Minnesota
Twins' catcher Joe
Mauer was awarded the American League's Most Valuable player on
Monday.
Mauer
missed the first month of the Major League Baseball season, but quickly got
into the swing of things. Mauer led the league in hitting percentage, on-base
percentage, and slugging percentage. Mauer also had career highs in home runs
and runs batted in.
The
vote for Mauer becoming MVP was almost unanimous, as 27 out of the 28 members
of the Baseball Writers' Association of America gave him first place
votes. The one other first place vote went to Detroit Tigers' player Miguel
Cabrera.
Even
though Mauer won the MVP, he still has something to work for. "World Series,"
Mauer said. "That's where I want to be." The Twins did make the playoffs this
year, but were knocked out in the first round by the New York Yankees.
The
Twins are trying to lock up the MVP before he becomes a free agent next winter.
His teammate Justin Morneau, the MVP in 2006, says they are tying to
keep Mauer in Minnesota. "We're going to do everything we can to keep him here
as a Minnesota Twin," Morneau said.
Twins' General Manager Bill Smith knows it will be tough. "That's one of
our challenges," Smith said.
Mauer
becomes the fifth Minnesota Twin to win the award and also is the 2nd catcher
to win the award in 33 years.
