This season's best baseball stories made in Minnesota

Josh Hamilton and Justin Morneau, the protagonists from the Home Run Derby, reconvene tonight at the Metrodome.

Hamilton became a folk hero during the Derby before Morneau beat him in the finals. All-Stars treated Hamilton like a living legend while the ESPN crew recounted his résumé: From No. 1 pick to addict to Devil Rays castoff to this season's best story.

Can you think of a better one?

I can think of three.

Hamilton's tale seems created in Hollywood. I'll take the stories made in Minnesota.

Redemption makes for a powerful plot, but to redeem yourself you need to first take a voluntary swan dive into the abyss.

If you were to pick someone to admire at the ballpark tonight, should you choose the guy who did crack and heroin, tormented his family, damaged the franchise that drafted him and wasted years of his life and career, or one of the All-Stars who dedicated himself to baseball?

The Twins are better than expected because of three All-Stars with far less dramatic stories to tell, three All-Stars who wouldn't think of derailing their careers with an illegal drug or an irresponsible tantrum.

The stories of Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer and Joe Nathan border on boring, because they represent the monotony of perseverance.

Morneau, the Canadian, works at his craft with the diligence of the hockey player he was and the intelligence of the professional hitter he has become. With the exception of perhaps Brooks Robinson and Harmon Killebrew, he has to be the most down-to-earth former Most Valuable Player alive, and only Hamilton, with his gaudy numbers and Reality TV script, currently stands between Morneau and a second MVP trophy.

While the casual fan will remember Hamilton's Derby feats, Morneau performed with typical efficiency and reserve, doing just enough to win the Derby, insisting it had been Hamilton's night, then getting two hits and scoring two runs, including the one that won the All-Star Game.

Mauer, the St. Paulite, reestablished himself as the game's best catcher this year after spending the 2007 season limping to the training room. He has played in 85 of the Twins' 95 games, often playing day games following night games. If that sounds routine, try squatting and catching your son or daughter for 15 minutes, and see how long it takes your knees to uncoil.

Nathan spent his first spring in Fort Myers throwing 88 mph fastballs, causing the team to start looking for a new closer, even inquiring about Chris Reitsma.

Then the 2004 regular season started and Nathan began throwing smoke. Since then, he has been one of the top two or three closers in baseball and already has established himself as the best closer in Twins history.

If Joe, Joe and Justin had tried crack, they might have become national celebrities for overcoming their addictions.

Redemption is a glamorous story-line, but isn't it better this way, following three model athletes with no need for it?