The Minnesota Twins season is over. Man, it sucks, as a Minnesotan, to hear that. With all the hype from Game 163, fans were sure that Minnesota was going to the World Series.

And then those stupid New York Yankees had to come around.

Well, I could rant and rave about every single thing I hate about the Yankees. But then, you would be reading this for the next year. I don't want to put you through the torture and boredom, because really. Who wants to hear about the Yankees ginormous payroll again?

The real situation is Joe Mauer. What's gonna happen?

For those not "in the know", Mauer's 4 year contract will be coming to an end at the end of the 2010 season. He CANNOT become a free agent. It will be a huge war for who will get him, and Minnesota absolutely cannot afford to lose him.

As I see it, I have a hard time seeing Mauer go anywhere. He loves Minnesota. His family is here. He is a trademark here. Don't you hear it? "Hometown Hero." The Yankees and the Red Sox are expected to have HUGE offers for his contract. They both have aging catchers, and they want his bat. I can't blame them for wanting him. He is arguably the best catcher in baseball history. His three batting titles for being a CATCHER?! Simply unheard of. He's also the highly probable AL MVP.

Here's the thing. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY TO JOE MAUER.

Joe Mauer plays baseball because he clearly loves the sport. He gets to the batting cage extra early. Mauer's a quiet, next door neighbor kind of guy. People don't see him going out late and partying. He keeps his private life private. He is not a Yankee. Mauer's not A-Roid (Alex Rodriguez for the people who don't get it), who is seen out late with his actress girlfriend (who, by the way, is Kate Hudson).

Teams that overpay their players, such as the Yankees, don't get it. It's like going to Mexico and trying to pay with dollars, when the vending machine takes pesos. "Why won't you take this dollar??!?!!?" "I only take pesos! Why are you yelling at a vending machine, you idiot?!" That kind of made sense, but you get the idea. The Yankees don't get why Mauer won't take the giant contract with all the money. Mauer said himself, "It's not about the money." He gets to play baseball all the time AND get paid for it. Sounds good to me!

In closing, as one of the biggest Twins fans anyone could ever meet, I know Joe Mauer isn't going anywhere. He's in Minnesota, living the life I'm sure he dreamed of as a kid. If he did leave Minnesota, which he won't, he would be shunned by Minnesota for the rest of his life. Mauer's an icon for Minnesota. When you think Twins, you think Mauer. If he did, and may God strike me dead if it ever happens, become a Yankee, Twins fans would get their pitchforks and bonfires ready, myself included.

Just sayin'.