Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer-The Twins M&M Boys

Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer may not be Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, but the Minnesota Twins' version of the M&M boys isn't exactly a cheap knockoff. Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are both left-handed hitting products of the Twins' farm system, and they are attempting to carry the Twins into the post-season in 2006. Joe Mauer is on pace to become the first catcher since Ernie Lombardi in 1942 to win a batting title, and Justin Morneau is trying to overtake former Twin David Ortiz for the runs batted in crown. One can only imagine if the Twins had kept Ortiz around, to add to the blossoming talents of Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer.

That heart of the order may have actually made pitchers pass out, but the Twins still have a potent middle of the line-up. Justin Morneau was drafted by the Twins in 1999 out of his native British Columbia's New Westminster's Secondary School, where he was a three sport star. The Twins expected Justin Morneau to hit for power, but little did they know that he would be hitting for as high of a batting average as he is this season. His power numbers have crept up each year since his 2003 debut, but now Justin Morneau, who mans first base, is hitting a robust .317. Just last year Justin Morneau hit but .239; the huge jump in average is quite a pleasant surprise for the team. So far in 2006 through Minnesota's first 123 contests, Justin Morneau has 140 hits in 441 at-bats. Included in those base hits are 31 homers, and Justin Morneau's 107 runs batted in have him in third place in the American League in that category, 10 behind Boston's Ortiz and 3 behind the Indians' Travis Hafner. Justin Morneau has raised his average from .240 on June 1st to the current .317 on the strength of a .364 month of June and a .410 July.