Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Wednesday, November 25, 2015

 Mauer in Twins' lineup? 'Right now, near the top,' Molitor says. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1  StaTuesday: Twins prospects in the Arizona Fall League. FOX Sports (Lund) p. 2  The Importance of Rod Carew. Baseball Essential (Poho) p. 3  MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew awaits transplant after suffering heart attack in September. YES Network (Herrmann) p. 3  Meet the Vavras: US father and sons baseball trio set their sights on ABL side Melbourne Aces. ABC Online (Kennedy) p. 4

Mauer in Twins' lineup? 'Right now, near the top,' Molitor says

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | November 24, 2015

I’ve seen a handful of “projected lineups” for the Twins lately, from fans and media both, and most of them seem to have one notable thing in common: Joe Mauer isn’t near the top anymore. Most appraisals expect Mauer to bat sixth or seventh, ceding the spots above him mostly to power hitters, usually Trevor Plouffe or Brian Dozier.

We’ll see what happens come spring training, but the actual decision-maker on this issue doesn’t sound nearly as eager to demote the three-time batting champion to the bottom. Paul Molitor talked about his lineup a couple of weeks ago at Torii Hunter’s press conference, and among other things, defended his inclination to bat Mauer second or third.

“I know everyone likes to speculate [about], am I going to have the courage to put him down there at some point in his career? I don’t look at it that way,” Molitor said. “Look at how he fit into our lineup last year. I was fairly candid about my desire to at least look at options with him, but right now, it’s still near the top.”

Mauer occupied the third spot in the Twins’ batting order in 133 games last season, and started 21 other games in the second spot, with either Plouffe, Hunter or Miguel Sano third. That’s been true of his entire career, of course; Mauer has been penciled in elsewhere in the starting lineup just 29 times in his career, and none since 2006.

A vocal segment of fans insist that Mauer is hurting the team in that spot, citing his subpar 2015 statistics: A .265 batting average that was the worst of his career by 22 points; a .718 OPS that ranked seventh among Twins regulars; 112 strikeouts, roughly twice as many as a normal year when he was younger; a home-run drought that reached 324 plate appearances, longest of his career.

But Molitor made it clear that he values a different statistic when filling out his lineup card: On-base percentage. And on a team that ranked 28th in the majors in reaching base — Minnesota’s AL-worst .305 OBP was ahead of only the putrid Phillies (.303) and Padres (.300) — he wants Mauer in the middle, even in a down year. Mauer may have lost more than 100 points of OBP from his peak, declining from .444 in 2009 to .338 last season, but it’s all Molitor has to work with.

“We just don’t have people who can put together an at-bat, or [build a high] on-base percentage. Even with his average, the only guy with a higher on- base percentage was Sano,” Molitor explained. “People say ‘but he hit .265, how can you still hit him second or third?’ Well, no one else hit .265. No one else got on base that much. What was our leading average for our regular players? Sano (at .385), but he was only here half a season.”

Molitor said he’s already given next year’s batting order some thought, but obviously there are too many variables to make any decisions before spring training. The development of Sano, the likely arrival and adjustment of Byung-ho Park, the offseason work Mauer intends to undertake — all will have an impact on where he’ll bat Mauer, who turns 33 in April and has three years remaining on his eight-year, $184 million contract.

And maybe, Molitor joked, the numbers aren’t as bad as they appear.

“The players keep telling me,” the manager deadpanned, “.260 is the new .290.”

StaTuesday: Twins prospects in the Arizona Fall League

Ryan Lund | FOX Sports | November 24, 2015

The Scottsdale Scorpions claimed the Arizona Fall League title on Saturday with a 6-4 win over the Surprise Saguaros, rounding out a nearly nine-month stretch of baseball for some of the league's top prospects.

And while Minnesota wrapped up a remarkable turnaround that ended in September just short of a playoff berth, Twins prospects had a major impact on the AFL this season.

Outfielder Max Gerber, outfielder Adam Brett Walker and catcher Stuart Turner gave the Twins a presence in Scottsdale in the field, while pitching prospects Nick Burdi, Trevor Hildenberger, Jake Reed and Taylor Rogers represented Minnesota on the mound.

The Scorpions finished the fall season 18-12, backed by a shut-down bullpen led by Burdi, Reed and Hildenberger.

Meanwhile, Rogers functioned as one of the Scorpions' workhorses on the mound, finishing second on the team in innings pitched with 25, and was among Scottsdale's most effective starters with a 2.88 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

Rogers continued his winning ways in the AFL title game, picking up the start and logging three scoreless innings to preserve a 3-0 Scottsdale lead.

Hildenberger and Reed each logged an inning in relief of Rogers, holding the Saguaros off the board, before Burdi earned his first save of the season.

A strong candidate for the Twins' bullpen next season, Burdi racked up 11 strikeouts, while allowing just two hits and one walk, in eight innings pitched for the Scorpions.

Twins pitchers in Scottsdale

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WHIP Jake Reed 1 0 0 10 0 3 10.2 6 2 0 0 0 4 10 0.94 Nick Burdi 0 0 0 8 0 0 8 2 0 0 0 0 1 11 0.38 Trevor Hildenberger 0 0 2.13 8 0 0 12.2 13 3 3 1 0 0 12 1.03 Taylor Rogers 2 2 2.88 6 6 0 25 17 9 8 2 1 11 21 1.12

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP SLG AVG OPS Mike Gerber 20 75 14 21 5 2 1 14 11 23 4 0.371 0.44 0.28 0.811 Adam Brett Walker 20 75 11 18 2 1 5 18 8 35 1 0.326 0.493 0.24 0.819 Stuart Turner 12 41 6 7 2 0 0 4 8 14 0 0.306 0.22 0.171 0.526

The Importance of Rod Carew

Seth Poho | Baseball Essential | November 24, 2015

With the announcement of Rod Carew’s dire need of a heart transplant, it’s troubling to see one of the game best hitters in a tough situation. Beyond his great skill on the diamond, notably in the batter’s box, Carew embodies many qualities that many fans would be hard pressed to find in a star player. This is a reminder to fans of how truly great Carew was during his playing career.

Born and raised in Panama until he moved to the United States at 15, Rodney Cline Carew (named after the doctor who delivered him – Rodney Cline) grew up listening to baseball games on the Armed Forces Network. Possessing a strong desire to be a baseball player, with a great vision for the strike zone and a strong hitting discipline he was signed by the Minnesota Twins.

Carew made the Twins as a rookie in 1967, two years removed from an AL pennant and still featuring a who’s who of quality players. Playing along side future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, MVP winner Zolio Versalles and stars Bob Allison and Tony Oliva, Carew proved he belonged in the show. With 150 hits, a .292 batting average and a .341 on base percentage, Carew took all but one first place vote for the Rookie of the Year. From that season on there was no stopping him.

For twelve seasons as a Twin, Carew was easily the best hitter in the league. During that time in the Twin Cities, he lead the AL in batting seven times, only hit below .300 twice and was an All-Star every season. As it was noted then and even now, Carew did all of this to little fan fare. Even as he won the 1977 AL MVP, many felt Carew should have been earning more money than what he was paid by Minnesota. With the front office constantly moving most of its young talent — Graig Nettles, Bert Blyleven, Lyman Bostock, Carew demanded a trade.

Traded to the then California Angels, Carew still proved to be a valued hitter in his thirties. Though he never won another batting title in his last seven seasons with the Angels, he still hit above .300 in five of them and never sunk below .280. All the while he was a set-up man for many star sluggers of the time.

Rod Carew finished with 3,053 hits, a .328 AVG, .393 OBP and 353 stolen bases. Of those stolen bases, he stole home 17 times. It came as no surprise in his first year of eligibility, Carew amassed 401 of the 433 votes (90.1%) to get into the Hall of Fame.

As Carew explains in his Hall of Fame induction speech (the same class as Ferguson Jenkins and Gaylord Perry) the awards never mattered to him. Reserving himself to the role of contact hitter, he excelled at being the premier hitter of his era. Being able to focus on getting on base, especially earlier in his career with his speed, he looked to go the other way for a single, rather than hit for power. In fact, he won the batting title in 1972 with no home runs.

As a hitter, he draws so many comparisons to Tony Gwynn. The late Padres hitter made the 5.5 hole his calling card, just as Carew made a career of taking outside pitches to left field.

In baseball culture, Carew left a lot of memorable items. Carew was known for his unique batting stance, with his bat laid flat, even with his left shoulder. He had the stadium rocker look on his 1983 Topps card. Carew did something else no one else has done, as he hit two triples in an All- Star Game. He even gave aspiring hitters his K-Tel Batting Trainer.

Here is hoping for a donor to keep Carew with us a little bit longer. His modesty (even described on his 1989 Topps Baseball Talk Card) has only been surpassed by his brilliant hitting ability. While he never was the marquee player of his time, baseball fans should never forget the brilliant career of Rod Carew.

MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew awaits transplant after suffering heart attack in September

A.J. Herrmann | YES Network | November 24, 2015

Last September 20, Hall of Fame first baseman Rod Carew suffered a heart attack while golfing in Corona, Calif., and now awaits a heart transplant as he recovers from emergency surgery. The 70-year-old former Minnesota Twin and California Angel spent 19 seasons in the Majors, 18 of which he was an All-Star. Carew retired with a lifetime batting average of .328, as well as seven batting titles - the third-most in baseball history.

Carew required an emergency assistive device to be implanted in his heart to help keep it pumping while he waits for a transplant match. He's been released from the hospital and has been rehabbing in California since surgery.

"I am thankful to the wonderful team of doctors and caring nurses that have given me a second chance at life," Carew recently told reporters. "Thanks to them, I can eagerly anticipate being on the field for my 50th Spring Training this March. I also look forward to returning to Cooperstown this July to mark the 25th anniversary of my induction in the Hall of Fame."

The Hall of Famer currently serves as a special advisor to both the Twins and Angels organizations, and has inquired about joining the American Heart Association as an advocate to help raise awareness in the wake of his surgery.

"The first thing I thought about, maybe a day after was, 'How can I help the association?'" Carew said. "If they want me to be a spokesperson, I'm glad to do it. I want to warn people and let them know how important is to be checked and to take care of their hearts."

Twins president Dave St. Peter recently offered a statement for Carew and his family:

"The Pohlad family, Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins Territory send love and prayers to Rod, Rhonda and the entire Carew family. We stand with the Carews in offering gratitude to the medical professionals who have cared for Rodney throughout this ordeal. As Rod's journey unfolds, we are highly confident he will continue to demonstrate the same grace, focus and competitiveness exhibited throughout his Hall of Fame career."

Meet the Vavras: US father and sons baseball trio set their sights on ABL side Melbourne Aces

Paul Kennedy | ABC Online | November 24, 2015

Much care was taken to keep the boys safe but Tanner caught a hook in the eye.

Surgery and rehabilitation saved his vision in the years afterwards as he grew into a promising young athlete who saw a future in North America's Major League Baseball (MLB).

But when he was 10, someone poked him in the same eye during a backyard football game and detached his retina.

This time doctors could not save his sight and it looked like his dream of playing sport for a living was gone.

It was not. Remarkably, he kept playing baseball at school with one eye.

Fifteen years later, the Vavras family is travelling together again, as a globe-crossing professional baseball trio.

Joe, now a senior manager (bench coach) for the Minnesota Twins, has taken an off-season job as head coach of the Melbourne Aces.

As minor league players with MLB contracts, his sons Tanner and Treyson have come with him.

Tanner never gave up and in 2013 he was drafted to the Twins from Valparaiso University, astonishing his teammates and opponents.

"I don't remember what it's like to see with two [eyes] so I just kind of do it," he said.

"I just try to be better than the guy next to you regardless of how many eyes you've got."

"Trying to play this sport with one eye is deemed impossible and he's a pretty determined young man," his father added.

Treyson, the baby on the river bank in 1992, is now 24 - broad and smiling.

He was also drafted by the Twins, inspired by his older brother.

"It's incredible," Treyson said.

"Any excuse that I have, he's got times a thousand, so I really try not to complain about anything.

"If I can play just a fraction of how hard he plays every day and overcome what he's overcome I'm going to be a pretty good player."

A third brother, Terrin, plays college baseball and might one day go professional. He is back home, tweeting about his siblings' batting averages down under.

'Everybody is gifted at something': Joe Vavra

Joe Vavra is adamant he had no part in Tanner and Treyson's pro contracts - they had to make their own way - but he has been their beacon of persistence and determination, having overcome challenges in his playing career.

In the 1980s, having served his time in "the minors", he was called up to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers but broke his thumb before it could happen.

The next year he was diagnosed with a lung disease called Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis).

"It plays Pac-Man with your lungs," Vavra said.

"So I retired and became a coach. I think everybody's gifted at something, you just have to find out what it is, and mine turned out to be coaching and I never looked back."

Away from the diamond, he voluntarily tours Victoria building relationships with local club baseball officials.

There is no evidence at training - with Tanner prowling near third base, Treyson whacking balls from the cage and Joe calling shots from the side - that the Vavras desire a day off.

But if a break in the schedule allows it, they will go fishing again.

There are no mountain streams or ice lakes here but the cool outfield breeze says Port Phillip is nearby, and the flowers on the coastal trees tell you it is snapper season for fathers and sons with enough patience to make the perfect catch.