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This season Joe Mauer will enter the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. Following his retirement, his number “7” was immediately retired and hung alongside the greats at Target Field. When it comes to year one of Cooperstown though, perception isn’t something that seems to benefit Mauer. Why that is remains a mystery. Image courtesy of David Berding-USA TODAY Sports When looking at his case for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, it is often contended that he will get in, but the sanctity of being a first ballot entrant seems unfathomable. To wrap one’s mind around that notion must start somewhere following his post catching days. For Twins fans, there has always been a denigration of Joe Mauer’s resume largely due to two things. The first is a contract he signed coming off the most productive years we have ever seen from a catcher. Mauer got paid for what he had accomplished, and in a sport that stifles earnings for years before free agency, that shouldn’t be a concept difficult to grasp. Even with the $184 million extension, Mauer would’ve been substantially more handsomely paid elsewhere on the open market. His deal didn’t stop the Twins from adding, they chose not to on their own. Beyond that, there is the discussion of his time as a first baseman. Nevermind that Mauer transformed himself into a Gold Glove caliber talent (yes, we are still mad, Eric Hosmer), but he did so following multiple brain injuries. The Twins catcher didn’t step out from behind the plate because he wanted to, but instead because he had to. If Mauer had walked away following the concussion in 2013, he likely would’ve waltzed into the Hall of Fame similar to Kirby Puckett. So, when it comes to enshrinement in The Hall, why is Mauer’s case so hotly contested? Take for example St. Louis Cardinals great Yadier Molina. He has roughly the same career fWAR as Mauer, but was a below average hitter (96 OPS+). His personal accolades are all defensive, and he earns extra credit for team World Series rings he won. There is no denying how great his defensive acumen was, but it truly was a career of a one-dimensional leader. Someone like Buster Posey or Brian McCann had a career more similar to that of Mauer, and neither of them ever get mentioned in the same breath as Molina. Posey should be a certain Hall of Famer, and he’ll first become eligible in 2026 having retired in 2021. Posey won an MVP award and also captured a batting title. He wasn’t the defender that Molina was, and maybe not even that of Mauer, but his career 129 OPS+ shows just how much he contributed offensively. It would be much more controversial to suggest McCann is a Hall of Fame caliber talent, and yet he is right in the same realm as these other three. McCann does have a World Series and multiple Silver Slugger’s to his credit, but the only MVP award he ever won was for the All-Star game, and his offensive abilities were substantially less than both that of Mauer and Posey. Some of the discussion surrounding Mauer’s candidacy goes back to the premise of “when” and not “if” he’ll get in. It should not be viewed as some amazing feat to be inducted on the first ballot. There are no additional awards for getting in, rather that you get a bronze plaque for doing so. Nationally it seems as though Mauer is viewed more favorably. Hall of Fame guru and Fangraphs writer Jay Jaffe has long contended that Mauer be inducted, and he recently did a great back and forth with The Athletic’s Dan Hayes on that very topic. Maybe we’ll be surprised next winter and the votes will come in droves for Mauer. It would be disappointing to see it take as long as Molina’s debut to get him in, but then again, perception is often reality for most. View full article

The Minnesota Twins drafted Royce Lewis with the first overall pick during the 2017 MLB draft. Taking a player in that spot would be reflective of elite talent, but what Lewis is doing in his major league career thus far is anything from normal. Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Royce Lewis was the first draft pick taken by the new Minnesota Twins front office. Contemplating between players like Hunter Greene and Kyle Wright, it was the talented California infielder that was coming to Minnesota. It was evident from the start that Lewis had plenty of tools and talent, but his minor league track record was anything but straightforward. There were massive swing changes he worked on, and then there were the interruptions. Covid canceled a season before a slip on ice in Texas took out another. Then there was the fluke play in centerfield with the Twins that wiped away even more games. By the time Lewis returned to the Twins this season, still with his rookie status in place, he had played just 60 total professional games since 2019. To put that into context, Diamondbacks star rookie Corbin Carroll played 100 games in the minors in 2021 and 2022 before making a 32 game cameo in the majors last year. Orioles rookie Gunnar Henderson got in 217 minor league games the past two seasons before making it to the big leagues. Even 20-year-old Jasson Dominguez played in 295 games on the farm over the past two years before lighting up pitching for the Yankees. Lewis has age on all of them. Recently having turned 24-years-old, maybe that’s why he has been able to stay so focused and dedicated to his craft. Maybe it’s been the influence of big league mentors like Torii Hunter. Maybe it’s been a support system that include incredible parents, Cindy and William. No matter what it is, the hurdles that were placed in the way of Lewis have done nothing to slow him down. Through 47 games with Rocco Baldelli’s Twins this season, Lewis has looked every bit a contender for Rookie of the Year. He won’t win the award lacking time to accumulate equal stats, but the numbers compared to games played are jaw-dropping. He owns a .915 OPS while batting .320. He’s launched 11 home runs and has seven doubles to his credit. He’s producing offensively while sliding to the hot corner as an attempt to accommodate Carlos Correa and Edouard Julien on the dirt. Although the Twins have not been an offensive juggernaut all season, the production has largely funneled through Royce. Having played in half as many games, his 1.9 fWAR ranks third among hitters behind only Ryan Jeffers and Julien. Lewis was playing well before going down with an oblique injury, but he has been otherworldly since his return. In 21 games he’s slashing .313/.387/.627 with five doubles and seven home runs. If Lewis’ career to this point could be defined by anything, it’s the word “adjustments.” He’s had to adjust his expectations while dealing with stops and disappointments hurled his way. He’s had to work his way back and make tweaks to better his game. The amount of adversity he’s fought through would deter many. He’s been vocal about his faith, and that’s definitely something he has leaned on. It’s also a tireless work ethic that has propped up his ability to succeed. When the dust settles on the season, it’s more than possible that Lewis tallies an fWAR total in the top 10 for rookies across baseball. That would be nothing short of a miracle given the playing time he’s recorded. Again though, it’s all just a reminder of how abnormal what Lewis is doing is. As his career goes on, Lewis will need to make adjustments. Opposing pitchers will work to figure him out, and they certainly will hope to avoid giving up grand slams on back-to-back nights. If there’s someone that should be expected to make those adjustments though, it’s Royce. Not everyone saw this type of production coming, but you can bet Lewis knew he had it in him all along. Minnesota has a potential superstar in the making. The organization has been searching for a consistent star since the likes of Joe Mauer. Lewis gives hope that the next one is developing right before our eyes. View full article

The Minnesota Twins made Joe Mauer the first overall pick during the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career in Minnesota, and retired after the 2018 season. He stepped out from behind the plate in 2014, and the organization has been looking for answers since. Ryan Jeffers has provided one in 2023, but who else has carried the load? Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports With Joe Mauer’s number “7” having been immediately retired following his playing days, it was only right that he would eventually be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame. He is on the ballot for Cooperstown this cycle, and will eventually be enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Replicating that standard probably doesn’t need to be the goal, but finding a viable catching option has been a pursuit since he was forced from behind the dish. Brain injuries took a toll on Mauer and forced him to first base for the 2014 season. Ron Gardenhire, Paul Molitor, and Rocco Baldelli have employed plenty of catchers since, but which seasons stand out as the best since Mauer put away the shin guards? 5. Kurt Suzuki - 2014 The first man to take the plate in the post-Mauer era, Suzuki earned his first all-star appearance in 2014. Playing in 131 games, his 105 OPS+ was a career high at the time, and he wound up catching the final out from teammate Glen Perkins at Target Field in what was Derek Jeter’s last All-Star Game. Suzuki was a quality veteran who did everything decently well. It was a solid transition for the position and provided some veteran stability to an otherwise poor Twins team. Replacing Mauer’s production at catcher was never going to happen, but getting average across the board was worth circling at an otherwise difficult spot. 4. Jason Castro - 2017 Following the Suzuki tenure, Castro came over as a former all-star for the Houston Astros. He flashed some offensive prowess during the 2013 season, and the hope was that he could replicate that success with the Twins. Castro was a solid defender, and his 93 OPS+ was decent for the role he was playing. Castro helped to bring that Twins team back to the postseason, and it was a good first showing for the time he spent in Minnesota. 3. Mitch Garver - 2021 The only player to make this list twice, Garver rebounded in a big way after an awful Covid season. Playing in just 23 of the 60 games during a shortened 2020, the former Twins prospect showed he still had what once made him a Silver Slugger. Garver played in only 68 games during 2021 as he dealt with injury again, but his .875 OPS and 139 OPS+ from the catcher position were as impressive as anything Twins fans had seen since Mauer. Despite the shortened exposure, he still blasted 13 homers and showed plenty of value. 2. Ryan Jeffers - 2023 What Jeffers is doing this season is unlike anything we have seen for the Twins since Garver went on his 2019 run. Christian Vazquez was signed in the offseason to be a stabilizing veteran presence that would at least warrant a 60/40 split behind the dish. Jeffers has pushed that to 50/50 at best, and should be on the 60/40 side sooner rather than later. Across 71 games he owns a career-best .862 OPS and 136 OPS+. Minnesota was chided for taking him in the second round of the 2018 draft as Jeffers was seen as a potential designated hitter. Instead, the Twins coached up his catching skills and made him a great receiver with adequate blocking skills. The bat has continued to play, and he looks the part of a regular for years to come. 1. Mitch Garver - 2019 A decade after Mauer won an MVP while posting a 1.031 OPS and 171 OPS+, Garver did his best impression. A key part of the Bomba Squad, the New Mexico-native slashed .273/.365/.630 (.995) with 31 big flies. Garver played in just 93 games that season, and was launching baseballs out of ballparks at an alarming rate. He adopted new catching techniques with Tanner Swanson helping to provide insight, and Garver positioned himself as among the best backstops in the game at that point. Injuries are really the only thing that have held him back since, and while we won’t likely see the juiced ball production again, it was the 2019 season that put a ninth-round pick from 2013 on the map. Minnesota has the good fortune of having Jeffers under team control through the 2026 season. Vazquez becomes a free agent the year prior. Maybe it’s Alex Isola, Jair Camargo, Chris Williams, Ricardo Olivar, Carlos Silva, or some other prospect that makes the next impact. No matter what, Minnesota will continue looking for Mauer-like production at catcher for years to come. They likely will never find that sort of player again, but good impressions are noteworthy along the way. View full article

When a schedule is even, the nuances of rivalry are lost. Image courtesy of David Richard-USA TODAY Sports I was watching Gavin Williams dominate the Rays on the 12th when it dawned on me that I had yet to see him pitch against the Twins. Maybe that isn’t unusual. He only has 11 career starts, after all. But, I think it’s emblematic of a bigger change amongst MLB: the new schedule. There are certainly perks to having every team in MLB play every other team. Estranged fans in an opposite league’s city no longer have to wait eons to see their favorite team play. Teams in poor divisions—no comment—will find it harder to hide behind their weak foes; outside exposure will reveal just how behind the MLB meta they are. And it’s just plain cool to see Spencer Strider and Mitch Keller pitch against my favorite team, even if Minnesota loses. These are all good things, changes that improve MLB’s ecosystem. But, perhaps, the trade-off—with rivalry games taking a smaller piece of the scheduling pie—creates an adverse effect. Familiarity is important. I instantly remember Ryan Raburn, Brandon Inge, Brennan Boesch, Jeremy Bonderman, Phil Coke—always Phil Coke—Gerald Laird, and a whole bunch of other nondescript members of the 2000s–2010s Tigers. They weren’t the best players. Most never made an All-Star game. Lord knows I saw them plenty, though, so they’ve stuck with me, still pestering and badgering my mind when I should be thinking of other things. I think that matters. Seeing the same names, looking at the same faces, perhaps a little older, more wrinkly and lethargic than they once were, establishes a connection. It makes their achievements more visceral. I really didn’t care too much when Andrew McCutchen blasted a three-run homer the other day, but when Miguel Cabrera went yard, well, There Goes That Bastard Harassing My Favorite Team Once Again. I’ll pop champagne and dance in the street when he retires. As much as it stinks, that feeling—the painful, personal shared experience you feel seeing an old nemesis kill your team once again—draws us to the game. It coaxes Joe Mauer out of the shadows of retirement to congratulate a man who spent his career terrorizing his team. And, Gavin Williams. Just as important as celebrating known enemies is welcoming new ones. Baseball is special in this way. We know Williams not to be just another face, and arm, and shoulder, and torso: he’s the Next Big Thing in a long line of very impressive Cleveland pitchers. He’s the new Cabrera. How can I hate the new Cabrera when I’ve never seen him? Maybe it’s small potatoes only meant to bug the more sentimental amongst us. Maybe I need to stop being weepy and nostalgic about a bunch of people who don’t know I exist. I think it does mean something, though. If this is to be a sport of men with conflicting interests, then the highest drama—the emotions stoked not by an amorphic player—but, rather, someone who has done it over and over, or will soon do it over and over, is the game’s heart and soul. It draws us to love and hate. It draws Tim Anderson and José Ramírez to throw hands. The Twins and Guardians will play two more series against each other before the season ends. Maybe Williams will pitch one or two times, and his dominance will force me to re-think this premise. Or, maybe, the Twins will smoke him, causing me to mock him and Cleveland’s “so-called pitching factory,” and, well, I guess the emotions are already there. They’ll always be there, certainly. But we shall see if they remain sparked when the familiarity is weakened. View full article

Prior to the Carlos Correa signing this past offseason, Joe Mauer’s $184 million extension was the largest contract in Minnesota Twins history. As we celebrate Mauer’s inauguration into the Twins’ hall of fame this weekend, let’s look back at that extension and evaluate if it was worth it. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Coming off of the 2009 season, Joe Mauer was on top of the baseball world. He had just completed a season in which he slashed .365/.444/.587 with a career-high 28 home runs and 96 RBI. Mauer was voted American League MVP, one vote shy of earning the honor in unanimous fashion. Mauer also found himself one season away from becoming the most sought after free agent in all of baseball. However, in March, heading into the 2010 season, in what would have been his final year under team control, the Twins signed Joe Mauer to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension. The contract was the fourth-largest contract ever handed out in MLB history at the time. The reasoning behind the Twins inking Mauer to such a large contract was not difficult to understand. Mauer had been playing like a Top-5 player in baseball over the first five seasons of his MLB career, and at just 26 years old, Mauer had not even hit his athletic prime yet. Mauer was hitting better than a catcher had hit in a long time, and brought value to the Twins on both sides of the ball. Additionally, the Twins signed Mauer to the contract extension just one month before they opened their brand new stadium, Target Field. There was no move that would have excited a fanbase and opened up a new stadium better than extending the hometown hero, Joe Mauer, to a massive contract extension. For an ownership group that was constantly criticized for being tight with their money, their paying up to keep Mauer in Minnesota was a massive boost to a fanbase at the perfect time. So, the contract extension was definitely the right move at the time, but how did things play out after Mauer signed the extension? In the season immediately following his contract extension, Mauer proved to the Pohlads that their investment was well-spent, as he was an all-star, finished Top-10 in MVP voting, and won his third consecutive Gold Glove and Silver Slugger from the catcher position. Things took a bit of a turn in 2011, though, when the infamous “bilateral leg weakness” began for Mauer. He only played in 82 games that season, and he started to get his first action at first base. His gradual transition to first base continued in 2012 and 2013 until he became a full-time first baseman in 2014 after Ike Davis's foul tip off of Mauer's face mask caused him to abandon catching for good, just four seasons after signing his extension. After becoming a full-time first baseman in 2014, Mauer would never go on to make another all-star team, earn MVP votes or Gold Gloves, while averaging just 1.4 fWAR per season through his final season in 2018. Aside from being an elite hitter, what made Mauer so valuable and worthy of such a large extension was the fact that he played the catcher position. It’s so rare to find a catcher with elite batting skills, and that Mauer was such a great hitter was invaluable. When the Twins signed Mauer to the $184 million extension, they did so assuming that they would be getting an elite catcher for most, if not all, of the contract. How things turned out, though, was that Mauer was only a full-time catcher for the first season immediately following the extension. For five years of the extension, Mauer wasn’t a catcher at all. If we look at Fangraphs’ financial value metric, Joe Mauer provided $125.7 million of value, despite earning $184 million over that timeframe. From that metric alone, one would conclude that the extension was not worth it. Although the dollar value says the money wasn’t worth it, the contract extension was still one that was ultimately the right move. The contract extension was worth it because it launched the opening of Target Field. It kept the hometown kid home. It signaled that the Pohlads weren’t, in fact, “pocket protectors”. It showed that the Twins were willing to spend money and ready to compete. In the end, it was injuries that kept Mauer’s extension from providing the value they thought they would get when they inked him to the contract. But even though they didn’t get that value that they had hoped, the contract provided value for the Twins that went beyond the diamond. Do you think Joe Mauer’s contract extension was worth it? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

The Minnesota Twins played a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night during the middle of a push toward the postseason. That was all a footnote though as Joe Mauer was making his entrance into the Twins Hall of Fame. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Let’s be clear that while an induction into a team’s Hall of Fame is an exceptional accomplishment, it’s equally an effort to drive ticket sales. Someday he’ll have a bronze statue on Target Plaza, and Minnesota will again see the gate swing wide open. Neither of those compare to the honor that was immediately bestowed upon Mauer as his number “7” was retired. For fans of a certain age, Joe Mauer is the embodiment of the popular Sandlot phrase, “heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew had long finished their playing careers. Tony Oliva’s didn’t match up, and Kirby Puckett either didn’t cross into the same threshold or is held in lower regard. For this 32-year-old, Mauer is the closest it gets to the greatest ever witnessed in a Twins uniform. (Editor's Note: This, ummm... older-than-32 Twins fan believes Kirby Puckett crossed that line and threshold, and his playing career is not held in lower regard. His post-playing career is a different story.) For the occasion, white chairs were set out in foul territory. Twins greats and former teammates alike had a front row seat for the occasion. Brian Dozier, Trevor Plouffe, Josh Willingham, and plenty of past players that shared a clubhouse with Mauer made their way back. Justin Morneau now calls Target Field his office as a broadcaster, and Kent Hrbek can always find a reason to be back at the ballpark. Family and friends of Mauer also made their way to the occasion, including wife Maddie, and their young family. Taking the podium as the emcee, Dick Bremer eloquently discussed who Mauer was and still is. He noted that Mauer just entered his senior year of high school in 2000 when the Twins created their Hall of Fame. Speaking on his exploits from youth ball all the way through the big leagues, Bremer summed up Mauer’s career perfectly calling it a “Well-played journey.” With some former players not in attendance, video tributes came rolling in across the newly installed big screens. It was recently-inducted Hall of Famer Jim Thome that put it best saying his congrats and ending with, “I hope there’s another hall of fame in your future.” Taking over for Bremer and introducing the other part of his M&M moniker, Morneau steps up. “Well, my friend, you not only lived up to those expectations but you exceeded them. It’s not easy being the face, or in your case, the sideburns of the franchise.” Morneau delivered his thoughts with a wide grin on his face, and was clearly proud of what his friend had accomplished. Finishing with a story of when the pair ran into a fan with the name Joe, Morneau recalled, “This person thought as much about you as a player, but even more as a person, to name their child after you.” The pair embraced and the microphone was passed. In a way that only he can step in, Mauer took over the podium as his ballad, “What You Know” by artist T.I. rang out. Mauer thanked the crowd for being there, everyone that showed up for him, including his dad Jake, as he was certainly looking down on him from above. The entirety of Mauer’s speech was related to that moment he got a call from Carew in the car with his girls. The twins asked what it took to make a Hall of Fame, and the Minnesotan put it in the most thought out description possible. Noting the support system it takes, Mauer touched on his dad, “I tip my cap to you, dad, and for being one of the main reasons I’m standing here today” choking back tears. Maren and Emily are very clearly the apple of his eye, and having them look on with wide smiles and pride was certainly something Mauer shared for his own dad. Knowing how she held down the fort, Mauer said, “Thanks for always being there for me, mom, and supporting me from day one.” Leadership is another thing that provides a Hall of Fame opportunity. The youngest of three boys, Mauer talked of the relationship Jake and Bill provided him. They pushed him, and allowed him to be part of their experiences as well. He told his girls they now have that responsibility for son Chip. Continuing on leadership, Mauer talked of his wife, Maddie. “We are very lucky to have a leader and a role model like their mom. Thank you for all you do for our family, I love you.” The crowd for this occasion was not just in the stands, but in those white seats on the infield as well. Teammates spanning nearly two decades made it back to Target Field. “I want to thank you boys for traveling here tonight and celebrating this moment with me.” Those in the stands, sitting in a stadium that was built largely because of what Mauer did for the organization, Mauer had a message for the fans as well, “I want to thank you all for supporting me, even in my down moments. It truly means the world to me.” As he often did, Mauer turned the focus back to the task at hand, and with a handful of Diamondbacks and Twins players at their respective dugout railings he said, “Good luck out there tonight boys, go get ‘em.” Paul Feiner, the only player to ever strike out Mauer in high school, brought three balls to the newly-inducted Hall of Famer. One was for each of his children. They delivered a ceremonial first pitch, and the night was set to get underway. The game could have been inconsequential, but in a postseason race every win matters. The Twins handled business bludgeoning the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1. Most impressively in that win was the performance of starting catcher, Ryan Jeffers. On a night with a backstop going into the Hall of Fame, Rocco Baldelli’s starter went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs. It was a storybook ending to an evening. It’s very likely we won't see a player like Mauer again for decades. The Twins haven’t had a Hall of Famer enter Cooperstown without significant help for years. Top prospects flame out or fail to reach expectations. We’ve seen that with Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. What Mauer did as a hero playing entirely for one organization is something only dreamed up in storybooks. Accepting that reality makes Saturday even more impactful. As a state, and collectively as Twins fans, few things are more exciting than seeing success for one of our own. Joe Mauer epitomized that, and seeing his career immortalized after he has hung up his cleats is truly something to behold. 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There are times, precious and rare, when a player elevates above the game, and becomes a member of our shared life experience. Image courtesy of David Berding-USA TODAY Sports Often lost in sports is that these players are human, with their lives naked and popular. That openness leads fans to having—or thinking they have—insight into their personhood. I have never met Carlos Correa, but I feel that I know something about him and his personality, simply because I’ve watched him on my TV for nearly two years now. I know who his wife and child are, I know he went to High School, at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, and I know that he sometimes likes to one-hop throws to first base. Reserving three hours nightly to watch them play does that, and, without even realizing it, I have seen Correa more in my life than any of my aunts. It becomes a quiet comfort. While the people we meet in our life change and move, evolving as we do, sometimes fading away as the realities of adulthood command much of our attention, those three precious hours—treated religiously every night—offer a rare stability. I know I’ll see Max Kepler tonight, just as I have since he was 22, and I was in High School eight years ago. That’s a sort of emotional attachment usually reserved for the most intimate members of our life. And so: Joe Mauer. For 15 years—a decade and a half of everyone’s life—he was a rare constant. He joined a team with Lew Ford and Brad Radke, and left it in the hands of Eddie Rosario and José Berríos; he entered as a catching phenom, and left it as a worn-down first baseman; he started in the Metrodome, and left in the cool open-air breeze of Target Field. It was an atypical relationship between player and franchise, one that goes unnoticed and often underappreciated in an arena where one’s job is never safe for an extended period of time. Any slip in performance is met with calls for a trade or a signing, and personalities and people clash, with players soon finding themselves on different teams. Rod Carew was an Angel for seven years, Johan Santana tossed over 700 innings for the Mets, but Mauer never left. That quiet comfort—the familiarity of the shared experience—grew with Mauer as with no Twin in recent memory. As players and coaches went, there stood Mauer, penciled in at a different position perhaps, but still smiling, still slashing doubles into the left-center gap. I think, perhaps, this amount of exposure separates baseball from most other sports; I have to think for a decent amount of time to remember a time when Kirk Cousins hasn’t been the Vikings QB, but even his Minnesota career only amounts to 80 regular season games—less than half a typical baseball season. Mauer’s was 1,858. Inevitably, something he did on the field became connected with a life experience, something near and dear still fondly remembered today, in part because Mauer helped make it visceral. It’s unsurprising that Mauer donning his catching gear for one last time in 2018 evoked the kind of reaction it did; here was a man—Minnesota’s man—reminding the fans of good times, when our heroes were immortal and forever young; when the shackles of expectations and disappointment could fall aside and we could, revere and celebrate together. That 2018 team wasn’t good, but at that moment, no one cared; the moment was Mauer’s and his alone. When we see Mauer on the field to enter the Twins Hall of Fame tonight, we will all be flooded with memories. Some may think of his MVP season, some may recall his one-and-only walk-off homer in 2017, and some may think of his perfect Twins introduction: his first career hit smacked right up the middle. In all cases, though, there will surely be personal artifacts—parts of each person's life critical and endearing to them—associated with each moment; perhaps he cracked a big hit on an especially raucous night partying in college, or perhaps iconic behind-the-back snag preceded a first date that soon became a marriage. In any case, and in memory, the magic of Mauer is time: his extended, wonderful career became intertwined with the fans and their lives, making him a rare warm comfort with his familiarity and excellence. View full article

Some Twins fans grew up watching Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva. Others found their heroes in Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, or Chuck Knoblauch. We grew up watching Joe Mauer, and we wanted to be just like him. Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports When Joe Mauer is inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame Saturday, joining 37 other players and staff like Kirby Puckett, Jim Kaat, and Tom Kelly, Twins fans will have a chance to look back at a childhood hero, and arguably the biggest star Minnesota sports has ever seen. One cannot overstate the impact that Joe Mauer had on the state in the early-to-mid 2000s and what it was like being a kid watching Mauer’s reign. To Twins fans of a certain age, Mauer represents some of our first memories of being a fan. He was not only an “American Idol” like the famous Sports Illustrated cover proclaimed, but a hometown, childhood hero, and a role model. As a kid who grew up playing softball with a baseball-playing brother and an older sister who also played softball, Twins baseball was huge in our family. We watched all the games on FSN North, our parents took us down to games at the Metrodome almost weekly, and we went to all the free player autograph signings at Cub Foods and the now-defunct Twins Pro Shop stores. And Mauer was everywhere. He was the star of the hilarious Twins “This is Twins Territory” commercials of the 2000s, including one paying homage to the classic Mean Joe Green Coca-Cola TV commercial in which Mauer gives a kid his sideburns (fun fact- the kid in this commercial is the brother-in-law of Twins Daily writer Lou Hennessy) and one in which pitcher and “Joe Mauer’s teammate” Pat Neshek fields questions from crazed Mauer fans who want to know if Mauer has a girlfriend, if he smells nice, and even what his favorite kind of cheese is. “Kids, does anyone have any questions that aren’t about Joe Mauer?” asks the Twins PR staffer (commercial at 1:36 of this video). Then, when the Twins were preparing to make a move to Target Field and take baseball into great Minnesota outdoors, Mauer and Joe Nathan starred in the classic “Take It Outside” commercial featuring Mauer’s mother, Teresa, and the nostalgic “Sandlot” commercial in which Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Michael Cuddyer play some sandlot baseball at the future Target Field stadium site. He was in a “This is SportsCenter” commercial with Scott Van Pelt, in which Van Pelt, who does not know anything about Minnesota, humorously tries to relate to Mauer the Minnesotan. “You ever meet Prince?” Van Pelt asks Mauer. He was on national magazine covers, in video game commercials like MLB 10 The Show and MLB 11 The Show, in which Mauer is still a really nice guy even when getting taunted while playing The Show and instead lets is bat do the talking, and national shampoo commercials. Locally, he was in even more TV spots, like for local health clubs. Mauer, arguably, is the biggest sports star Minnesota has ever had. Think about it: when has Minnesota otherwise had a sports star on the cover of video games and national TV spots? Never. (The number of kids who do the Griddy on the Target Field big screen suggests that Justin Jefferson might reach these heights, but he is the only star I see as having the potential to reach this type of national visibility. And yet, there are so many other high-profile NFL stars to compete with, and the batting stats Mauer managed to have as a catcher were truly remarkable). But even as Mauer’s national star rose, he was still ours- the hometown kid from St. Paul who never left and continues to make Minnesota his home. Outside of TV commercials, he was on “Got Milk?” posters we had hanging up in school, and he was on a Minnesota Department of Health anti-smoking poster emblazoned with “Fast, fearless, strong, and tobacco free” with a picture of Mauer mid-swing that I still have hanging up in my childhood bedroom. Kids in backyards playing wiffleball pretended to be Mauer, and undoubtedly he inspired more than a few kids to put on catcher’s gear. Kids practiced using Joe Mauer’s QuickSwing hitting device. Kids wanted to “be like Joe” and always the friendly, wholesome role model known for community volunteering and signing autographs; parents were all for it. A common thread among commercials and 2000’s media featuring Mauer is that he was shown as a wholesome family man. He epitomized "Minnesota Nice." His mother, Teresa, frequently starred in commercials with Mauer, like the “Take it Outside” spot and a Kemps Ice cream commercial in which Mauer catches a scoop of ice cream like a popup in the kitchen. In a different Kemps commercial for milk, Mauer shows up for dinner at his mother’s door with a bouquet and a gallon of milk. “Boy, that was good, just like old times, huh, ma?” Mauer says after dinner as he takes a big swig of milk. “Exactly, so you’ll be doing the dishes,” Teresa Mauer responds. The message of these commercials seems to say that even though we may know him as a multi-millionaire All-Star and batting champion, he still loves his mom, does the dishes, and is still that boy from St. Paul. Mauer was also portrayed as a type of “everyman” like us: even though he is a national star and an adult, he plays video games with his friends, eats dinner with his family, and keeps his hair and sideburns looking good using Head and Shoulders shampoo. Commercials showing Mauer playing sandlot baseball and video games also show Mauer in a nostalgic light that makes us think of our own childhoods. I remember my parents taking my siblings and me down to Joe Mauer Bat Day at the ‘Dome in 2006 and waiting in long, snaking lines for it- but it was all worth it, and I still have that beauty today. There was also a Joe Mauer sideburns giveaway in 2006. And when he put on the catcher’s gear one last time in his final game in 2018, there was no dry eye in the stadium. A recent college graduate, I watched Mauer step behind the plate from my spot along the first baseline. I wasn’t a little kid anymore- and Mauer had a constant presence on the team from the time I was in 4th grade until I was in law school. In the literal sense, I grew up watching Mauer. So, on Saturday, as the Twins induct Mauer into the coveted Twins Hall of Fame, fans will once again have a chance to celebrate one of Minnesota’s biggest points of pride and a nostalgic, childhood hero to many. View full article

This weekend the Minnesota Twins are inducting legendary catcher, and hometown native, Joe Mauer, into their Hall of Fame. It’s the first stop on his Hall of Fame tour, and the hope should be that an eventual trip to Cooperstown is made as well. Image courtesy of David Berding-USA TODAY Sports Joe Mauer retired following the 2018 Major League Baseball season. Less than a year later, constituents were gathered at Target Field where the Minnesota Twins were retiring the number “7” forever. That move, to make sure no one would ever wear Mauer’s number again, serves as a much greater reminder of who Mauer was on the field. On Saturday, Mauer will join 37 other members of Minnesota’s Hall of Fame. The group includes broadcasters, players, and executives. Mauer’s enshrinement is a straightforward one, as he was among the best to ever wear a Twins jersey. What is neat about the timing is that Minnesota is bringing Mauer into their Hall of Fame during the same yearly cycle that he will be on the ballot for Cooperstown. When the BBWAA gets their official ballots for the next voting cycle, Mauer’s name will be listed along with Adrian Beltre, David Wright, Chase Utley, and even former Twins teammates Denard Span and Bartolo Colon. Many of the first-year players don’t have much of a hope to see a bronze plaque in Cooperstown, but like Beltre, Mauer should go in on his first ballot. Although Mauer’s case for enshrinement in Cooperstown has been debated by plenty of analysts across baseball, he seems more likely than not to get in. His career was stunted by injury, but Mauer was one of the best offensive catchers of all-time, and has three batting titles to show for it. He won an MVP, and nearly became the third player ever (joining Placido Polanco and Darin Erstad) to win Gold Glove awards at multiple positions. Playing in just shy of 1,900 career games, Mauer doesn’t have many of the counting stats typically aligned with automatic induction into The Hall. He is well short of 3,000 hits, topping out at 2,123, and hit just 143 career homers. To boil his career down to those statistics is doing a disservice however. Not only was Mauer a career .306 hitter with a 124 OPS+, but he played incredible defense behind the plate. As a catcher, Mauer’s 53.0 fWAR ranks 15th all-time. He’s just over two-points behind Yadier Molina, who is seen as a surefire first ballot guy despite producing so little offensively. With Molina having just retired in 2022, he won’t be eligible for balloting until 2027, and while it may be cool for the catchers to go in together, it would be sad to see Mauer wait that long. Back when Mauer hung up his cleats, doing so with one of the greatest moments Target Field has ever seen, baseball writer Jay Jaffe put together a piece outlining his credentials. Jaffe has long been a master of Cooperstown worthiness, and his closing statement regarding Mauer’s candidacy summed things up well. “Mauer nor Utley is a slam-dunk Hall of Famer, but both should benefit from the increasingly mainstream usage of advanced statistics in baseball coverage and from an evolving electorate that will soon include members from sabermetric sites…here’s hoping this pair will be part of Cooperstown’s Class of 2024.” We’re still many months away from seeing how the Hall of Fame vote will shake out, and you can bet @NotMrTibbs and his tracker team will keep us updated throughout the process. What seems fairly certain to think on though, is that this weekend’s Twins Hall of Fame ceremony won’t be the last of its kind for Mauer. Fans were given plenty of moments to smile upon throughout Mauer’s playing career, and the first of his retirement tour was in putting his jersey off limits. The Hall of Fame represents another stop, and Cooperstown after that. Maybe someday Target Field Plaza will put a statue up for him as well, and we’ll continue to see the man that was among the greatest catchers in baseball history get his due. View full article

Twins Territory has a multi-state reach, and although Major League Baseball blacks out some of the access in those areas, the organization can keep talent within its borders. In selecting pitcher Ty Langenberg from Iowa, they did just that. Image courtesy of Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK Opening the season as Iowa’s Friday night starter, Ty Langenberg dealt with some adversity as he took a brief trip to the bullpen before rejoining the rotation. Looking like one of the better arms across the Big Ten, Langenberg parlayed a successful Cape Cod showing into some strong numbers for the Hawkeyes. Looking to get right into his professional career, Langenberg will be heading to Fort Myers soon and taking the next step in his baseball journey. Before getting there, he had time to catch up with Twins Daily. Twins Daily: Last year at Iowa, what do you think set you up for this draft and venturing into professional baseball? Ty Langenberg: I think it started with the summer. I was fortunate enough to play out in the Cape Cod League, and I did pretty well. That put me on the radar of a lot of different scouts and got my name out there. Coming into the fall, I had a little helium with my name. I had a pretty successful fall and made some more improvements. I was fortunate enough to earn the Friday night role which helped my name a little bit more. I actually had a pretty rough start to the season. In five starts, I underperformed in the Friday night role, and we had two other guys that were right behind me working. They moved me into the bullpen for a week, and I had to work through some things to make in-season adjustments. I battled adversity, and I think that was something scouts liked to see. I entered back into the rotation and had success, ultimately finishing strong, and I think that mattered a lot. TD: How did making some of those adjustments and dealing with differing levels of adversity help set you up for the enhanced competition within professional baseball? TL: It was really that first taste that not everything is going to sunshine and rainbows at the next level. There is limited time to make those adjustments. When something goes wrong, I need to be quick and precise when working through adjustments. Being able to work through pitch grips or mental cues then quickly going to the mound and finding things that take hold was huge. TD: What are you comfortable throwing on the mound and what do you feature? TL: I throw a four-seam fastball and changeup is probably my second best pitch. I also have a slider and a cutter. Fastball usage is probably around 40-50% with the slider and changeup making up the rest. My fastball isn’t something I’m afraid to go to in deeper counts, but I wouldn’t say it’s my best pitch. I ride it a little bit from a lower slot and that seems to work well up in the zone. Typically late in counts, my changeup is going to be my best pitch. It worked well for me when I played out in the Cape Cod League, and it’s something I brought back after making some tweaks out there. For a changeup, it’s kind of funny as there isn’t a huge change in velocity. I still throw it pretty firm, but I try to kill the batter with the movement on it. It’s my best pitch. My next step in professional baseball is to get a handle on a consistent, sweeping, slider. It’s a pitch that was pretty inconsistent this year. When it’s working and on, it can be one of my better pitches. The cutter was pretty much an emergency pitch when the slider wasn’t working. TD: Entering professional baseball, what are you most looking forward to from a development standpoint? TL: I’m really looking forward to the pitch design aspect of things. I know the Twins are a great organization for all of the analytical and data focus. They use all of the resources they have to develop a pitcher to their liking. The University of Iowa had a great program and we had a lot of that stuff. I’m excited to see how the Twins handle it, and I can compare and contrast to what Iowa did. TD: Being so close to the Twins organization logistically, what do you know about the Minnesota organization? TL: It’s really cool because growing up the Twins were my favorite team, and I had a lot of family that lived in Minneapolis. I’ve kind of known them from my start in baseball, watching Joe Mauer when I was younger, and now following them up to this point. Now I get to learn more about what they are as an organization and what they preach. It’s cool to end up with my childhood favorite team. It’s also cool they have a High-A affiliate out in Cedar Rapids right next to Iowa City. Staying pretty local is a good feeling. TD: Off the baseball field, what are you doing to de-stress? What hobbies do you have? TL: I do quite a bit of different things. Big thing I do is golfing. I like golfing, that’s probably my main thing. Video games are big too, I love playing video games whenever I can’t golf. If I’m outside and not golfing, I’m probably fishing. Welcome to Twins Territory, Ty! View full article

The Minnesota Twins have not been considered one of the most premier teams in baseball on a yearly basis for some time. However, the 2019 Bomba Squad holds the Major League Baseball record for most home runs by a team in a single season. With the Home Run Derby upon us, it’s worth looking back at some franchise performances. Image courtesy of Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports Despite the Minnesota Twins posting a Major League Baseball record 307 home runs, they did not have a single participant in the Home Run Derby that year. Nelson Cruz, Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Mitch Garver all blasted more than 30 homers individually, but none of them competed in the longball event held at the Guardians Progressive Field. Over the years, Minnesota has had their fair share of Home Run Derby participants. With the next iteration of the event on tap, here are the top five performances in franchise history. 5. Brian Dozier 2014 Once a failed shortstop for Minnesota, Dozier turned himself into among the best offensive second basemen in all of baseball. He found a way to yank pitches out to left field, and his home run numbers went through the roof. Despite missing the All-Star Game in 2014, Dozier was invited to participate in the Home Run Derby. He was a hometown contestant with the event held at Target Field, and despite just hitting two dingers, his appearance fueled excitement. Yoenis Cespedes ultimately won the event, but Dozier would go on to blast 42 home runs just two seasons later. 4. Miguel Sano 2017 As a first-time all-star, Sano took his talents to South Beach and appeared in the Home Run Derby following a 25 dinger season the year prior. Hometown favorite Giancarlo Stanton was expected to win, but Sano drew a favorable bracket matchup with the Kansas City Royals Mike Moustakas opposing him. After knocking off the Royals third basemen, he also bested future teammate Gary Sanchez to find himself in the finals against Yankees star Aaron Judge. Sano came up one longball short, but his showing was beyond impressive and highlighted a story of player that had been clamored for since being a teenager. 3. Joe Mauer 2009 Through his first 561 career games Mauer had just 44 homers to his credit. Having won two batting titles already, the Minnesota-native began flipping baseballs into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome seats. He finished 2009 with an MVP award and 28 homers. Invited to the derby that year in St. Louis, Mauer’s five first-round dingers forced a swing off with Albert Pujols and Carlos Pena. He wound up netting no more and went home quietly, but his season ended with some better hardware. 2. Tom Brunansky 1985 Competing in the first-ever iteration of the Home Run Derby, Brunansky represented the Twins with the event held at the Metrodome. He was a first-time all-star and his 32 dingers the season before was a career high. Parameters were obviously be shifted as the event drew popularity, but in its introduction, Dave Parker won, sending just six longballs into the seats. Brunansky finished second with four to his credit. He tied with all-time greats such as Carlton Fisk, Dale Murphy, Eddie Murray, and Jim Rice. 1. Justin Morneau 2008 Forever known as the Josh Hamilton derby, Morneau wound up winning in New York. Widely regarded as one of the best contests of all time, Morneau made it through the first round with eight homers to his credit. After Hamilton’s 28 blast barrage, he couldn’t keep things going in the final round. Morneau launched five homers in the final round to take the crown. The field was an interesting one with only Morneau, Hamilton, and Lance Berkman as true sluggers. More pure power hitters like Ryan Braun, Dan Uggla, and Chase Utley also filled out the competition. Which is your favorite Twins Home Run Derby performance of all time? View full article

Rocco Baldelli and the Twins face a challenge in developing a usage model for Byron Buxton that maximizes his impact while also minimizing wear and tear on a body that's been ravaged throughout his career. The last MVP season from a Twins player might offer a blueprint to follow. Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Winning a Most Valuable Player award is the pinnacle of individual achievement in baseball and most any other sport. It's the honor of a lifetime for athletes, placing their names alongside true greats in the history books while celebrating an unparalleled contribution to winning. Beyond all that, Byron Buxton is uniquely incentivized to prove deserving of this particular accolade. His contract structure with the Twins is such that Buxton will get an extra $8 million for winning MVP, adding more than 50% on top of his $15 million base salary. (He receives significant bonuses for finishing anywhere in the top 10, but that's obviously the biggest.) Even with their payroll already stretched to a record high, the Minnesota Twins would be more than happy to pay out those extra millions, given what it would entail for the team. The trouble, of course, is that Buxton has generally come nowhere near making enough plate appearances to have a viable shot. The superstar talent presents a tough balancing act for Rocco Baldelli and the Twins: How best to utilize him in a way that gets him on the field enough to put himself in the MVP conversation, while also managing his workload to minimize injury risk and keep him strong through the end of the year? Last season, the team was essentially forced into the position of trying to navigate this situation on the fly due to an early knee injury, which severely limited his availability. This year, they can aim to avoid the same outcome by planning around a playing time model that maximizes Buxton's impact while taking it relatively easy on his body. For an example of how this might shake out, we need only look back to 2009 when Joe Mauer put forth the last MVP season by a Twins player. Joe Mauer and the 70-15-15 Model One of the most interesting things about Mauer's MVP season is that he missed the entire first month, making his season debut on May 1st. (And, unforgettably, homering in his very first at-bat.) In the spring, Mauer dealt with an inflamed sacroiliac joint – which sits at the base of the spine – and it kept him out of action for nearly four weeks. Once he returned, he was able to play almost every day, making 109 starts at catcher and 28 at designated hitter on the way to accruing 606 plate appearances – plenty to establish him as the unanimous choice for MVP. Mauer's dispersal of games spent at catcher, DH, or not playing shook out roughly like this: Catcher: 70% DH: 15% Off Days: 15% The hope, obviously, is that Buxton will not have to miss a month of the season this year. But Mauer's example shows how the Twins can mix in ample rest days and still get Buck to the number of plate appearances required for legitimate MVP consideration (and to trigger his contractual PA bonuses, which hit at 502, 533, 567, 600 and 625). Planning around this model would essentially mean giving Buxton one day off and one day at DH each week. The comparison between these two is a fitting one to me for a couple of key reasons: Like Mauer, Buxton derives a huge portion of his value from playing excellent defense at one of the most premium positions on the field. In 2009, the Twins were comfortable giving Mauer semi-frequent days at DH and negating that part of his value because they had a backup they were very comfortable with in Mike Redmond. This year, the addition of Gold Glover Michael A. Taylor as Buxton's top backup in center provides a similar luxury. While Buxton is ostensibly healthy at this juncture, the team's conservative approach to moving him along this spring signals a cautionary mindset geared toward prevention. The 70-15-15 model as a guiding principle feels like the sweet spot to me. How Are the Twins Envisioning Buxton's Usage? When I was in camp last week, I took the opportunity to ask Baldelli straight-up if he had a ratio in mind for Buxton's time spent at center field versus designated hitter this year. In 2022, 52 of Buck's 86 starts came in center field compared to 34 at DH, equating to a 60-40 balance clearly driven more by necessity than preference. Unsurprisingly, the Twins manager – notoriously coy about revealing his future plans – was noncommittal in response, describing it as "probably at this point still an unanswerable question." "I would say, we’d play Buck — and I mean it — we’d play him in center field for 162 games if we could do that," Baldelli said. "What he’s going to need as the season goes on, nobody knows the answer to that. So we’re going to react to whatever he needs, and we’ll give him that." Not the most fulfilling answer, but I guess I can't blame Rocco for not wanting to get specific, especially with the season still weeks away and Buxton still yet to make his spring debut. It's all very theoretical at this point. At the same time, this is something the team needs to be very thoughtful and strategic about. While many sports fans may loathe the term "load management," it's a paramount aspect of handling Buxton properly. In an interview with MLB Network Radio later in the week, general manager Thad Levine was a bit more open about acknowledging this reality. "What’d we try to do this offseason, to try to enhance his ability to stay on the field is, I think we really tried to build out our depth," Levine explained. "Going out and getting guys like Joey Gallo, Michael A. Taylor, two additional players in addition to Max Kepler ... who could all play some center field, give Byron some opportunities to contribute as a DH, something that I think Rocco really believes can really extend his plate appearances over the course of the season." You don't say? Levine continued: "The reality was unfortunately he sustained an injury very early last season, ended up playing with it most of the year until effectively he couldn’t anymore. We’re hopeful we can avoid that early-season injury, we’re hopeful that we can sort of insulate him by having some really excellent-caliber defensive players out there who can allow him to DH a little bit more without a known drop-off in our lineup." While Baldelli might dream about playing Buxton for 162 games in center field, it's not realistic and would frankly be an irresponsible thing to attempt, in light of his history. Given his druthers, I have no doubt Buck would push to do exactly that, but it's incumbent upon the manager and front office to be smart and look at the big picture, even if Buxton is feeling good early in the season. As Mauer's precedent shows, there's a way to do it and still put the 29-year-old in good a position to earn his payday and lead the team to glory. View full article

“This is like Christmas and the 4th of July all in one,” said the unloved man. Image courtesy of © David Berding-USA TODAY Sports It may seem like just yesterday that Joe Mauer donned his catching equipment one last time before saying farewell to a roaring Target Field crowd. But it’s now been five years since his 2018 retirement, meaning the lifelong Twin is eligible for Baseball’s Hall of Fame. And for the most miserable bastards in Minnesota, it couldn’t come soon enough. “As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve missed him since he retired,” said Tom Hanson, 58. The Anoka resident and classic North Metro redass has been banned from every social media website ever created. “He’s the worst baseball player I’ve ever seen and he should be in jail for stealing money from hard-working Minnesotans. But all the same, I’ve missed sending angry emails about him to our bought-and-paid-for local media shills.” Hanson, who is no longer welcome in the IHOP family of breakfast restaurants, foresees a multi-year campaign against the former American League MVP. “The first year, I expect the baseball writers to step up and keep him out because they do that to good players, too,” said Hanson. “Patriots will do the heavy lifting after that. A sustained barrage of complaints to talk radio, comments left in newspaper comment sections, skywriting. My stepson who no longer talks to me does raps on the internet, it would be nice to bring him into the fold if (ex-fourth wife) Bonnie would quit being such a [INCREDIBLY VILE EXPLETIVE].” Hanson isn’t alone. “All I know is players used to play hurt or they didn’t play,” said Bruce Schafer, 62, of Dayton. “Mauer didn’t even play when he was healthy and now the woke mob wants me to act like he’s a Hall of Famer? Hell no.” Schafer, who frequently shares inaccurate stories about vaccine efficacy and Barack Obama’s long-form birth certificate on Facebook, said the opportunity to set the record straight about the three-time batting champ is one he welcomes. “This is like Christmas and the 4th of July all in one,” said the unloved man. “There are kids out there who’ve never heard the term ‘bilateral leg weakness’ used to mock someone with a brain injury. Just another example of cancel culture going too far.” View full article