I think I am going to cry.

when the twins say the discomfort "is not a major concern," are they lying or just really dumb?

i'm bummed, but i'll try to remain optimistic. i'm really looking forward to seeing mauer this year... and i'm a damn yankees fan. (i mean, the evil empire, not the awful early-90s hair band)

Helpful note to the Batlings: when you click the link, you don't actually get to see any rending of garments.

I feel sick. Why. Why???

The only thing that makes me breathe easier about Mauer's knee was this segment of the same article:

-----
Twins physician Dr. John Steubs said Monday that he spoke with Dr. Joel Boyd, the Wild team physician who performed surgery on Mauer on April 8 to remove a moderate to large piece of his medial meniscus cartilage.

Boyd indicated it was inevitable that Mauer, 21, was going to have some soreness this spring once he resumed catching on a daily basis, Steubs said. Boyd believes Mauer should be able to work through the discomfort.

"Dr. Boyd said that this is not unexpected," Steubs said.

Looking forward to the impending discussion of "Ball Four". I have a few questions!

Win Twins!

We let the Wild doctor fix his knee? What does a hockey doctor know about crouching?

I, too, was comforted, slightly, by the line that it was not unexpected. I refuse to panic about the situation, but reserve the right to remain very concerned.

Just Beth

Poor Joe! Once he recovers and is back crouching again (and I refuse to believe in any other outcome!) he'll have to keep answering that question again ad infinitum. After 10 years in the majors and a batting title, after his fourth Gold Glove, after he finally retires, after he's elected to Hall of Fame........"How's the knee, Joe?" It will be on his gravestone......

Plain Dr. Jane

Knee Mauer just doesn't sound like a very good baseball game. I do think, though, that they should start announcing him at games as Joe Mauer and his surgically repaired left knee.

Now batting for the Twins Joe Mauer and his surgically repaired left kneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The we could be the Twins fans that say knee. Whoo boy, that's a reach, huh?

Frightwig: Helpful note to the Batlings: when you click the link, you don't actually get to see any rending of garments.

Sam: I feel sick. Why. Why???

I can't possibly be the only one that loudly LOL'ed over these two posts, can I?

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but removing a "moderate to large piece of his medial meniscus cartilage," is not a surgical solution conducive to catching. There is no cushion between the bones of his leg in that knee, and barring temporary injections or a new invention of artificial cartilege, his knee will progressively degenerate the longer he continues to catch.

Having undergone this surgery myself, I can tell you that a return to intense physical activity is possible, but I'm not a catcher, so I can't speak to how long the Chairman will last there. Perhaps his pain tolerance will allow him to stay behind the dish forever. As a baseball fan and a reader of this site who has gotten great enjoyment from all of you and your Twins fandom, I'm hoping it works out.

Good grief. We might have to start calling him Bum Knee McMauer, which just doesn't roll off the tongue like Quick Swing McMauer does.

mmmarkiep,

as your biggest (only?) fan, i implore you: never do that again.

twitchingly yours,
YankeeFan

Aw . . .

Crap.

Well since we're talking about catchers - here's a story about our former one - AJ

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250307104

Much Love
Wonder Woman

Any more talk of Mauer playing 2nd base?

Pepper, I was right there, ROTF with you.

A.J. never said of MN "I'm happy I'm not there anymore," Did he?

Four runners thrown out at the plate! Maybe that's the real reason: AJ didn't want to have to take such hits in spring training.

Poor Joe, can't catch a break.

On a different note. . .

"Joe Borchard, trying to make the team as a reserve outfielder, homered in the second and sixth innings for the White Sox.

After the game, Borchard found a $100 bill awaiting him at his locker, not knowing who it was from.

He later learned A. J. Pierzynski had offered $100 to any of his new White Sox teammates that hit a home run off Brett Tomko."

Looks like AJ is at it again. . .

Not to add to the bummer-dom, but I've been to see Dr. Boyd and have found him to be a bit of a quack..... Hope Joe can find a better doc now....

I have a fan?

Well, things seem to be going better for our chairman now.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050308&content_id=961627&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

Cubsfan:
I am glad someone else has voiced my concern, I have been studying the last couple of days for a test on knee injuries and yesterday I was sitting there asking myself why on earth they would remove a catcher's meniscus....

Now posted on the Twins official site:

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Although Joe Mauer knew the recurring soreness and swelling in his left knee wasn't considered a big deal by doctors on Monday, the Twins' catcher felt a sense of relief Tuesday morning.
"It felt great today waking up," Mauer said. "It's getting back. I just have to get the rest of that inflammation out.

"It feels a lot better today than it did yesterday."

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050308&content_id=961627&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

Pardon my skepticism but ... wasn't his knee fine last year while he was taking anti-inflammatories? It was when he STOPPED taking the meds that he had the problem, right? So, as far as I'm concerned, nothing's changed.