BORDER BATTLE

While Joe Mauer’s bat has cooled off ever so slightly, the BWE-worthy material keeps comin’ on in. Although he’s known as a shy guy off the field, to the camera he’s anything but, as demonstrated by the cover of last week’s Sports Illustrated. If the casual baseball viewer didn’t know Mauer before the All-Star break, they sure do now.

It wouldn’t be fair to only focus on Joe with the week his roommate — and other half of the “M&M” duo — had against the Royals. Mr. Morneau brought it to the house in the four game series in Kansas City, going 6-for-16 with two doubles, a homerun, and 10 RBI. Now batting .321 with 29 dingers and 99 RBIs, Morneau has even found himself the subject of a little MVP candidacy talk as of late. My counterpart may have put best it earlier in the season with the statement “as Morneau goes, so do the Twins.” Let’s hope the engine doesn’t run out of steam.

Last week was a great one for a lot of folks of the professional sports ilk. The Minnesota Twins swept the Chicago White Sox, temporarily tying them for second place in the AL Central. Dwight Smith was reunited with his Tampa Bay pal Mike Tomlin after signing with the Vikings. And the Brewers added another agile racing sausage to the stable for their classic seventh inning stretch entertainment. But no one had a week quite like A.J. Hawk.

The burly linebacker from Ohio State must’ve had plenty of bubbly around (or at least the champagne of beers) as he married his fiancee Laura Quinn and signed a 6-year, $37.5 million contract within a matter of days. Laura might even deserve the “Best Week Ever” title for that as the marriage — conducted in a Green Bay law office — was likely snuck in before that contract signature to assure she receive all of the great benefits that are available to NFL wives. But the fact that A.J. Hawk did not have to wait any extra days to get to camp and start hitting people is an intangible that should not be overlooked, and is thus the extra ingredient that solidifies his “Best Week Ever” status.

Marriage. Making millions. Hitting people. It doesn’t get any better for a linebacker.

Read carefully because while you probably won’t see this name here ever again, it deserves to be remembered.

Last week St. Paul Saints first baseman Brian “Buck” Buchanan had the performance of a lifetime. He only hit a team record 9 RBIs in the Saints’ 12-5 win over St. Joseph Thursday night, going 5-for-5 in the game, with three doubles (tied for a team record) and a home run. But he wasn’t finished there. The next two nights, Buchanan hit home runs as well, which also tied a team mark for consecutive games with home runs. Regardless of the level of play (we don’t even know what level the Northern League is considered) that is a pure hitting tear. And there couldn’t have been a guy that deserved it more — we found out via KFAN that Buchanan is a journeyman who spent years bouncing around minor and major league teams, including as a Right Fielder the Minnesota Twins, only to never fully catch on. Enjoy that moment in the sun, Mr. American Association Batter Of The Week.

Better late than never.

In a week where much of the only real sports activity was concentrated around a game that doesn’t matter much at all, at least one Minnesota Twin received his due justice: Francisco Liriano. After being snubbed by Ozzie Guillen and idiotic fans in the “Last Vote,” Mr. Liriano made it onto that AL All-Star roster. Sure he had to fly in at the last second from the Dominican Republic and didn’t even get out of the bullpen in the game. But the man at least got to be where he belonged.

We salute you Mr. Liriano. Now go out and keep pitching near perfection the rest of the season.

Another week of one major sport is another one that makes us a bit short on words. Nonetheless, here are the people who had a great one last week:

• Erik Johnson: The Bloomington, MN native was picked #1 in the NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues. Going first overall always rules. Now if only it weren’t in the league that has its games televised on the Outdoor Life Network…
• Justin Morneau: What can we say? The guy struggled early, fans doubted. Now he’s on a tear hitting like the player people thought he was a year ago. Last week’s big numbers: 3 home runs (including a walk-off), 6 RBIs and over .330 average. He’s on pace too hit over 40 dingers too.
• Kevin McHale: Last time we checked, the guy still has a job despite the trainwreck that awaits the Wolves next season. It’s been a best SUMMER ever for Mr. McHale.

The Brewers? Well, I guess Chris Barnwell got his first start at shortstop last week. Must’ve been awesome for him.

While it’s a tad belated, here’s the scoop on great happenings for MN and WI sports figures last week…

Football of any American variety is a month away and we really have no reason to cover the World Cup on a blog that carries the theme that this one does (unless Norway was in it this year). Thus, it’s your baseball clubs that must be highlighted once again:

• The Milwaukee Brewers: just when things were looking like you could call it a season, the Brew Crew took 2-of-3 on the road against the Reds and then swept the Cleveland Indians in their 3-game series of interleague play, putting them at one game below .500. We won’t spoil the fun by metioning the last night’s game…
• The Minnesota Twins: turning in a week even more impressive than their NL neighbors to the east, the Twinkies achieved something no one was really expecting in a sweep of the Pirates to cap off a7-game win streak. With the club sitting at .500, Mauer and Morneau playing a bit more like the “Mantle and Maris” comparison that was bestown upon them last season, and some young players injecting some much-needed energy and hitting into the lineup, there is a newfound optimism for the remainder of the season in Twins fans.

And in the not-so-great week category, our condolences to Mr. Batista. Surely some baseball fans elsewhere will find that batting stance endearing.

It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s just that the athlete folk in these upper-midwestern states did not have the greatest week. We gotta give it to the sideburned-one himself again. While he had a bit of an off day on Sunday, Mauer entered that game on a tear, with 14 hits in his past 20 at-bats and having reached safely in 21 of his previous 26 plate appearances.

He still leads the league with a .386 batting average. As long as he’s in contention for the batting title Twins fans will at least have some reason to attend games after the All-Star break so you have to give it to him for that reason alone.

And he’s still dating a former Miss America. Way to go Joe!

We’re back in full effect. Sports action has shifted into neutral in our respective states. Must…start…football.

• John Jones: Guy pays his dues, becomes 10th president of the Green Bay Packers. He may end up regretting a vow to continue a presidential tradition of personally taking phone calls from the legion of Green Bay ownership if this season begins like the last one.
• Dwayne Roloson - Former Wild Goalie leaves for the Edmonton Oilers in ‘06, drinks lots of Molson, and receives the glory of playing in front of a television audience of thousands in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.
• Joe Mauer - The Twins catcher has hit .458 over his last 14 games and is currently posting a .355 batting average for the season, good for second in the American League. Oh and by the way, Mauer and 2005 Miss USA and former Miss North Carolina Chelsea Cooley have begun dating on a semi-regular basis (straight from the mouth of The Mayor).
• NL Central teams - Their division-mates from Milwaukee just dropped eight straight. Fans will continue to attend games, but tailgate efforts will be doubled.

Jones inherits a money, but high-stress position. Mauer takes the bacon, no question.