Another MVP for the Minnesota Twins in Joe Mauer

Joe Mauer won his first of many to come hopefully in a Twins uniform MVP award with 27 of 28 first place votes Monday afternoon. Why this is so special is Derek Jeter and Mark Texeria were on the ballot as well from a High Profile baseball market with the Yankees and neither received a single first place vote. The other went to Detroit's Miguel Cabrera. Mauer led the American League in three offensive categories Average, On base percentage, and Slugging Percentage. All this and not to mention he also won his second Gold Glove as a catcher the most demanding position in baseball this year.

I was never fortunate to play against Mauer growing up in the Suburbs or Minneapolis/St. Paul as he was just a few years younger than me. I can say his high school team Cretin Derham Hall Raiders was by far the hardest game I ever pitched in. They had a line-up with the top four hitters batting over .400 at the time. It was ridiculous and I wont even mention the horrible home field advantage they have in the outfield with left field butting up against a hill and a gothic spike fence separating the sidewalk from being in play.

Even in high school Mauer struck out only 3 times in his four year varsity career. That is quite a ridiculous stat. Mauer also was a star quarterback for the football team and had tenders to a few big time programs including Florida State. I am sure glad he chose baseball and I am even more happy the Twins chose him over Mark Prior as the Number 1 pick in the 2001 MLB Draft.

Again, Congratulations Joe Mauer and please stick around after the 2010 season sporting a MN Twins jersey once more. Your Team needs you, the State needs you, as you have made Twins baseball the hottest ticket in town again. Thank you!!