Mauer Falls to #5 of the Best Catchers of 2010
Only two catchers’ from the June top five list have remained into July. One of them moved up to number one and the other is almost off the list falling to number five. The three new entries come as a little bit of a surprise since one of them is just filling in for an injured starter. I’m sure by next month this list will change once again.
5. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Previously I said Mauer will probably bounce back and have another MVP like year. Now, I think that time passed. Mauer is having a dissappointing year for his standards along with the rest of his Twins team. The Twins were the clear favorite to win their division once again. As of now the Twins are tied with the Tigers for second place with a paltry four games over .500. Saying all of that Mauer is still the fifth best catcher this year with four home runs, 44 RBI’s, and a .297 average. The only reason why he made the top five is because of his average. Most of the other catchers in the league have low averages. If the Twins want to turn things around, they need Mauer to give them even more. The Twins know Mauer is capable of hitting for more power and a higher average and they will need that from him if they want to be in the post-season.
Click here to read the full article – By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network
Joe Mauer Makes #4 of the Best Catchers of 2010
There aren’t many big name catchers in the majors anymore, there are only a handful that come to mind as top tier catchers in the league.
4. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Relax everyone, Mauer I’m sure will be at the number one spot by the end of the season, but right now he has been in a little bit of a slide after starting off the season on fire. Mauer’s average has dropped from the .360’s to .311, which is still respectable. The power numbers is the stunning stat with only two home runs and 24 RBI’s, which is a huge drop off from last year so far. Was last year a fluke? I doubt it, some of Mauer’s home run power loss can be due to their huge stadium that yields one of the lowest home run rates in all of baseball. I think Mauer will turn it around and start hitting for a higher average, but it is questionable whether the power will come back.
Click here to read the full article – By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network
Same Old Twins
It is 2010, and the Twins are at it again. Although they were able to lock up Joe Mauer to a long-term deal, the Twins have had a hefty number of departs over the years. It even seems like former ace Johan Santana never played in Minnesota. But it is in the middle of May 2010, and the Twins are at the top of the Central Division. It will never stop amazing baseball fans how the Twins get it done. Fans always seem to associate the Athletics with being able to build up a farm system and win, partially due to the book “Money Ball”.
But the Twins are a team that should not be overlooked in this regard at all. With a limited amount of payroll and resources, they continue to find a way to win. Too bad the Yankees spend more money on their infield than the Twins do on their entire time, because if that wasn’t the case, maybe the Twins would be able to go further. The season is still early, but the Twins look like how they do every year. They are ready to contend, but the lack of money will probably not allow them to.
by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network
Twins Fans Have Lots Of Reasons To Be Optimistic
If you are a Minnesota Twins fan these days, you ought to be pretty happy. Nearly everything you could have hoped for going into the season has happened. The new Target Field has gotten rave reviews, the club locked up hometown hero Joe Mauer to a long term deal, and the Twins are off to one of the best starts in baseball. All of the worry about Joe Nathan’s season ending elbow injury has seem to simmer for now, as Jon Rauch has been fantastic thus far in Nathan’s absence. Rauch has only given up 1 earned run and walked only 1 batter in 6 appearances thus far. If Rauch does begin to struggle as the games get more important into the summer, it seems as if the Twins are willing and able to spend money and go out and acquire a proven closer to finish off games for them. Usually in the bottom thrid in terms of payroll, this years Twins opened the season with a payroll approaching 100million dollars, putting them up there with typically big spending teams like the Giants, Mariners, and Dodgers.
While the Twins fast start has to have fans excited, prehaps the biggest and best news surrounding the Twins in recent weeks was the 8 year, $185 million dollar extension that Minnesota native Joe Mauer signed just before the season. As soon as Mauer signed the dotted line, you have to think that big market teams like the Yankees and Red Sox let out a collective scream, as they anxiously awaited Mauer hitting the open market. The fact is, Mauer remaining with the Twins, the team he grew up cheering for, is good for baseball. While he still got big time money, he certainly took at least a little bit of a hometown discount. Had he left the Twin Cities, where he is by far the most popular athlete, it would have been a crushing blow to the Twins franchise, especially as they try to sell seats and luxury boxes in their new stadium. Keeping Mauer ensures that the fans will remain happy and more than likely, that the team will remain contenders in the American League.
by Josh Weiner at the Sports Fan Blog Network
Mauer muscles Minnesota to opening win
After watching his club muster just three hits in a loss at Cleveland on Sunday, in a continuation of its recent offensive skid, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire decided to switch things up a little in his lineup for the series opener against the Blue Jays.
On Monday, he gave Orlando Cabrera and Brendan Harris the day off and started Nick Punto at shortstop and Brian Buscher at third. It was just an attempt to “mix it up,” the skipper said.
“Some really slow bats yesterday and some guys looked a little worn out, so you just try to shake it up,” Gardenhire said before the contest.
Click here to read the full article – By Kelly Thesier of MLB.com
Minnesota Twins Sports Memorabilia
and other Minnesota Twins Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Joe Mauer.
| Joe Mauer Memorabilia | |
Minnesota Twins Memorabilia – Autograph Showcase
Minnesota Twins Sports Memorabilia
and other Minnesota Twins Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular Minnesota Twins players.







