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Aching Mauer doesn't give up catching duties

David Joles, Star Tribune

In addition to the regular rigors of catching, Joe Mauer is battling a sore hip flexor muscle that’s affecting his running.

Joe Mauer caught all three playoff games despite a aggravating his right hip in the one-game playoff.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III and JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: October 12, 2009 - 12:22 AM

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Twins catcher Joe Mauer on Sunday admitted that his right hip flexor muscle has bothered ever since Game 163 on Tuesday against Detroit.

''I felt it right away," he said. ''I think adrenaline kicked in after that. The next day, I definitely felt it."

But there was no way he was going to be the designated hitter Sunday.

''You just lay it all out there," he said. ''This is what you play for. I have the offseason to get ready."

It didn't stop Mauer at the plate. He was 4-for-8 with a double and two walks over the first two games of the ALDS and drove in the Twins' only run in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Yankees with a two-out RBI single in the sixth.

Mauer, who batted .365 with 28 homers and 96 RBI during the regular season, will be checked out by doctors this week to make sure nothing more than rest will be needed for his hip.

He's hoping for an offseason less stressful than the last, when back problems led to him having offseason surgery that really didn't solve the problem, then he missed the first month of the regular season once the problem was diagnosed as an inflamed sacroiliac joint.

''Now that we're done, that's the time you go in and get things figured out," he said. ''Hopefully I can take it as a regular offseason.

''I haven't had one of those in a while."

Redmond not done

Backup catcher Mike Redmond will try to continue his career. ''I'm playing next year," said Redmond, 38. ''Everyone thinks I'm retiring."

But he knows it might be somewhere other than Minnesota. Redmond is a free agent and the Twins have Jose Morales, who is younger and a good hitter. Redmond's experience is a plus. ''We'll see," he said.

Nebraska roots

Yankees righthander Joba Chamberlain was a teammate of Twins lefthander Brian Duensing at Nebraska, as was Royals third baseman Alex Gordon.

"I remember [Duensing] never lost," Chamberlain said. "He was 17-0 or something. He was really good. I've known Brian for a long time. He played in Omaha [in high school], and he was a little bit older than me, but when we'd play, people would talk about who the best pitcher was and whatever."

Duensing actually went 17-2 with a 3.66 ERA in three seasons at Nebraska. Chamberlain said he is not surprised at Duensing's success this year.

"We've stayed in touch throughout everything, and I told him he was going to get a shot and have some fun," Chamberlain said. "It's no different up here. I mean you can't let it be different. You can't go out and try to be somebody you're not. You have to go out and be the same guy he's been the last six weeks."

Target Field can wait

With snow in the forecast, both managers were asked to imagine the series being played next year at Target Field.

"We have heat underneath the grass, so it's going to melt," Gardenhire said. "You don't have to worry about that, it's all covered, OK. We took that into consideration. We've had guys here -- the Olivas and the Carews and the Killebrews -- and they said it was cold out, but it's outdoor baseball, that's what we've got, and during the summer it's going to be wonderful." Gardenhire paused and added, "That was a company line right there."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi knew his team had to be prepared for the Metrodome's noise, but it beats dealing with the Minnesota elements.

"Obviously, I think players prefer playing in a little bit warmer conditions than 32 and a couple inches of snow," he said. "So I think if we had our choice of outside or inside, I think we would pick inside."

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