How Is Mauer's Knee Really Doing?

He was picked first in the draft, ahead of Mark Prior. He signed for millions. An All-Star was traded to make room for him. He was named starting catcher as a 20-year old kid--and succeeded. He's soft-spoken, well respected and has a bright future in the game. Only one thing has been able to hold Joe Mauer back: his left knee.

During the second game of last season, a seemingly harmless slide on the warning track behind home plate resulted in torn medial meniscus cartilage and sidelined Mauer for the majority of the season. Throughout the year, Twins officials insisted Mauer was close to being ready. When he was playing, they insisted he was feeling fine. But he went back on the disabled list and stayed there. Now he's said to be healthy, but I have my doubts.

If Mauer played any other position this wouldn't be an issue. People hurt themselves all the time and come back 100% as good as they were before the injury. But a catcher hurting his knee is completely different. The wear and tear on a catcher's knees is no secret. Countless catchers have started out with healthy knees, only to be forced to hang up their spikes when they went bad. It would make sense that the wear and tear on something that was once torn would be more destructive than on something that starts out healthy.

For that reason, I wonder how long Joe Mauer will be a catcher in the big leagues. I have no doubt that he will succeed somewhere, and possible behind the plate...to begin with. But don't be surprised if somewhere along the line--and before too long--the Twins make the announcement: Joe Mauer's knee won't allow him to catch any longer, but he will be starting for us somewhere else in the field.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope Mauer's youth will be an asset in the healing process and the knee won't be affected for years to come. I would love to see him behind the dish for the next decade. I wish him nothing but the best.

I'm just not convinced about the health of his left knee.