Author: David Shama

“Amazing” Joe Mauer, who has won two batting titles and is closing in on a third during his sixth season in the major leagues, has frequently prompted speculation that he could become baseball’s first .400 hitter since Ted Williams in 1941.  But what may be more likely is a Triple Crown.

Mauer, who never hit more than 13 home runs in a single season prior to this year, has become the Twins’ new “Pop Eye” with his muscle producing 25 home runs so far. The 25-year-old All-Star catcher missed the first month of the season and if he had 70 or more at-bats could be in pursuit of becoming major league baseball’s first Triple Crown winner since 1967.

Mauer has driven in 77 runs, ninth best in the American League but that number could be 90 or more if he had played in most of the team’s 121 games so far.  Boost his home runs by six and a Mauer total of 31 is tied for best in the A.L.  If Mauer was hitting even .360 (his average currently is .378) with 31 home runs and 93 RBI’s he would be first in batting average, tied for the home run lead and second in RBI’s. (The A.L. home run and RBI leaders respectively are Carlos Pena of Tampa Bay and Mark Teixeria of New York with 31 each, and Twins teammate Justin Morneau at 94).

The left-handed hitting Mauer probably won’t catch the home run and RBI leaders this season but it’s possible, perhaps even likely, he’ll one day be the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski.  Mauer’s power numbers should continue, perhaps improving with his ability to drive home runs to all fields including left field.

Lately Mauer has been excelling at the plate even by his standards. In his last 10 games he’s hitting .488.  During last week’s home series against Cleveland he had seven hits in 12 at bats and made a big impression on the Indians.  Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talked about Mauer last Sunday on his KSTP morning radio show.  “Their pitchers are saying this guy is amazing,” Gardenhire said.  “They’re trying everything.  They’re throwing all kinds of pitches up there, inside, outside, breaking balls, changeups.  He just keeps hitting ‘em all, and he’s also puting them in the seats, too. …”

A knowledgeable hockey source emailed Sports Headliners this week about the likelihood of Jordan Schroeder signing a contract with Vancouver and not playing for the Gophers next season, but Schroeder’s father said his son will return to school.

John Schroeder, who is a local business executive with Cambria, told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that Jordan informed Vancouver officials about three weeks ago he didn’t want to pursue contract negotiations.  “They did want to sign him and he elected to come back to the Gophers and school,” John said.

Jordan attended an evaluation camp for the Canucks earlier this summer and his father said club officials are “very high” on the 18-year-old Gophers’ forward who Vancouver took with the No. 22 pick in the first round of the June NHL Entry Draft.  Regarding the Gophers, John said his son “loves the team,” and the “camaraderie” with his teammates.

Schroeder, who was the leading freshman scorer in the country with 45 points last season, played on a Gophers team that was a disappointing 17-13-7 but could be a national title contender in 2010.  John said his son wants to improve his “shooting” and leadership with the Gophers next season.  Jordan also told his dad, “I am only young once and I want to enjoy the college relationships.”

A captain title is something Jordan wants as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, his dad said.  Earlier this week he finished as the leading scorer (five goals, nine assists in six games) at the U.S. Junior Evaluation Camp.  He is a lock to be on the team, after making the roster the previous two years.  The team will be finalized in early December and begin competing later in the month at the World Junior Championships.

“He said he thought he played well and had lot of fun (at the camp),” John said.  “It was his first year as a leader,”

Jordan, who won’t be 19 until September 29, could have been a high school senior last year.  Instead he played for the Gophers and was chosen national newcomer of the year.  Looks like this fall he will be building on his resume here instead of Vancouver.

The first sections of grass for the Target Field playing surface will be installed on Monday with completion expected Thursday.

With faulty mechanics and poor control, 25-year-old Francisco Liriano is a classic thrower, not a pitcher.  Liriano, now on the disabled list, is sure to receive plenty of attention from the Twins between now and next season.  Despite his Tommy John surgery after the 2006 season, Liriano still has the potential to be outstanding and on the pitching poor Twins, management isn’t likely to part with him.

Liriano’s 2009 record is 5-12 with a 5.80 ERA. The pitching staff has a 4.79 ERA (only three American League teams have higher ERA’s).

Matt Tolbert, despite a .178 average in 43 games with the Twins this year before being sent to the minors, is likely to be in the system for awhile.  The Twins like his hustle and versatility, a utility infielder and switch hitter.  Tolbert, 28, is at AAA Rochester where he’s hitting .286.

It was a surreal scene when Brett Favre arrived in town on Tuesday.  Among the lasting images was that of coach Brad Childress driving away from the St. Paul downtown airport with Favre in the passenger seat.  How many NFL coaches have ever picked up a player at the airport and driven him to practice?  Don’t know, but if I had a dollar for each time, I am sure the total would have me dining only at McDonald’s.

Not only is Favre expected to make his playing debut tonight against Kansas City at the Metrodome, but so, too, is rookie wide receiver and No. 1 draft choice Percy Harvin.

The game will be the 116^th consecutive Viking sellout at the Metrodome.

After one preseason game, the Vikings’ defense ranked No. 1 both overall and against the pass, with a No. 6 rank versus the run.

The Sporting News magazine week of August 17 issue has the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson No. 1 in its Fantasy Football Preview.  Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is No. 10, with former Viking Randy Moss 18 and ex-Gopher Marion Barber III 19.

That same issue of the Sporting News magazine rates Bloomington Jefferson alum Cole Aldrich, now playing center for Kansas, as the No. 3 prospect for the 2010 NBA draft.  The article describes Aldrich as fundamentally sound and capable of playing in the NBA now.  The No. 1 prospect is Kentucky freshman point guard John Wall, with North Carolina sophomore power forward Ed Davis No. 2.

Rich Kallok, who as head coach won the 1999 state title at Cretin-Derham Hall, is back with the Raiders as a volunteer linebackers coach.

Each of the 34 NHL players at the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp donated 15 sets of hockey equipment to the youth organization of their choice and all nine Minnesota natives at the camp chose programs in their home state:  David Backes (Spring Lake Park), Dustin Byfuglien (Roseau), Tom Gilbert (Bloomington), Erik Johnson (Bloomington), Jamie Langenbrunner (Cloquet), Paul Martin (Elk River, Kyle Okposo (Highland Central-St. Paul), T.J. Oshie (Warroad) and Zach Parise (Highland Central-St. Paul).

The Wild will introduce a new third jersey for the upcoming season on Sunday, August 30 at 12:30 p.m. at the Minnesota State Fair’s FAN Central building. The event will feature left wing Derek Boogaard and team mascot Nordy.  Fans can pre-order the jerseys beginning on August 30 at the Wild’s state fair booth, or the team’s stores at Xcel Energy Center and Mall of America.