After a 2011 season significantly hampered by various injuries, knee and otherwise, Twins catcher Joe Mauer now says he’s optimistic about the 2012 season.

“The knee’s been feeling great,” Mauer told MLB.com. “The last year and a half, just trying to compensate for that kind of took a toll on my whole body. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue. I’m feeling good, so I’m excited.”

Mauer underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his left knee after the 2010 season, and he missed most of spring training in 2011 recovering. On the whole, he was limited to just 82 games last season, missing a big chunk of April and May plus being shut down for good on Sept. 14. Mauer’s health problems last season included leg weakness, neck stiffness, a viral infection and an upper respiratory infection that turned into pneumonia.

After leading the American League with a .365 average, .444 on-base percentage and .587 slugging in 2009, Mauer’s health has led to a decline over the last two seasons. He’s optimistic that 2012 will be a bounce-back season.

“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time,” he said. “I’m excited about that.”

The Minnesota Twins have placed Terry Ryan as the interim general manager of the team after Bill Smith was relieved of his duties today, according to MLB.com.

“No one in the Twins’ organization wants to win any more than Bill,” Twins owner and chief executive officer Jim Pohlad told MLB.com. “He is unquestionably loyal, committed and talented. The Twins goal is to get better in 2012 and beyond. Bill was equally motivated to achieve that goal but we differed in the scope and approach that was required.”

Smith had been hired by the Twins as their general manager in 2007, and helped lead the team to American League Central titles in 2009 and 2010.

This season the Twins went 63-99, which marked their worst finish since 1995 when they went 56-88. Much of their issues this year stemmed from injuries as franchise cornerstones Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, who combined to play in just 151 games.