Joe Mauer getting booed in Minnesota for so many years seemed impossible to fathom. He was long Minnesota's favorite son. He was born and raised in St. Paul, starring in multiple sports at Cretin-Derham Hall High School before being drafted first overall in 2001 by the hometown Twins. He debuted three years later and did nothing but hit upon arrival.The Twins won the AL Central in three of Mauer's first six seasons, in which time he made four All-Star Games, won three batting titles and took home the 2009 MVP. 
And, yet, he was booed in Target Field on Wednesday night. After failing to plate a run (from third base) late in a 1-0 loss, Mauer was showered with boos from his hometown.To Mauer's credit, he gets it."Runs were at a premium and it was tough," Mauer said (startribune.com). "I'm probably a lot more frustrated than those people that were booing."Good job, Joe.No whining. No excuses. No long, detailed explanation about how the fans don't understand how hard he works or how hard it is to hit a baseball.Sometimes being booed by hometown fans is part of the job -- a job that pays Joe Mauer $23 million a year to play a game. And when he succeeds, he's treated like a God. That is also part of the job. Kudos to Mauer for getting it.Matt Snyder/CBS Sports
And, yet, he was booed in Target Field on Wednesday night. After failing to plate a run (from third base) late in a 1-0 loss, Mauer was showered with boos from his hometown.To Mauer's credit, he gets it."Runs were at a premium and it was tough," Mauer said (startribune.com). "I'm probably a lot more frustrated than those people that were booing."Good job, Joe.No whining. No excuses. No long, detailed explanation about how the fans don't understand how hard he works or how hard it is to hit a baseball.Sometimes being booed by hometown fans is part of the job -- a job that pays Joe Mauer $23 million a year to play a game. And when he succeeds, he's treated like a God. That is also part of the job. Kudos to Mauer for getting it.Matt Snyder/CBS Sports
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