A Hometown Icon, Joe Mauer Is a Minnesota Twin for Life

He is, without much argument, the popular face in the state of Minnesota, quickly breaking out as the sporting icon within an atmosphere where he was born and raised before ripening as the greatest catcher in the majors.

Dating back to his childhood, Joe Mauer was covetous, immersing, and engaging in a sport that he idolized growing up as a Twins fan.

Certainly, in the midst of his endeavor, he dreamed to someday establish and engrave a place as a megastar in the game that he has admired dearly. And then, years later, a fairy tale turned into reality, now distinguished as a role model and a recognized star player.

Ever since the Minnesota Twins selected him with the No. 1 pick in the MLB's First-Year Player Draft, Mauer has been viewed as the feel-good story, a hometown hero within a rebuilding franchise. His loyalty and humble-minded psyche makes it easier for Minnesotans to accept and fall in love with the hometown native.

The state of Minnesota has seen him elevate in the coolest stages of his accomplished career, seeing much improvement each season and his batting numbers skyrocket. He’s on the level of advancing as the greatest player to ever wear a Twins uniform.

That goal came into clearer focus around dinner time on Sunday, as Mauer signed an eight-year, $184 million contract extension with the Twins, disclosing to all citizens that he’s likely a Twin eternally.

That’s exactly what Mauer intended, to remain at home for the rest of his playing career, and continue to thrive as a terrific slugging catcher in the game. It doesn’t take a fool to realize that he’s here to stay until his kneecaps give out on him, or until his body wears down completely.

With all due respect to others, Mauer is the one player in baseball that is deserving of such a wealthy deal, believed to be the purist slugger in the game.

Honestly, everyone needs to grasp a clear assumption that he has avoided fraudulent juice, a crime tarnishing the beautiful aspects of the game and exalted careers. There’s no front office more willing and understanding of lavishing Mauer with an enormous deal, getting an idea that his presence is bolstering ticket sales and attendance ratings. He’s the one sporting figure whose popularity has transcended and amended inferiority for a town assuming its lifeless times have vanished.


Rarely does any player fulfill his lifelong wishes near his hometown, let alone doing so while earning a historic contract. There’s now evidence that the Twins believe in richer deals, unlike pay cuts, cheaper bargains, or discounts. Signing Mauer to the richest contract in baseball history ever given to a catcher proves the Twins will open the wallet for the right players.

Up to this point, Mauer has played well and made a name for himself, guiding the Twins to new heights and soothing anxiety among fans. What we know so far is that he’s the inspirational voice inside the clubhouse, a well-respected individual with upper body strength and shrewd discipline at the plate.

It’s not such a bad idea to fantasize that this may actually be Minnesota’s year to explode during a tight and aggressive pennant race. With the ultimate signing and revamping, the Twins can make a surge this season.

It’s obvious that Mauer is happier than before earning superstar bucks, the kind of cash a valuable player receives whenever his productivity has an impact not only in the RBI, OBP, or home run columns but the fan population as well.

With an atrocious crisis poisoning the game, including a deadbeat commissioner with marbles missing in his brain, baseball needs an honest ambassador. What’s fascinating and very unique about Mauer is that he’s baseball’s undeniable role model and town hero, exceeding all expectations as a spectacular hitter.

On the flip side, though...if he disappoints, which I highly doubt, big bucks are considered nothing more than a failure.

Until then, Mauer has made it clear with his imposing swings, base running, and defensive effort behind the plate that he’s a huge money-maker. Normally, the Twins hold back investing millions on a glimmering player. But this time the organization took a risk and renamed themselves the Yankees of the offseason after giving Mauer the biggest contract in Twins history.

Longer than usual, his agent, Ron Shapiro, realized how valuable his name is within a rising franchise. Longer than normal, Mauer realized that he means much to a community, ready to cheer on postseason ecstasy.

As one of the coolest, most popular athletes in baseball, he has amassed three batting titles, two Gold Gloves and a lone MVP award. And has handled it all with class and dignity, rising to a higher level and forges popularity.

With that slew of accomplishments, all he needs now is a World Series title to balance out an inexplicable pursuit. Really now, he foreshadows that positivity still exists in baseball, eclipsing the everlasting performance-enhancing drug busts and accepts deep applause from the public, believing there’s still aspiration left. Last November he became the fifth MVP in Twins history.

This is a franchise planning accordingly, appeasing fans by holding on to Mauer for the next eight seasons and building around him. Very fittingly, the Twins will start off on a fresh note, set to open their new ballpark in April.

It’s obviously "The House That Mauer Built." Once this new contract expires, Mauer will be 35 years old, barely standing on his wobbly knees if he remains at catcher throughout that time.

Then again, maybe he’ll be a veteran able to voice wisdom to a younger club, with enough strength to still belt long shots and start as a designated hitter. As of now, good health and strong performances are essential, or else a huge contract extension turns into a disappointment and financial waste.

Like anywhere else, Minnesota is proud to enjoy a good time at the ballpark, but these fans also come to marvel at arguably the cleanest and most charismatic player in the game.

Every time he appears at the plate, fans are fueled by Mauer's capabilities to lace line drives and change the dynamic of the game. For whatever reason, the baseball society ignored his intangibles and mechanics, but at home there’s not a day progressing without him receiving warmth receptions from a feverish crowd.

After all, he’s a hometown icon.

And he’s home for good.

Twins Believe In Wondrous Comebacks: No Mirage, It's an October Miracle

At last, a distressing night of madness came to a close, jolting relaxed Detroit fans who believed in Fang Power and pitches with roaring speed. Wouldn’t it have been nice for a town that has dealt with affliction the last few years to maintain a three-game lead with four games left?

Wouldn’t it have been nice for the Tigers to eschew a seven-game lead, including a divisional league that lasted four months before the Minnesota Twins exposed star power and reduced a lead forcing a final playoff game that decided a season?

Yes, the Tigers obviously collapsed, losing momentum at a time winning counts. Disappointed fans watched the Tigers relapsed a lead, which could’ve soothed an ailing town that has been battered with economic downturns.

Unemployment rates are high, jobs have crippled, and homicide rates have tripled in an environment that’s ultimately in disarray and could’ve profited with a victory in trouble times. If the Tigers had excelled and mastered a delightful postseason bid, at least for the next upcoming weeks it would’ve been enough to escape disastrous letdowns occurring.

But advancing to the postseason was mutual for the Twins, too. It’s their final season, playing inside the colossal Metrodome, a friendly environment that has engendered memories over the years. Just along in an epic turn-of-events, another memorable game was played inside a lively dome.

Mostly all Minnesotans are rambunctious these days, though some will suggest the noise factor was still from the Favre Ferve and Vikings hangover a night ago. But others will suggest that the Twins momentum and sudden intensity level is the difference in shifting attitudes.

I’ll honestly admit the noise factor was strictly centered on the Twins impressive winning streak. In recent weeks, they were the hottest and most appealing team in baseball, gradually moving into contention and rode a 17-4 record to pull even on the final weekend. It seemed things were slowly deteriorating, and those Tiger fangs were too brutal to match.

But the Twins refused to quit, withstanding a gusty clash with their divisional rivals. On a long night that suddenly finished charmingly, the Metrodome erupted in roars louder than the Tigers. Before you know it, a speedy Carlos Gomez raced home with the winning run off Alexi Casilla’s single to possess a 6-5 win in a 12 inning thriller, turning an uptight night into a towel-swinging, bumping, and fanfare frenzy.

It’s a bit surprising, but more so, it’s unbelievable that mostly everyone in America counted out the Twins. At the right time, they heated up, they never stopped believing and they stayed poised.

Since it took exactly 163 games to decide a winner, the last thing the Twins expected was a late night at the dome. Fatigued bodies could be a disadvantage, having to travel to New York immediately following their remarkable rally to win and awaken an entire community. Limited in time, the Twins had exactly 21 hours before they encounter an intriguing contest with the Yankees in Game One of the ALDS.

But now, the Twins are beloved by locals after a remarkable comeback earns our attention. That leaves us guessing if they’re an October Miracle this year. Let’s wait and see.

In the town itself, Joe Mauer is the beloved Twin, who greeted fans after clinching the division, and heard cheats “MVP, MVP, MVP!” They used to wear fake sideburns to praise the slugging catcher. Thus far, in his career, he has done incredible damage at the plate and won two batting titles.

As a team, the Twins played countless hours in an epic classic, but finally celebrated a hard-to-believe comeback. Lasting five hours, they were anxious to win after coming far and sensing joy as the innings prolonged. It’s not a mirage, winning 16 of their previous 20 games to catch the Tigers. It’s not an illusion, dominating a team with prominent pitching, without slugger Justin Morneau, the reigning American League MVP.

It’s not impossible beating a franchise that consisted of the league’s strikeout leader Justin Verlander or the 20-year old pitching sensation Rick Porcello, who pitched in the most important game of his lifetime. Of all places, he threw in a noisy environment and struggled with his command, yielding a run on a throwing error and surrendered a solo home run to Jason Kubel in the sixth inning.

It was a game that had much intensity and dramatic scoring. For much of the game, the scoreboard changed often. In a classical performance, Orlando Cabrera's two-run homer pumped the crowd in the seventh, which gave the Twins a 4-3 lead. That certainly wasn’t enough, when Magglio Ordonez tied it at 4-4 on his solo homer in the eighth. The unstoppable drama summarized how the game played out much of the night.

But at home plate, scoring runs were really intense. Detroit’s outfielder Ryan Raburn fired a cannon-arm throw to home, getting out Casilla to end the 10th. From there, momentum strictly shifted into the Twins favor, as Jim Leyland’s frequent mound visits and pitching chances weren’t enough to resolve issues.

Perhaps, it worked productively for Twins longtime skipper Ron Gardenhire, who has been successful as manager in Minnesota. The track record is impeccable, and they’ve won multiple of games in previous seasons. They have amassed their fifth AL title in eight seasons under Gardenhire, and during that span have found ways advancing to the postseason.

Most overlooked the Twins in recent weeks, failing to acknowledge the team’s history and underestimated players who’ve shocked the world in a matter of moments. All you have to do is believe.

They certainly believed.

Minnesota Twins Can Wave Goodbye as Tiger Fangs are Too Brutal

As the postseason looms, it brings back memories of the annual fall classic grasping our awareness on which team is worthy of winning the pennant or teams that are bust. As the season unfolds, it captivates our senses seeing which team survives the finish, after withstanding a bleak and shameful season for all the treacherous steroid scandals.

It involved a mysterious list that has taunted the game of baseball, leaving a beloved sport in limbo as fans tried figuring out the next con artist.

But now, fans are in the midst of figuring out an unpredictable pennant race between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins. It’s no brainteaser in the final week or day of the regular season, which normally comprises of the true meaning of baseball.

It’s not a tight, tense or laborious race in the AL Central, a division that has earned buzz and much publicity. You can predict a winner before the final week of the regular season. And if you can’t predict a legitimate winner, well just watch an uninterested and over-hyped contest startle us without a wondrous finish.

Thus far, the Tigers consist of deadly fangs, worthy of attacking and disappointing teams if they advance in postseason play. With breathing room, it makes sense believing the Tigers are favorites to clinch the division title.

Although the Twins know there’s much at stake, keeping up the pace isn’t enough to make it intense or elusive. It might seem like anyone’s race, but the Tigers have the edge by controlling its destiny.

Face it baseball is a game of momentum and optimism. The only way things can collapse in Detroit and besmirch a magical number, will be unraveling shockingly by losing the remaining games. They haven’t been able to put away the Twins, with their lackluster performance in the last few weeks.

But it’s not difficult declaring the Tigers divisional champs, though the last few weeks have been shaky, erratic and left us guessing. Still, the Tigers clearly have the necessary tools to oust the Twins.

Although Detroit has a talented unit presenting enough specifics, such as capabilities, questions remain if they can employ capacity when winning is meaningful. Of late, the Tigers have played like a team with depth, winning four consecutive games, forcing the Twins to tally a win each night.

Needing a fair amount of wins to stay alive is a solicitous task, and pivotal for reaching the postseason. And it’s vital the Twins notch as many victories before the season comes to a close.

But a team losing nine of 12 games isn’t dazzling. Before the four-game win streak came into play, it was more painful, witnessing talented stars frail when steep investments were contrived for building a postseason contender.

When it comes to a team spending aggressively to assemble the proper ingredients for advancing to the next level, you’d like to imagine growth and successive prevalence, and imagine the Tigers thriving and contending with teams, such as the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

After getting rid of the underperformers, the Tigers were inevitably considered as a top-notch threat in the American League, and superior enough to advance into the World Series.

As it seemed difficult suggesting when the Twins were hitting better remarkably with catching sensation Joe Mauer, who won the batting title a few years ago, the Tigers pitching is flawless and could pose trouble for opposing teams in October.

But the Twins uniquely have a rare breed in Mauer. Dominating the batting column very seldom happens for catchers, but considering that Mauer is a singular individual many haven’t seen until he fostered into stardom, gifted power is bounded to happen in a league that now develops unforeseen players reaching a peak before reaching their prime.

Mauer is obviously one of the great sluggers in the game, and you can argue that the MVP nominations should be bestowed to the most lovable catcher in the game. He’s the greatest icon in Minnesota, where he grew up and thrives as a primary superstar.

Many living in the town imitates his stylish features by wearing fake sideburns, endorsing his abilities to hit sharply and better than .500. That includes his teammates Justin Morneau, a home run expert, Michael Cuddyer, a cannon-arm thrower and respectable hitter, and Jason Kubel, who deposit shots into the stands.

That tests wills, forcing the Tigers to strive more. That means they’ll likely play with diligence, even if the final game is needed to determine faith. It requires more work, after clearly putting themselves in a tough situation, against a team that hasn’t been bothered with mediocrity. It requires huge contributes from a productive pitching rotation, which has been a cornerstone riding a .500 win percentage and first place standings.

This season alone, the Tigers are efficient when Justin Verlander, 26, throws heaters, when Rick Porcello intimidates opponents with his wicked four-seam fastball or when Edwin Jackson starts games.

If they managed, without mismanaging or collapsing, the Tigers powerful rotation might be a hassle for most teams. In recent memory, cogent pitching rotations are imperative for making an urgent statement leading up to the fall classic.

Meanwhile, Verlander’s near-perfect outing could signify and valid the identity of the Tigers. Being the ace, he’s a centerpiece to their postseason success. But he was long overdue, having to fix and make minor adjustments with his pitching mechanics and command.

Thursday night, Verlander recovered from two substandard starts. Entering the game 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA in his last three starts, he was expected to redeem himself from poor quality starts.

And he, indeed, pitched well striking out 11 in seven innings, improving and extending his dominance against the futile Cleveland Indians, who doesn’t have enough firepower to contend in a blown out of portion, lopsided battle between the Twins and Tigers.

Perhaps the difference between an uncontested pennant chase, has to be the Tigers well-rounded dynamics, while the Twins are hanging on, courtesy of power hitting by a conscious batting lineup.

Sure, there’s Carlos Guillein, whose heroics and steadfast discipline when batting, bolstered the Tigers. But it has been relatively disappointing contributes from Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez.

At perfect timing, Cabrera is starting to gain power, which was missing throughout a struggling season. A two-run homer the other night is a way to reestablish assurance and rhythm with 10 games remaining. The magic number currently stands at eight, which makes it harder on the Twins.

As long as the Tigers continue winning most of the remaining games, they’ll clinch a berth and the divisional title. They’ll celebrate as a team, pop the champagne corks and embrace a divisional crown, entering the postseason with a sense of urgency and confidence.

Part of the urgency and successful win streaks are made possible by the savvy manager Jim Leyland, who has excelled mightily in the managerial role. He prepares his team for moments as gratifying as this one, and over the years, he has been fortunate to manage gifted pitchers. So he, indeed, knows what is at stake, and understands what the Tigers must accomplish in the upcoming weeks.

As for Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire, now might be a perfect time to wave goodbye. The Tiger fangs are too much to handle.