Joe Mauer News

In this July 27, 2007 file photo, Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd delivers a pitch to Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer in the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland. via The Seattle Times

Parts of the potential future for the Minnesota Twins were recognized Thursday for their excellence in the recent past. via Major League Baseball

Minnesota Twins center fielder Torii Hunter filed for free agency on Monday, immediately becoming one of the most prized players on the market. via Inside Bay Area

“The next thing you know, he is in the big leagues”

An athlete is helped in several ways when he plays on Team USA. Not only does the player receive a chance to help his country in international competition and play in front of 30,000-40,000 fans, it also helps ... via USA Baseball

“I sat in a different chair this time, that's all”

Twins catcher Joe Mauer will not need to undergo surgery to repair a hernia this offseason. via Toronto Blue Jays

“I think everyone's goal here, especially his, is for him to get back on that field and regain the form of two years ago”

Twins catcher Joe Mauer , after several days of tests and gathering opinions, will not need hernia surgery after all, General Manager Bill Smith said Tuesday. via StarTribune

“This is a go-to guy Notre Dame desperately needed. He's a guy that could help stretch a defense, somebody that Notre Dame has not had really.”

Minutes after Notre Dame was delivered its 38-0 whipping at the hands of USC on Saturday, a number of highly regarded recruits mingled outside the Irish locker room. via South Bend Tribune

“He's probably rather be on the cover of Popular Science”

Bill Schmidt first saw Jeff Francis with Canada's junior team in Tuscon in 1999. via London Free Press

“It was disappointing in a lot of ways, because we were pretty decent in the first half offensively and then in the second half, well, too many things didn't go our way”

The Twins offensive struggles throughout this past season took a toll on nearly every person in the organization. via Major League Baseball

OK, I admit to SOMEWHAT artificially aging Pudge in that image up there, but he IS getting older, and with age comes a reduced arm, a slower bat, worse knees and back muscles. via MVN - Recent Articles

When a team finishes with 17 fewer wins than the season before, entire sections of the train jumped off the track. via St. Cloud Times Online

Twins C Joe Mauer had three hits, including a solo home run, during Saturday's game against the Red Sox. via CBS Sportsline.com

“We need to find help, and it's going to have to come from outside the organization.”

Bill Smith spent his first day as the Twins' general manager Monday exactly as he spent his final workday as assistant GM on Friday: packing up, moving his files down the hall, figuring out the logistics and ... via The Minneapolis-St. Paul Pioneer Press

“I hope for everyone's sake, including myself, that we do.”

The Minnesota Twins placed a full-page advertisement in the sports section of Monday's Star Tribune to thank their customers for another season of support. via St. Cloud Times

Carlos Silva deserved better than this. Think back to March, when Silva was getting absolutely bombed in spring training, completely unable to keep the ball in the park. via ArgusLeader.com

“I think every player is different. Those are things that you evaluate on a case-by-case basis.”

BOSTON - Torii Hunter confirmed this week that he is looking for at least five guaranteed years in his next contract, which could be a sticking point for the Twins, who haven't signed a five-year deal since ... via StarTribune

“I wanted to thank them for helping me win a couple of Cy Young Awards. But not only that; it's been fun, too.”

BOSTON - Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson received a new Rolex watch Friday, courtesy of Johan Santana . via StarTribune

“I wasn't spectacular, but I did a pretty good job of that.”

The move certainly would have gone against the basic principles of baseball. Then again, Ozzie Guillen pretty much has torn up and set fire to the so-called book used by most managers. via Chicago White Sox