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($1=$1.21 Canadian) (Reporting by Frank Pingue; editing by Peter Galloway) Stocks Global Markets. Photo courtesy of Icon SMI In 2006 Joe Mauer lit the league up to the tune of a Batting Crown worthy .347 average.There was a lot of pressure from fans and local media for Joe to be more of a power hitter. In part because he’s such a good hitter that we wanted to see more, and in part because typically #3 hitters hit HRs and drive in a ton of Runs. He “struggled” last year hitting a very un-Joe Mauerlike .293.He struck out almost as many times last year, 51, as he did in 2006, 54, despite playing in 31 fewer games.That continued into the early part of this season.He was again pressing early in the year hitting .238with 5 strikouts as of April 14th in 12 Games.Since then, though, he’s hitting .407 (24 for 59) with 13 Runs, 7 Doubles and 9 RBI in 16 Games with only 3 Ks.He hasn’t hit a HR all season, but when your catcher is hitting .337 with 20 Runs and 9 Doubles through 31 Games, you can’t really complain all that much.

I think he’s no longer trying to be someone that he’s not.Instead, he’s being what he’s meant to be…one of the league’s best hitters.Let’s hope he stays that way.addthis_url= ‘ http%3A%2F%2Flesterslegends %2F%3Fp%3D1022′; addthis_title= ‘Joe+Mauer+Heats+Up’; addthis_pub= ”;ShareThis This article is also featured on . BUNER, Pakistan (Reuters) – A Pakistani Taliban commander withdrew his fighters from a key northwestern valley on Friday, amid growing alarm in the United States that the Taliban were creeping closer to the capital of nuclear-armed Pakistan. WorldFears for Pakistan’s stability have heightened in the past week after the Taliban took control of Buner, a valley just 100 km (60 miles) and less than five hours drive from Islamabad.The order for the Taliban’s retreat from Buner was given by Fazlullah, the Taliban commander in neighboring Swat valley, where the government has already caved in to militants’ demands for the imposition of Islamic law.”Our leader has ordered that Taliban should immediately be called back from Buner,” Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told Reuters. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Pakistan’s policies in Swat abdicated authority to the Taliban, while Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Pakistani leaders to act against foes who posed an “existential threat” to the state.Pakistan’s top diplomat in Britain said Clinton was “rather overstretching the issue,” adding there was no question of giving in to the militants.”We will not allow Pakistani territory to be abdicated to anybody. We will fight for every inch…,” Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London, told Reuters.He said his personal view was that U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan for fighting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, which broadens the focus to Pakistan, was the “wrong strategy.”"Pakistan is a semi-developed country and Afghanistan is not at all developed They have never had any rule of law in their country. You can’t club the two countries (together),” he said.The United States and other Western allies need Pakistan’s help to defeat al Qaeda and stabilize neighboring Afghanistan.Germany said the Taliban were still far from the capital and cautioned against getting carried away.

Nevertheless, the advance was “worrying,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said.LOSING GROUNDEarlier this month the Pakistani parliament forced a reluctant President Asif Ali Zardari to sign a regulation to introduce Islamic sharia law in Swat to pacify the Taliban.Emboldened, the Taliban moved into Buner from Swat, triggering alarm over their proximity to Islamabad.News of the Taliban withdrawal from Buner helped extend a rally in the Pakistani share market, which bounced 4 percent on Friday after three days of sharp declines. After two years of Ned Colletti, many Dodgers fans feel it’s time to evaluate their GM’s decision-making skills. No doubt, the ballclub has seen significant changes since the end of the 2005 season, when Colletti replaced fired GM Paul DePodesta.In the meantime, L.A. has appeared once in the playoffs (as a wild card in 2006), and has experienced two mildly successful, but frustrating, .500 seasons.It seems prudent, then, to take a look at Colletti’s major transactions over the past two seasons. Will he be found successful or failing in his decision-making? Will Colletti, in retrospect, prove to be a better GM than his predecessors? December 6, 2005: Dodgers hire Grady Little as managerFailureLittle’s tenure with Big Blue resulted in a contentious clubhouse and a mediocre record (by Dodgers standards).

While Little and Colletti painted the 2007 managing change as a mutual decision, it’s clear that Little was no longer wanted by the Dodgers.December 13, 2005: Traded for Andre Ethier, sending Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez to the Oakland AthleticsSuccessEthier is a Dodgers fan-favorite and a young player to watch; Perez’s lackluster play isn’t missed and neither are Bradley’s temper tantrums. December 21, 2005: Signed Kenny Lofton to a one-year contractSuccessThough Lofton’s tenure as a Dodger was short, he provided important veteran influence in the team’s 2006 playoff run.December 23, 2005: Signed Brett Tomko to a two-yearcontractFailureTomko’s salary wasn’t obscene, but his performance wasn’t great. A failed starter, he made little impact in the Dodgers bullpen and was unceremoniously let go after 2007. February 7, 2006: Signed Takashi Saito to a minor league contractSuccessSaito has proven himself to be a dependable closer, and the Dodgers managed to pick out a great (despite being on the old side) rookie.August 1, 2006: Traded for Greg Maddux and cash from the Cubs for Cesar IzturisPick ‘emWhile Izturis has been anything but spectacular in his last two seasons, hopping from club to club, Maddux chose to quickly leave L.A after a decent season. The Blue gave up a talented defense-oriented player for a one-and-done veteran pitcher.November 22, 2006: Signed Juan Pierre to a five-year contractFailurePierre’s small-ball style hasn’t caught on in L.A., as the Dodger faithful have lamented his weak arm and lack of power. While Pierre is off to a great start in 2008, his five-year contract is jarring. Is Pierre worth a $45 million investment?  Most would say no.November 29, 2006: Signed Randy Wolf to a one-year contractFailureWolf was oft-injured and rarely effective as a Dodgers starter in 2007 and bolted for the Padres in ‘08.December 8, 2006: Signed Jason Schmidt to a three-year contractFailureWidely regarded as one of the worst (if not the worst) signings in baseball for the last several years, Colletti handed Schmidt a huge payday.