Joe Mauer Absent From Field Wednesday. No Return Date Set.

Joe Mauer continues to sit on the bench for the 21st straight game because of a concussion. But don’t ask how he is, as a matter of fact; don’t even ask Manager Ron Gardenhire how he is. It makes Joe angry… or annoyed at least.

“If I see him out there (for batting practice), I see him out there,” Gardenhire said. “I’ve quit asking because not only does he get irritated when you guys ask him how he’s doing, he gets irritated when I ask him how he’s doing. So I just leave him alone, let him go about his business.”

How does Gardenhire know when the even-keeled catcher is irritated?

“I know,” Gardenhire said. “He wouldn’t talk to (the media) about it. You’re right. It’s not the easiest thing to figure out because Joe is a pretty laid-back guy all the time. I know when he’s irritated. He’s pretty good about not showing it around too many people, but I’ve been around him a long time.”

Mauer was all joked after running the bases and batting practice with the team before Monday’s game at Target Field, but he has been mia for the past two days.

Gardenhire still gets updates from the training staff, but Wednesday afternoon he said he wasn’t sure what Mauer’s plans were for the day.

“You’re going to have good days and bad days,” the manager said. “I don’t know which one this is. I don’t know whether he’s going to get out there on the field or just do his weight room stuff in there today.”