Let's call this Mauer week.

He didn't get so far in the Home Run Derby last night, losing to Pujols in a swing off, but Joe Mauer is drawing some heavy national media attention. Kind of like the attention he draws daily here at home.

Thought I'd pass on one of the best articles I've read about Mauer, the person, written by Jim Souhan.

Mauer is only two weeks removed from his stint on the cover of Sports Illustrated. If you missed that cover story, it's worth a peek.

Even Joe's oldest brother, Jake, is drawing national attention. Read about his efforts to become a major league coach in The New York Times no less.

I hope our other All Stars Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan are not feeling left out in the cold. Morneau, if we remember, got the shaft last year after winning the Home Run Derby but being overshadowed by Josh Hamilton's incredible first round. The announcer even called Morneau "Jason." Morneau ended up playing a big role in the game's finale, scoring the winning run in extra innings.

I doubt, however, either player feels like they live in Mr. Mauer's shadow. It's just that Morneau- and Nathan-type players aren't all that atypical. First basemen who hit for power? I can think of a few. Overpowering save specialists? Yeah, even a few of those exist around the league. In all truth, though, I really like both of them, except maybe when I'm waiting the 5 minutes Nathan takes between pitches, and think they're excellent players to build a team around. Sending my respect via telepathy to St. Louis, as I type.

What makes Mauer unique - and poor guy, he deserves a little rest and relaxation from the spotlight - is that he's a home-grown catcher, who hits for average, has an incredible eye at the plate, calls splendid games for young pitchers, rarely strikeouts (I'm ignoring Sunday's performance) and has even found his power swing. 

I'll admit I've been harsh on him in the past for his questionable durability (hey, I've never been a catcher. I was too afraid of the ball) and I'll never be one of those thousands of Minnesota girls asking him to marry me on a tagboard sign in the Metrodome, but I have to appreciate his pure talent and, I'll go so far as to say, love of the game.

Baseball is unlike any other sport. Its precision, skill, order, it's a game of inches that requires a player to always be on and thinking. It takes more than talent. It takes intelligence. Ah, what a great game.