LOTD: Joe Mauer Injury Update – ‘Man Muscles’ Nearing Return from DL
There has been lots of love coming our way in recent days (link from Rob Neyer at ESPN.com, front page status on YardBarker, links from our other friends around the sports blogosphere) and, in fact, MSF writer Ryan Russell just called to tell me that SportsCenter gave Midwest Sports Fans a shout out this morning while discussing Mike Brown being named NBA Coach of the Year.
Sounds like the perfect time to give a little love back, so we’ll roll out a Thursday edition of LOTD.
Our highlight link today goes to a first-timer at MSF: Fantasy Pros 911. Earlier today FP911 writer Sooze posted about the “imminent return” of Twins catcher Joe Mauer, who has been doing nothing for one of my fantasy teams while stuck on the DL to start the season.
LOTD: The Imminent Return of ‘Man Muscles’ — (Fantasy Pros 911)
Currently on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his lower back, Joe has been in a constant state of rehab down at the Twins training facility in Fort Myers, Florida. The first time he’ll see some baseball-related action will come in a simulated intrasquad game on Monday before he joins the Gulf Coast League Twins for a few extended Spring Training games.
This is good news, considering it was painful for him to do things like bend over and tie his shoelaces ever since having offseason kidney surgery back in December.
If all goes well on the GCL front, the plan is to have Man Muscles join the Class A Fort Myers Miracle by the end of the week. He’ll participate in six games (catching in three or so) and hopefully return to the Twins lineup by May 1st after recording around 50 at bats in all.
In his Joe Mauer injury update, Sooze also relays the story of how she came to refer to Mauer as “Man Muscles”. I’d tell you, but I’d rather you use the link above to hop over to FP911 to find out.
Now some other great links for your procrastinating pleasure on this lovely Tuesday:
Who is Ricky Thurman? SI Letter Fraud Update — (Cleveland Frowns)
The Big House Taking a Big Hit — (Sparty and Friends)
Some Wonder Whether Positive Combine Drug Test Results Were Expunged — (PFT)
Little Leaguers Come to the Defense of Elijah Dukes — (The Big Lead)
Joe Smith has a Rap MixTape Out…Yes, That Joe Smith — (Black Sports Online)
Blame Vinny for Bulls Game 2 Loss — (Not Qualified to Comment)
Ravens willing to give up first rounder to acquire Boldin – (The Scores Report)
Kokinis and Mangini’s Draft Mystery — (Waiting for Next Year)
High School Baseball Player Throws 4 No-Hitters in a Row — (Deadspin)
Young Stars Generate NBA Playoff Suspense — (WSJ Daily Fix)
Have a great day everyone.
Tags: joe mauer, links, minnesota twins, MLB
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Hallelujah! Baby Jesus has risen once again and will grace us fans at the Metrodome with his glorious sideburns and .300+ average. Oh and those well timed 4-6-3 dp’s.
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Thanks so much for the link to my article at FP911! I hate to correct you, but it’s actually “Sooze”… which I didn’t notice until you referred to me as a “he” later on. I’m all lady.
I’m super pumped for Joe’s return to the Twins lineup. Thanks again!
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JRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:07 pm
@Sooze, my sincere apologies. That’s what happens when I post fast and don’t read thoroughly. Thanks for correcting me! I made the corrections above.
As a White Sox fan, I can’t say I’m enthused about Mauer’s return. As a fantasy owner, it brings me great joy however.
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Sooze Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
@JRod: I’m not sure we can be friends! I’m a diehard when it comes to the Twins. However, I’ve been known to wish I could high five Jim Thome a time or two.
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JRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:24 pm
@Sooze, while I am die-hard in my support for the White Sox, I have long maintained that if I was an MLB free agent and rooting for the White Sox was not an option, that I would probably choose the Twins next. Ozzie’s respect for the organization has rubbed off on me. Obviously I cannot in good faith root for Minnesota, as their success hurts the White Sox, but their organization certainly has my respect. And I always hope September comes down to the White Sox and Twins duking it out for the AL Central (if the White Sox don’t run away with the division, of course), just like last season.
TheOtherJRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:21 pm
@JRod, Better watch out, we’ve been doing alright lately even without Mauer. With him we shall be unstoppable.
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JRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:25 pm
@TheOtherJRod, unstoppable? I don’t know about that. You had him last year and I seem to remember a certain one-game playoff on the South Side of Chicago that did not go the Twins way…
Sooze Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
@JRod: Yeah, that’s one time I wanted to high five Thome. Right in the face.
Touche.
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JRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:36 pm
@TheOtherJRod, see above though. I’m no Twins hater by any means. Indians, Tigers, and Cubs I hate with a passion. Sometimes I have to remind myself that the Twins are in the AL Central and that I shouldn’t be rooting for them to succeed when they aren’t playing the White Sox.
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TheOtherJRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:41 pm
@JRod, It is hard to root against a team that’s run like the Twins. And in full disclosure I use to be a fan of the White Sox when I was a kid and the Big Hurt was in his prime. If it wasn’t for Ozzie Guillen I may still have some affection for them.
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JRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
@TheOtherJRod, if it wasn’t for Ozzie Guillen? I know he can be offensive and an agitator, but the one fan base I would think that would like Ozzie would be Twins fans. He is constantly being complimentary about the Twins, most famously calling them “piranhas” a couple years back.
Come on! Show Ozzie some love back!
TheOtherJRod Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 3:48 pm
@TheJRod, Yes he has been quite flattering of the Twins, but when he’s not swooning over us he’s off making a fool of himself.