"I don't want that to be kind of an excuse. If I'm out there, I'm out there. That's just the way I am," Mauer told the newspaper. "There are times I've gone up to the plate, and I just couldn't pick up the ball. That's part of the frustration, because I'm trying to do everything I can to get back. It just takes time."
The statistics seem to back up Mauer's assertions, as Mauer hit .248/.316/.354 with three homers and 25 RBIs in 61 day games last year, but batted .276/.352/.396 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 97 night games.