The Minnesota Twins' decision to place Joe Mauer on waivers Wednesday might have surprised some of the teams' fans. Jake Mauer, the father of Joe Mauer, is not one of them. Mauer talked to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press Wednesday:
"Nothing in baseball shocks me, to be honest with you," Jake Mauer of St. Paul said. "I really don't think it's that big a deal. It happens to just about everybody, doesn't it? But I don't think there's anything to it, I really don't."
Jake Mauer then identified the problem that every Twins fan knows: The team needs pitching.
"But I do know that the Twins need to start winning some games. And I don't think the lineup's that bad."
"I think (general manager) Terry Ryan will get it straightened out sooner or later, but who's going to give up good pitching?"
Joe Mauer has a complete no-trade clause in his contract, and the Minnesota native would have to approve of any trade. His father indicated Joe is still dedicated to the Twins, but didn't know what Joe would do if a trade to a contender was proposed.
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