— As Joe Mauer drove to the ballpark for a doubleheader t

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) o begin the last series of the season for the Minnesota Twins Francisco Lindor Jersey , the finality of the weekend dawned on him a little deeper than usual.These games against the Chicago White Sox aren’t necessarily going to be the last of Mauer’s 15-year career, but there’s no guarantee they won’t be, either. Mauer will wait until the offseason, in consultation with his family, to decide whether or not to retire at age 35. The three-time American League batting champion and six-time All-Star will be a free agent, his eight-year $184 million contract set to expire, but he has no interest in playing outside of his home state.“The end of the season sneaks up on you. Here we are, the last weekend,” Mauer said before the Twins swept the doubleheader from the White Sox on Friday. “Just trying to enjoy it.”By going 2 for 4 in each of the two games, Mauer stretched his on-base streak to 14 straight starts. He’s batting .362 (21 for 58) during that stretch. After a single in the sixth inning of the second game Corey Kluber Jersey , Mauer was pulled for a pinch-runner and received a standing ovation as he waved and tipped his helmet to the crowd.Mauer’s 35-year-old production is modest at best, compared to his pre-2013-concussion numbers as a catcher, let alone his 2009 AL MVP season. He has only six home runs and 33 extra-base hits.Still, he’s batting .280, which is 32 points above the major league average, and in the top 25 in the AL in on-base percentage. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting an MLB-best .410 in 78 at-bats. Earlier this week, he became the Twins leader in times on base, passing Hall of Fame member Harmon Killebrew.“The professionalism, the performance Ricky Vaughn Jersey , the things he’s done here in his hometown community for a number of years. It’s just been the full package,” said manager Paul Molitor, who’s doing some savoring of his own this weekend in the event Mauer doesn’t return.The Twins (76-84), who made the AL wild card game at 85-77 in 2017, will wrap up a sixth losing record in the last eight years on Sunday afternoon.“It’s going to be fun to watch him play,” Molitor said. “I’m hoping there’s a little sense of acknowledgement each and every time he steps on that field.”Mauer’s laid-back nature has never naturally lent itself to clubhouse leadership, but in the last few seasons he has come into his own as the most experienced player on the roster ought to. He initiated a postgame contest after victories, when a game ball is awarded to a player whose performance made the most impact.“I just wanted to show them the importance of the little things that contribute to a win,” Mauer said. “It might not be getting four hits that day. It might be going first to third with less than two outs and you end up scoring that run.”Though teammates Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar chipped in with occasional choices at Mauer’s request before they were traded to other teams this summer, the game-ball committee has largely been a one-man production. Perhaps that’s fitting Michael Brantley Jersey , given how deep his contributions to the franchise have fun since the first overall pick in the 2001 draft made his debut in 2004.“Some guys if they don’t get mentioned might take exception to that, and the next day they might try to really do something to get mentioned,” Mauer said. “But it’s a fun thing that we’ve been doing, and it seems like the boys have a good time doing it too.” NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are transferring longtime media relations boss Jay Horwitz to a new role as vice president of alumni public relations and team historian.Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon announced Horwitz’s job change Wednesday at a press conference that was more of a roast by former players, coaches and executives. Horwitz has been with the team for nearly 40 years, and figures from throughout his tenure attended.Among them: Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, John Franco http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-yan-gomes-jersey , Joe Torre, Terry Collins, Steve Phillips and Omar Minaya. A number of current Mets also attended, including captain David Wright.Horwitz will work in his new role to aid next season’s 50-year anniversary of the Mets 1969 World Series championship, and also on further connecting the club’s alumni.The 73-year-old Horwitz has been beloved by players for his bumbling but loyal personality.Horwitz recalled how he spilled a can of orange juice on general manager Frank Cashen during his job interview in 1980 but got the job anyway. He was then late to his first day of work, mistakenly commuting to Brooklyn instead of Shea Stadium.Horwitz has often been a subject of clubhouse pranks. Wright admitted to repeatedly rubbing eye black on Horwitz’s binoculars. Franco said he used to cut off Horwitz’s ties in his sleep. Horwitz even said players once “made a No. 2 in my bed” on the road.“The older guys taught me, if they don’t like you, they won’t screw around with you,” Horwitz said.Players also tried to set up Horwitz on dates during road trips. Some were more successful than others — he claimed to break out in hives after the team brought a stripper to the Wrigley Field clubhouse for his birthday years ago.Wright also said Horwitz was instrumental in helping him establish a good relationship with the New York media, and Franco praised Horwitz for his loyalty.“He would fight for the players Kenny Lofton Jersey ,” Franco said. He later choked up when adding “I love you man. Thank you.”Horwitz’s first assistant with the Mets, Tim Hamilton, died Wednesday. Hamilton predated Horwitz with New York, and Horwitz told The Associated Press that Hamilton was a “great guy” who helped acclimate him to life at Shea Stadium. Hamilton’s ex-wife, Lorraine Hamilton, is still the Mets’ executive director of broadcasting and events.