twins/mlb

I've always been a big Joe Mauer fan, but even I am beginning to wonder where his commitments lie? It seems that once a player gets paid a massive sum of money they lose their HUNGER to prove anything. It's almost as if he's lost interest in baseball. It's time for Joe to step up and earn his pay. Everyone has been patient with him for a long time now. It's one thing if he volunteered to play 1st base and was told no by the manager but we did not hear anything. Cuddyer stepped in wherever he was needed and practically carried this team for a stretch there. I just don't know how he can sit there and watch his team flounder like that and not even volunteer to play?? Say it ain't so Joe! Better yet, PROVE it ain't so Joe!

Great writing/reporting Jim. Mauer needs to step up!

It is becoming clear that our "hometown hero" is creating more problems than just not playing first base. Gardenhire wanted him to go to Rochester to tune up before coming back to the Twins as our shortstop did. Mauer vetoed that idea, something no other player would have been given the choice on as Nathan found out. The recent flap over the pitches to Fielder by Mijares is another example. Gardenhire questioned the pitch selection by Mijares only to find out Mauer had called them. When confronted by this fact, Gardenhire said Mijares should have shook him off, something Gardenhire has criticized other pitchers for doing. So Mijares get thrown under the bus to salve Mauer's ego, no small task.

I absolutely agree with this article. But I suppose this is what happens to some players when they get that huge payday....the incentive (and that burning fire) just disappears. I am really hoping he'll come around here and be an asset to this team as he was before instead of becoming dead-weight for the next 7 years....

Whew,pretty heavy duty stuff from a "homer" writer.Sad part is it's true! It looks like a coddled "prodigy" has some serious problems! A backbone transplant might be needed..

Not usually a big Souhan fan...but he hit the nail on the head with this one - keep it up.

As far as durability and toughness, Mauer and Brett Favre are polar opposites. But unfortunately they do have one thing in common: they have control over their coaches. We had to see that from Brett, especially this past year, and now we're seeing Mauer do it by basically dictating his schedule. Gardenhire and Co. needs to step up and show that they are the law.

This is by far the best column Souhan has written since becoming a columnist at the Strib. No cutsie gimmicks that aren't funny, just a hard-hitting take that many in the media have been quite reluctant to impose. It actually makes me wonder what behind-the-scenes events transpired which led to this column. Have players been complaining off the record? Did Mauer himself rip into some of the writers? Whatever the case, this is the first time I can recall a member of the local media question Mauer's competitiveness. It should be an interesting first plate appearance for him at Target Field tonight. -Jason

Trade him. He has lost it in his hometown. I hate him.

Are we FINALLY going to hear some booes for Mauer during the LA series; or am I going to be the only one?