Mauer

[harvey lee]

I heard that Joe has to have shots in his knees. What's the problem with his knees? Not good with Justin also not healing so fast. I am starting to wonder if Joe has some serious issues that we do not know about.

I can see the Twins without Justin for the start of the season and who knows with Joe.

We need both for sure to have any hope. Hopefully Nathan can heal up well.

[Scott K]

Being a catcher, and having knee problems arent good. I dont see the Twins being very competitive this season. They lost to much of their bullpen, and didnt add anything to replace them. Oh well, they will be fun to watch until open water fishing anyway.

[Stcloudangler]

Reports are that Morneau is going to be good to go for April 1st.

Havent heard about Mauers knees, but if true, that doesn't sound good.

[mrklean]

They it was a shot to lubricate his knee and not to worry

[DonBo]

Mauer downplays lubricating shots for his left knee

FORT MYERS, Fla. -

Twins catcher Joe Mauer downplayed the lubricating shots that he's receiving in his surgically repaired left knee, saying Wednesday morning that they are "not really that big of a deal."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire revealed Tuesday that Mauer had received a shot of medication to help lubricate his left knee joint and general manager Bill Smith confirmed the news that Mauer had gotten a shot after Tuesday's workout.

"I was surprised that it was out there," Mauer said as he spoke with reporters before Wednesday's first full squad workout. "Usually a lot of these things happen and you never know about it. But nothing set me back or anything like that. It was part of the plan, and [i'm] just working my way back."

Tuesday's shot was the first of a series of around 3 or 4 shots that he will receive in his left knee, Mauer said. The shots will occur once a week and Mauer stressed that they were a planned part of his treatment following minor surgery that he had on his knee in mid-December.

"It's not that I need it," Mauer said of the shots. "It's more of a preventative thing just to make sure I'm good to go for the season. So like I said it's really not that big of a deal and I kind of wish it wasn't out there but here we are."

Mauer will take things easy during Wednesday's workout and possibly Thursday as he lets the shot take effect. He has been taking part in the daily workouts since pitchers and catchers reported last Thursday, although Mauer has yet to catch a bullpen session this spring. Gardenhire reiterated Tuesday that the Twins plan to keep Mauer's workload light throughout the spring to help ensure that he's healthy for the regular season.

Mauer said the decision to have the shots was made shortly after he had the surgery on his left knee. The knee is the same one that Mauer had surgery on in 2004, his rookie season, when he had a torn medial meniscus repaired.

`We talked about it a little bit as a possibility,'' Mauer said of the shots. ``It's pretty common. A lot of athletes have them. I guess being a catcher and all that stuff, it might sound a lot worse than what it is.'

[MNice]

I'm going to get blasted, but I think they WAY overpaid for Mauer. Great player, YES, superstar that can carry a team, not in my opinion.

[harvey lee]

Joe is a very good player but I agree that he alone cannot carry a team. Espically with the knee damage. Who knows, Joe may only be a part timer again this season or maybe for the rest of his carrer unless he changes position.

I am glad we have Joe but I wonder for how long and how good will he be.

One can hope for the best I guess.

A bigger concern is that we have all 3 of our main stars playing with issues. Mauer, Nathan and Justin.

[Dylan33]

Let's try Mauer at 3rd, Delmon behind the plate(to limit the damage he can do defensively) we have plenty of people to fill in the outfield, and move Valencia to 2nd to shore up the middle infield.

"what a great baseball mind"

Look out Gardy- I'm coming after your job

[DonBo]

Let's try Mauer at 3rd, Delmon behind the plate(to limit the damage he can do defensively) we have plenty of people to fill in the outfield,

Seriously? Who would that be? I think we are weaker in the outfield than any other position. Why else would we carry Delmon and Span? Neither one of them is even an average outfielder IMO. Not sure who else we have that can fill even those mediocre shoes.

[Dylan33]

Everyday outfield would be...Cuddyer LF, Kubel RF, Span CF(he is an average CF). I think we have decent young options with Revere and Repko to fill in when needed

[Billy_Burbout]

I wont blast you MNice. I feel the same way. I tease my buddys all the time how when poor poor joe gets a splinter in his finger he goes out for 3 games to heal! haha

[bisonthunder]

If Morneau goes down again and Joe has knee problems what about moving him to 1st? Keep our outfield the way it is... just a thought...

[CodyDawg]

i dont think repko is that young. and catcher is a pretty important defensive position.

[schmitty3]

Let's try Mauer at 3rd, Delmon behind the plate(to limit the damage he can do defensively) we have plenty of people to fill in the outfield, and move Valencia to 2nd to shore up the middle infield.

"what a great baseball mind"

Look out Gardy- I'm coming after your job

How would that limit the damage? You would put him in a spot where he's touching the ball almost every pitch lol. And not just anyone can play catcher, its a touch position, you can't just throw someone in there.

[jwmiller33]

the sky is falling

[Dylan33]

How would that limit the damage? You would put him in a spot where he's touching the ball almost every pitch lol. And not just anyone can play catcher, its a touch position, you can't just throw someone in there.

What do you mean a touch position?

Have you seen Young try to catch a fly ball? Put him in a position that allows him to have the ball thrown right to him and we limit his damage. He has a decent arm, so he could throw out potential base stealers.

obviously I'm being a little bit sarcastic here, Del-Money has probably never played catcher, I get it, you can't just throw someone back there that hasnever played it... Point being Young sucks as an outfielder and Joe can't play catcher forever...Maybe we trade Young for a bag of balls and a 20th round draft pick in 2018?

[mrklean]

i think we all know mauer isn't going to be behind the plate for his entire career, now just wonder when will they make the switch? Keep Thome for one more year and switch the DH between Mauer and Morneau?

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

I dont see the Twins being very competitive this season.

you serious? If they can be even remotely healthy, they should have a great season..

Quote:

If Morneau goes down again and Joe has knee problems what about moving him to 1st? Keep our outfield the way it is... just a thought...

Mauer would be a great 1st baseman and his avg would go up and he could play every day..

[Scott K]

Yes, I am serious! Can you name a position that we improved on over last year? I can name several we declined in, or have a huge question mark! Also are division has gotten stronger as well, so that will also be less wins. I hope I am wrong, I just dont think we will have more then 82 wins this year.

[schmitty3]

Can you name a position that we improved on over last year?

2nd base, ss, 1st base, right field, DH. I know those are questionable but i believe the new guy however you say his name will be better than Hardy was at short last year. Also call me crazy but i look for Casilla will have a good yr at 2nd. He's always had the glove, but i look for him to hit around .290 as well. The with Justin back that gets cuddy back to right and Justin back to first which allows Kubel and Thome to battle for the DH spot. Whoever is hot can play.

[mrklean]

Casilla still gives me nightmares he could be good or he will be carlos gomezs sidekick again and stink it up

[mainbutter]

What's the problem with his knees?

He's a catcher.

My grandpa played catcher through college, and as a result has had to have them both replaced.

That position just wrecks havoc on knees.

[mainbutter]

To all the doomsayers:

I'm excited to see valencia's first full year.

Thome's rumored to be feeling better than ever.

Those two things alone give me hope for a fun year for Twins baseball You may not win the world series every year, much less make it to the playoffs, but I think there's plenty of competitiveness in our team for it to be a great year to watch.

[harvey lee]

I understand he is a catcher. I was wondering what exactly is wrong with them.

Not how he got bad knees from being a catcher.

If the Twins can stay healthy all season, I could see them making a run at the title for their leaque.

I also see Casilla hitting about 210 at best. The guy has no bat.

[Scott K]

Looking at the line up, I see one new name from last season. A guy that has never played a game in the Big Leagues. Along with the hope of a few people to be healthy, I still dont see the Twins as being better then last season. Lots of hope, lots of the same we seen last year! Just less of it!