Justin Morneau News

The last time we caught up with Joe Mauer he was cleaning out his Metrodome locker for the last time, the day after the New York Yankees swept his Minnesota Twins out of the postseason.

Joe Mauer has already been named the American League's Player of the Year for 2009 by his fellow players and by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum has an agreement with a prosecutor in his home state of Washington that could settle his misdemeanor marijuana charge, the Columbian in Vancouver, Wash., reported in yesterday's issue.

The 2009 Major League Baseball awards, in a perfect world: AL and NL MVP and Best Player: The real award and the mythical one should both go, in unanimous fashion, to Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer.

First off, a big thanks to everyone for submitting their questions. My e-mail inbox was quickly flooded last week with your numerous inquiries.

Joe Mauer's American League MVP chances hinge on a vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Growing pains continue to be a recurring theme for young Cubs pitchers, whose on-the-job training eventually may lead to on-the-job ulcers for manager Dusty Baker.

It's the first Twins Inbox of the offseason and as always, there are bound to be plenty of questions throughout the winter about the club's plans for next season.

Twins closer Joe Nathan turns 35 next month. He's coming off a season in which he saved 47 games but, for now, is remembered more for the save opportunity he blew Oct.

Proving the theory that there is no off-season in baseball, the Arizona Fall, Venezuelan Winter, Mexican Winter, and Dominican Winter Leagues are already up and running, even before the World Series ends.

In honor of the recent birthday of one of the greatest men ever to be in any way affiliated with sports, John Wooden, it seems appropriate to use his words to start off a piece about myth and reality.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan each underwent a procedure to have bone chips removed this week.

Minnesota Twins reliever had two chips removed from his right elbow Tuesday morning by Dr.

Our Twins bowed in three games to the Evil Empire. There were many opportunities in two of the three games for our heroes to win, but they didna t. Ita s no use to dwell on their losses, but you know you are a true fan, , when you replay what might have been before you drop off to sleep.

Baseball Prospectus' Pre-season Projection : 76-86, fourth place Actual record: 87-76, first place They do have arguably the best all-around player in baseball, and one of the best managers.

This was not an ideal way for the Metrodome to say goodbye to the Twins, but it was certainly not unexpected.

GORDON Edes, the baseball col umnist from Yahoo, approached me in the Yankees clubhouse yesterday and posed this question: 1998 Yankees vs.

There was no team meeting, nothing much said when the Minnesota Twins showed up for work Sept.

The Metrodome protected Minnesota baseball fans from the cold one last time on Sunday night, the noise bouncing off the Teflon until the Dome became a Cuisinart of sound.

So, the Twins have suffered a sweep to the New York Yankees at home Sunday losing 4-1. In a season marked by ups and downs, the Twins have shown us their heart in an epic feat.