Author: David Shama

Hooray for the Minneapolis City Council passing anti-panhandling measures. Perhaps I can now walk to Target Center and not be hassled.  Hard to sleep, though, worrying about how the measures may violate freedom of speech. 

Peter King writing in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated about Randy Moss and his positive behavior in spring practices with the New England Patriots:  “The smart money says Moss will be the NFL’s bargain of ’07. He’s always performed well when he’s been healthy and his team has had a chance to win. …” 

Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer likes living in Minneapolis and said he may one day buy a home near Lake Harriet or Lake of the Isles.  He won’t winter here, though, preferring his warmer home in southern Virginia. 

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster talking to Sports Headliners about Athlon magazine picking Minnesota for a last place finish in the Big Ten Conference: “Well, I think it’s a tremendous incentive for our coaching staff and our football team that there is a non-belief in what we’re capable of doing.  I think that’s really exciting for us. …We’re taking it as a real challenge.” 

Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton isn’t participating in the Wimbledon 35 and over doubles because of a Wimbledon policy change.  He told Sports Headliners he expects to know by mid-July whether he will receive an invitation for the 35 and over doubles at the US Open. 

Four MIAC schools were ranked in the top 100 of the 2006-07 Division III U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup, the award presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, United States Sports Academy and USA TODAY to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country. Gustavus Adolphus finished 11^th, Saint John’s 22^nd, St. Thomas 28th and St. Olaf 95th.  

Golden Gloves boxing matches will be held outside at Canterbury Park on the following Saturdays:  June 30, July 14 and 28, and August 11 and 25.  About five bouts, three rounds each, will be offered between races.

When Joe Mauer went back to work late last week after missing 29 games with a left quad injury he was the focus of a flattering story in the Sporting News magazine naming him THE player to start with in building a team.  “The Twins’ Mauer is not only the game’s best catcher but the guy most of our evaluators—six of the 12—would choose as the player to build a franchise around,” the Sporting News said. 

The evaluators included four general managers, six major league scouts, an assistant general manager and a “Hall of Fame writer.”  None were identified by name in the article. 

The Sporting News praised Mauer for his offense and defense, describing him as baseball’s best catcher.  “His only weakness is his height because, at 6-5, he can make calling low strikes difficult for the umpire trying to see over him,” the article said.   

That comment annoyed Twins’ general manager Terry Ryan.  “I don’t think much of that,” he told Sports Headliners.  “That’s the biggest crock I’ve ever heard.  I don’t believe that at all. …Carlton Fisk caught in the big leagues and he’s in the Hall of Fame, and he’s 6-feet-5, and about twice as wide as Joe.  I don’t know who is kidding who here.” 

Ryan explained why baseball people would choose to build a team by taking Mauer as their first player. “You’re always looking for a quality catcher, a left hand hitting catcher that’s got offense,” Ryan said. “That’s why people would pick Joe.  Not only that, he’s got his better days ahead of him.  He’s only 24 years old. When you’re going to start a club…you build from the middle and catching.  …That’s why I am sure all the evaluators decided he’d be the right guy to start a club with.” 

Mauer led the American League in hitting last season with a .347 average.  He became the first American League catcher ever to lead the American League in hitting and the first catcher in the majors to win a league hitting title since Ernie Lombardi did so with the Boston Braves in 1942.  Mauer’s career average is .321.

Mauer’s valuable hitting often prompts discussion about moving him to another position such as third base or left field, positions where his body wouldn’t be subjected to constant crouching.  That speculation comes from outside the organization and was commonplace this spring when Mauer missed nearly the entire month of May.  Plus, Mauer didn’t play for almost two months of the 2004 season because of a knee injury, and he had a quad injury in high school. 

But Ryan is adamant about Mauer remaining a catcher.  “It’s very difficult to find a good catcher, first off,” Ryan said.  “Secondly, it’s difficult to find a guy that can lead a pitching staff.  Third, there’s no doubt when you can find an offensive catcher, you’ve got one of the few assets in the game, in the industry in general, because everybody’s looking for catching. …And then on top of it, Joe can run. 

“So it’s very difficult for me to hear and respond to people that just want to get him out from behind the plate.  The reason he’s so good and valuable and talented is because he can do everything that a catcher is supposed to do.  Consequently we’re blessed with having one of the good ones in the game.” 

The complexities and challenges of baseball leave any player with opportunities to improve.  “It’s always a little bit of a transition every year for a catcher to get comfortable with a pitching staff, but you know there are a lot of things that Joe is learning as he goes,” Ryan said.  “There’s no question in my mind that he’s got his best days ahead of him.  He’s just scratching it right now to the point where it’s situations moving runners, and when to pull the ball, and when to try to loft a ball, and when to hit a ground ball. 

“All that stuff comes.  He’s just a kid. …Like everybody there are all kinds of things to learn in the game. …This is a tough racket here, and there aren’t any shortcuts here. …” 

In a hypothetical exercise the Sporting News selected Mauer to build a team around.  In the 2001 free agent draft the Twins chose Mauer as the first player taken by any major league team.  Ryan said it wasn’t an easy decision as management evaluated who to choose including super star high school pitcher Mark Prior, the oft-injured Chicago Cub.  But Mauer was the pick and six years later it looks right on to a lot of people.