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.