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#252 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Tue Mar 1, 2005 6:57 am
Subject: Twins: Tough from top to bottom 		fmmiraclegal
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La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune
 
FORT MYERS, FLA. -- It's been argued that video games are distracting, too violent and contributing to the downfall of young society.
 
But seldom are they considered clairvoyant.
 
Twins catcher Joe Mauer was on the phone recently with one of his buddies from the Twin Cities. The subject: video games.
 
"He's got the new baseball game," Mauer said. "and said the game had me batting second in the order."
 
The first four batters in the Twins order in the game were Shannon Stewart, Mauer, Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau -- which sounded familiar to Mauer.
 
It happens to be the top part of the batting order Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is considering for his Opening Day lineup.
 
It's a lineup that could be the best the Twins have fielded in years. It's a lineup in which the speed bumps have been smoothed out, creating a more consistent attack.
 
The Twins scored 780 runs last season, only 10th in the American League and down from the 801 runs they scored in 2003.
 
Twins players in camp are eager to see what a lineup with several veterans packaged with impressive young hitters such as Mauer and Morneau will do for a full season.
 
"I think, if we have everyone healthy, we have good potential of having, not a power offense, but a consistent, run-producing offense," Stewart said.
 
Here's the lineup Gardenhire has in mind: 1. Stewart, 2. Mauer, 3. Hunter, 4. Morneau, 5. Lew Ford, 6. Jacque Jones, 7. Michael Cuddyer, 8. a shortstop, 9. Luis Rivas.
 
"If we have all these guys in the lineup -- Morneau, Mauer, Hunter, Jones, Cuddyer, Lew Ford and Shannon -- we can have some fun," Gardenhire said.
 
Two things stand out about this batting order. One, Gardenhire prefers left-right balance. Two, Mauer and Hunter aren't prototypical hitters for the spots they are in.
 
Many guessed that Mauer would bat third and Morneau fourth, but Gardenhire wants to guard against opposing managers being able to use left-handed specialists late in games.
 
"The lineup sets up easy like that with some good hitters and some pretty good balance all the way through," Gardenhire said. "Any other way it looks like I'm bunching lefties up. I give the opposing manager an opportunity to bring someone in like [Chicago's] Damaso Marte and eat you up for an inning and a half. Innings are big toward the end. You don't want to give away an inning. And if you put the pressure on the other manager like they do on us to bring in one guy left-right-left out or right-left-right out, it makes a little difference. Make them make moves."
 
Several Twins believe Mauer, who batted .308 in 35 games last season. already is the team's best hitter, suggesting he should bat third. Gardenhire said he feels Mauer will thrive in situations in which Stewart is being held on at first, giving Mauer a big hole between first and second to hit through.
 
"Yeah, I've heard about batting second," Mauer said. "It's fine with me. I'd be happy batting eighth or ninth."
 
Gardenhire is not looking for Mauer to bunt guys over. He wants to hit and run with him and let him blast a few over the fence.
 
"If you bat guys like Mauer second, catching him five times a week, six times, he's going to get close to 500 at-bats," Gardenhire said. "I think that's what you want to do with Mauer. I've seen him swing."
 
It would appear to be an even bigger stretch to bat Hunter --who's never batted above .289 or had an on base percentage over .334 -- third.
 
But Hunter's heart starts beating faster just thinking about batting between Mauer and Morneau all season.
 
"I'm in between two good lefties," said Hunter, who batted .271 with 23 homers and 81 RBI last season. "I can get on base or get some fastballs with big Morneau behind me."
 
It was suggested to Morneau, who batted .271 last season with 19 homers and 58 RBI in 74 games, that he spend the season snarling menacingly from the on-deck circle while Hunter bats.
 
"Maybe I'll just show 'em," he said, jokingly, as he pulled his shirt sleeves up to reveal his biceps.
 
Hunter said he believes Gardenhire has come up with a lineup with more bite in it.
 
"I think our lineup will be a different look," Hunter said. "In the Central Division, a lot of teams won't know what to do [with us] for the first half of the season. I think it's going to be fun."
 
March 1, 2005

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#251 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:27 am
Subject: Mauer report 		fmmiraclegal
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Remember how the Twins planned on taking things easy with Joe Mauer and his surgically repaired left knee?

He said he has not had to be pulled out of any drill yet.

"Everything feels good," Mauer said.


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#250 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:11 am
Subject: Check out Yahoo! Photos - fmmiraclegal's Photos - 2005-02-26 		fmmiraclegal
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Spring Training photos including Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau!
 

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#249 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:58 am
Subject: Mauer may bat 2nd in Minnesota order 		fmmiraclegal
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By Deron Snyder
Fort Myers News Press
 
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said he's toying with numerous batting orders, including one in which C Joe Mauer would bat second.
 
"He doesn't strike out and he gets on base for the 3-4-5 guys," Gardenhire said. "You put a guy up there who can handle a bat. If (leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart) gets on, with the hole between first and second, Mauer can hit the hole.
 
"And in our lineup, the second hitter seems to be coming up with lots of guys in scoring position."
 
Mauer, at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, doesn't fit the old prototype for a No. 2 hitter, often called upon to advance runners via a sacrifice.
 
But Gardenhire said there are just as many benefits to having a good power-hitter in that spot, someone who can hit-and-run as well as go deep.
 
"And with a left-hander (Mauer) batting second, if Shannon runs, he's got some protection. I've looked at it. I've thought about it. I've read lineup books. You just do what you think feels right.
 
"I would put Mauer second in the lineup to balance the lineup out. It gives (opponents) less of a chance to bring in a big, burly left-hander to bury three lefties in a row."
 
Gardenhire is leaning toward inserting 1B Justin Morneau as the cleanup hitter, with CF Torri Hunter either third or fifth.
 
HITTING THE WALL
 
Hunter has made a name for himself with acrobatic catches in center field, sometimes scaling the wall, sometimes plowing into it. He said he paid the price this offseason, particularly for a spectacular attempted grab against the Yankees in Game 3 of the Division Series.
 
Hunter made a valiant effort on Hideki Matsui's homer in the seventh inning at the Metrodome. He caught the ball but it popped out as he hit the wall. Hunter lay on the warning track in pain, stayed in the game and played in decisive Game 4.
 
"I waited a month until I began working out," he said. "I usually only wait two weeks, but hitting that wall against the Yankees. ... I must've seen the chiropractor about 50 times."
 
USC MAN
 
Jacque Jones entered the clubhouse Saturday in a T-shirt celebrating Southern Cal's national title in college football. He was a third-team All-American at USC in 1996 and All-Pac 10 in 1995 and '96.
 
"I was going to go," Jones said, "but I wasn't going to be able to stay on South Beach, so I said forget about it."
 
He shared his opinion on former USC WR Mike Williams, who might be headed to the Twin Cities as the Vikings try to replace Randy Moss.
 
"Williams isn't a burner," said Jones, who thinks the Vikings would make a mistake if they trade Moss. "Williams has great hands, but he's not going to run away from anyone downfield."
 
SWEET HOME ALABAMA
 
RP J.C. Romero spent part of the offseason moving into a home in Fair Hope, Ala., outside of Mobile, where he attended college and met his wife.
 
Mobile has a rich baseball history, having produced Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Willie McCovey and Ozzie Smith.
 
Romero had his University of Mobile jersey retired at Hank Aaron Field, which is home to a Double-A team. "There were a lot of players from the University of Mobile in this organization before," he said. "At one point, there were between five and seven at different levels. I'm the only one left."
 
Published on February 27, 2005

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#248 From: "Marty" <mntwinsmntwins@...>
Date: Sun Feb 27, 2005 3:25 am
Subject: Notes: Stewart back on his feet 		mntwinsmntwins
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02/26/2005 6:00 PM ET
Notes: Stewart back on his feet
Outfielder has recovered from plantar fasciitis
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins left fielder Shannon Stewart enjoyed two
positive milestones over the winter.
"I got my foot right and got married," said Stewart, whose January
wedding was attended by teammates Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter, and
former Twin and childhood friend Doug Mientkiewicz, among others.

Stewart, who turned 31 Friday, spent much of last season nagged by
plantar fasciitis -- inflammation of the tissue -- in his right
foot. It put him on the disabled list for nearly two months of the
first half and he played with discomfort in the second half.

"It's one of those things last year where I did what I could to help
the team out," said Stewart, who batted .304 in 92 games last
season. "I got through it fine. The offseason was about getting it
right."

There is optimism that the foot problems are finally behind him.
Although he briefly considered surgery, Stewart chose to go
the "rest and rehabilitation" route instead. He started an
aggressive workout program near his home in Miami in December while
undergoing massage and ultrasound among several treatments.

"I had a good offseason," Stewart said. "I worked really hard and
got a lot of things accomplished. I started rehabbing when I got
home. From there, everything went well. I did everything I needed to
do, conditioning-wise, and I'm ready to play."

Since acquiring Stewart from Toronto in July 2003, the Twins have
benefited from his presence in the leadoff spot. Because of his
patience at the plate and frequency of reaching base, the club
missed his offensive spark last season when he was out of the
lineup.

"He means a lot to our lineup because he has very professional at-
bats," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He means a lot to our
lineup. We like to have him in our lineup. We seem to do OK when
he's in the lineup."

Live BP: The Twins held their first full-squad workout Saturday,
running through numerous drills and fundamentals on multiple fields
at the Lee County Sports Complex.

In an annual rite of Spring Training, Twins pitchers got to mostly
dominate the hitters during the first session of live batting
practice. Many hitters were seeing real pitches for the first time
in a few months.

"You've got to do it some time," said catcher Joe Mauer, who faced
pitchers Juan Rincon and Willie Eyre. "It went pretty good though."

Mauer also caught a live BP outing for lefty pitcher C.J. Nitkowski
and continued to report no trouble with his surgically repaired left
knee.

On a different field, Gardenhire watched AL Cy Young Award winner
Johan Santana throw his BP session.

"'Don't panic, Gardy, when you see me throw,'" Gardenhire heard
Santana say. "So I went behind home plate and watched him. The ball
came out of his hand nice and easy. He felt better after batting
practice than he did going into it."

Lineup ideas: Gardenhire spent a portion of the winter going through
different possibilities for his lineup. One idea the manager enjoyed
kicking around was having Mauer bat second in the order behind
Stewart.

"He doesn't strike out," Gardenhire said. "He's going to get on base
for the 3-4-5 guys. You put a guy up there who can handle a bat."

Putting Mauer second would help balance the lineup and provide
separation from lefty power hitter Justin Morneau, who is slated to
bat fourth. A right-handed hitter like either Hunter or Lew Ford
could bat third and fifth.

"It gives them less of a chance to bring in a big burly left-hander
to bury three lefties in a row, then a righty and a lefty,"
Gardenhire said.

Injury report: Shortstop Nick Punto (back strain) was said to be
making "slow progress" in his recovery. Punto did not participate in
Saturday's drills.

Reliever Jesse Crain (right hamstring strain) is making "good
progress," Gardenhire said.

Morneau, recovering from pneumonia, is up to hitting 25 balls off a
tee and rode an exercise bike for 10 minutes.


Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject
to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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#247 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:18 pm
Subject: Ryan chats from Spring Training 		fmmiraclegal
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Twins GM talks with fans online from Florida
 
MLB.com  
 
Twins general manager Terry Ryan had an active offseason. He participated in an online chat with fans from Fort Myers, Fla., to discuss the latest from Spring Training. He updated fans on the health status of several players and gave some insight into the Twins' 2005 starting lineup.
 
Terry Ryan: I'm online. Let's go.
 
koskierox: What do you think of Joe Mauer and his knee? I am really excited to see him play a full season and believe that his knee is all better. However, if something happens to it again, would we get another catcher or rely on our backup?
 
Ryan: We'd have to make an adjustment. Our first alternative would be go with Mike Redmond and probably Matt LeCroy. Certainly, we'd have to keep an eye on anybody that might be available through the course of Spring Training. So far so good. Mauer is doing fine and going through all the drills. we haven't had any problems.
 
Dustin_Skilbred: It seems there's a lot of debate over Nick Punto/Jason Bartlett. Why not use Bartlett at shortstop and Punto as the starting second baseman as opposed to Luis Rivas?
 
Ryan: First, Punto hasn't shown he can be healthy enough yet, durable enough. The shortstop position is wide open. At second base, we have confidence Rivas can take the next step, we'll give him every opportunity to do that.
 
gonnawintwins: What are some of the aspects of the Twins that are of concern to you in terms of weaknesses?
 
Ryan: Usually, it comes down to health. If we stay healthy, we're going to be fine. We have some of our best prospects at the higher levels. The biggest uncertainty is the infield because we have so many new faces. Third, short, first and Mauer are all going to be relatively new.
 
Christopher_Sexton: Terry do you see a new ballpark for the Twins in Minnesota in the next five years?
 
Ryan: We hope so. We're all hoping so. That would be a tremendous thing for our market. It's just a matter of how we'll finance it and how the state and ownership will finance it.
 
brian_mohr: Terry, Where do you see Scott Baker and J.D. Durbin at the end of 2005?
 
Ryan: Both of those pitchers could surface. We have high hopes for those guys. They'll dictate their future by their performance in Spring Training and the course of April and May. They could surprise us this spring.
 
imacorkyfan: With five catchers on the 40-man roster, where will Corky Miller fit in the mix?
 
Ryan: We have a lot of respect for Miller. We've liked him since he was with the Reds. We respect the way he goes about his business. Nobody can have too much catching. A lot will depend on what happens as far as the health. A couple of our scouts recommended we claim him and that's what we did in the waiver process. He's in for a battle.
 
mlb_com_member: Which team do you believe will be our biggest rival in the Central Division?
 
Ryan: This is a very competitive division. Similar markets, similar payrolls, similar revenues. And depending on who you talk to, some pick us, some pick the Indians. Some pick Chicago. Some might even pick the Tigers. We're the defending champs and until somebody proves us wrong, we feel we're in decent shape competing for this division.
 
krysumn: Do you pay a lot of attention to the moves the other AL Central teams make? And if so, how worried are you about them?
 
Ryan: I don't pay as much attention as some. All of us have to do work in the winter to get prepared for Spring Training. I worry more about our roster and our team more than anything else. I certainly respect what other clubs are trying to accomplish. But you don't play the game in the winter and you don't play the game on paper.
 
canada24: Do you personally have any regrets with any players you've signed or have missed signing in the past?
 
Ryan: Sure, I always do. Certainly we made a good run at Eddie Guardado and Corey Koskie. We wanted to bring back LaTroy Hawkins. To be honest, we made our share of mistakes and our share of positive decisions. Everybody that runs a baseball team wishes they could do it differently. All you have to do is learn from your mistakes.
 
eseseseses: What's the status of Justin Morneau? In your opinion, is there any chance he isn't in the lineup Opening Day?
 
Ryan: He has had a number of things happen to him this winter. Wisdom teeth removed, appendix removed -- he had chicken pox and now's he got a little bit of a lung problem. He should arrive today or tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll get him enough strength to be ready by Opening Day.
 
dewey_moede: Is Rod Carew in uniform for the entire spring?
 
Ryan: No -- just March 6-12.
 
krysumn: What's your opinion on Interleague Play?
 
Ryan: I like Interleague Play. I like visiting different ballparks, different leagues and different cities. It breaks up the schedule and it's a positive break. I like Interleague Play.
 
Base_Ball_4: First off, very good job this offseason in resigning the top three guys in the rotation to extended contracts. I was wondering how you feel heading into Spring Training, do you think you will have to make any more moves or is everything in order?
 
Ryan: We need to sort out shortstop. We've got to finalize who our extra outfielders are. Certainly you have take into consideration the injury factor. Our roster is more set than it ever has been. We need to evaluate where Joe Mays is.
 
eseseseses: Can you give a scouting report on Ryan Rowland-Smith. What are his chances of making the team?
 
Ryan: He's a big strong left-hander and has velocity, which is a good start. Our people that scouted him with Seattle thought he had the type of velocity to spin a breaking ball. Size, velocity and he knows how to spin a breaking ball. It's a bit of a reach because he's coming out of Class A, but we took Johan Santana in the same scenario. Maybe we'll get lucky.
 
olpnch: What are the plans for Eric Munson? The way it sounds, he has little chance of being the starting third baseman.
 
Ryan: I would say he will provide some depth at third, first, catcher and DH. He's a left-handed bat off the bench.
 
Alyssa_Kramer: Do you plan to use Lew Ford as the everyday designated hitter?
 
Ryan: No -- he'll rotate amongst others. He'll play left center and right. And he'll DH.
 
Anthony_Moscaret: Terry, what is the role of Michael Restovich in the Twins lineup?
 
Ryan: He is in the mix for the extra outfield position. He broke his collarbone this winter so we'll have to ease him back in this spring. We like his skills. He's big, strong, athletic and has power.
 
gato34: Obviously, the only thing that kept the Twins from beating the Yankees in the playoffs the last two years was a player like David Ortiz. Do you regret releasing him?
 
Ryan: I am certainly happy for David and any club could use the type of production he gave the Red Sox.
 
Travis_Gray: Are there any thoughts that you may trade one of our many outfield talents to help strengthen our infield?
 
Ryan: You can make a trade any time with anybody almost. In the right scenario, you have to consider any trade.
 
Base_Ball_4: What abbreviated advice would you give to a young men/women who have the dream of eventually becoming a GM for a pro sports team?
 
Ryan: Hang around the game and hang around baseball people. Read and watch the game. Try to get some sort of internship of a major or minor league professional franchise. Education would be important in public speaking, computers, bi-lingual, writing skills and sports administration are some of the things you can pursue.
 
Travis_Gray: What are your feelings on all the steroid accusations? Any thoughts on how baseball can remedy this problem? It seems to be bigger than the game right now.
 
Ryan: Steroids are illegal. They are dangerous. Hopefully we'll clean the game up.
 
simonmac21: The Twins have always played well on defense, but they've been struggling on runs. What are you going to do to improve on that?
 
Ryan: We scored enough runs to win 92 games last year. We rely on pitching and defense. As long as we win more games than the competition, we don't care how we do it. Most of the time, we're young and offense usually comes as players mature in their free agent years. We don't have that many hitters like that here. Most of our hitters are 26 or 27 years old. We do think our offense has more upside if we keep Morneau, Mauer and Shannon Stewart. Having them healthy will help a lot.
 
krysumn: Any news on Paul Molitor coming back to the Twins?
 
Ryan: He's back as our minor league base running/infield coordinator. He'll attend minor league camp starting March 11-April 5.
 
eicemann: What role do you for see for Terry Mulholland? Would he be the fifth starter if Mays isn't ready to go in April? Or is it more likely that a youngster would get a shot at that spot?
 
Ryan: That's a possibility. Mulholland would possibly be our fifth starter or a swing guy in the bullpen. He is a good influence and teammate and a positive influence on this team.
 
twinsbb: Being a Twins fan is better now than ever because we do it the old fashioned way and it works pretty well. Doesn't it bother you just a bit to see a team win by "buying the players" rather than smart drafting and smart trades?
 
Ryan: It's always been the case in sports. There are teams that have wealthy markets and high payrolls. And there are teams in mid and small markets that succeed. We certainly are proud of any accomplishments we've had. Just because you spend money doesn't necessarily guarantee success.
 
Adam_Silver: You mention that young people trying to break into the front office should "read and watch the game." Whose work do you view as important (i.e. magazines, articles, books, etc.)?
 
Ryan: I certainly read Baseball America, Baseball Weekly, The Sporting News and the Internet. I read newspapers every day from around the country. Most baseball books on the market -- "Moneyball" is a good baseball book. Any scouting information you can get is good.
 
krysumn: Thank you so much for re-signing Jacque Jones!
 
Ryan: Jacque is a big part of our club. He provided offense for us last year. There are a lot of us who think Jacque has a higher ceiling than last year's numbers indicate. Jacque plays the game the right way.
 
murraygd13: What role do you see Matt LeCroy playing this year? Are you looking at him mainly as a first baseman, DH and right-handed pinch hitter, or do you see him catching some days to give Joe a break?
 
Ryan: All of the above, yes. He's maybe one of the most popular players we've got in that clubhouse.
 
Dustin_Skilbred: Are there any dark horse prospects that could help the team this year that we don't know about?
 
Ryan: Baker is kind of a dark horse because people haven't seen him -- Jason Bartlett, Terry Tiffee, Restovich, Durbin -- those are some of our better prospects.
 
olpnch: What was the biggest steal of this offseason?
 
Ryan: The Mets had a good winter certainly, I always respect the job the Giants do. The Braves always seem to be there in the end annually.
 
sammeleguy: What kind of offensive numbers are you expecting from Michael Cuddyer this year?
 
Ryan: I'm not going to put numbers out there. I do expect him to take the offensive responsibility in being a third baseman. He has power. He can run. And he's got the ability to drive in runs. It's just a matter now of maturing as a hitter.
 
Ryan: Thanks to everyone who shows interest in the Twins. Bye!
 
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
 
02/23/2005 3:53 PM ET

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#246 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:24 pm
Subject: Mauer back where he started 		fmmiraclegal
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Catcher in good health at Twins' Spring Training
 
By Mark Sheldon
MLB.com  
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- As Twins pitchers and catchers emerged from the clubhouse for their first Spring Training workout on Monday, Joe Mauer must have felt like he reached the end of the movie, "Groundhog Day."
 
Since tearing the meniscus cartilage in his left knee and having surgery nearly 10 months ago, Mauer has spent most of those days rehabilitating and exercising on his own and answering question after question about his health.
 
On Monday, it was finally a new day.
 
The 21-year-old joined his teammates and worked out just like every other catcher on the roster. He stretched, played catch, squatted behind the plate for bullpen sessions, took batting practice and did his running.
 
"It felt good to get out there in an organized practice, doing everything," Mauer said.
 
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, few rookie seasons were ever more anticipated than the St. Paul native's in 2004. All eyes were on him and many wondered if his superb swing and catching skills were big league ready.
 
Mauer showed that they were, but only for a limited time: He was injured during the second game of the season. After arthroscopic surgery and a recovery with complications, he returned to play for a total of just 35 games. The numbers were certainly respectable, batting .308 with six homers and 17 RBIs.
 
By early July, he had already emerged as one of the club's best hitters and was moved up to the third slot in the order when Gardenhire was seeking an offensive boost. But recurring soreness forced Mauer to shut his season down for good after the All-Star break. He went back to rehabbing and endured a longer offseason than most.
 
"I've been looking ahead ever since I got hurt because I just wanted to get back on the field," Mauer said. "I didn't have a chance to get back last year. I've been working hard every day to try and get back out."
 
Eyes are once again on the phenom, wondering this time if his knee is ready for the big league grind. The club was optimistic that it would be.
 
"Unless he tells me something's bothering him, I'm not going out there worrying about it," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
 
That doesn't mean the team won't be protecting Mauer. Coaches will look for ways to reduce his workload in camp, giving him fewer sessions where he'll have to squat for pitchers. The Twins also have added extra catching depth on the roster after signing former Marlins veteran Mike Redmond to be the new backup.
 
"We're going to keep an eye on him, but we also have to get him ready," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "It's a two-prong approach here. We'll make sure we don't do something that's not necessary so he doesn't have any setbacks, yet get him enough at-bats and enough time so he's where he's supposed to be."
 
"We'll just see after each drill how he does and how he comes along," Gardenhire said. "The more squatting he does, getting back into it, we'll see how much soreness he has if he has any. Everybody's going to be sore. We'll see if the knee reacts. Supposedly he's fine."
 
Mauer still felt like he made progress in his development.
 
"It definitely helped, but I would have learned a lot more if I had actually done it," he said. "Listening to guys like (former teammate) Henry (Blanco) and (pitching coach) Rick Anderson and Gardy and just being around the clubhouse learning from the guys helped a lot."
 
Plenty of questions
 
Not everything has changed in Mauer's daily regimen. The media questions kept coming. Most of them were about the status of his knee. As he did all of last season, the young man answered each one patiently.
 
"I'm not too worried about it right now," Mauer said. "I have to make sure I ice afterwards and I don't want it to blow up on me all of sudden the next day if I didn't ice. I'm keeping a close eye on it and paying attention to it here in the spring and trying to get ready for the year."
 
Does answering so many questions about the knee ever get annoying?
 
"He's always going to put up a good front," said pitcher and friend J.D. Durbin. "But I think it's taken its toll on him a little bit."
 
"I've heard the knee thing a lot today, actually the whole offseason," Mauer admitted. "It gets repetitive I guess."
 
Ryan was impressed with not only how Mauer handled working his way back but how he's dealt with the constant inquiries.
 
"Whenever you're out, whether you run into a friend, a media member, a staff member, a teammate, most of the time the discussion is going to revolve around how you're feeling and how's the knee?" Ryan said. "Most of the time, they don't ask, 'Where did you go for dinner?' They don't ask you what show you saw. It's usually about that injury.
 
"I think he's probably got about as much patience as far as dealing with personalities of human beings as anybody you'd come across at that age."
 
Long way to go
 
So, that's one day down and just six weeks of Spring Training, a 162-game regular season schedule and maybe the playoffs left to go. Mauer plans to be on the field and squatting behind the plate for a majority of those games, not sitting on a training table.
 
If all goes well, the questions will stop being about his knee and go back to being about his skills.
 
The journey to reach that goal resumed Monday.
 
"I'll have to push it sometime in spring to make sure I'm ready," Mauer said. "But this is the first day. I'm just trying to get back in the flow of things. I'm going to be sore even if I didn't have an injury. That's the way Spring Training is for catchers, and for everybody. You're using those muscles again you haven't used in a while. I'll probably be sore tomorrow."
 
02/21/2005

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#245 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:48 pm
Subject: Healthy Mays just happy to be back 		fmmiraclegal
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By WILL GRAVES
Naples Daily News
 
FORT MYERS -- Joe Mays is just another pitcher in camp with the Minnesota Twins.
 
And that's a good thing.
 
No preferential treatment. No babying by the trainers. Just get on the mound and throw.
 
After the most trying season -- or is it non-season? -- of his professional career, the 29-year-old Mays is simply happy to be back with the boys instead of watching while they go through the monotony of fielding drills and outfield runs.
 
"I'm healthy and ready to go," said Mays, who hasn't pitched with his teammates since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Sept. 11, 2003.
 
Mays spent 2004 working out at the Lee County Sports Complex while the Twins won their third consecutive American League Central Division title.
 
"Not being able to compete was the toughest part," said Mays, who is 42-55 with a 4.69 ERA in five seasons. "You want to be up there with the guys."
 
If he can stay pain free through the spring, he should finally make it back to Minneapolis and put an end to the longest 18 months of his life.
 
And hey, who knew doing a little soft tossing could be so much fun? Mays bounded around the clubhouse after the first full workout for pitchers and catchers on Monday morning, talking to anyone who would listen.
 
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire doesn't plan to hold Mays back.
 
"He's back with all the pitchers, there's nothing wrong with Joe Mays," Gardenhire said. "He's going to take his time, just like everybody else. He's worked hard to get to the point he's at now. That's a good time."
 
MAUER OK: While Mays appears to be all the way back, Gardenhire expects to be a little more cautious with catcher Joe Mauer, who is recovering from surgery on his left knee.
 
Mauer took part in most of the workouts on Monday, but his progress will be closely monitored.
 
"We got through the day," Gardenhire said with a laugh.
 
It's a start. The top pick in the 2001 Major League Amateur Draft was on his way to meeting all the expectations heaped upon him a year ago, hitting .308 with six homers and 17 RBIs in 35 games before two separate bouts with a tender left knee sidelined him for good on July 15.
 
Mauer experienced some pain while crouching during his rehabilitation last fall, but didn't report any soreness on Monday.
 
"We're just going to set it up that way where he catches less than some of the other guys until he can get all the way through it," Gardenhire said. "He'll take less reps and work (his) way into it."
 
NOTES: There were no no-shows on the first full day of workouts for pitchers and catchers. Pitcher Grant Balfour is experiencing some soreness in his right (throwing) forearm and was held back in drills. Gardenhire said the soreness probably stems from Balfour doing a little too much work before coming to camp. ... Though position players aren't required to be in camp until next week, there were more than a handful of players hanging around the complex on Monday, including utilityman Mike Cuddyer and infielder Nick Punto. ... Practice continues today beginning at 10 a.m. at the Lee County Sports Complex. Practice is free and open to the public.
 
February 22, 2005

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#244 From: Marty <mntwinsmntwins@...>
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:17 pm
Subject: Mauer's knee is no issue 		mntwinsmntwins
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Posted on Tue, Feb. 22, 2005
Mauer's knee is no issue
BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. — What knee injury?

Twins catcher Joe Mauer's surgically repaired left knee was not an issue Monday
as the 21-year-old
from St. Paul completed the first spring test of his knee by finishing the first
day of spring
training workouts without complication.

"This is the best it's felt,'' said Mauer, who joined pitchers and other
catchers in the Twins'
first day of work at Lee County Sports Complex. "I'm not too worried about it
right now.''

Mauer missed all but 35 games because of complications from the injury suffered
during the second
game of last season. He hasn't played in a big-league game since early July, and
his workload is
to be limited during the first part of camp as trainers and coaches monitor his
progress.

Monday, he participated in all the catchers' scheduled drills.

"We'll just see after each drill how he does and how he comes along,'' manager
Ron Gardenhire
said. "Supposedly he's fine. We'll see. But unless he tells me something's
bothering him, I'm not
going out there worrying about his knee.''

Here they come: With the first day of spring workouts came the first day of
national attention on
Cy Young winner Johan Santana. The New York Times and ESPN conducted interviews
with baseball's
newest media darling Monday.

Santana, who turns 26 next month, said he's not sure how much time he'll be
asked to take this
spring to accommodate extra attention but doesn't seem concerned about it.

"I've never been through that,'' he said. "But the things they want to talk
about are positive
things, so it's good. The media won't have anything to do with me or the things
I do on the
field.''

Elbow grease: Terry Mulholland may be the oldest player in camp, but his
pitching elbow doesn't
look the part.

"I can feel a difference,'' said Mulholland, the left-hander who pitched last
season with
occasional discomfort in the elbow before having the joint surgically "cleaned
out'' in November.
"It moves normal now. No Rice Krispies or clicks or anything like that in there.
And my extension
is pretty much normal.''

Balfour slowed: Of the 23 pitchers in camp, only right-hander Grant Balfour was
held out of any
scheduled work on the first day of camp. Balfour, who battled a sore shoulder
early last season
and again late in the season, arrived with a sore forearm.

He said his shoulder is fine and didn't require offseason surgery. But he
developed the forearm
tenderness during recent practice to get ready for spring training. It is not
considered serious.



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#243 From: Marty <mntwinsmntwins@...>
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:13 pm
Subject: Twins notes: Mauer's knee passes first test 		mntwinsmntwins
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Last update: February 22, 2005 at 6:49 AM
Twins notes: Mauer's knee passes first test
La Velle E. Neal III,  Star Tribune
February 22, 2005

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Catching phenom Joe Mauer had a pain-free first day of
workouts.

"It was just good to get back on the field with the guys," said Mauer, who
missed all but 35 games
last season because of left knee surgery. "It was a good first day."

Mauer said he went through every drill Monday, but that might not always happen.
The club wants to
ease him into the first couple of weeks of camp.

"We'll start doing [drills], blocking balls in the dirt, and we'll just see
after each drill how
he does and how he comes along," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The more
squatting he does,
getting back into it, we'll see how much soreness he has -- if he has any.
Everybody's going to be
sore. We'll see if the knee reacts. Supposedly he's fine. We'll see."

• Mauer was asked why he didn't switch to No. 16 when it became available. "It
was the first
number they gave me when I got to the majors," Mauer said. "I know [No. 7]
wasn't lucky for me
last year, but I'll give it another shot. No. 16 was my football number."

Balfour has tender forearm

Reliever Grant Balfour, who was throwing lightly in the bullpen last week,
didn't throw Monday
because of a tender right forearm.

Balfour, 4-1 with a 4.35 ERA last season, is not expected to fall too far behind
the other
pitchers.

"Probably throwing a little too much before he got down here or whatever,"
Gardenhire said. "It's
not supposed to be a big deal. It's not his shoulder, it's not tendinitis there,
so that's good."

Balfour emerged as a reliable reliever last season, but finished the year
despite a slightly torn
labrum. He opted not to have surgery during the offseason.

Making it official

Cy Young winner Johan Santana might officially sign his four-year contract worth
around $40
million today.

The club is expecting final word on all the tests and interviews he had last
week. He was put
through a physical while the club arranged for insurance on the contract.

Rowland-Smith?

One obvious question from Day 1: Why is Ryan Rowland-Smith named Ryan
Rowland-Smith?

Rowland-Smith, a Rule V draftee from the Seattle Mariners organization, said he
found out three
years ago.

"I had a great-grandfather named Rowland Smith," he said. "When he died,
everyone wanted to keep
his name in the family, so everyone changed their name to Rowland-Smith."

Rowland-Smith has been reminded by Twins General Manager Terry Ryan that the
last time the club
took a chance on a lefthanded Rule V pick, he made the team.

His name: Johan Santana.

A few yet to show

So many position players have reported to camp, it's now a matter of who isn't
in camp.

The Soul Patrol outfield of Shannon Stewart, Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones
hasn't reported.
Infielders Justin Morneau, Andy Fox, Glenn Williams, Juan Castro and Luis
Rodriguez aren't in. And
outfielders Todd Dunwoody, Armando Rios and Michael Ryan have yet to report. So
far, 44 of 55
players have reported.

La Velle E. Neal III is at lneal@....




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#242 From: Marty <mntwinsmntwins@...>
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:07 pm
Subject: Notes: Twins hold first workout 		mntwinsmntwins
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02/21/2005 7:00 PM ET
Notes: Twins hold first workout
Balfour reports having sore forearm
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Balls popping into mitts in the bullpen. Coaches hitting
grounders to pitchers
during fielding drills. Plenty of running and stretching.
Yes, Spring Training is officially in motion. Twins pitchers and catchers
participated in their
first workout of the spring season at the Lee County Sports Complex on Monday.

"I think we got through the day," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The first day
was fine. We just
did our work with our pitchers' drills. Not too hard out there. Not too much
strenuous activity. A
little throwing in the pen and some fundamentals. First day, you just get
through it. See
everybody get sore and you just go from there."

The day didn't end injury-free. Reliever Grant Balfour reported having a sore
right forearm and
did not throw. The problem was not believed to be related to the right shoulder
soreness that
sidelined him for several weeks last season.

Balfour's throwing and workout schedule will be scaled back and he should be
able to resume in a
couple of days.

Seen it all: If anyone has been there and done that at Twins Spring Training, it
might be pitcher
Brad Radke. The right-hander is entering his 11th season, all of which have been
with Minnesota.

"Just getting out the archives," Radke joked when asked how the first day went.
"A lot of sweat.
It's definitely hotter than it needs to be. If it stays this way, guys will be
dropping."

Radke, 32, signed a two-year, $18 million contract in the offseason. He was one
of many pitchers
that partook in eight-minute bullpen sessions Monday, joining AL Cy Young Award
winner Johan
Santana, starter Carlos Silva and reliever Juan Rincon among others.

Tough offseason: This hasn't been the most enjoyable of winters for Justin
Morneau. The first
baseman has yet to arrive to camp because he has pneumonia. He's already battled
through
appendicitis and chicken pox during this past offseason. Position players aren't
due to report
until Friday.

"He's going to be behind in Spring," Gardenhire said. "We'll have to see where
we're at."

Long trip: You can't blame new Twins pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith for still having
a little jet lag.
Rowland-Smith, acquired from the Seattle organization in December's Rule 5
Draft, flew for more
than 24 hours from his home in Sydney, Australia. He didn't arrive in Fort Myers
until 3 a.m. ET
on Friday.

On Monday, the 22-year-old was working out and participating in his first big
league camp.

"I'm just trying to blend in as best I can," Rowland-Smith said. "It's
definitely different for
me. I'm used to being back in the minor league camp with the Mariners. I'm
really excited. It's a
good opportunity. I just want to make sure I take full advantage of it."

Because they selected him in the Rule 5 Draft for $50,000, the Twins must keep
Rowland-Smith on
the 25-man roster all season or offer him back to Seattle for half the amount.
The left-hander
will likely compete for a spot in the bullpen.

Not a fan: Former player Jose Canseco's new book about steroids in baseball has
become a
best-seller. But don't expect Gardenhire to be one of the buyers of the book.

"We know that Canseco was probably low on money and started firing off bullets
at everybody to
make money," Gardenhire said. "That's what it looks like happened to me. Taking
down a lot of
people with him is a pretty sad thing in this world. He obviously doesn't care
too much about
that.

While admitting he took steroids during his playing career, Canseco also alleged
that former
teammates Mark McGwire, Ivan Rodriguez and Rafael Palmerio were using the
performance-enhancing
drug. None of the accusations have been proven true.

"At first I was a little disappointed. Now I'm really disappointed," Gardenhire
said. "He's
treated a lot of people pretty bad. He's shot at some good people."


Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League
Baseball or its clubs.





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#241 From: Marty <mntwinsmntwins@...>
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:03 pm
Subject: Mauer back where he started 		mntwinsmntwins
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02/21/2005 7:00 PM ET
Mauer back where he started
Catcher in good health at Twins' Spring Training
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- As Twins pitchers and catchers emerged from the clubhouse
for their first
Spring Training workout Monday, Joe Mauer must have felt like he reached the end
of the movie,
"Groundhog Day."
Since tearing the meniscus cartilage in his left knee and having surgery nearly
10 months ago,
Mauer has spent most of those days rehabilitating and exercising on his own and
answering question
after question about his health.

On Monday, it was finally a new day.

The 21-year-old joined his teammates and worked out just like every other
catcher on the roster.
He stretched, played catch, squatted behind the plate for bullpen sessions, took
batting practice
and did his running.

"It felt good to get out there in an organized practice, doing everything,"
Mauer said.

As a 2001 overall No. 1 pick and St. Paul native, few rookie seasons were ever
more anticipated
than Mauer's in 2004. All eyes were on him and many wondered if his superb swing
and catching
skills were big league ready.

Mauer showed that they were, but only for a limited time: He was injured during
the second game of
the season. After arthroscopic surgery and a recovery with complications, he
returned to play for
a total of just 35 games. The numbers were certainly respectable, batting .308
with six homers and
17 RBIs.

By early July, he had already emerged as one of the club's best hitters and was
moved up to the
third slot in the order when Gardenhire was seeking an offensive boost. But
recurring soreness
forced Mauer to shut his season down for good after the All-Star break. He went
back to rehabbing
and endured a longer offseason than most.

"I've been looking ahead ever since I got hurt because I just wanted to get back
on the field,"
Mauer said. "I didn't have a chance to get back last year. I've been working
hard every day to try
and get back out."

Eyes are once again on the phenom, wondering this time if his knee is ready for
the big league
grind. The club was optimistic that it would be.

"Unless he tells me something's bothering him, I'm not going out there worrying
about it," Twins
manager Ron Gardenhire said.

That doesn't mean the team won't be protecting Mauer. Coaches will look for ways
to reduce his
workload in camp, giving him fewer sessions where he'll have to squat for
pitchers. The Twins also
have added extra catching depth on the roster after signing former Marlins
veteran Mike Redmond to
be the new backup.

"We're going to keep an eye on him, but we also have to get him ready," Twins
general manager
Terry Ryan said. "It's a two-prong approach here. We'll make sure we don't do
something that's not
necessary so he doesn't have any setbacks, yet get him enough at-bats and enough
time so he's
where he's supposed to be."

"We'll just see after each drill how he does and how he comes along," Gardenhire
said. "The more
squatting he does, getting back into it, we'll see how much soreness he has if
he has any.
Everybody's going to be sore. We'll see if the knee reacts. Supposedly he's
fine."

Mauer still felt like he made progress in his development.

"It definitely helped, but I would have learned a lot more if I had actually
done it," he said.
"Listening to guys like (former teammate) Henry (Blanco) and (pitching coach)
Rick Anderson and
Gardy and just being around the clubhouse learning from the guys helped a lot."

Plenty of questions:

Not everything has changed in Mauer's daily regimen. The media questions kept
coming. Most of them
were about the status of his knee. As he did all of last season, the young man
answered each one
patiently.

"I'm not too worried about it right now," Mauer said. "I have to make sure I ice
afterwards and I
don't want it to blow up on me all of sudden the next day if I didn't ice. I'm
keeping a close eye
on it and paying attention to it here in the spring and trying to get ready for
the year."

Does answering so many questions about the knee ever get annoying?

"He's always going to put up a good front," said pitcher and friend J.D. Durbin.
"But I think it's
taken its toll on him a little bit."

"I've heard the knee thing a lot today, actually the whole offseason," Mauer
admitted. "It gets
repetitive I guess."

Ryan was impressed with not only how Mauer handled working his way back but how
he's dealt with
the constant inquiries.

"Whenever you're out, whether you run into a friend, a media member, a staff
member, a teammate,
most of the time the discussion is going to revolve around how you're feeling
and how's the knee?"
Ryan said. "Most of the time, they don't ask, 'Where did you go for dinner?'
They don't ask you
what show you saw. It's usually about that injury.

"I think he's probably got about as much patience as far as dealing with
personalities of human
beings as anybody you'd come across at that age."

Long way to go:

So, that's one day down and just six weeks of Spring Training, a 162-game
regular season schedule
and maybe the playoffs left to go. Mauer plans to be on the field and squatting
behind the plate
for a majority of those games, not sitting on a training table.

If all goes well, the questions will stop being about his knee and go back to
being about his
skills.

The journey to reach that goal resumed Monday.

"I'll have to push it sometime in spring to make sure I'm ready," Mauer said.
"But this is the
first day. I'm just trying to get back in the flow of things. I'm going to be
sore even if I
didn't have an injury. That's the way Spring Training is for catchers, and for
everybody. You're
using those muscles again you haven't used in a while. I'll probably be sore
tomorrow."


Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League
Baseball or its clubs.





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#240 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:33 am
Subject: More Mauer Questions for Twins 		fmmiraclegal
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By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Besieged by questions about Joe Mauer's readiness for the majors last spring, the Minnesota Twins and their young catcher are enduring another round of queries a year later.
 
So how IS the knee, Joe?
 
"It was pretty good," Mauer said in his usual understated way. "Good first day."
 
Yes, Monday came and went without a hitch. On the first sanctioned workout for Twins pitchers and catchers, Mauer did every drill under no restrictions. He hit, threw, ran and - most importantly - crouched on his left knee without any problems.
 
"We're just keeping a little eye on it here in spring," Mauer said. "but I'm just like any other catcher here."
 
Except he's not.
 
None of the other catchers were chosen with the first pick in the draft, had their arms described by manager Ron Gardenhire as a "cannon" or were batting third in the big leagues just months after their 21st birthday.
 
Handed the starting job last April, Mauer tore medial meniscus cartilage in his left knee in the second game of the season and missed seven weeks.
 
He returned and was batting .308 with six homers and 17 RBIs in just 107 at-bats before soreness and swelling in the knee sent him back to the disabled list right after the All-Star break and kept him out for the remainder of the season.
 
Watching Mauer in the batting cage won't give any clues about his condition, however.
 
"It's just as good a swing as ever, and the ball was jumping off his bat," Gardenhire said. "I don't think you're going to miss too much. He's a natural. He's got what it takes. We just hope he's healthy."
 
By all accounts, he is.
 
"I didn't even think about it at all today, until you guys asked me," Gardenhire told reporters gathered in his office after practice. "Unless he tells me something's bothering him, I'm not going out there worrying about it."
 
The coaching staff has devised a plan to slightly limit Mauer's repetitions during drills, but that's about the only caution being exercised. The soft-spoken, smiling kid from St. Paul must play several more weeks before he'll actually know the knee is ready for the rigors of the 162-game season.
 
Though this injury might necessitate a switch to another position much later in his career, there's no indication he can't catch for the Twins for several years to come.
 
There's also no worry that his development was stunted by all that time spent in rehabilitation when he could've been behind - or at - the plate.
 
"He studies the game, and he's into it, and you don't have to worry about him too much," Gardenhire said. "He's got all those good instincts. Our pitchers love throwing to him. He's an easy guy to throw to. Umpires like it when he's behind the plate. Fans love him, in the stands. The popcorn guys love him. The guy selling Coca-Colas loves him. His family loves him - a thousand of 'em. Florida State hates him."
 
That last part was a joking reference to Mauer's spurning of a football scholarship - he was a quarterback for Cretin-Derham Hall High School - from Florida State to enter the baseball draft in 2001.
 
Despite the rookie-season setback, Mauer seems to have made the right decision.
 
"I've been looking ahead ever since I've been hurt," he said. "I've just been trying to get back on the field. Working hard every day, trying to get back on."

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#239 From: "fmmiraclegal" <bladesgal21@...>
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:34 pm
Subject: Pix 		fmmiraclegal
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I have added some pictures of Joe.

I hope you all enjoy them!

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#238 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 10:45 am
Subject: Spring Training: Pitchers and catchers reporting for Twins 		fmmiraclegal
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By ANDY KENT
Naples Daily News
 
FORT MYERS -- Although the practice fields at the Lee County Sports Complex have been alive with the sounds of baseball for over a month, nothing was official until now.
 
The pitchers and catchers for the Minnesota Twins report for spring training today and will have their first official workout Monday. And for the third straight spring the club will be coming off a short winter break.
 
"It was one of those winters that really went by quickly, it just seemed like we finished up," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Friday, the day after he arrived in town. "That's a good thing. We didn't have one of those winters where we were putting out fires all the time. I think we're anxious to get going."
 
Minnesota's entire starting rotation and bullpen from last season returns intact, with fresh new contracts for four of the starters.
 
Left-hander Johan Santana, who won the 2004 American League Cy Young Award unanimously, signed a four-year, $40 million deal last Monday and was on the practice field Tuesday.
 
No. 1 veteran righty Brad Radke signed a two-year, $9 million contract in November, No. 3 right-hander Carlos Silva inked a two-year, $5.05 million deal on Feb. 8 and No. 4 righty Kyle Lohse won his arbitration case and was awarded $2.4 million for one year.
 
"I would say we're coming into spring training physically as good a shape as we have. We only have a few guys we're concerned about as far as how they report," Ryan said. "Contractually, we're in good shape, as far as not having to go through some of the ordeals you might at this time. Ev erything is pretty much settled with the exception of some of the youngest players."
 
With the return of former No. 1 pick Joe Mauer behind the plate after rehabbing from a knee injury last year, the core of the Twins' battery looks strong enough to legitimately try to defend their AL Central Division crown for the fourth time.
 
Even though they lost veteran catcher Henry Blanco to free agency (Chicago Cubs), the Twins think they filled that hole nicely with the signing of veteran Mike Redmond, who won two World Series rings with the Florida Marlins.
 
'We tried to get Blanco back, it didn't work out economically," Ryan said. "So we turned to Redmond who we thought was going to be a good fit here. He's a proven backup and we also have depth at that position."
 
After the pitchers and catchers complete their physicals and their first practice, the rest of the position players have until this Friday to report. Many of them already are here, with second baseman Luis Rivas arriving.
 
February 20, 2005

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#237 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 10:09 am
Subject: Twins' Mauer itching to get things going 		fmmiraclegal
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Catcher coming back from knee injury
 
By Deron Snyder
Fort Myers News Press
 
Twins catcher Joe Mauer drove up near the Lee County Sports Complex ticket windows Saturday morning and pulled over in the grass. He unloaded a bucket of baseballs and began hauling it inside for batting practice.
 
"I can't wait to get started," he said, walking past a few scattered fans who didn't notice him. Both Mauer and the fans will have more company today, when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Mauer warned there won't be much to see on report day.
 
"Guys have been down here all week, and others are starting to come in," he said. "We might just take the day off, because we won't have another one off for like 27 days. We might just take it easy (Sunday)."
 
Taking it easy will be standard procedure for Mauer, whose promising rookie campaign was derailed by a season-ending left knee injury. He recorded three hits in his first four at-bats, before tearing meniscus cartilage while chasing a pop-up at the Metrodome in his second game.
 
Mauer underwent surgery and returned in June, immediately showing why Minnesota made him the No. 1 pick in 2001, and why many folks think he's destined for greatness. He played in 33 games before pain and swelling forced him to the disabled list again, relegating him to cheerleader as the Twins won their third consecutive division title.
 
"Just sitting on the bench, not being able to help or go out there and compete, that was the toughest thing," said Mauer, who ended with a .308 batting average, six homers and 17 RBI. "The ballclub was winning, so that helps a little bit. But as much as you want to be out there, it was pretty tough."
 
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Mauer spent the offseason going back and forth between Minnesota and his Fort Myers home. The demands on his time -- as one the Twins' most popular players and one of baseball's most highly touted youngsters -- were reduced so he could focus on rehabilitation.
 
"I didn't really get bothered too much," he said. "Twinsfest and the Twins Caravan was pretty crazy. Other than that it was pretty quiet. I did most of my rehab down here. Wouldn't you be down here most of the time?"
 
Mauer's progress will be monitored carefully, as it was when he returned in June. A knee injury can be more problematic for a catcher -- who crouches for nine innings -- and Mauer has to prove he can withstand the rigors without incident. It's one of the bigger issues heading into camp.
 
"We don't have a lot of question marks as long as we stay healthy," said general manager Terry Ryan, noting that the roster is set except for two or three spots. "That's probably as good a situation as we've had in that regard."
 
Mauer's work behind the plate compared favorably to his work at the plate. Albeit briefly, he helped his batterymates lead the American League in team ERA. Twins lefty Johan Santana captured the Cy Young award. Mauer caught the team-record 32 consecutive scoreless innings Minnesota pitchers compiled in July.
 
That streak covered five consecutive games he caught, his career-high with the Twins. He'll work his way back slowly before such durability is attempted.
 
"I haven't caught back-to-back games, or caught everyday, for a while," Mauer said. "That will be one of the big things in spring training, trying to get ready for catching everyday."
 
Published on February 20, 2005

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#236 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:54 am
Subject: Q & A Ron Gardenhire 		fmmiraclegal
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Minnesota's manager looks ahead to the spring
as his Twins begin training in Florida.
 
BY JASON WILLIAMS
Pioneer Press
 
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire took in some relaxing rounds of golf last week in Fort Myers, Fla., in preparation for the players to report for spring training today.
 
Unlike last year, after the Twins endured a brutal winter of free-agent losses and cost-cutting trades, Gardenhire has fewer concerns entering his fourth spring training as manager.
 
The Twins will be favored to win their fourth consecutive American League Central Division title mostly because they return all the key figures from a pitching staff that led the league in team earned-run average in 2004. Additionally, two key players -- catcher Joe Mauer (knee) and pitcher Joe Mays (elbow) -- are expected to return from injuries that derailed their 2004 season.
 
But after numerous setbacks last season, Mauer and Mays still have a lot to prove this spring. And it wouldn't seem like spring if the small-market Twins didn't have some concerns about replacing players. The free-agent departures of shortstop Cristian Guzman and third baseman Corey Koskie leave a big hole on the left side of the infield.
 
Gardenhire talked with us last week about those issues, among others, facing the Twins entering spring training.
 
Q: Joe Mauer says he's totally healthy and ready to go. What does he have to prove to you in spring training, and will you be cautious in how you use him?
 
A: I don't know if he has to prove anything. Everybody has told me his knee is 100 percent. He tells me he's totally healthy. It's just about going out on the field and seeing what happens. We'll back off at the start of camp to make sure everything's OK.
 
Q: After losing Koskie and Guzman, how concerned are you about the left side of the infield?
 
A: Any time you can write a veteran shortstop's name down every day, that's pretty important. And losing a classy guy and a solid player like Koskie, it's tough. But these other guys are champing at the bit. We do that (replace veterans) around here every year. Our players all know that's part of it. It's going to be tough, but we'll ad lib.
 
Q: You've talked about four players -- Nick Punto, Juan Castro, Augie Ojeda, Jason Bartlett -- competing to replace Guzman. Do you expect someone to emerge as the starter in spring training?
 
A: Somebody's going to start Opening Day, I can tell you that. Whether he's going to be named as an everyday guy, that remains to be seen. The thing we've always done around here is win with 25 guys. Hopefully somebody will step up, and we'll figure out a way to catch the ball, because that's such an important position.
 
Q: Is Joe Mays healthy?
 
A: So far. I haven't seen him throw yet, though. He was up at TwinsFest, and said he feels good. He's on pace. But when you're throwing to hitters and the adrenaline starts flowing, it becomes a different story.
 
Q: What role do you realistically see him in?
 
A: I'm going into camp expecting Joe Mays to become our No. 5 starter.
 
Q: Michael Restovich is out of options, so how do you see his situation unfolding?
 
A: He can play a role off the bench. He can be a fifth outfielder. He can DH. He's going to be up for those roles. He knows what he's facing. Unfortunately, he's coming off the broken collarbone this winter. I talked to him the other day, and he's not going to be ready to go full speed at the beginning of camp. But hopefully he'll be ready to go by the time games start. Over the past few years, he's probably the one guy who has gotten the short end of the stick, so hopefully we'll be able to find him a spot.
 
The good thing for him is he's either going to be on our major league roster or he's going to be on someone else's major league roster.
 
Q: You brought back all the key figures of your pitching staff. How confident are you about this staff?
 
A: That was the most important thing. Anytime you get your pitching staff back intact, that's a pretty big boost. But they still have to go out and perform. We like the looks of it.
 
Q: Do you expect Kyle Lohse to rebound?
 
A: Sure. He got a nice raise this year ($2.4 million by winning in arbitration), so hopefully he'll be more relaxed. He's got good stuff.
 
Q: Coming off his first Cy Young Award, Johan Santana undoubtedly will be inundated by autograph seekers and media this season. Are you concerned how the young pitcher will handle expectations?
 
A: Nah. The one thing our players understand is that the media and fans are very, very important to us. He knows how to take care of the off-the-field business. He won't allow anything to affect the way he pitches. He'll be fine.
 
Posted on Sun, Feb. 20, 2005

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#235 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:44 am
Subject: Instruction 		fmmiraclegal
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La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune
 
Catcher Joe Mauer was being interviewed on Wednesday when former Twin Corey Koskie walked over to listen to his answers.
 
"I've been working with him on improving his interviewing," said Koskie, who signed with Toronto during the offseason. "I'm trying to get him off the Doug Mientkiewicz program."
 
Then, Koskie turned to Mauer and said: "And the next time you get a game ball, give it back."
 
That referred to Mientkiewicz keeping the ball used for the final out of last year's World Series, angering Red Sox officials and fans.
 
Koskie has a home in Fort Myers and worked out at the Twins' complex before heading to Dunedin, Fla., to report to Blue Jays camp. Former Twins A.J. Pierzynski, Dustan Mohr and Brian Buchanan also worked out at the Lee County Sports Complex during the week.
 
February 20, 2005

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#234 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:37 am
Subject: Mauer eager to get back into action 		fmmiraclegal
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La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune
 
FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Twins pitchers this week threw lightly to catchers in the many bullpens at the Lee County Sports Complex.
 
And there was Joe Mauer. In the bullpen. With a mask on. Wearing shin guards. Using a catcher's glove. Catching.
 
And, most important, squatting.
 
Squatting on the left knee that has become a conversation piece since Mauer underwent what was supposed to have been minor surgery last April 8. His attempted comeback had more plots than the average soap opera, and by the end of his much-anticipated rookie season, he had appeared in a mere 35 games.
 
"The toughest part was not playing, sitting on the bench," said Mauer, a former Cretin-Derham Hall High School star who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 amateur draft. "I sat on the bench way too long. Just playing baseball again is enough motivation for me."
 
After surgery to remove a part of the meniscus in his left knee, Mauer returned to the lineup on June 2. He played about a month before soreness landed him back on the disabled list. He sought a second, and third, opinion on whether additional surgery was required, before being cleared to begin workouts in hope of joining the team in the playoffs. The Twins were eliminated before that could happen.
 
The offseason produced more concerns and questions. He returned to the Twin Cities in October when he felt some clicking in the knee during workouts. He was assured the knee was sound and continued workouts. A checkup a month later encouraged everyone that he would be ready to catch by spring training.
 
So there was no third baseman's glove or outfielder's glove in sight Thursday afternoon as Mauer worked out with his brother Jake, Michael Cuddyer, Terry Tiffee and several other players.
 
Jake Mauer remembered the scene during TwinsFest last month, when all the questions were about his brother's surgically repaired knee and assumptions that a position switch was necessary.
 
"All the people were asking me about Joe," Jake said, "They said, 'How is his knee? Is he going to play third base? I heard that he is going to play third.' He is not going to play third. He is going to catch. Everything is all right."
 
Questions remain
 
Joe Mauer has talked about his injury as politely as he can. But he knows he won't have real answers until he stays behind the plate for an extended period of time.
 
"I just want to stay healthy, play a full year and prove to everyone that the knee is fine," he said. "Hopefully, I won't run into any problems."
 
Mauer has strengthened both knees to handle the pounding. History suggests that he might have arthritis in the knee later in life. Right now, he feels like he can catch,
 
"My legs are as strong as ever," he said.
 
Twins General Manager Terry Ryan and manager Ron Gardenhire said Mauer will be eased into spring training detail. But if there had been real concern about Mauer's ability to catch, they would have pursued a starting catcher such as Mike Matheny during the offseason instead of signing Mike Redmond as a backup.
 
Redmond, who played with Florida last season, even walked up to Mauer during TwinsFest and said, "I'm looking forward to watching you play a lot this season."
 
Mauer missed the Twins' third consecutive American League Central Division title. He missed out on handling a pitching staff that led the league in ERA. He missed out on the playoffs -- although he would have been activated to be the designated hitter if the Twins could have beaten the Yankees in the AL Division Series.
 
Jake Mauer noticed a difference in his brother brought on by the inactivity.
 
"Last year was real tough on him, with the team doing well," Jake Mauer said. "He really wanted to be there and be a part of it. It took a toll on him, although he probably would never say it.
 
"I could tell when I talked to him during the season. The conversations were kind of short. You could tell he was kind of down. It's nice to see him this year. He looks completely healthy and looks like he's back to his old self."
 
There's no concern about Mauer, 21, being able to hold his own in the majors. He batted .308 with six home runs and 17 RBI in 35 games last season. Those few games simply teased club officials, who saw a batting approach that was better than most veterans on the team.
 
Mauer is expected to bat somewhere in the middle of the order, possibly third.
 
"He's got the capability of being one of our best players," Ryan said. "You can't point a player to that extreme when they have just 35 games under their belt, but he has a high ceiling."
 
The first two weeks of camp are rough on catchers, who grow weary through drills that cause their legs to burn. Mauer might be held out of few drills just as a precaution. The club has plenty of catchers in camp, especially since non-roster invitee Eric Munson has volunteered to report early to join other catchers.
 
"We're going to ease Joe through this," Ryan said, "His history, the medical people and the trainers will help dictate how much work he'll get.
 
"We're shooting for April 4 and not March 4."
 
And shooting to keep Mauer in the lineup all season.
 
"As we move along here, that's what's going to happen," Gardenhire said, "We are going to forget about his knee."
 
February 20, 2005

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#233 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Fri Feb 18, 2005 7:17 am
Subject: Mauer watch begins anew 		fmmiraclegal
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There will be less star-gazing and more scrutiny of Twins catcher Joe Mauer this spring as his left knee is tested and the treatment of his 2004 injury is reviewed.
 
BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press
 
He was the Twins' biggest question mark heading to spring training a year ago, and he is again.
 
Joe Mauer was an unproven rookie replacing an all-star catcher when he arrived at spring training before last season. This time, it's the health of his left knee that's unproven as the Twins wait to see if their can't-miss prospect can help them win their fourth consecutive American League Central Division title.
 
Twins pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers, Fla., on Sunday, and the daily workouts that start Monday are expected finally to settle the debates waged since last summer: Did Mauer choose the right treatment?
 
Even now, 10 1/2 months after Mauer underwent "routine" surgery to remove damaged cartilage, Twins officials have no way of knowing whether his knee will support six weeks of spring training, much less 130 or more games behind the plate during a major league baseball season.
 
"The proof will be in what happens when he's out there three, four hours, squatting and catching and doing multiple bullpens and putting all that stress on his knees," said Twins orthopedist Dr. John Steubs. "That's when we'll know he's ready to do everything he has to do to catch every day. We just won't know until then.
 
"I'm confident he's done everything he has to do to be ready, but we just won't know until then."
 
As routine as post-injury concerns are in any spring training camp, Mauer's injury has proved to be anything but routine, and it affects a player who is anything but ordinary. The St. Paul native was the organization's No. 1 draft pick in 2001, and some executives and scouts believe he can be the best catcher in the league if he fully recovers from the injury.
 
Mauer tore meniscus cartilage in his left knee while chasing a foul pop in his second big-league game. Nearing the backstop, he dropped to his knee to slow his momentum but stopped abruptly on the rubbery track that circles the field. Two days later he had outpatient surgery, and in two weeks shed his crutches and began playing catch.
 
In less than eight weeks, he was in the lineup as anticipated -- but that's where Mauer's recovery hit a sinkhole. Why he played only 33 more games before pain and swelling forced him to the disabled list still is being debated.
 
He hasn't played in a game since July 18, hasn't caught in a game since July 11, and said he knows his health will be a concern -- at least for others -- until he proves what he can do this spring. His first chance to play in a major league-caliber game won't come until the Twins open their exhibition schedule March 3.
 
"We've heard nothing but positive things. It looks like he's in good shape to start spring training and participate 100 percent," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "Whether or not this thing's going to clear itself without any ramifications, we'll still have to take a look at it as we go.
 
"We feel pretty good about it right now, but there are still things to watch and certainly there are concerns because he had a surgery, and he's a catcher."
 
So what happened over the past 10 1/2 months to leave the Twins and their most prized young player facing concerns on the eve of spring training?
 
EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT
 
'I've been involved with some other major league catchers who have had (the same surgery), went back in a month and never had a lick of problems," said Steubs, who assisted Minnesota Wild team surgeon Dr. Joel Boyd in the operating room.
 
Steubs has worked closely with Boyd and, subsequently, the Cleveland Clinic's Dr. John Bergfeld on Mauer's treatment and rehabilitation.
 
"To say that Joe's course has been the normal course -- no, it hasn't been," he said. "The swelling was a setback, but he didn't have a repeat cartilage tear. The knee was adapting to the original injury, and it's taken time for the knee to improve and recover, and I think it's on the right track.
 
"At this point, I don't think any of us can predict what the knee's going to do when he's catching again."
 
So if there was no recurrent damage to the knee, what happened?
 
"The whole process is really governed by genetics to some extent," Boyd said.
 
In other words, everybody's different. Former Twins catcher Tim Laudner had similar surgery on his right knee as a rookie in the fall of 1981, relatively early in the development of arthroscopic surgery. Soon after starting a running program that winter, he began feeling a "clicking" in the knee.
 
"It wasn't painful," he said. "Did it swell a little bit? Yeah. But nothing more than I thought was normal. … If it's clicking, obviously something's not right."
 
Laudner, who at 6 feet 3, 215 pounds during his playing days was almost the same size as the 6-4 Mauer, had more invasive surgery done that January. Laudner then used part of spring training for rehabilitation and had no trouble during the season.
 
In retrospect, several events could be responsible for Mauer's setback.
 
WORKLOAD
 
A month into his return, Mauer had passed each physical test of his recovery. Back-to-back days of catching, followed by starting day games as the designated hitter, seemed to have little effect on his performance.
 
Despite having less than a week of major league experience, Mauer excelled upon his return to the lineup June 2. In his fourth game back, he hit his first major league home run. And after getting five hits in 11 at-bats in a series against the Chicago White Sox that included two home runs, he took over the marquee No. 3 spot in the Twins' batting order. Over his next three games he went 7 for 11 with another homer.
 
He also caught every inning as pitchers Brad Radke, Johan Santana and Kyle Lohse set a team record with three straight complete-game shutouts in July.
 
Mauer appeared at the top of his game, but discomfort and swelling arose again, and he kept much of it to himself. With the all-star break coming in a few days, he said, he gutted it out knowing he soon would get three days of rest. He started at catcher in six of the final seven games before the break.
 
All this time, Mauer was taking anti-inflammatory medication, prescribed during his rehabilitation because of minor soreness, Steubs said. When Mauer said the soreness increased, a checkup over the all-star break revealed a "trace" of increased swelling, Steubs said. Mauer was taken off the anti-inflammatory medication, and the knee almost immediately swelled beyond his ability to play through it.
 
A magnetic resonance imaging exam confirmed irritation in the joint.
 
"There's no question in my mind that the anti-inflammatories were suppressing some of the soreness," Steubs said, "and as we continued to monitor it, we didn't want to suppress anything that might be an ongoing problem."
 
Steubs and Boyd say the workload that final week before the all-star break wasn't excessive.
 
"I don't second-guess anything that was done," Steubs said. "His knee just responded with swelling to increased stress. We had to back off and somehow compensate and adapt for the fact he'd lost some cartilage in his knee."
 
Boyd admits he was a little surprised by how much stress the knee showed in July, but after he prescribed rest and a gradual return to rehab, team officials continued to project a return for Mauer in two weeks, then a month, then by the end of the season, then possibly the first round of the playoffs, then certainly by the second round …
 
DIFFERING OPINIONS
 
The consensus among the surgeons who gave first, second and third medical opinions last summer was that no additional damage had been done. The only significant disagreement is over whether another surgery in August would have reduced some of the stress that caused the swelling.
 
Dr. Richard Steadman, a renowned knee specialist in Colorado, suggested surgery after examining Mauer in August. Steadman, who works extensively with injured skiers, has pioneered techniques for regenerating and replacing damaged cartilage.
 
"When a great physician like Dr. Steadman offers another opinion, there's always question marks in your mind," said Mauer's agent, Ron Shapiro. "But Dr. Bergfeld confirmed the treatment taken was the right approach at the time."
 
Bergfeld, a leading knee specialist from the Cleveland Clinic and former orthopedist for the Cleveland Browns football team, was the third surgeon brought into the process.
 
Boyd, Steadman and Bergfeld agreed on the diagnosis but disagreed on the treatment.
 
Bergfeld suggested surgery was not necessary.
 
He has been deeply involved in Mauer's rehab program since.
 
Bergfeld did not return messages requesting an interview for this story.
 
An assistant in Steadman's Colorado office said Steadman could not be interviewed without the consent of Mauer or the team, and Mauer declined to contact Steadman, whom he saw only once during the process.
 
'CONSERVATIVE APPROACH'
 
The organization seems to have taken a cautious approach with Mauer.
 
"Joe Mauer is a very, very important cog in that wheel over there," former Twins catcher Laudner said, "and they want to make sure that kid's healthy. Are they overly cautious? I would be, too. They have a pretty fair investment in that kid. And rightfully so. He's a hell of a player."
 
Ryan scoffs at the suggestion the team was "overly cautious."
 
"We didn't treat him any different than any player who would get injured," he said. "Some people come back quickly. Some people take time. There were certain indications that everything we seemed to be doing seemed correct. Surgery should be avoided at all cost, and that's exactly why we didn't jump to that. If that's what needed to be done, it would have been performed."
 
Not that Mauer wanted surgery.
 
"When I heard 'surgery,' I just really didn't want to hear anything else," he said. "(The doctors) all pretty much saw the same thing. If I'd gone to Steadman (for more surgery), there was no chance of coming back (during the season). I was pretty pleased with Dr. Bergfeld in Cleveland and what he had to say (about surgery being unnecessary). I wouldn't change anything."
 
THIS SEASON AND BEYOND
 
A meniscectomy, the surgery Mauer underwent, increases the likelihood of arthritis, according to medical research. Some players develop degenerative problems early enough to affect playing careers. Just like the initial recovery time, said Boyd, the timeline and degree of those problems can vary widely from patient to patient.
 
"It almost makes no sense to dwell on it," Boyd said. "A guy might play 30 years and have no more problems. Or something else could be a problem."
 
Laudner, 46, said he feels fortunate his knee problems didn't significantly affect his career. Although, he paid a price for a career behind the plate, especially in the surgically repaired knee.
 
"It's raining outside, right?" he said by phone from his business office in Edina. "And I don't even have a window in my office. Does my knee hurt? Yeah, a lot of days it does. Am I able to play golf? Yeah. Does it hurt when I walk 18 holes? Yeah, sometimes. Would I trade my career (for a pain-free knee)? I don't think so."
 
The fact that Mauer is a catcher and is expected to crouch for nine innings at a time raises the long-term risk of issues, the doctors say. But they also say there is no reason to fear the knee forcing Mauer or the team to contemplate a position change anytime soon -- if at all.
 
For now, Mauer and the Twins are looking only as far as spring training and the April 4 season opener at Seattle -- with maybe only a few things they would have changed, in hindsight.
 
"Unfortunately, this was a catcher," Ryan said. "I'm not so sure we would have experienced some of these problems or setbacks if he was a pitcher or other position player. I guess it's a lesson I'm learning. When we have to put a guy back into the crouch, I'll have to be more alert."
 
Said Mauer: "Maybe right before the all-star break I would have said something a little sooner. That'd probably be the only thing. But at that point I didn't think I was hurting it worse. Maybe I'd say something and be straightforward with the trainers."
 
SAY IT AIN'T SORE, JOE
 
The timeline of Joe Mauer's knee injury, from surgery through his latest medical exam:
 
April 6 -- The day after making his heralded major league debut, former No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Mauer of St. Paul suffers a medial meniscus tear of the cartilage in his left knee when his shin guard catches on the Metrodome's rubberized warning track while the catcher tries to make a sliding catch of a foul pop up. He remains in the game and singles in the bottom of the third -- giving him three hits in his first four big-league at-bats, but his knee locks up while running the bases later in the inning, forcing him from the field.
 
April 8 -- Undergoes arthroscopic surgery performed by Dr. Joel Boyd, Wild team orthopedist, to remove damaged portion of meniscus, deemed the less serious of two possible procedures (the other being to suture the torn area). The team estimates he'll be sidelined about a month. "That's better," general manager Terry Ryan said of the procedure after receiving the report from doctors. "It's a shorter recovery time." Team doctor Vijay Ennuyi cautions that typical recovery time for such an injury is four to six weeks, and rigors of Mauer's position could add time.
 
April 20 -- Mauer sheds crutches, begins playing catch, considered on track for a recovery time of four to six weeks.
 
May 26 -- Despite residual, "normal" soreness in the knee the day after catching nine innings in an extended spring training game, Mauer starts minor league rehabilitation assignment at Class A Fort Myers (Fla.). Batting as the DH, the lefty hitter gets three hits, all against lefty pitchers.
 
June 2 -- After completing his rehab assignment at AAA Rochester (N.Y.), Mauer is activated from disabled list. Catches full game at Metrodome in first game back, against Tampa Bay, goes 0 for 2 with a walk.
 
June 6 -- At home against Detroit's Esteban Yan, hits first major league home run.
 
June 8-9 -- Catches back-to-back games for first time since injury.
 
July 2 -- Moves into No. 3 spot in Twins' batting order, goes 2 for 3 with double and triple in one-run victory at Arizona.
 
July 5-11 -- Catches five consecutive days (including team-record 32 straight scoreless innings by four pitchers) for first time since the injury, and six of Twins' final seven games before all-star break. Begins experiencing pain and swelling in the knee, doesn't tell team officials.
 
July 15 -- Doesn't start first game after all-star break because of continued pain and swelling in the knee, comes off bench at Kansas City in the eighth inning to pinch hit and strikes out, his final at-bat of the season.
 
July 19 -- Placed on 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 16. Boyd examines the knee, determines no additional damage and prescribes rehabilitation, and team announces Mauer should be ready to play about the time he's eligible to be reinstated from DL.
 
July 28 -- Team announces it has agreed, at the request of Mauer's agent, to seek a second medical opinion on the state of the rookie's still-sore knee, scheduling an appointment with pioneering knee specialist Dr. Richard Steadman, who has a reputation for choosing surgery over alternative treatments.
 
July 30 -- Steadman advises an arthroscopic procedure to smooth the surfaces of the remaining meniscus, suggesting that Mauer will probably recover in time to play before the end of the season. Mauer resists. Mauer family, representatives and team agree to look for independent, outside third opinion before making treatment decision.
 
July 31 — Mauer, still sore, eligible to return from the disabled list but faces possibility of season-ending surgery if yet-to-be named third doctor agrees with Steadman. "It's just frustrating," Mauer says. "I don't really have a timeline for when I'll play or when I'll feel better. That's tough."
 
Aug. 5 -- Twins announce Dr. John Bergfeld, leading knee specialist with the Cleveland Clinic and former Cleveland Browns orthopedist, will conduct exam for third medical opinion. Twins start talking more openly about getting Mauer ready for next season as their first priority: "We certainly don't want to do anything to hinder 2005 or beyond," GM Ryan says.
 
Aug. 11 -- Bergfeld examines Mauer and determines no surgery is necessary "at this time" and recommends continued, aggressive rehabilitation to test the knee, with follow-up exams to determine if surgery becomes desirable later. Mauer fitted for a brace to take stress off inside of knee. Team estimates Mauer could be ready to play in about three weeks.
 
Aug. 12 -- Mauer's return to rehab delayed by several days by sudden kidney stone attack and subsequent medical procedure.
 
Aug. 31 -- With Mauer still shelved and no return imminent, the Twins trade former first-round draft bust B.J. Garbe to Seattle to acquire 41-year-old catcher Pat Borders, playing for Seattle's AAA club, as playoff insurance behind the plate. The impact of the move isn't felt until Game 4 of the divisional playoffs when Borders, having entered as a defensive replacement, fails to block a pitch in the dirt in the 11th inning, allowing the winning run to score in the game that eliminates the Twins from the playoffs.
 
Sept. 24 -- After second visit to Bergfeld for checkup on knee, including another magnetic resonance imaging test and X-rays, Mauer cleared to start a running program, his final rehab hurdle. But Twins say they don't plan to rush Mauer and don't expect him to be ready to play until the first round of the playoffs at the earliest -- and then only as a designated hitter or pinch hitter. Mauer also told that the MRI showed significant healing since Aug. 11, that further surgery does not appear necessary, and that he should be at 100 percent strength by spring training. He finishes his rookie season with a .308 batting average and six home runs in only 35 games.
 
Oct. 4 -- Twins finalize their playoff roster, without Mauer on it; send Mauer to Florida for instructional league games to prepare for a possible second-round playoff series.
 
Oct. 9 -- Twins eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Yankees, ending Mauer's 2004 comeback attempt.
 
Oct. 14 -- Mauer returns to the Twin Cities from Florida after experiencing "clicking" and discomfort in knee while catching during rehab work. He remains for several days while team physician Dr. John Steubs and Boyd confer and consult Bergfeld. Finding no damage in the knee, doctors conclude Mauer should continue rehab, barring further pain, and revisit the plan when he returns for long-scheduled November checkup.
 
Nov. 24 -- Mauer is told his knee looks solid and he is making good enough progress to make the doctors confident he should be at full strength for spring training.
 
Now -- Catching simulated games and continuing rehabilitation exercises in preparation for 2005. Has not participated in a competitive game situation since October.
 
Posted on Fri, Feb. 18, 2005

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#232 From: joemauerfanclub@yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:00 am
Subject: Birthday Reminder 		joemauerfanclub@yahoogroups.com
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Birthday Birthday Reminder from the Calendar of joemauerfanclub
Shannon Stewart 1974

Friday February 25, 2005
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#231 From: joemauerfanclub@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:00 am
Subject: Birthday Reminder 		joemauerfanclub@yahoogroups.com
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Birthday Birthday Reminder from the Calendar of joemauerfanclub
Rob Bowen 1981

Thursday February 24, 2005
All Day
This event repeats every year.
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#230 From: joemauerfanclub@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:00 am
Subject: Birthday Reminder 		joemauerfanclub@yahoogroups.com
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Birthday Birthday Reminder from the Calendar of joemauerfanclub
J D Durbin 1982

Thursday February 24, 2005
All Day
This event repeats every year.
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#229 From: "radaich" <radaich@...>
Date: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:50 pm
Subject: hometown kid 		radaich
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is any from minnesota and knew joe before he became what he is
today? I was just wondering cause I went to school with him from 3rd
grade threw 6th

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#228 From: "joe_mauer_fan" <joe_mauer_fan@...>
Date: Sun Feb 13, 2005 4:43 pm
Subject: Happy V-Day Joe Mauer Fans! 		joe_mauer_fan
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Hey Joe #7 fans, I'm exited for Feb. 14th..cause I'm celebrating Joe
Mauer to be My Valentine. It's just for fun! lol Anyone else going to
be celebrating Joe Mauer on V-day? :) Take care Twins fans!

Sarah #7

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#227 From: "mntwinsmntwins" <mntwinsmntwins@...>
Date: Tue Feb 8, 2005 1:05 pm
Subject: Mailbag: Roster spots up for grabs 		mntwinsmntwins
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02/07/2005 12:30 PM ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

At this point, how many roster spots are up for grabs in Spring
Training?
-- Max A., Minneapolis, Minn.
That's a good question. Certainly, the starting shortstop role is
open to four main candidates -- Juan Castro, Nick Punto, Jason
Bartlett and Augie Ojeda. Who gets the utility infielder's role
obviously will depend on who wins at shortstop. Third base appears
to be Michael Cuddyer's to lose, but Eric Munson and Terry Tiffee
will be in the battle.

The rotation's fifth starter spot isn't assured, especially if Joe
Mays isn't ready. A reserve outfielder is needed, and Michael Ryan
and Michael Restovich head the list of competition there. A lefty
bat for the bench is also an open role with Munson, Ryan and Armando
Rios competing. The final one or two bullpen spots also need to be
locked up. All of these decisions may not be decided until near the
end of camp.

Do you anticipate Juan Rincon making a transition to the starting
rotation anytime soon? The benefit of keeping him in a middle-relief
role is clear, though it is difficult to ignore the fact that his
2004 stats (with the exception of innings pitched) are strikingly
similar to those posted by Johan Santana in 2003. Doesn't this seem
to merit an opportunity for promotion?
-- Benny
Yes, Rincon had a tremendous 2004 and essentially owned the eighth
inning, setting up Joe Nathan last season. More of the same will be
expected of him in 2005. But no, I do not envision a move to the
rotation in his future. He can throw hard and has great movement on
his mid-90s fastball. But unlike Santana, Rincon lacks command of a
third pitch -- the changeup -- that would make him a successful
starter in the Majors.

Why did we sign Eric Munson to a minor league contract? For a guy
who hit 19 homers last season, I think he should be able to play in
the Majors and at least be a backup player!
-- Devin, St. Paul, Minn.

More than anything, I believe it was a procedural move. If the club
signed Munson to a big league contract right away, it would have had
to place him on the 40-man roster. Then, someone else would have to
be taken off the roster and unprotected, and they would be
susceptible to a waiver claim from another club. Doing it this way
gives the Twins more flexibility. The 27-year-old has already agreed
to a Major League salary worth a reported $700,000, which
automatically kicks in if he makes the team out of camp.

What additional picks did the Twins acquire by losing Henry Blanco,
Corey Koskie, and Cristian Guzman?
-- Gary T., Sidney, Mont.

Koskie, who signed with the Blue Jays, and Guzman, who is now with
the Nationals, were considered Type A free agents. But the Twins did
not get first-round picks for them because the won-lost records of
Toronto and Washington (formerly Montreal) were among the bottom 15
teams last season. Minnesota will receive a second-round pick and a
sandwich pick for each player. Blanco, who went to the Cubs as a
free agent, yielded a sandwich pick.

I've been noticing teams like the Cubs, Red Sox, and White Sox all
have wristbands they are selling, much like those
yellow "LIVESTRONG" ones Lance Armstrong has put out. Any chance the
Twins will be making one? And if not, will someone hand down the
idea?
-- Kevin G., Rochester, Minn.

The Twins actually just released a red wristband of their own
recently, which debuted at TwinsFest a couple of weekends ago. They
say 'Go Twins' on them and all proceeds benefit the Twins Community
Fund.


This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball
or its clubs.

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#225 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:24 am
Subject: The Mauer Rule 		fmmiraclegal
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Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has a new rule for catcher Joe Mauer, who missed much of last season because of an injured left knee after skidding on the Metrodome's rubber surface near home plate while trying to catch a ball.
 
"The new rule," Gardenhire said, "is he cannot slide on his knee anymore on that rubber stuff."

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#224 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Sat Jan 29, 2005 12:11 pm
Subject: Mauer ready to get going 		fmmiraclegal
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Doctors say St. Paul native's knee checks out fine;
spring training will be the true test
 
BY JASON WILLIAMS
Pioneer Press
 
Joe Mauer has officially finished the procedural process of rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee.
 
But the Twins catcher still has a big step to take before he and the organization know for sure that he is healthy beyond an inkling of doubt. That step is to make it through spring training without any setbacks.
 
Manager Ron Gardenhire glowingly spoke of how healthy Mauer is during a preseason media luncheon Friday but said the true test of whether the St. Paul native is ready to be an everyday player will not come until spring training begins.
 
"I just want to see him get back on the field, then we can leave the rest of it alone," Gardenhire said. "Nothing's hindering him."
 
Mauer suffered meniscus damage in his left knee in the second regular-season game last year, limiting his much-anticipated rookie season to 35 games. But he ushered in the new year in a fresh way. During a simultaneous evaluation by Twins orthopedist Dr. John Steubs and Dr. Joel Boyd -- who performed Mauer's surgery -- while in the Twin Cities around the New Year's holiday, Mauer was told his nine-month rehabilitation was complete.
 
"They said, 'Treat it as a regular offseason,' " said Mauer, who is attending the annual TwinsFest at the Metrodome this weekend. "It was good news. I've had a lot of news from doctors in the past year, and that was the best."
 
Ever since, Mauer said he has been doing routine weight and cardiovascular training. He said he has had no pain the past two months but added that he has not crouched into a catcher's position for any length of time since a series of simulated games in Fort Myers, Fla., ended in early December.
 
"I'm not worried about it," said Mauer, who will report to spring training in Fort Myers on Feb. 19, the voluntary date for pitchers, catchers and injured players. "I'll be fine. It's just a matter of getting back into it every day, and it'll take some time to get back into spring-training form."
 
Controversial Rios signed: The Twins have agreed to terms with Armando Rios on a minor league contract and have invited the veteran outfielder to spring training.
 
Rios, who has played parts of six seasons with San Francisco, Pittsburgh and the Chicago White Sox, was implicated in the BALCO scandal. According to a San Francisco Chronicle report in July, Rios told a federal agent that he tested positive for steroids while in the minor leagues in 2003.
 
Rios did not play in the majors last year, spending time with two minor league teams and a Mexican League club. He had his best big-league season in 2001 with San Francisco and Pittsburgh, reaching career highs in hits (83), home runs (14) and doubles (17). His chances are slim of making the Twins' Opening Day roster.
 
Briefly: First baseman Justin Morneau is among the notable players not attending TwinsFest. Morneau has been recovering from chicken pox, Gardenhire said. Other top Twins not on the schedule this weekend: Shannon Stewart, Luis Rivas and newly acquired shortstop Juan Castro.
 
* The Twins and Lee County, Fla., have reached an agreement on a 10-year contract extension to keep the organization's spring training and minor league training complex in Fort Myers through 2020. As part of the deal, a new weight room and conference room will be built on the minor league side.
 
* Minnesota's Class AA team will remain in New Britain, Conn., at least through 2008 after a two-year extension was agreed upon last week.
 
Posted on Sat, Jan. 29, 2005

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#223 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:27 am
Subject: 2005 Twins Winter Caravan - Thursday's Stops 		fmmiraclegal
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South Leg Itinerary
 
Scheduled to appear: Joe Mauer, Carlos Silva, Tony Oliva, Dick Bremer, TC Bear
 
Thursday, January 27
10:00-11:00 am  WASECA: Waseca Middle School
1:00-3:30 pm LE SUEUR: Cambria visit
6:30-9:00 pm OWATONNA: KRFO Evening Program @ Owatonna HS
 
West Leg Itinerary
 
Scheduled to appear: Bert Blyleven, Michael Cuddyer, Matthew LeCroy, J.D. Durbin, TC Bear
 
Thursday, January 27
8:15 a.m. Depart for New Ulm
9:00 a.m. KNUJ-New Ulm Radio Station Visit
9:45 a.m. Middle School Visit
10:45 a.m. Leave for Windom
11:45 a.m. Arrive at KDOM-Windom
1:00 p.m. Southwest Star Concept High School in Okabena
2:00 p.m. Depart for Spencer, IA
3:30 p.m. Radio Station Visit-Spencer, IA
5:45 p.m. VIP Reception
6:15 p.m. Evening Program at Clay County Event Center
 
Mini Leg Itinerary
 
Scheduled to appear: Joe Nathan, Kyle Lohse, Al Newman & WCCO Radio's John Gordon
 
Thursday, January 27
7:15 - 8:30 MINNEAPOLIS
9:30 a.m. SAVAGE: Glendale Elementary School Visit
2:00 p.m. HUTCHINSON: KDUZ Station Visit
3:00 p.m. HUTCHINSON: Nursing Home Visit
5:30 p.m. WILLMAR: KDJS VIP Reception (Kandi Ent. Center)
6:00 p.m. WILLMAR: Evening Stop (Kandi Entertainment Center)
 
All Times are Approximate and the Schedule and participants are Subject to Change

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#222 From: bladesgal21@...
Date: Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:13 am
Subject: Twin Winter Caravan - Wednesday's Stops 		fmmiraclegal
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South Leg Itinerary
 
Scheduled to appear: Joe Mauer, Carlos Silva, Tony Oliva, Dick Bremer, TC Bear
 
Wednesday, January 26
9:30 - 10:30 am ALBERT LEA: KATE AM
1:00-2:00 pm MASON CITY: Luncheon at Music Man Square
6:30-9:00 pm AUSTIN: KAUS Evening Program @ Holiday Inn
 
West Leg Itinerary
 
Scheduled to appear: Bert Blyleven, Michael Cuddyer, Matthew LeCroy, J.D. Durbin, TC Bear
 
Wednesday, January 26
8:00 a.m. Depart for Benson
9:00 a.m. Benson Radio Station visit
10:00 a.m. KMS School Visit
10:45 a.m. Depart for Montevideo
11:30 a.m. Arrive at School Visit
12:15 p.m. Radio station visit
1:00 p.m. Depart for Mankato
4:00 p.m. KTOE-Mankato Radio Station visit
6:00 p.m. VIP Reception at KATO Ballroom
6:45 p.m. Program Begins
 
Mini Leg Itinerary
 
Scheduled to appear: Joe Nathan, Kyle Lohse, Al Newman & WCCO Radio's John Gordon
 
Wednesday, January 26
Time TBD  ST. PAUL: Trail Dodge Visit
6:45 p.m. ST. PAUL: Hot Stove Dinner (Oakdale Prom Center)
 
All Times are Approximate and the Schedule and participants are Subject to Change

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