Joe Mauer News: Pro Sports Daily

Re-signing Joe Mauer will drive Twins' payroll into orbit in 2011

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November 13

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Tom Powers

"The magic number is a secret. Bill Smith knows what it is. Dave St. Peter knows what it is. So do Jim Pohlad and Jerry Bell. As for everybody else, we're just guessing. All we know for sure is that the Twins' payroll is going to get jacked up next season. Way, way up. "I can't comment on anything relative to Joe Mauer and his contract status," said St. Peter, the team president. I know, Dave. "I'm not going there." No problem. "I can't comment." Fair enough. Besides, the Mauer signing won't affect the 2010 payroll because it will take the form of an extension that begins in 2011. But the payroll still is going to balloon next season. Consider this: The Twins opened last season with a ..."

Twins, Mauer contract talks quiet

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November 12

MLB.com

"Twins catcher Joe Mauer knows his contract status will be a topic that draws national attention this offseason. A report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Wednesday said that Mauer and the Twins have started talks on a new contract, but the catcher indicated later that day that nothing serious has taken place between the two sides just yet. "Nothing new to report," Mauer said when asked about a possible contract extension in a phone interview late Wednesday. "I've gotten a chance to start thinking about those things, but we really haven't started [negotiating with the Twins]." Mauer, 26, is getting set to enter the final year of a four-year, $33 million contract that he signed before the ..."

Minnesota Twins' Jerry Bell says 'we'll see' if team can afford to keep Joe Mauer

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November 12

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"As the Twins' top executive under the Pohlad family ownership, Jerry Bell has helped negotiate and approve the biggest player contracts in team history. The Twins and representatives for catcher Joe Mauer, who can become a free agent after next season, have begun talking about a new deal. "Everything in time ... it'll work out — I hope, and I'm pretty sure," Bell said Wednesday. "I feel good about it because I think he wants to stay here and we sure want him to be here, and all of his teammates want him to be here." Can the Twins afford Mauer, 26, who on Nov. 23 is expected to be named the American League's most valuable player? "We'll see," Bell said. Bell said he's not nervous about ..."

Mauer: Contract talks haven't started

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November 12

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Jerry Bell was Twins president in November 1989 when the team gave Kirby Puckett a three-year, $9 million contract, making Puckett baseball's first $3 million-per-year player. Puckett's agent was Ron Shapiro, who now represents Twins catcher Joe Mauer, as the team considers another major contract. "I'm confident that we'll have a good negotiation because I know we're dealing with good people," said Bell, now president of Twins Sports Inc. "I can't say I'm confident about the outcome because I don't know." Bell and General Manager Bill Smith would not confirm a Pioneer Press report that the team has begun talking with Mauer about a new deal. But Bell said: "I think when sides want to get ..."

Minnesota Twins are ready to reward Joe Mauer

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November 12

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The last time we caught up with Joe Mauer he was cleaning out his Metrodome locker for the last time, the day after the New York Yankees swept his Minnesota Twins out of the postseason. He's healthier now, and in a better frame of mind, though there still is a lot on his plate. On Tuesday, the Twins catcher won his second Gold Glove Award, and he's awaiting word on whether he will be named the American League's most valuable player Nov. 23. There also is business to be handled, a contract extension aimed at keeping Mauer from becoming a free agent after next season. Told late Wednesday the team has begun negotiating an extension, Mauer said, "That's news to me, I guess." What he did know ..."

Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer have started contract talks

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November 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"As the Minnesota Twins' top executive under the Pohlad family ownership, Jerry Bell has helped negotiate and approve the team's biggest player contracts in history. The Twins and representatives for catcher Joe Mauer, who can become a free agent after next season, have begun talking about a new deal. "Everything in time ... it'll work out — I hope, and I'm pretty sure," Bell said this morning. "I feel good about it because I think he wants to stay here, and we sure want him to be here and all of his teammates want him to be here." Can the Twins afford Mauer, 26, who is expected to be named the American League's MVP on Nov. 23? "We'll see," Bell said. Bell said he's not nervous about having ..."

Jeter and Teixeira Receive Gold Glove Awards

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November 11

New York Times

"Derek Jeter, whose defense has been criticized in recent years through statistical analyses, won a Gold Glove award for his defense, joining Yankees teammate Mark Teixeira on the list of American League recipients released Tuesday. No other team had multiple winners. At 35, Jeter became the second-oldest shortstop to win the award; Luis Aparicio won it at 36 in 1970. Jeter has won four Gold Gloves, collecting the others from 2004 to 2006. "I've always taken a great deal of pride in my defense, and being honored with a Gold Glove is an accomplishment I will never overlook," Jeter said in a statement."

Ichiro, Hunter win ninth Gold Gloves

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November 10

MLB.com

"The American League Gold Glove winners, unveiled on Tuesday, showcase the cream of the league's defensive excellence, the ooh-and-aah squad. The dive-and-spin, dirty-uniform parade began with Mark Teixeira, who earned his third Gold Glove -- but first since 2006 -- for an often-overlooked aspect of his game that was every bit as vital to the Yankees' drive to a World Series title as his 39 home runs and 122 RBIs. Teixeira made only four errors in 1,275 chances, to say nothing of the errors by other infielders he prevented with his wide-ranging scoops of errant throws. The Tigers' Placido Polanco earned the award at second base after it had been "borrowed" last year by Boston's Dustin ..."

Mauer says he's feeling good as hip flexor pain subsides

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November 4

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"After the painstaking offseason Joe Mauer had last year, Twins General Manager Bill Smith seemed thrilled to report Tuesday that Mauer is expecting some normalcy this winter. Mauer went to Baltimore last week for a follow-up on the lower-back injury that befuddled the All-Star catcher last winter, forcing him to miss all of spring training and the season's first month. Though Mauer, 26, reported no setbacks with his inflamed sacroiliac joint, he had hip flexor pain during the Division Series against the Yankees. Those concerns have since subsided. "He's doing very well," Smith said. "We've gotten all good reports. I think he's pleased and looking forward to a fairly normal offseason and ..."

Mauer honored by his peers, named AL Outstanding Player

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October 30

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Joe Mauer's American League MVP chances hinge on a vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Two writers from each AL market cast their votes after the regular season, with an announcement coming Nov. 23. On Thursday, the Twins catcher received a similar award in a vote cast by his peers. Mauer, 26, was given the Players Choice Award for AL Outstanding Player by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Albert Pujols received National League honors for the seventh time. The union conducted its annual balloting in September, and Mauer became the first Twins player to win the honor, which has been awarded each year since 1993. In 2006, when Twins first baseman Justin Morneau ..."

Mauer is the Twins MVP; Cuddyer is most improved

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October 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Joe Mauer was named the Twins' Most Valuable Player for the first time in his career Monday by the Twin Cities chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Mauer also is a strong candidate for American League MVP honors, an announcement the BBWAA will unveil Nov. 23. Mauer, 26, won his third career batting title, hitting .365, and led the AL in on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587). He also set career highs in home runs (28) and RBI (96). Besides Twins MVP, the local BBWAA chapter also handed Mauer his third Dick Siebert Award, as Upper Midwest Player of the Year."

Twins' top priority in offseason: re-sign Joe Mauer

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October 13

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"At about 11 a.m. Monday, a sleepy, sore, bespectacled Joe Mauer ambled into the Twins clubhouse to do some packing, say some goodbyes and, to his chagrin, field a stream of questions about his hours-old offseason. With the end of the 2009 season, the Twins begin what promises to be one of the franchise's most interesting offseasons. With the Twins moving from the Metrodome to Target Field, GM Bill Smith should have leeway to spend more in free agency than he's had in the past, but the prevailing topic hovering around this year's hot stove season will be Mauer. Like Johan Santana after the 2007 season, Mauer is entering the final year of his contract, a four-year, $33 million deal with ..."

Mauer in no rush to settle contract

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October 13

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Twins' season is over, but that didn't stop the M"

Twins give Jose Morales another chance

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October 12

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Asked before Sunday's game if his sore right hip flexor was feeling any better Joe Mauer said, "No. We're at where we're at." Still, Mauer went 1 for 4 and drove in a run on Sunday that put the Twins up 1-0. After the game, the catcher said he's hopeful that his hip injury is minor and will be remedied by rest, but he also said he'd have it looked at to be sure there's nothing more worrisome. Mauer strained his right hip flexor when he fell after rounding first base during Game 163 against Detroit last week. "I hope that's all that it was, but the next couple days, figure things out, see the doctors and if anything was going on, get it taken care of right away," Mauer said. "I think I ..."

Mo overpowers Mauer when it counts

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October 12

New York Post

"Cy Young got the best of MVP. You certainly can make a case for Mariano Rivera and Joe Mauer to win those respective awards in the American League. Here they were in last night's eighth inning going head-to-head with Game 3 of the ALDS hanging in the balance. The Yankees led 2-1, with the potential tying run -- Denard Span -- standing at first base. Rivera replaced Phil Hughes and got Mauer on a broken-bat grounder to Mark Teixeira, ending the inning. "I know Joe Mauer is a great hitter, but Mo is more experienced in that situation," manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees beat the Twins 4-1. "That's why I didn't [hesitate]. He has been doing it since 1996. When I saw him burst on the ..."

Mauer won't rest despite his hip pain

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October 11

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"After Friday's Game 2 loss to the Yankees, Twins catcher Joe Mauer acknowledged that he had been sore and had not been running well since Tuesday's tiebreaker victory over the Tigers. "I think it's a hip flexor," manager Ron Gardenhire said Saturday. "I think when he spun out around first base [Tuesday], he tweaked it a little bit. But as he told me before I left the clubhouse just now, 'I am a catcher, no matter what you say.' "He said, 'I played with it for this many days, and I will continue to play with it.' But he is a little sore, yeah, just from a lot of 12-inning games, a lot of stress, a lot of baseball." Buscher in for Tolbert The Twins replaced third baseman Matt Tolbert on ..."

Umps call selves out on foul-ball mistake in ALDS Game 2

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October 10

New York Daily News

"Phil Cuzzi is lucky he was in the Bronx Friday night and not Minneapolis. The left-field umpire blew a foul-ball call last night when Joe Mauer led off the 11th inning with a line drive down the line for what should have been a ground-rule double. Two pitches later, Mauer did single, but the Yankees eventually were able to get out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam and went on to win, 4-3, on a Mark Teixeira home run in the bottom of the inning. "The left field umpire Phil Cuzzi saw the ball foul and called what he saw, rendered the ball foul decision," crew chief Tim Tschida said. "Afterwards, like any close play, we went in and looked at it and it's a clear indication that an incorrect ..."

Fair Ball Is Ruled Foul, Helping Yankees Escape

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October 10

New York Times

"As Joe Mauer's fly ball twisted near the left-field foul line in the 11th inning, Melky Cabrera dashed across the outfield to try to snare it. The ball nicked off Cabrera's glove in fair territory and should have been ruled a fair ball. But Phil Cuzzi, the left-field umpire, called it foul. While Mauer later singled and the Minnesota Twins eventually loaded the bases, Cuzzi's missed call ended up being critical. If Mauer's ball had been ruled fair, he probably would have had a double and, if the Twins had hit the back-to-back singles that followed, probably would have scored the go-ahead run. Instead, the Yankees squeezed through a bases-loaded, no-out jam and then celebrated after Mark ..."

Yanks want to win now ... nab Mauer later?

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October 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Tom Powers

"It's not bad enough that the Twins have to come into Yankee Stadium and get beat regularly. There's also the sneaking suspicion that the Yankees are window shopping the whole time. You don't think the Yankee execs are crunching the numbers on Joe Mauer right now? "Let's see, should we offer him eight years or 10 years? Would he like his own office? How about a private jet to fly his parents in from Minnesota once a week?" Then there's Michael Cuddyer. Like Mauer, his contract is up after next season, maybe sooner in the unlikely event the Twins don't pick up his option. No doubt the Yankees are trying to decide whether he'd be a benefit to the team. "Hey, he can play a little first base, ..."

You can look . . . but don't stare too longingly at MVP Mauer

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October 8

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"LOOK, try to do the right thing here the next couple of days, OK? Do not covet thy neighbor's catcher so obviously. Even if there's a lull in the action in any of these American League Division Series matchups between the Yankees and the Twins, keep your mind-wandering to a minimum. Try not to be so brazen as to actually picture what you know you'll be picturing in your mind's eye. Keep your daydreams of Joe Mauer in pinstripes to yourself. Won't be easy, no. It's like asking a Knicks fan to keep their eyes lasered on the team in front of them this year and not use their imagination to envision a certain Cavalier in the orange and blue vestments. Mauer is sure to do some things across the ..."

Mauer's hitting historic; Pujols wins HR title

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October 6

USA Today

"Joe Mauer won't know until November if his Minnesota Twins' late surge into a playoff for the American League Central title helped propel him to the Most Valuable Player award, but his individual performance this season already has provided him a place in history.Mauer, taking a 12-point lead into Tuesday's AL Central playoff against the Detroit Tigers (statistics from that game count as part of the regular season), will become the first back-to-back batting champion since the Boston Red Sox's Nomar Garciaparra in 1999 and 2000 and the first catcher to do it."

Chants of 'M-V-P' are well-deserved for Twins catcher

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October 3

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Jim Souhan

"When Joe Mauer came to bat in the fifth inning on Friday night, a guy wearing a "Cuddyer" jersey stood up in the stands behind home plate and started chanting "M-V-P." Before the game, a guy wearing a "Cuddyer" jersey did pretty much the same thing in the Twins clubhouse. Asked how he would argue that Mauer should beat out Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, Twins first baseman Michael Cuddyer said, "Pfffffft." Excuse me? "That's all you need to write, is 'Pfffffft,' " Cuddyer said. "I thought you were going to say, 'Mauer over Miguel Cabrera,' not 'Mauer over Jeter.' " I would write an entire column arguing that Mauer is the MVP, but the paper ..."

Twins catcher Joe Mauer is in pursuit of history

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October 3

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"As the Twins claw their way to the finish line in the American League Central race and bid farewell to the Metrodome this weekend, Joe Mauer's mythical 2009 season is easy to overlook, though it's historically significant. The unassuming superstar is the only catcher to hit for the highest average among American League players and is poised to become the first to win three batting championships. What is more, Mauer, hitting .366, is on pace to have the highest average of anyone who has played baseball's most demanding position. "There's not anybody out there, unless he's been a major league catcher — including myself — that has any idea what his body goes through physically or mentally to ..."

Twins amused, offended by You Tube clip alleging Mauer stole signs

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October 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Twins were half-offended and half-amused today, as a YouTube clip of Joe Mauer allegedly stealing signs from second base made the rounds on laptops and cell phones throughout the clubhouse. "That video's a joke!" Justin Morneau said. "That's why we're three games back -- we're stealing signs," Manager Ron Gardenhire said . "We scored two runs last night, we stole a lot of signs." Mauer won't be available for comment until after today's game against the Tigers. The clip is from Detroit's 6-5 victory over the Twins on Tuesday in Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader at Comerica Park. After Mauer doubles, he is on second base as Jason Kubel battles Justin Verlander through a long at-bat. ..."

Antsy Morneau backs Mauer for MVP

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October 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Justin Morneau isn't sweating the Twins' biggest issue of the offseason -- whether they can sign Joe Mauer to a long-term contract extension. "They know they have to sign him, and I think he knows they have to sign him," Morneau said Wednesday. "I think they're going to want to go into the offseason and say, we've got a new stadium that's partly paid for by the taxpayers and the people in Minneapolis, and going in, we've got Joe signed to a six-year extension, or whatever it is." Morneau said this moments after endorsing Mauer for MVP. He knows his good friend's value has skyrocketed, because Mauer could soon add a third batting title and second Gold Glove Award to his résumé, at age 26. ..."

Mauer for MVP? No question, Twins say

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September 25

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Joe Mauer is on the verge of becoming just the fifth player since 1961 to lead the American League in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. He hasn't hit a point under .353 all season and has more than doubled his previous career high in home runs (with 28), despite missing the first month of the season. And, perhaps most impressively, he's a Gold Glove catcher. Justin Morneau is worried it's not enough. The 2006 league MVP, is concerned that voters don't realize just how brightly Mauer shines in Minnesota's lineup, how desperately the Twins need him, how unquestionably he is, in Morneau's mind, the 2009 AL Most Valuable Player. "If we're five games up," Morneau said. "I think ..."

Twins replay flat note, extend untimely slump

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September 13

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"When the Twins woke up Saturday morning, they already trailed. President Obama was preparing to speak at Target Center. The Gophers were about to christen TCF Bank Stadium. No. 4 was a day away from his regular-season debut with the Vikings. Where do you think the sputtering Twins ranked among those interesting events? Then first baseman Justin Morneau offered a disturbing view of the state of Twins baseball -- and why, perhaps, the team is on the back burner of the local sports scene. After losing 4-2 to Oakland and 21-year old lefthander Brett Anderson, Morneau was asked if he noticed any sign that the losses are wearing his teammates down. "I don't know if yesterday's loss [12-5 on ..."

Justin Morneau says Twins teammate Joe Mauer deserves American League MVP

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September 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau hopes the Twins play well the rest of the season, first and foremost to make a push into the postseason. But the first baseman has an underlying reason for wanting a successful final few weeks in 2009. He'd like to shine the spotlight on Joe Mauer's season, one the 2006 American League MVP winner thinks should earn Mauer his first American League MVP award. "If you take Joe out of this lineup, if you take him off our team, I don't think we're still battling for the playoff spot," Morneau said. "To me, I don't think there's anyone more valuable in the league, in the American League for sure, and probably in all of baseball. Hopefully he gets what he deserves, and hopefully ..."

It's Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer vs. Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki for AL batting crown

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September 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"The Twins probably are out of the playoff race, but Joe Mauer's quest for a record third batting championship for a catcher — he's tied with Ernie Lombardi at two — should keep fans interested through the rest of the season. The Twins have 24 games remaining, the Seattle Mariners 23. Entering Tuesday night's games, Mauer was hitting .369, Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki .362. Let's say Mauer and Ichiro each get 100 at-bats the rest of the season. If Ichiro gets 35 hits, the Mariners' star would finish at .3599 (230 hits in 639 at-bats). Mauer, who missed the first 22 games of the season with a sore back, would need 33 hits to finish at .3614 (193 hits in 534 at-bats). For Mauer, 32 ..."

Mauer replicates May's hot stats

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September 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"When Joe Mauer batted .414 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in May, he spoke of having fresh hands after missing all of April while recovering from a lower-back injury. So how does he explain an August in which he batted .391 with eight home runs and 23 RBI? Mauer has a good chance to add August Player of the Month honors to his May award. This time, he was hardly fresh. Throw in two pinch-hit appearances, and Mauer has played in every game since June 18. He has started -- not just played, but started -- the past 39 games, including 32 at catcher and seven at DH. "I've been trying to stay on the field as much as I can," he said. "Obviously, there's going to be some days where it's not going to ..."

Joe Mauer says he feels bad enough to hit well

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August 20

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Ron Gardenhire offered Joe Mauer a day of rest Wednesday, and the catcher flatly refused. The Twins have played 98 games since Mauer returned from the disabled list May 1, and Mauer has played in 94 of them. The catcher admits his body doesn't feel great but said maybe that's what has caused his greatness at the plate. "Hitting sometimes, when you don't feel the greatest, you have good nights (because) you don't try to do too much," said Mauer, who went 3 for 5 with two home runs in Tuesday night's 9-6 comeback victory. "Nothing really feels rushed or anything. I think that was just the case Tuesday night." Since going through a slump (by Mauer standards, anyway) from mid-June through ..."

Mauer's August hot streak looks like his sizzling May

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August 20

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Joe Mauer made his season debut on May 1, which started a month to remember, batting .414 with 11 homers, 32 RBI, a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.338 on-base plus slugging percentage. A one-of-a-kind month? Maybe not. Mauer is sizzling in August, batting a major league-best .465 (despite going (0-for-3 on Wednesday to end a 15-game hitting streak) with six homers, 20 RBI, a .527 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.409. "It's fascinating to watch," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "but it's not -- I don't know how you want to put it -- it's almost becoming normal. And that's scary because he does it every day." Twins hitting coach Joe Vavra said even Mauer has periods when his swing has ..."

Mauer homers twice in Minnesota Twins' comeback victory

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August 19

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The scoreboard in left field taunted the Twins. While Minnesota fell behind 5-0 to the Texas Rangers, while Carl Pavano cobbled together just four innings and while Philip Humber tossed a ball to no one at third base, Detroit wrapped up a win. But the Twins, as they have so many times this season, kept scrapping back. First on Joe Mauer's 24th home run, later on his 25th, in a four-run sixth. Then, on a two-run homer by Delmon Young (on the first pitch, of course) that buzzed into the Rangers' bullpen in the seventh to break a 6-6 tie in a game the Twins went on to win 9-6. Finally, a comeback that stuck, a pushback that kept pushing, even after Humber's throwing error in the sixth ..."

Mauer hits it big with way to sweeten swing

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July 30

Denver Post

"Minnesota's frozen winters gave birth to Bob Dylan's musical poetry, Prince's purple rain and Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon. And the left-handed swing of Twins catcher Joe Mauer. Mauer's hitting motion - smooth, swift, compact and beautiful to behold - has roots in the basement of a three-bedroom house in St. Paul. That's where Jake Mauer Jr. gave his three sons - Billy, Jake III and Joe - shelter from snowstorms. Searching for a way to improve his sons' batting skills, Mauer rigged a contraption in his garage, then set it up in the basement. The original hitting machine was put together with PVC pipe, a coffee can and cement. The kids hit into a sheet taped to the basement wall. What ..."

Young man takes a beating

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July 19

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"In high school at Eden Prairie, Mike Erickson was the whole package. A celebrated athlete. Popular. Smart. Erickson quarterbacked Eden Prairie to the 2000 state large-school football championship at the Metrodome over Cretin-Derham Hall, quarterbacked by a guy named Joe Mauer. Erickson went on to accept a hockey tender from the Gophers. A year later, the Minnesota Wild drafted the flashy 6-foot-3, 210-pound left wing in the third round. The future was bright. But then there was a setback: Erickson suffered a shattered ankle against Minnesota-Duluth. Then he experienced the reality of big-time college sports. His playing time at Minnesota was curtailed, and Erickson transferred to Western ..."

Mauer, Suzuki jockey for position in AL batting race

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July 16

USA Today

"Catcher Joe Mauer and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who have won four of the last eight American League batting titles, are set to go head-to-head for another crown in what could be one of the best races of the second half.Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners, is batting .362 and takes an 11-game hitting streak into tonight's game at the Cleveland Indians. But Mauer leads the league at .373 for the Minnesota Twins, who open a three-game series Friday at the Texas Rangers. They share the ability to confuse and confound pitchers. Both bat left-handed, both are tough to strikeout, and both hit to all fields. Suzuki has the advantage of speed, but Mauer, with a career-high 15 homers, has added power ..."

Mauer reaches the seats, but not Derby's second round

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July 14

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Justin Morneau's advice to Joe Mauer in Monday night's All-Star Home Run Derby was to do what he does best: Be selective. Morneau, the event's 2008 champion, told his Twins teammate not to worry about the crowd's impatience and just wait for pitches he could drive. "He doesn't have any problem taking pitches," Morneau said. "But you don't want to feel like you take three, four in a row, and all of a sudden you have to swing at the next pitch." Mauer heeded Morneau's advice, taking numerous pitches from Cretin-Derham Hall coach Jim O'Neill, and hitting five first-round home runs. It was enough to force a swing-off with Albert Pujols and Carlos Pena, but Mauer was eliminated after going ..."

The Joe you don't know

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July 14

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"It is early in the day, and Joe Mauer is on his way to the ballpark. He makes one stop on this sunny Friday morning, ducking his 6-5 frame through the door of Schmidty's Sports Barbers. Dressed casually in a T-shirt, jeans and Nikes, he settles into the chair near the window, beneath a framed version of his Twins jersey. The proprietor, John Schmidt, wraps a cloth around his neck and administers to Minnesota's most famous sideburns as they chat quietly of old friends. In another city or setting, the brown hair drifting to the floor like confetti might wind up on eBay, but this is St. Paul, and the baseball field visible through the window is the Cretin High diamond where big-league scouts ..."

New hat for Mauer — a derby

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July 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Joe Mauer's first task after Home Run Derby organizers asked the Twins catcher to lend his sweet swing to the competition was asking his high school coach, Jim O'Neill, to pitch to him. His second task, after accepting the invite he accidentally stumped for Sunday, was to see if he could persuade teammate Justin Morneau to rethink his decision to sit out the derby. "I was talking to him about that, but I don't know," Mauer said. "We'll have to see what he says. I'll keep working on him." Mauer can work all he wants — Morneau, who said derby officials "kind of" asked him again if he'd rethink his initial decision to decline, isn't changing his mind. The first baseman wants the extra day of ..."

Joe Mauer: League leader

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July 9

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Joe Mauer hit a soft liner to Derek Jeter for the final out of the Twins' loss to the Yankees on Wednesday. But it came on Mauer's fifth plate appearance of the night, giving him enough to qualify for the league lead. The two-time batting champ was 3-for-5 in the 4-3 loss, lifting his batting average to .388 -- overtaking Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki (.356) for the AL lead."

Mauer's batting average almost official

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July 8

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Days away from the 2009 all star break, Joe Mauer's batting average is inching closer to legitimacy. The Twins' all-star catcher needed five plate appearances in Tuesday's game against New York to reach the 3.1 plate appearances per team games played this season necessary to qualify for the batting title, but he came to the plate just three times before Jose Morales took his place in the eighth inning. That means tonight Mauer again will need five trips to the plate to qualify. On Tuesday he went 0 for 3 against New York's C.C. Sabathia, lowering his batting average to .384. That's a significant drop from three weeks ago when Mauer was hitting .425, but .384 is still the best average in ..."

You could start Mauer with a fastball strike, but then...

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June 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"Before I graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota 33 years ago, I pitched professionally for seven years in the organizations of the Twins, Washington Senators and Texas Rangers. More than a month of that insignificant baseball career was spent in the major leagues with the Twins, pitching for Billy Martin in 1969. So sometimes these days, I perch in the press box at the Metrodome and wonder, when Joe Mauer comes to bat, "How would I pitch to this guy?" I also sometimes ponder the same, before Twins games, when standing immediately behind the batting cage and watching Mauer practice his strokes. That swing. It is a beautiful sight to behold. I once asked Sam ..."

Sorry, Joe, no one will hit .400 again

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June 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Tom Powers

"The Splendid Splinter is splendidly splintered. There were reports several years ago of Ted Williams' frozen head rolling off a table, or something, at a cryonics lab in Arizona. So the chances of Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived, someday being reanimated shattered when his head hit the floor and cracked like a cheap Christmas tree ornament. Furthermore, now that his creepy son, John Henry, also is dead, Ted's DNA no longer is for sale. That DNA would have been an infinitely better investment for the small-market Twins than, say, Tony Batista. But now it's a moot point. No matter, even if Williams were brought back by scientists and infused with youth, he could not hit .400 ..."

Mauer, flirting with .400, grabs SI cover

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June 24

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Joe Mauer has been thrown a softball of a profile as the cover subject for the next issue of Sports Illustrated. The Twins catcher is getting his first dose of major national media attention connected to his steady position above the mythic .400 batting average. "The Case For Joe Mauer And Baseball History" not only argues with itself about whether Mauer can be the first major leaguer to hit .400 since Ted Williams in 1941, the article also props up Mauer as a plain-speaking northwoodsman whose simple swing and approach to hitting offers pitchers no point of attack. Along with dissecting what Mauer does on the field, the article takes the reader to the hometown hero's retreat, a Minnesota ..."

Error no joking matter to Mauer

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June 18

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and two fellow assistants watched from the Metrodome field as the Twins took batting practice before Wednesday's game against the Pirates. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire introduced them to Joe Mauer, joking that they can't have him to play quarterback, no matter what Brett Favre decides. Mauer left football behind after leaving Cretin-Derham Hall. He's busy enough these days holding himself to huge standards as a hitter and catcher. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mauer's .429 batting average entering Wednesday was the highest for a player with more than 150 at-bats since Paul O'Neill was batting .431 after 167 at-bats in 1994. After going ..."

Parallels with Mauer, Sanchez?

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June 17

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"John Russell was manager for Minnesota's Class AAA affiliate in 2001, the year the Twins drew voluminous criticism for drafting a hometown catcher with the No. 1 overall pick in the first-year-player draft. Kid named Joe Mauer. Same kid batting .429 after an eye-popping 4-for-4 display against the Pirates last night, raising a .326 career mark that trails only Rod Carew's .344 in Minnesota's franchise history among players with 2,000 plate appearances. Kirby Puckett's .318 is third. "Not a bad pick, huh?" Russell said with a laugh. Sure seemed that way to many at the time. Pitcher Mark Prior was the consensus top talent, but he and agent Scott Boras had set a new bar for his bonus -- he ..."

When will Mauer be on the leaderboard?

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June 10

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Have you grown weary of not seeing Joe Mauer's name listed among the AL batting leaders, even though his average was more than 50 points higher (through Monday's games) than current leader Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle? Take heart, because based on his current pace of plate appearances Mauer will be listed among the leaders before the All-Star break -- despite missing the entire month of April because of back pain. After Tuesday's game, Mauer had a .415 batting average. In the AMerican League, the highest average among those qualified for the leaderboard was .353 by Kevin Youkilis of Boston. Players are required to average 3.1 plate appearances for each game played by their team to qualify for ..."

Countdown to 29 for Joe Mauer

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June 10

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Have you grown weary of not seeing Joe Mauer's name listed among the AL batting leaders, even though his average was more than 50 points higher (through Monday's games) than current leader Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle? Take heart, because based on his current pace of plate appearances Mauer will be listed among the leaders before the All-Star break -- despite missing the entire month of April because of back pain. Players are required to average 3.1 plate appearances for each game played by their team to qualify for the batting title. Plate appearances include at-bats, walks, hit by pitch, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and reaching base by catcher interference. Through Monday, Mauer had 153 ..."

Can the Minnesota Twins afford to keep Joe Mauer?

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May 31

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"It could be the $200 million question: Can the Twins afford to keep Joe Mauer? "That's like asking how high is up?" said Jerry Bell, who oversees Twins Sports Inc., for the Pohlad family that owns the Twins. Mauer, the all-star catcher and two-time batting champion, will be 27 and in the prime of his career when he can become eligible for free agency after next season. He is signed through 2010 and is scheduled to make $10.5 million this season and $12.5 million next season. He's batting .417 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 27 games since rejoining the Twins on May 1 after recovering from offseason surgery. "We're not going to negotiate today," Bell said. Bell sounds as if he feels the ..."

Minnesota Twins' Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer take it outside to tour Target Field

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May 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Carley Walters

"Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, both of whom are expected to represent the Twins at this season's All-Star Game in St. Louis, toured the club's Target Field on Wednesday. "Sweet; looking forward to playing in it," said Morneau, the left-handed slugger who has 14 home runs this young season. "And the wind today was blowing out to right field." The ballpark, which opens next April, is 72 percent complete. The field dimensions are nearly identical to those of the Metrodome. Mauer, who has 11 homers, also said he was excited to move to Target Field. Among reasons is a real grass surface that will be easier on the feet. "Good for the whole body," Mauer said. Late this summer, when grass is ..."