Author: David Shama

Mauer and his agent have nearly all the leverage in the contract negotiations.  A baseball source told Sports Headliners this is a classic send the player a blank check situation.  The Twins could threaten to trade Mauer if negotiations aren’t to their liking but that leverage is a risky position to take given Mauer’s immense talent and popularity.

Along with Albert Pujols of St. Louis, Mauer is probably the most valuable player in baseball.  He’s won three batting titles, one American League MVP award, two Gold Glove awards, and he plays the most important leadership position on the team, catcher.  He’s also a Minnesota native and on track to become the most popular athlete in state history.

An alternative for Mauer and Shapiro could be to ask for a short term deal like five or six years.  That strategy would put Mauer back into free agency while still in his prime and able to negotiate an even richer deal.  (Mauer currently has a four year contract worth $33 million that ends after this season).

But Jake said his grandson wants to be here and will ask for a no trade clause in the new contract, a deal that could be his last as a major leaguer.  It’s with the Twins that Joe wants to become part of a championship team.

“He wants to win the World Series,” Jake said.  “That’s the only thing left for him.”

A year ago Mauer was in pain and unable to play in spring training because of a back injury.  He wasn’t even able to begin playing with the Twins until May.

Jake said his grandson’s health is “excellent” now and the back is not a problem.  He also said Joe works out daily and is dedicated to being in shape for the start of spring training (pitchers and catchers scheduled to report on February 20).

What if a deal isn’t completed prior to spring training?  “It would just be a disaster, really and truly,” Jake said.  “I think it would just destroy the Twins.  I really do.  Not because he’s my grandson.  But the gate (ticket sales), the guy and what he does and…how he promoted the Twins and everything.  The people (fans) just love him.  If they don’t sign him it will be just hell.”

But Jake is confident about a deal coming soon.  “He’s gonna stay with the Twins,” he said.  “I really think that.”

In a poll of general managers and assistant general managers, Mauer was the top vote getter for “best swing” in major league baseball, according to the January 18 issue of Sporting News magazine.  He was second in voting to Pujols for “player I’d want on my team.”

The Twins organization was voted the “best farm system” in baseball.

Jake Mauer said USA Today will interview him for a story next week.  Although Mauer has macular degeneration, he still golfs and had a hole-in-one while playing in Florida.  Because of his eyesight it’s unlikely he will return to Canterbury Park in the spring to sell his handicapping publication.

2010 could be a good season for Twins second baseman Nick Punto who has alternate years of hitting success.  His batting averages the last five seasons are: .239, .290, .210, .284 and .228.

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster could talk publicly about his 2010 recruiting class for the first time yesterday.  He said if running back Lamonte Edwards from Woodbury had played high school football in Florida or Texas he likely would have had 100 or more scholarship offers.

Brewster also said new recruit Jimmy Gjere of Irondale is “absolutely one of the top offensive linemen in the country.”   While Brewster wouldn’t name names, it’s likely that Gjere and Edwards are among a few freshmen who might become starters next fall.

The Gophers could add another player or two to the list of 2010 recruits.  Brewster thought that if that’s going to happen it will within a week or so.   NCAA rules allow players until April 1 to sign a national letter of intent.

If stadium legislation is to happen this year it seems unlikely that any site other than the Metrodome will be considered for a new Vikings stadium.  With existing infrastructure and so much prior planning, the Metrodome site is the front runner.

Governor Tim Pawlenty’s decision not to seek re-election presumably places him in a more comfortable position to lead a stadium effort.

The Minnesota Golf Show will be March 12-14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, a new location after being at the Metrodome for many years. The show will include a $100,000 putting challenge and a clinic for youngsters.  More at www.minnesotagolfshow.com.

When goalie Wade Dubielewicz filled in for Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding on Tuesday night it broke a 234 consecutive games streak by the two-some.  The Wild is the only NHL team to use only two goalies during that time period, according to Elias Sports Bureau (St. Louis played 10).

Erik Haula, the Wild’s seventh-round pick in last June’s draft, continues to impress in his first season in the United States Hockey League.  Through 37 games he ranked fourth in USHL scoring with 51 points and third with a +24 rating.

Fans raised more than $34,000 for the Minnesota Wild Foundation at the recent Wild Skills Competition by purchasing event tickets, player autograph cards, raffle tickets and more.

Gustavus senior forward David Martinson (St. Louis Park) and St. Thomas senior goalie Lauren Bradel (Bemidji) have been selected as finalists from the West Region to take participate in the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge on April 9 in Detroit.  Six position players and two goaltenders representing both genders from the East and West Regions will be selected based on fan voting through the following website: https://www.ncaa.com/frozenfourskillschallenge/index.html.

If it wasn’t official earlier this season, then it is now: the Tubby Smith honeymoon period is over.  The Golden Gophers basketball coach has lost his halo in year three of his program.

In an embarrassing effort on Sunday, the Gophers were defeated by Ohio State 85-63.  The 22 point loss was the largest of the season, the result more of a poor defensive showing than anything else.  It was a performance not characteristic of Smith’s Minnesota teams who have often been defined by effort and effective defense.

The Gophers, who have lost five games by five points or less, are a disappointing 4-5 in the Big Ten and 13-8 overall.  Five Big Ten teams have three losses or fewer in league play, while four schools have overall records with at least three more wins than Minnesota.

The Gophers’ dream of an NCAA tournament invitation is about as unlikely as a 50 degree temp in Minneapolis on Valentine’s Day.  Instead of NCAA, get ready to say N-I-T.

The initials for National Invitational Tournament are only slightly more popular with Gophers fans than IRS.  Minnesota played in the NIT two years ago, Smith’s first season here.  During the last 10 years the Gophers have sent two teams to the NCAA tournament and five to the NIT.

A season that had the promise of being the school’s best in at least a decade has gone south.  The Gophers, who had been to the NCAA tournament in 2009, returned all their significant players including a potential all-Big Ten point guard in Al Nolen.  Added to the mix last off-season were two power forwards, junior college transfer Trevor Mbakwe and freshman Royce White, players who were to provide badly needed muscle and size to the talent pool.

Nolen, though, became academically ineligible last month.  Mbakwe and White have yet to play in games because of suspensions.

Earlier this week White announced he’s leaving school, ending speculation that he might play for the Gophers during February.  A change regarding Mbakwe’s playing status depends on resolution of a legal matter in Florida.