Opinion column on Joe Mauer

According to most fans and teammates, Joe Mauer is the teams hero and MVP this year.  Some other people seem to think differently.  He has been productive this year, but not as great as in years before.  Not as many home runs, RBI, batting average and many other statistics.  Also in key situations like with two outs and men on base he always seems to choke under the pressure and can not perform.  Since Justin Morneau out with a concussion since July 7th and not coming back for the playoffs in big situations the twins really turn to Mauer.  During the postseason I believe as well as many other Twins fans hope that he will perform this postseason when the Twins need him most.  For instance game five against the yankees if we get there I believe he will come up with a clutch hit.  Although, hitting is only half of the game.  Players must also play defense and Mauer plays the most important position on the team, catcher.  He must call the game no matter what happens and is depended on to bail out the pitchers if they make a bad pitch.  People really do not appreciate just how important the catching position is if you do not have an outstanding catcher then it is hard to win if the catcher and the pitcher are not on the same page.  Also so far this postseason in only six at-bats(as I am writing this) he has struck out in three of them and only has one hit.  This is not looking like what I expected and how the fans think our hometown hero will play.  Hopefully he will break out of this slump and be able to produce gits and runs in this years postseason, otherwise the twins have no chance at all of beating the yankees. 

College Football Playoffs opinion editorial

                You have to love teams like Boise State and TCU, but will they ever be able to play for a national championship?  There is a problem in college football and it needs to be fixed.  College football need to switch to a playoff system so teams not from large conferences can get in, creates more excitement and suspense and just gives college football more of a professional feel.

                Currently the FBS uses bowl games for teams to play in at the end of the year.  The problem for this is that only two teams get to play for the championship, and does not give smaller schools a chance.   Even if a team goes undefeated it gets screwed because other teams also play a great season.  The controversy has become greater over recent years because of the emergence of schools like Boise State and TCU.  Teams that are very good but they are not in a “strong” conference.  So if the FBS switched to a playoff system it would give these teams a chance.  Also it creates more excitement.  All of the top 8 teams playing each other in the playoffs what more could you want.  These would be great games hopefully all close and create excitement across the country.  It will also help teams take in more revenue since there will be extra games played at their home stadiums.             Lastly, it makes college football feel more like professional with the playoffs.  This is definitely a much better system than bowl games which are not very exciting to watch and often turn into blowouts.                                                                                                                                                                           I believe that college football should switch to a playoffs system because it would create more excitement, give college football more of a professional feel, and give more teams a chance for a national championship.