Mauer hopes his back won't keep him out long, other notes

Here are three thoughts from LEN3 following the Twins loss to Baltimore:

MAUER UPDATE: Talked to Joe Mauer after the game. He's been treating his back with heat and has gone to see Roger Erickson, the local stretching guru who has helped him in recent years. He's optimistic that he will be ready to play once his DL time is up next Saturday. He said he tweaked his back early in the game on Tuesday and played in discomfort the rest of the game. GRANITE DEBUT: The Twins decided to call Zack Granite up now since Ervin Santana won't pitch until next Saturday in Houston, which allows them to carry an extra position player. It's not clear if Granite will get a start or come off the bench. He wasn't in the lineup today because a lefthander on the mound in Wade Miley."He can contribute a lot of ways," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He can help you win a lot of ways. He's a smart baserunner. He can play all outfield positions. He takes good at bats against lefties and righthanders."He's had a tremendous first half. We just haven't had a need in the outfield because our guys have been healthy and they have played well. This was a good time, given the flexibility around some of the things we can do around the All-Star break."Granite meanwhile, has a group of 12 family members and friends here. There are a lot of teachers in the Granite family, so their summers are open.And they are a savvy group. I walked past them in the tunnel on the way to the clubhouse following the game, and two of them had on Twins jersey's with Granite No. 8 on the back. He was wearing No. 2 in Rochester. How they were able to get a No. 8 jersey on short notice is impressive.No. 8, by the way, was Granite's number at Seton Hall. He refused to call himself the best Pirate since Mo Vaughn and Craig Biggio. MEJIA NOT BAD: I didn't think Adalberto Mejia pitched that poorly. He had two innings in which he needed just eight pitches. He had six strikeouts in 6.2 innings, a good development for him since opponents tend to foul a lot of pitches off of him. He was victimized by a few poor pitches, but he looks like he's figuring out a few things about how good his stuff is and how to work hitters. Now he just has to learn not to throw Jonathan Schoop a hanging change up.