel. "You have a feeling that if they make a mistake, he's going to hit it really hard. That's pretty much the way it's been all year." While his power numbers continue to improve, so too has Kubel's batting average. Following Wednesday's series finale with the White Sox, Kubel is hitting .305 and is on pace to finish the 2009 season with his highest average at the Major League level. Kubel demonstrated his consistency at the plate during his time in the Minors -- year in and year out, his batting average hovered near or above the .300 mark. In 2004, he batted .377 in 37 games with Double-A New Britain and .343 after moving up to the Triple-A level. By the time he headed into the 2006 season -- one year removed from season-ending knee surgery -- Kubel was ranked as the Twins' second-best prospect by Baseball America. "If you look at his Minor League numbers, he was hitting [almost] .380," Mauer said. "Kubes could always hit. I think he's just getting more consistent with it." "In the Minor Leagues, I was hitting .300 every year," Kubel said. "It's something I know I can do. I'm just happy I'm finally able to do that this year." Kubel insists not much has changed in his approach. The biggest difference for him in 2009, he says, is having another year of experience under his belt. "I'm getting older, getting some more games -- I think that has a lot to do with it, experience-wise," Kubel said. "I know what people are trying to do. I'm starting to hit everything instead of just one or two pitches here and there. I feel like I'm just more relaxed and have a better idea of what I'm trying to do." The added experience has been instrumental for Kubel, but hitting behind the two-time batting champion Mauer and the former American League MVP Morneau certainly hasn't hurt. The trio of Mauer, Morneau and Kubel has combined to hit 77 home runs in the heart of the Twins' batting order. "I get to see two batters kind of similar to me, how they're getting pitched before I get up there," Kubel said. "I kind of have an idea of what to expect and go from there." Whenever Morneau is the target of an intentional walk -- he's had 11 free passes this season -- Kubel is usually the next batter pitchers will face, and more often than not, he makes them pay. Such was the case Wednesday, when White Sox starter Mark Buehrle walked Morneau to load the bases with two outs in the sixth inning to get to Kubel. Kubel took advantage, blooping a two-run single to left to give the Twins a 2-0 lead. "He's huge for the middle of our lineup," Mauer said. Kubel continues to work on hitting left-handed pitchers, as he's batting just .236 against southpaws this year with a .287 on-base percentage and two home runs compared to .232/.330 and three homers a year ago. Yet while Kubel's numbers against lefties are still a work in progress, Gardenhire finds himself having a tough time limiting Kubel's at-bats, no matter who the pitcher may be. "It's really hard for me to take Kubel out of the lineup," Gardenhire said. "He just means so much to the lineup. Put him in there, let him play. He's been consistent." More often than not, Kubel has found himself in the lineup as Minnesota's designated hitter. A season ago, his 20 homers ranked sixth among all DHs. This year, his 22 home runs are tied with Boston's David Ortiz for third in that category. On the occasion that Mauer needs a break from catching and is slotted as the team's DH, Gardenhire will work Kubel into the lineup as a corner outfielder. But no matter what position Kubel is penciled in at, Gardenhire knows what to expect from him at the plate. "He's seeing it really good right now," Gardenhire said. "He means a lot to be in the lineup. It's fun to watch when he walks to the plate."Tyler Mason is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
