And stop telling me to go back and read. I am following everything just fine. How about you pay attention to what I am saying? And while you are at it, get off this whole thing about leaders being fire breathing monsters. Leaders don't have to break things or scream and yell. Seems to me you keep coming from that angle even though I have repeatedly told you that is not what I am talking about.

This is funny because you seem to be all fired up about something we are essentially agreeing on.

For crying out loud, I AM SAYING that leaders don't have to be fire breathing dragons. I am NOT equating leadership to that. Darkdruid seemed to be. Not me. I was responding to him.

I am saying that Mauer can and should lead in other ways, like you are saying. Even with his reserved personality, he can be a leader in other ways.

Why in the heck are you picking this fight? You have not said anything that I didn't already say in the beginning, in response to darkdruid. Everything I have said to him, you have only reiterated. And now you're getting angry and picking a fight with me over something that I agree with you on.

I'm not following any of this . . .

Actually I never said that Mauer needed to smash coolers.....I said he needed some of that fire. To often he seems go with the flow and not rock the boat. I was looking for more along the lines of ewen that he speaks up in the dugout and the clubhouse. Saying that he is not a vocal player and can't be that type of leader is garbage. Responsiblity and accountabilty are 2 major things this team and manager seem to have forgotten and you don't have to scream them to have an impact. As I and others have said Joe needs to prove it on the field but he needs to take a more active approach in the clubhouse and on the bench as well.

I don't see anything wrong with article. Was he rough on Mauer? Yeah, but Mauer should be able to take it...if he even read it. If Souhan has different motives for writing this article then karma will get him. Plus I'm sure he loses "Mauer time" by writing this way about him. I don't listen to the Twins radio shows, so I don't know how what he says other places.

Souhan didn't say anything that a lot of us haven't said at one time or another over the past 2 years. The ones that don't like this article aren't those that have been hard on Mauer, so I can understand why they don't like it. EVen so, it doesn't seem outlandish to me. Mauer needs to feel some pressure (although I can agree it doesn't need to come from a reporter) and if he doesn't, then there is something wrong.

I wonder whether Mauer can really take pressure...........

Ahhh. These kinds of days are awesome. I got some time off and it's in the 50's here with mostly sun (this winter is strange to say the least). I got on my bike and rode the new rail trail they got going through Hopewell Junction and Wappingers Falls. Got a nice endorphin buzz off of it. Tonight Deb and I are going to some Italian Restruant we both like and after that I am going to watch Jeremy Lin (I mean the Knicks) and she is going to watch American Idol. Rest, relaxation.........some time on my own for a day

I guess I was just bored before and needed to get a little fired up. Thanks for playing along ;-)

Actually, your take is pretty spot on here. I think he understands that and no one expects him to suddenly change his personality. But his 'personality' should not preclude some basic responsibilities he's now inherited as a veteran on this team. This would includegetting in the mix a lot more and providing some leadership. It's about actions, not words at this point. Just get out there and do it. Ya know?

THe whole leadership discussion is pointless if he can't get on the field. Joe needs to give the team 600 plate appearances. If that means he gets 300 at bats as a catcher 150 playing someplace else and 150 to 200 as a DH then so be it. Joe needs to adapt his game. If he can do that and be a more meaningful contributor he can be a leader. On this team he will have to be. Although 2010 looks good on paper he was not by any means what carried that team. He was one of five or six guys who got hot for periods of time. Both Mauer and Morneau had a torrid start. Just before the time Justin got hurt Joe slowed down. Thankfully while that happened Delmon Young had a ridiculous 7 or 8 weeks and Pavano was lights out. Liriano pitched well for a stretch. Our bullpen was strong. Then Mauer made big contributions at the end of that season as I recall. I think both Delmon and Cuddyer came on strong again the last week or two as well. Joe had a good year in 2010, but even so, he wasn't THE GUY.

My whole thing is this. He needs a whole lot more plate appearances and he needs to start being THE GUY on this team. He can't take tons of days off and be a meaningful contributor. He needs start AT LEAST 140 games somehow. The Twins and Mauer are going to somehow have to learn how to "finagle" some arrangement which meets that end.

Joe Mauer is a lazy pile. Mauer has never been a leader and never will be a leader. He likes to hide everything and have his pet Gardy do all his work for him. Souhan hit the sweet spot with that article. The Twins are going to be garbage this year. Not as bad as last year, but still bad. If Morneau gets injured once, his career is over. If Mauer gets injured (again) team will blow. Our pitching blows, our relief staff blows. We will not be good unless we dump what we have and go after some real talented SP and RP.

I'm starting this season with a super negative attitude so that when or if they do well I'll be excited. If they blow, I won't be let down like last year.

I think you'll see that this year.

I think his lack of being vocal was something he has had all through his life. Because being better than almost all of his team mates and competitors growing up he developed the introverted side of handling the spot light. I don't blame him for that one bit.

I am a bit disappointed in what went on last season...something I would never expect to have happened. But, I' ll give him the benefit of the doubt because I don't really know what was going on (it was stated that the Twins FO did say he WAS injured last season - what it was...no one said...still a mystery).

I have seen the FSN special on his rehab...and he is really working out and looks like he'll be 100%+ ready for 2012. Now he has to find ways to stay healthy and in the lineup.

GO JOE!!!

You DO have an attitude.

I'm just being a realist. I was never on board with signing Mauer to that long term contract and I knew going into last season he was going to blow. Look at his pattern the last 6 years. Up and down, up and down. Not what a super star of his caliber should be doing. And it really didn't help he had the worst season ever after he signed the large contract.

I may be hating on the Twins right now, but I have valid reason to do so. I'm not just angry with the players I'm also angry with the front office. Bringing T.R. back was ok, but they need to go after a high profile GM who knows how to build a team and develop young players. We do not have that right now and for the most part haven't had it for the last few years. The Twins need a total turn around. Get rid of Gardy, trade Mauer, dump Morneau. Get rid of almost all of our Asst. Coaches as well.

I'll stop there for now.

I agree with pretty much everything you said in the second paragraph. We need a new manager, a better GM, etc. Here's the problem though: the guys running the organization don't WANT to change anything. They are content with things. Makes being a fan of this team pretty tough to swallow sometimes.

then we differ on the Mauer signing. Maybe after he wins another batting title this year you'll soften your stance, maybe not.

I've been getting lots of time away from the classroom this year, due to these Professional Learning Communities our district is trying to enforce upon us. Lots of time out of the classroom. Pointless learning for us. Don't get me started. This morning was another example.

I wish I could just teach.

But yeah, in the high 40's here today too. Although wild snowy weather coming through the night . . .

I'm hoping to be on more often this season. With a second kid on the way and social life fizzling out, I'm purchasing Direct TV so I can get Fox North. Thus, I'll be able to watch all the Twins games and comment more.

I like talking with you on here, even if it doesn't seem like we get along. You're one of the few on here I feel like I "know".

Jordan, you are cool in my books. It's good to get in a debate with you because a) you are good at it and b) you don't take things so personally. I guess one thing we aren't agreeing on so much is the state of this team. I am not optimistic at all. Before 2010 I had high hopes and envisioned this team being contenders for a while. It's maddening what has transpired these last two years. How can they recover? That's what I want to know.

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_20028294

So the Twins are going to honor the '02 division title team this year. What a joke of an organization we have.

You're digging down pretty far to complain about something.

It seems the twins are celebrating everything these days.

And the Twins are digging mighty deep with celebrating a team who's biggest goal was winning a division title. Who celebrates a division title? Honestly. And it's not just me, read the comments at the bottom of the article. Think the Yankees would celebrate a division championship team? Of course not.

I'm just saying that to go on-line and complain about something so trivial is hardly worth it. There are bigger things to worry about. I'd hardly consider 5 comments in the PP a consensus. I'm more upset that the Twins celebrate diversity and dedicate a game to it.