Author: David Shama

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.

With the advantage of playing one game per week and football’s great popularity, the NFL is likely to be the first American pro sports team with a franchise in Europe.  On Sunday, October 28 Wembley Stadium in London will be the first site of a regular season NFL game played outside North America.  The New York Giants, a natural favorite for English fans, will play the Miami Dolphins.  The NFL has committed to playing up to two regular season games outside the United States for the next five years, according to the NFL Report publication. 

Brad Childress and the other Vikings’ coaches start vacations late next week and will resume work in mid- July.  The first date the public can watch the team practice in Mankato will be Friday, July 27. 

Former Gopher and Viking football player Pete Najarian, now a stock trader, became a regular panelist earlier this spring on CNBC’s financial investment show Fast Money.  Najarian “is ranked one of the top 100 traders by Trader Monthly magazine, is co-founder of optionMONSTER.com, a news and information site for options traders,” according to cnbc.com.  Fast Money airs Monday-Friday at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time. 

Don’t be surprised if Hopkins recruit Blake Hoffarber, a shooting guard, is given an opportunity to fill the Gophers’ need at point guard next fall.  His basketball decision making is exceptional and the Gophers played all last season without identifying a permanent point guard. 

The Twins’ Justin Morneau (second) Joe Mauer (fourth) and Torii Hunter (fifth) all rank within the top five vote getters at their positions for next month’s All-Star game in San Francisco, according to a news release from major league baseball. Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriquez is the leading vote getter at over 1.4 million so far. 

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said on his KSTP weekly radio show earlier this week that he doesn’t know when to expect left fielder Rondell White’s return to the team.  White has been disabled with a right calf muscle injury since early April. 

Scott Baker talking about inexperienced fellow pitchers Boof Bonser, Kevin Slowey, and Pat Neshek all of whom are either in their first or second seasons with the Twins, and how they offer support to one another:  “Maybe not so much mechanically or pitching wise, but more so… a word of encouragement, or something (like) …’you know what, I’ve seen you do this and I know you can do it.’”

Ask Ron Gardenhire or Torii Hunter about the Twins’ MVP so far this season and the answer may surprise.  Justin Morneau is tied for second in home runs among American League players with 17, Johan Santana has won the Cy Young award two of the last three seasons and with more run support might be at eight or nine wins already, Joe Nathan is arguably baseball’s best closer, and Hunter is having a career season with 13 home runs, 48 RBI and a .308 average.      

And then there’s Luis Castillo.  He’s hitting .330, second on the team to Joe Mauer, and earlier this season set a major league record for second basemen with 143 consecutive games without an error.  The 31-year-old Castillo entered this season with only 19 errors since 2004, the third lowest total for a second baseman in the major leagues (behind Detroit’s Placido Polanco, 12, and Kansas City’s Mark Grudzielanek, 16).  Castillo has hit safely in 25 of his last 28 games, batting .361 (44-122) in that period. 

The Twins, defending Central Division champions, have been a disappointment so far with a 30-31 record, but Hunter praised Castillo for playing hurt, getting on base and his errorless streak.  “Without him, I don’t know where we would be,” Hunter said.   

Ask manager Ron Gardenhire about players who deserve consideration for next month’s major league All-Star game in San Francisco and Castillo’s name comes up fast.  Gardenhire mentioned Santana and Nathan, outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Hunter, and no doubt intended to include first baseman Morneau. 

“I think Louie Castillo is probably ahead of them all,” Gardenhire told Sports Headliners.  “He’s done everything for this ballclub up to this point.  He’s probably been our best player even with his sore knees and all those things. …I would think that what he’s done up to this point would lead him right to the All-Star game.   He’s been there before and deserves to go again.” 

Unfortunately for Castillo, baseball fans haven’t thus far submitted enough votes to place him in the 2007 All-Star game.  As of last week five other American League second basemen, starting with New York’s Robinson Cano, had more votes.  

Castillo is in his second season with the Twins after an extraordinary career with Florida.   In seven full seasons with the Marlins he hit under .300 only once, won three gold glove awards and played in three All-Star games. 

Gardenhire made a comparison between the Castillo who played for the Marlins and the Castillo of today.  “His legs are bothering him,” Gardenhire said.  “He’s not the same player he was a few years ago but when he has to run, he runs.  He makes all the plays as we’ve seen with his records.  Good player.”