There’s more good news ahead for the Twins if club president Dave St. Peter is right about Joe Mauer. The first place Central Division Twins have won 10 of their last 15 games but Mauer has struggled at the plate hitting .250 with one home run in that span—although he does have 12 RBI.
For the season the Twins are a surprising and impressive 28-18 playing in what St. Peter describes as perhaps baseball’s toughest division. Mauer is second on the team in RBI with 27 but his .276 average and on-base percentage of .337 are significantly lower than his career numbers of .317 and .399.
Mauer, the team’s highest paid player at a reported $23 million per season, suffered a concussion in 2013 and that ended his career as a catcher. Playing first base last season he hit only .277 and his continued below average numbers cause speculation by fans about the 32-year-old Minnesota native’s health.
St. Peter told Sports Headliners that Mauer is “100 percent” healthy. He said Mauer has been a team leader this spring and is evolving into one of the American League’s best first basemen. “I am not worried about Joe Mauer. I think Joe is still primed for a very, very solid season (and) one in which he could drive in 90 to 100 runs. I expect he’s going to hit over .300 and have one of the higher on-base percentages on our club. Joe Mauer is part of the solution. He’s not one of the problems.”
The Twins lost 90-plus games the past four seasons but fans are giddy about the club’s fast start this spring. If the regular season ended now, manager Paul Molitor’s team would be in the playoffs.
“I really don’t go there (the playoff talk),” St. Peter said. “It’s way too early. It’s May. Obviously you want to position yourself to be playing meaningful games late in the season. We’ll deal with that as it comes.
“We do know Mr. Molitor has got these guys competing, so the ultimate goal is to win the World Series. To get to the World Series you have to get to the post-season. Clearly those are things that are out there in front of us, but I can tell you we don’t spend a lot of time thinking about that in May.”
The Twins are 17-6 at Target Field so far—the best home record in the American League. St. Peter said it looks like the club has regained its “mojo” in Minneapolis where in 2010 the team had the best home record in baseball. “If nothing else…I thought that was absolutely critical…to play better at home.
“We’re playing great at home. Hopefully that trend will continue because I think that’s the trademark of a good baseball team.”
Worth Noting
St. Peter said there’s been a “bit of a lag” with the fan base coming back to buy tickets after the team’s struggles during past seasons. However, he’s encouraged by walkup sales including one game where about 5,000 tickets were sold. He said market research shows fans “desperately” want to get behind the franchise.
Tickets remain for all home games including the much anticipated series with the Cubs June 19, 20 and 21. Those games may eventually sell out but the Twins aren’t close to sellouts for any remaining games on the 2015 schedule, St. Peter said.
The Twins will see familiar faces with the Blue Jays in town for games tonight through Sunday. First baseman and outfielder Chris Colabello, for years a journeyman in the Twins organization who could have hot streaks, is hitting .386 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 83 at bats.
Other ex-Twins with the Jays are infielder Danny Valencia and pitchers Andrew Albers, Liam Hendriks and R.A. Dickey. Sal Butera, the former Twins catcher, is a scout with the organization.
Matt Kalil was harshly criticized last season by fans and media but Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer knows some of those barbs weren’t deserved. At times the left tackle (who played injured) didn’t receive the on-field help he needed from now departed starting left guard Charlie Johnson. This week at OTAs Brandon Fusco is working with Kalil from the left guard position after being on the right side last year next to tackle Phil Loadholt.
Kalil said he and Fusco want to achieve good communication and that includes developing rapport off the field. “Yeah, we’re trying to go out (for fun) a little more. Phil is kind of getting a little upset,” Kalil kidded. “That was his boy.”
Zimmer said a key reason for switching Fusco from right guard to left is to benefit rookie T.J. Clemmings who could become the starter on the right side. “We felt like with T.J. Clemmings it would be a little bit easier for him to stay on the same side (as in college),” Zimmer said.
Mike Wallace, the new wide receiver the Vikings acquired in a trade this off-season, said he’s played in five different offenses the last five years. He expects a comfortable adjustment here and looks forward to being part of offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s emphasis on the vertical passing game. He doesn’t think he “messed up” a single play the first two days of practice this week.
Wallace caught 10 touchdown passes for the Dolphins last season. Three times during his career he has averaged 16.6 yards or better per reception, with best averages of 21 in 2010 and 19.4 in 2009 playing for the Steelers.
Is Wallace the kind of upgrade Zimmer wants for the Vikings at wide receiver? “I know he’s a dynamic receiver and he’s been doing a great job of working,” Zimmer said. “He’s a guy that works very, very hard. He’s been catching the ball well. He’s been learning the playbook. All of these things are all different, but he’s looked good.”
Vikings players, coaches and staff have their annual playground building project on June 3 at Falcon Heights Elementary School in Falcon Heights.
Calendar planning for 2016: Xcel Energy Center hosts the Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships January 15-24, and the Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament March 17-19.