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Bay Ball, Part 3San Francisco's BeautyJune 25, 2011 11:33 AM The Twins got a good look at At&T Park this week, including (on Wednesday) that very deep part of the outfield where chasing a ball usually means trouble. As they leave the Bay, let's take a look back at the ballpark. In case you missed the set up, here are parts one and two of the series. (And if you're reading this on Saturday the 26th, FOX is showing Indians and Giants from the park today at 3:00 PM.) San Francisco's AT&T Park is a rare beauty among baseball facilities, but will look eerily familiar in places to anyone who has spent time in the equivalent areas of Target Field. Thanks to the finishing touches, the parks do feel distinct from one another, but in their bones they are almost Populous clones. If you haven't done so, take a quick look at the 3D seat locator on the Giants web site, to acclimate yourself. You'll see some immediate similarities. The Club Level Most strikingly similar was the Club Level (TF equivalent: Legends Club). It features a two-story atrium on one side that could easily be mistaken for the Carew Lounge (with a different color scheme), large windows facing the field with drink rails, and fixed concession stands scattered throughout. There are differences, to be sure. The finishing at AT&T makes the whole club feel more like a bar than Target Field (which I heard described recently, and accurately, as "airport concourse-like"), but the view of the game is essentially identical. Given their respective site dimensions, it's a little surprising that TF is actually much more spacious on the club level than AT&T. Also, AT&T features a series of choke points in the club, something which is never a problem at TF. At the end of the club level, near the left field foul pole, is something they call the "Legends Club." It is actually just a little sitting area that apparently can be rented separately. If you like the club atmosphere as a place to watch a game (not all people do), you'll find the experience in SF very similar to that here in Minneapolis. (For the slideshows on this page, please note that you can click directly on the picture to advance to the next one.)
The Main Concourse When the book is written on this era of ballpark design, the word "Promenade" may figure, er, prominently. You hear it thrown around a lot, and it seems like every ballpark has to have one. At TF, it's outside and over the railroad tracks. At AT&T, the name is applied to the main concourse. I wrote earlier about the main concourse, which I found to be nicely appointed but somewhat claustrophobic. It definitely has more character than Target Field's main concourse, which sometimes feels almost too refined for its own good. But AT&T's is also definitely filled with choke points. If red brick makes the exterior of the park appear retro, the lack of room to spread out serves the same function inside. It reminded me most of old Yankee Stadium, and not at all of the spacious walkways found in most newer parks. I'm sure some will prefer this old style, and others will wonder if the designers were crazy. (For the record, TF doesn't have any inherent choke points on the main concourse in the main grandstand. But the sheer quantity of people trying to move through there at all times creates its own special sort of gridlock.) It's a little disappointing, however, that most areas of the concourse which might otherwise be open to the field were filled with gigantic food carts, leaving precious few spots where you could stick your head through to glimpse the game. On the one hand, this helps reduce traffic and discourages most SRO ticket holders from hanging out in the concourse -- a good thing. On the other hand, it separates the fan from the game when they go for a snack -- a bad thing. Some would argue that if you get out of your seat, you deserve to be cut off from the game. That's a little punitive, if you ask me. There's a balance to be struck, and it may have nothing to do with the openness of the concourse, but rather management and location of food carts and stands -- plus, of course, efficient restroom configuration. What they've done in SF works just fine, and simply represents a different approach from the TF design team. Just off the Promenade on the first base side is a little patio area with cantina, and directly behind home plate is a rather large lobby area, separated from the field by the press box. This is different from TF, where the press box is located up one level, and the concourse is open directly to the field there like everywhere else. And just for the record, there were long restroom lines everywhere on this level. Restroom efficiency seems to be pretty low on the priority list for Populous. Either that or teams are telling them to use space for operations that might otherwise have been available for restrooms. Either way, they tend not to be configured very well, making a quick in-and-out all but impossible. The exception may be the "Express Restroom" I saw on the main concourse. I'm not really sure what this means, but there was no line, and the name does stoke the imagination.
The View Level There isn't much to say about the View level. In terms of watching the game it's almost identical to Target Field. The two essential differences are the lack of an open concourse, and the fact that the upper deck continues around the left field foul pole. Oh, I suppose there's the matter of the bay... OK, you have to set that aside, because Target Field will never compete with that. No other ballpark will. It's a source of fog, wind, chilly temperatures -- and sublime beauty. Everything balances out, I guess. Not using an open concourse leads to a couple of fundamental differences. First, there's room for more seating, although not as much as you might think. The small sections which hang off the front simply extend back a couple of rows in various spots. But this has led to some very weird decisions, in which stairways seem to run in every direction in a Rube Goldberg sort of way. It looks from a distance way more complicated than it is. But between the seating and the stairs, all horizontal circulation is by way of the concourse. I understand why they do this, but it's too bad. Also, though I don't know this for certain, there appear to be less accessible seating areas in the upper deck as a result of this configuration. On the other side of the seats, the closed concourse means that all the infrastructure could be built under the seating instead of along the outside rim of the ballpark (as it is with TF). This leads to a very different feel, as the walkway is open wide to the elements. But when the view beyond the walls is as lovely as it is in San Francisco, you can see why they wouldn't want to block it off. It seems like the Twins might want to consider closing portions the upper concourse. It would trade some standing room for fixed seats, which would be welcome. It may also change wind patterns for the better. And maybe they could add one of those fancy "express restrooms". Speaking of being open wide, another welcome difference from TF is the inclusion of wind screens over the fencing behind the back row of the upper deck. They look temporary, and might be removable during the peak of the season. In general, AT&T is a pretty windy place -- more so than TF (though if you've sat in that last row up there, you know it can get pretty gusty). A screen makes these uppermost seats just a little more comfortable. The inclusion of flags (one for each Major League team) along the roof line, though it has become sort of standard in new ballparks, is a welcome connection with the Polo Grounds, which was famous for that feature long before it became common. As you'll see in the pictures, Giants history is really everywhere on the upper concourse. This is a fundamental difference from Target Field, where history is largely confined to the private areas. The Twins really need to find a way to get some historical displays up there. Maybe they could add a long suspension bridge in the distance while they're at it.
Exclusivity Even though there are plenty of exclusive seating areas in AT&T Park, there appears to be no equivalent to TF's Champions Club. The closest they get is the Field Club Lounge, an area below the main concourse which, as far as I could tell, was open to anyone with a ticket inside the moat (which wasn't really a moat, because it is only a railing, not a walkway). The Field Club Lounge is sort of like a nicer version of the First and Third Base Lounges, mixed with a scaled down Champions Club (minus the free food). Frankly, the atmosphere was sort of like a fancy cafeteria. And to get there, you have to walk across a service corridor (if the ballpark has a lower service level, I could not find it), where you just might just bump into a mascot and his handlers. The Suite Level is certainly the largest exclusive area. It is nicely appointed, though both the hallways and the suites themselves seemed a little on the small side. Finally, there is something called the Champions Suite, located just off the main concourse near the press box. It was hosting a party on the day when I visited, and no one was allowed inside. From the little glimpse I could get, it appeared to be just a nice party room configured a lot like the press box.
Triples Alley and Beyond Just as the right field wall is a distinctive aspect of the park's playing area, the right field corridor is a very distinctive walking and seating area. For the most part, the views are pretty good. But as you move further and further into foul territory, it starts to get somewhat extreme. In terms of view, these sections (Arcade 149 and above) while not completely terrible, are probably the worst in the park. In addition to the diminished view, you also have the SRO throngs breathing on the back of your neck. At one point I actually witnessed a very unfriendly interaction between a drunk SRO guy and a sober guy in a seat -- with no usher in site to broker a truce. In all, my immediate impression was that it's a heavy party zone. Nothing out there would be my choice for a good game experience. But it was packed. Ushers throughout the park were a mixed bag. Most stood politely at their positions and barely interacted with the crowd. In several places there were no ushers where you might expect them. And in at least one spot behind the left field bleachers there was a guy ready to pounce on anyone who lingered too long. (I got pounced on for hovering about five seconds too long to take a picture.) Adding to the party atmosphere out in right is the Coors Light Silver Bullpen, which consists of a standing area behind some nice padded, swivel seats, each outfitted with the name and number of a famous Giant. It's located beyond straight-away center, so the views are sort of distant, but once again, the party was the thing. The whole corridor connects with a terrace area behind the scoreboard which has a lot of food options, and plenty of room to spread out. It has the feel of an amusement park food court, but if you're looking for a break from the game (why?) this should do just fine.
Kid Zone Continuing toward left field, you come upon the kid zone, which I talked about in detail before. Beyond that, the walkway connects back to the main concourse -- er, Promenade -- by passing over a little bridge which goes over the entry point for emergency vehicles. This little driveway apparently also serves as field access for big trucks when a concert is held here. One thing that the Target Field design team learned from AT&T Park is how not to do field access. It's reportedly among the worst in the majors -- old and new ballparks alike.
Around the Horn After the game, I had a chance to study the exterior of the ballpark in great detail in just about the most perfect late afternoon sunlight you could imagine. There's really not much to say beyond what I've said before. Much of it is very beautiful, if a little artificial. I'll highlight three things. First, the bayside walkway is something you might not know is there, but it's not to be missed. Markers are embedded in the pavement for many significant moments in the ballpark's history (many of them attached to the infamous #25). Make the time to take that stroll. Second, on the way down Third Street, look to your left through the service gate just before you round the corner (at the Juan Marichal statue). There you will see a gigantic history of the franchise featuring all of the years they won titles of any sort. It unabashedly celebrates their time in New York on an equal footing with their time in San Francisco. It may be one of the most undersung sights of the whole building. (Would that the Twins might one day wake up and take the same approach.) Third, this is where you will find the free "knothole" area.
In Conclusion It goes without saying that AT&T Park is a beauty. I found it to mostly live up to its reputation, and there's no question that any baseball fan would be ecstatic to have it as their home field. It was also a lesson in how the minds at Populous work, and the importance (once again) of their collaborators on the baseball team. Obviously, a great deal of care went into creating this wonderland, and that shows through in countless small details. But the engineering also has a signature to it, one that I recognized immediately from my many hours roaming the insides of Target Field. I do wonder if someday there will be a backlash against this style of ballpark. Despite the many obvious strengths, the designs all have something of a premeditated quality to them, a coolness -- even a perfection -- which is in some weird way un-baseball. I have begun to wonder what other engineering firms might do differently. Populous certainly does not have the corner on the market for good ballpark ideas (though they seem to get most of the gigs). Back in the days of the classic ballparks, they grew sort of organically, with pavilions and seating areas being added or subtracted or reconfigured more or less constantly. There was a wildness to this approach which led to some of the classic quirks -- still seen on display at Wrigley and Fenway, and fondly remembered from Tiger Stadium and the Polo Grounds. Some of these quirks are better in memory than in actuality, but creating a premeditated quirk is a decidedly different endeavor. This is the folly of faux-retro. It never gets beyond the surface of what made those old parks so memorable. AT&T Park is a thoroughly modern baseball facility, wrapped in a stylish shell. That is the signature of our modern ballpark era. The future may or may not be kind to these structures, but in the present it's all pretty sweet. What they got wrong is mostly forgivable. I could live without the gigantic play area, and every bleacher seat should have a back on it. The concourses have too many choke points (both the Promenade and Club levels), and the restroom issues remain. But the big stuff -- sight lines, overall comfort, baseball focus, amenities, even the scoreboard -- is all right down the pipe. I'll leave you with a collection of images which don't fall neatly into any category, but will help give a feel for the place to those who have not seen it in person.
In the fourth (and final) part of this series, we'll take a closer look at the Oakland Coliseum. Thanks for stopping by here today! CommentsTo utilized enhanced comment features, please enable cookies in your browser. Nice article Rick, One question, does the brick at the ballpark look like real full bricks or that cheap looking hilf-brick design they employed at TCF Bank Stadium? Also interesting article in the Star Trib about Mijares calling Mauer out by name for bad pitch calling. While that little glimpse is interesting, Gardenhire's quote at the end is even better. After Mauer defends calling for just fastballs and takes a shot at Mijares for putting one down the middle of the plate, Gardenhire said this: "A lefthander's gotta come in and hopefully spin some pitches. If you just throw fastballs -- I could leave a righthander in to throw fastballs. That's the way I look at it." I don't know if Gardenhire was intentionally calling Mauer out too without using his name, if he was calling Mijares out or pissed off at both, but it seems there may be some clubhouse unrest in the Twins which we rarely see publicly. Couple that with the news that Gardenhire has mentioned Mauer may play first, [http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_18349019], which hasnt been mentioned before, even with Mourneau's numerous injuries. Makes one wonder if Gardenhire doesn't like the way Mauer calls games or just realizes Mauer can no longer play cather and be healthy. Considering out of 7 games back he has taken 2 off already. DHing doesn't count as playing. (well it does, but not when you're being paid $23 million to catch) Posted on June 25, 2011 at 12:34 PM by Duffman 1 Hello Everyone. I'm a diehard Giants fan that has been following this great website for a long time. Thanks for the write up on the Bay Area parks. I enjoyed watching the Twins here last week. I think it will be interesting to see what changes are made to Target Field as the years go by. AT&T has had some major changes over the years. The ownership here has looked for places to cram in more seats. When the Park opened there was a circulation walkway in front of the stairs in the upper deck. Those were filled in over the first 2 or 3 years after the park opened. When the Giants were awarded the All Star Game, ownership added 2-3 rows of seating to the back of many sections of the lower seating bowl. The concourse was already cramped by modern standards and this certainly didn't help. It's a big reason why the open concourse doesn't feel so open. Anyways, if anyone has any questions about any of the Bay Area venues or the state of our public transportation (BART, MUNI, etc.) which was covered in the previous Bay Ball entries, I'll be happy to contribute here. Nice synopsis once again Rick. In the "Exclusivity" section, picture 10, in the "Lexus Dugout Club", those seats down there don't look very posh and "first-class" like. It looks like Lexus slapped it's logo on the back of a whole bunch of folding chairs. Please tell me I'm wrong and that they're nice, padded seats akin to the ones we have in relatively the same location at TF. From the view on TV those Lexus seats looked like the plain old stadium seats. with a brick wall seperarating the people behind. mmm hmm. Apparently ATT Park in San Francisco just doesn't generate the kind of discussion that TF does. Probably because TF has ATT beat in so many ways. Oh, in regards to the "Around the Horn" photo gallery, Mr. Mays called me this morning, pissed off as hell because his name was misspelled on the first photo description. "Willy is a whale," he shouted, then he hung up. Between scoring their 8th run in the 1st inning last Monday and the conclusion of last night's game, the Twins/Red Wings were 3 for 36 with runners in scoring position while scoring 7 runs in 44 innings. It doesn't look like today's numbers when added in will improve the ugliness of those totals. And please get Luke Hughes off first base before he gets himself or someone in the box seats killed! I lived in the Bay area for about 5 years, from '02-07. I have a few issues with PhoneCo Park, they were mostly people (usher) related. My biggest complaints were the users holding people back when a batter is in the box. While I understand what they are trying to accomplish, it fails. People get backed up waiting for the out, then there's a huge swarm of people who enter the aisle, blocking the view for quite a while. Just let people come and go, and it will all be ok. My second complaint came when I was sitting in those awesome right field "arcade" seats just above the arches. We were in the last row of this section, and there was some SRO behind us. The giants were rallying in the 7th inning, trying to mount a comeback. The crowd got into it, and we all were standing in our seats, cheering. At this time, the usher taps us on the shoulder and says we need to sit down because we're blocking the view of the SRO people. Seriously? Buy a seat if you want a guaranteed view! After this game, I vowed to never pay for a seat at this night club for Yuppies again. However, I did go to a few more, but I prefer to spend my time over on the other side of the bay. Friendlier people, better prices, and the designated hitter! $23 million a year and Mauer can't catch three days in a row. Please trade him now. I'll offer a different point of view and say how I like it when they hold people back from going to their seats until the at-bat is complete. It keeps the rows open longer for people who are trying to view the game. When we were in KC my wife waited until the end of the inning to head back to her seat. The usher at The K asked her if everything was all right. My wife responded that her seat was towards to bottom and was a couple seats over. The usher responded to her by saying, that's very nice of you. Baby Jesus and the Jap need to be benched or sent down to AAA. Put the kids back in, they were fun to watch and actually gave a shit. Poor LA Dodgers (clicky). Is it possible with this whole McCourts mess, they might move back to Brooklyn? Imagine that, Brooklyn gets a basketball team, and their beloved Dodgers back in the same year. Just as long as MLB keeps it's stringent ass off of the team's dealings, unlike what they did with Montreal. We have antitrust laws in this nation for a reason - I wish Selig would follow them. Posted on June 27, 2011 at 08:35 AM by luke 15 I still argue a small trickle of aisle traffic is better than the tidal wave that the usher hold creates. Plus, one is less likely to spill their Chardonnay and Sushi at PhoneCoPark this way. I bet Elias Sports doesn't track the number of times the Twins have played a team in bankruptcy... Linked is an image from Michael Cuddyer's Flickr page. It's a shot from upper left field during the Twins trip to San Fran. I thought it was interesting because the condition of the grass at TF was mentioned as being in poor shape compared to places like AT&T. For the record, I don't think the TF lawn is in bad shape at all. In the photo I linked from my flickr (seen here) the only noticeable parts I see in that image are the patch in front of the mound and the square wear mark from the tarp which had been on the field prior to the game and the previous couple games. In Cuddy's shot you can see that the condition of the grass at AT&T is not congruent with the perception around here that it has. There is a lot of wear from numerous different things on the field and there are many (some very large) patches of replaced turf. Its all a matter of the viewing angle that determines what is noticeable. As you see from Rick's image above from roughly behind the plate during the series vs what appears to be Arizona in May, those patches and wear spots aren't that noticeable, if indeed they are all there at the time. Granted their visits would then be what, a month apart and different on field events create different grass issues, but the idea is that appearances are deceiving. Not trying to knock the grass at AT&T or praise TF grass, just pointing out the differences in perception. Posted on June 27, 2011 at 12:51 PM by Jared 18 The kids and I took the tour of AT&T on Wednesday afternoon and saw Cuddyer all around the stadium taking pictures. The tour guide did comment about the marks out in center field. He said over the weekend there had been a corporate event. A company had rented out AT&T and had put a stage out in center field for some bands. (Maroon 5 was one of them, but I don't remember the rest.) The reason Paul McCartney isn't coming to the Twin Cities isn't because he chickened out; it's because the Twins don't want the TF grass to end up looking like it did at ATT after the corporate event. huh? why would they go to the lengths to propose a date for him to appear if they were so concerned about the condition of the field? Perhaps they could schedule sir Paul over at Midway instead? LOL! I'm sure Devito is breathing sigh of releif over his embattled turf! Bring back the checkerboard cut also! Sheeesh! Sounds like Souhan threw the baby jesus under the bus in his article today in the strib. Joe better get the 1st base glove ready! Twinkfan, I saw the article last night. Best piece I have seen written in a while. Jared, Photographs capture a whole new meaning to how the grass looks presented. I do not nearly see the bad parts of the grass in the twilight, more so during the day. I was at Kauffman in early June and that grass looked great, both during the day and at night. I cannot say the same of Target Field. One more thing, those are two different climates KC and Minneapolis, but it appeared that they took really good care of the lawn. Water and mowed each day. I am not too sure what the schedule is at TF, and the grass also looks longer at The K. lol TwinkFan. What a joke that would be...Sir McCartney would attain the lowest concert attendance in his 30+ year career at that dump. I had a dream the other night that the Pohlad family bought the Dodgers while they were here in town. (or, perhaps it was a nightmare...) Baseball wouldn't allow one ownership group to own two teams, would they? I do have strange dreams sometimes... /lol/ That would be great, two teams, and just make one team really bad and the other respectable...oh wait, that is what they'd get... Mauer took some practice at first during Twins BP today. I sure hope he stretches the Bi-laterals. Does anyone have any idea when an announcement regarding a specific date and time of the June 14th rainout might be made? I know it will be during one of the two times the White Sox will be in town, but I'm hoping they make an announcement sooner vs. later so I have more time to peddle my tickets (Below the bottom falls out of the secondary ticket market?)if I can't make the game. I hope it's not the week before the series. I suppose the White Sox might want a say in it too. Do they get input? Someone please take away Luke's keyboard. If you haven't BEEN to AT&T Park how can you possibly say it is inferior to Target Field "in so many ways"?? Just do us all a favor and go back to commenting on Star Tribune articles. Cuddyer took that photo from the exact same spot where I took a hole bunch! (If he's a ballpark fan, I hope he knows about BallparkMagic!) I forgot to mention this in the article, but when I was at that spot (which I stayed in for about ten minutes since there were lots of open seats), it smelled like one big party going on. The guys in the back row were having a blast, but they didn't care at all about the game... (cough, cough) Moving on. When I was at TF on the 16th, I hung around after the game and took some close-ups of the grass. It's hard to capture scale on a picture of grass, so I included a security guy's shoe: You can at least see that, even in the outfield, it is cut very short, almost like Metrodome turf length. And what you can't see here it that it's in pretty rough shape anywhere someone regularly stands. But don't blame DiVito. The team tells him what length to cut it, then it's his job to keep it alive -- even if that may be incredibly difficult. Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:56 PM by Rick 33 Oh, and I tried to ask a grounds crew guy about the length (about 20 minutes after the end of the game), but he ignored me like I wasn't even there. That may be what they are told to do, but it seemed uncharacteristically rude of a TF staff member. Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:59 PM by Rick 34 oh what the hell F_T_K, we can move the Dodgers to Saint Paul. Max, I can justify "so many ways" by the following: a) ATT's concourses look claustrophobically small. And, supposedly ATT was built in the "new era" of ballparks that usually feature wider concourses. TF 1 ATT 0 - The Travel Channel had a show about the "Best Ballpark Food", and ATT is notorious for having this artsy-fartsy, organic crap at the yard. Sure they have hot dogs, but they also sell fruit cups and mandarin orange salads and so forth. What the hell is that all about? TF offers hot dogs, brats, Chinese food, Mexican food and a whole bunch of stuff that makes it seem like you're at the ballpark and not some restaurant in Beverly Hills. TF 2 ATT 0. - Look at the proportionate size of ATT. Dammit Max, they play football games at ATT. If the damn place is big enough to fit a full-size football field, major fail in an era of baseball-only ballparks. TF, while having relatively similar dimensions to The Other Place, couldn't possibly fit a gridiron in there. TF 3 ATT 0. - OK, so ATT sits on the waterfront. So it has a nice view of the bridge. So people can float their boats right up to the right field wall of the place and catch a homerun or two. TF 3 ATT 1. - The seating capacities are relatively the same between TF and ATT, but, I think as Rick pointed out, it seems like you'd have to take an in-house flight to get to your seat (for clarification, see photo 13 in The View Level set, as well as photo 28 of the Conclusion set). And the view comes with it. Of course it would in a faux ballpark that really is a modern cookie-cutter stadium. TF feels cozy and right on top of the action, the way God intended it to be. TF 4 ATT 1. If this were a seven-game series, I believe TF took it single-handedly, wouldn't you? Yeah --- nothing says "ballpark" like stir fry and walleye. Well, ben, we're Minnesotans, we can't do anything around here without walleye (same could be said about cheese curds). It's a good thing they don't have a lutefisk stand at TF. Otherwise, that might have tipped another point in ATT's favor. Luke, you've determined that AT&T doesn't feel cozy based on some pictures you saw? May I bring my personal experience to bear here and assure you that AT&T is just as cozy as Target Field. That is, if cozy is important to you. I'll give you the seating thing Winona. In regards to football at Wrigley, did you see that disaster of a football game at Wrigley last year with Northwestern? The damn field was so tight that they couldn't even use one end zone, and both teams had to run towards the same end zone. Further proof that football does not belong in a ballpark. Come on, Winona, artery clogging food is just part of sports period. luke, Hmm, I'll have a more detailed response a bit later, but I never said that AT&T was better or worse than Target Field. I did comparisons in many features, but even then I tried to stay away from saying that one is "better" or "worse" than the other. They're different, and some people will prefer one over the other. Stylistically, each has advantages and disadvantages. And I'm pretty sure that I repeatedly said that the two parks are nearly identical in certain fundamentals. And I don't give a crap what food ballparks serve. That's a terrible metric for rating sports facilities as far as I'm concerned. And... OK, I'll stop and save something for a later response. (Kids need to go to bed or I'd continue doing it now.) Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:01 PM by Rick 40 Comparing ballparks is an extremely subjective exercise. It depends on so many individual preferences of each fan. I absolutely love history and tradition so Wrigley and Fenway are both very high on my list even though there are obvious architectural deficiencies in each. An otherwise great new ballpark which has view-obstructing beams would be unacceptable. In Wrigley and Fenway I will gladly accept them. One thing we can all agree on is it is not a good idea to give up five runs in the first four innings when your AAA-laden batting order is only scoring a run and a half a game. Wow nice start to the homestand!! 8-0 top of the 6th! I guess it's not happening! 17 hits now 9-0!!! 3 twins errors.......story of the lost season Our guys are stinking up the joint tonight. Being down by ten runs is never a good thing... I know F_T_K, I started watching reruns of Frasier about an hour ago. Hey, they still have one more hit than errors (as of the start of the 8th). There have been games where they haven't been able to say that. I blame Luke. Going back the last 5 posts or so the Twins are successful when Luke has less than 8 or 9 percent of the total comments. So far he is well over 20 percent. I was going to say it was the return of Mauer but after seeing the numbers, it is definitely the Curse of Luke handcuffing the Twins. Down by 2 Td'S Late in the 4th quarter!!!! MERCY!!! Let's see....Mauer caught tonight so he's probably DHing tomorrow although Gardy might give him the day off. K Jared - I blame the flash on your camera. 15-0. Good grief, the Viqueens would kill to score 15 points. I hate to be the bearer of bad news here...but Mauer is not tradeable and will not be for the next 7 1/2 years. Thus, we're screwed. The kids going on a winning streak was an abberation...weak schedule, some good bounces, Padres, White Sox, etc. This team is AAA in disguise. Unlike most of you, I have to also drop $75 in gas each time I come watch these pretenders suit up. I am going to Target Field 7/1-7/3 so I can see what a complete team, one that possesses power, speed, pitching, etc, looks like. And, with revenue less than ours (not for long), they actually have proper fiscal management to sign Braun and offer Fielder long-term big bucks. Fielder will likely bail, but the offer was there. Posted on June 27, 2011 at 10:42 PM by twinswschamps2027 (aka twinswschamps2011) 51 That would be plausible, IF I used flash at TF, which I have yet to do. You can check the EXIF info, it tells you right there Flash: OFF, did not fire. My photos actually present real information, your posts on the other hand... While F_T_K is having dreams about the Pohlads buying the Dodgers, I am having Deja Vu with Luke and his absurdity and Rick trying to correct Luke's perception of what Rick actually wrote, which is quite clear to the other posters. While F_T_K is having dreams about the Pohlads buying the Dodgers, I am having Deja Vu with Luke and his absurdity and Rick trying to correct Luke's perception of what Rick actually wrote, which is quite clear to the other posters. tk: Me too. luke: Some specific responses (based on my brief, but first hand experience of AT&T Park in May): ATT's concourses look claustrophobically small They're not. They are just smaller than is the current standard, and contain the occasional choke point. I think they might do that differently if they had it to do again, but it was a conscious decision. It's a different approach, done probably because they weren't reacting to a truly claustrophobic Metrodome while designing it. ATT is notorious for having this artsy-fartsy, organic crap One man's quiche is another man's soggy eggs. What may not work for you, may be perfect for someone else. I'm much more concerned with how easy it is to get food than I am with what kind of food it is or how much it costs. I leave those for others to research. (For the record, the only thing I ate at either ballpark was a couple of press box hot dogs and a helmet sundae in Oakland.) If the damn place is big enough to fit a full-size football field, major fail... DSP is on record as saying that TF is big enough to fit a football field, though they haven't yet figured out which of the available configurations they would use. ATT sits on the waterfront. Two different cities, two different contexts. It's not a fair comparison. The question is more, how did each place do with the context it was given? In short, each did exceptionally well. it seems like you'd have to take an in-house flight to get to your seat The upper deck of AT&T is almost identical to TF in height and relationship to the field. TF feels cozy and right on top of the action God, I hate the word "cozy" when it comes to ballparks. Log cabins are cozy. Beds are cozy. F*cking slippers are cozy. Ballparks are very large buildings. They are not cozy. TF feels more enclosed than AT&T. The outfield configuration guarantees that. In the outfield, it also feels more like the stands loom over the game more. That's all. And I'm starting to hate the word "intimate" as well. Neither park feels closer to the action than the other overall. They are nearly identical in that regard. Like all ballparks, you feel closer to the game the closer you actually sit to the game (which was at least partly the point of Nine for Nine). So, in case you didn't notice, I completely refuse to say that one is better than the other overall. I think TF's facade will age better, and that its private spaces are way more luxurious -- but it's 10 years newer. I think AT&T has the better view beyond the outfield wall, and does anchor its neighborhood a little bit more successfully -- but largely because there's not much neighborhood yet to anchor around TF. I would not argue with anyone who has seen both of these parks and believes that one (doesn't matter which) is better than the other. Let's just say that these are two of the most beautiful parks in the game and leave it at that. Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:37 AM by Rick 55 Wow, How fast the fangs re-appear. Sad, really. Now I have not seen the last few games, (I work afternoons), but I find it an interesting coincidence, that Mauer come backs to catching and the Pitching staff blows up and at the same time a pitcher is complaining about Mauer's pitch calling. Has he forgotten how to call a game? Not that he was ever very good at it. Luke was on a tear last night, Joanie must have left him again! As far as Mauer is concerned, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Mauer seems to be sitting alone in many of the shots on TV while the rest of the team is on the rail watching the game. The starting pitchers are seeming close on the other side of the dugout. Mauer's mistake was not going to Class AAA Rochester for a week and seeing pitching better than he did in Ft. Meyers class A. He stayed in Florida to be with his brother, in good weather and not have to make bus trips. I look for him to have a better second half, but he will never be what he was in 2009. The Twins jinxed themselves last night by incorrectly displaying the right field Central Division standings flags as if the Twins were in fourth place, when they were in fact in last place -- percentage points behind KC. The baseball gods were not amused -- as you witnessed. Hope the Twins correct this tonight. And, oh by the way, BBtT. lol JoJo. Just For the Record, I left her...she didn't leave me. ouch, Luke, the heartbraker. It was probably best for both parties. Curious, weren't the topiaries in the plaza supposed to have plants growing on them? I mean I see there is something there but I thought someone said that whatever plant type it was grew pretty fast. Seems as though that isn't the case. "heartbreaker" Jared. I think the plants are hops - maybe someone is making home brew. On Mauer --- has he become the proverbial too big for his britches? If he turns into an egotistical jerk/headcase he is, due to some iron-cladness presumably in his contract, going to be one HUGE albatross around our collective necks. Something smells. On Thome --- how many of you would wager a beer that he does not reach 600 HR this year and maybe not in his career? I fear he has become too pull (as in muscle) prone. So far, it's difficult to watch this wonderful ballplayer doing a Cheshire Cat routine. On Morneau --- with Oliva it was just his knees. On Cuddyer --- it IS nice to still have one real Twin on the team, let's keep him (and avoid another BS trade disaster). But the question becomes, how much do you have to pay Cuddyer and for how long? I admit he's a pretty solid ballplayer, and it's nice to have a guy you can put just about anywhere on the field (-cough- nick punto -cough-), but I think he'll get a bigger offer from some other team. Back to a ballpark discussion, I experienced some of the worst visiting fans I've ever seen at the Dodger game last night. Obnoxious, drinking way too much, and cussing around kids. It finally got to a point where they were asked to leave and I was impressed that once security was asked how quick they dealt with it. I don't like to profile, but I have a feeling there might be a Dodger fan profile to watch out for during this series. Dodger stadium was essentially taken over by the gangs from what I've heard. By the way I'll substantiate my comments by saying I saw two other sets of fans escorted out in similar fashion, and I've never seen this in about 75 games at Target Field so far. There was definitely a different tone last night. FTK --- If Cuddyer gets a better deal and goes for it --- that's life. I'd like to see him stay, I detect a genuineness there that I find very endearing/refreshing. And, Punto was one of my favorites. I read speculation somewhere that Cuddyer is a likely candidate to play out the season with a contender, then potentially return through free agency. The first half of that looks more and more likely. But, given the numbers he's likely to command, the second half is probably just a wish. Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:33 PM by Rick 70 Anybody got a ticket not being used for tomorrow's game? Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:35 PM by Rick 71 jctwins - it's probably one of two things: a) disgruntled folks from Brooklyn, still pissed off that the Dodgers left or b) they're just sports fans from California. CA sports fans seem to be incredibly rude and uncouth, no matter what city or sport. Further example: Oakland Raiders fans. Oh, and I found a cool pic today (click). Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:45 PM by luke 73 Luke you are still bitching about that sign? Who cares, its not anymore obscene than the centurylink one of the wall. In fact it should be less obscene since it is not in the field of play. I was at Dodger Stadium the night after the Bryan Stow incident. I can say Dodger fans are much more into the game than Twins fans. I'm about results when watching my team play. So it was kind of nice to see fans that don't cheer when your star player grounds into a double play. I didn't notice, but I've been told that more gang activity is going on at Dodger Stadium now. More gangs are buying season tickets, which would contribute to the raucious crowds. Duff, an ad for Grand Casino would have been better...lol. An ad for some company owned by some ne'r-do-well 'philanthropist' just doesn't cut it for me. In "Two Men On"'s latest post, they talked about the injuries to Young and Morneau and a possible trade for the future. Please click my name for the article! Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:01 PM by michael 77 Did anyone go to Milwaukee for the "games", if so what are your thoughts on Miller Park, ignoring the roof I think it is not to bad. Also Delaware North does the food there as well as TF I thought they do an outstanding job, admittedly we were in the Club level and I have yet to be in the legands club at TF. As a side note taking Amtrak was a blast. Dodger fans are angry right now. On Friday I was at Dodger Stadium for a game against the crosstown Angels, which featured free fireworks after the game. Not only was the stadium half full at best, the attitude of the fans was consistently negative even when the team was ahead. By the time they collapsed late and lost, the mood was down right bitter. The team is in shambles and it starts with the disaster that is there ownership situation. It's time baseball steps in, takes the team from deadbeat McCourt and find a owner who will do everything necessary to restore one of baseballs crown jewels. trebor, I've been to Miller park a couple of times in the last 3 years. Still has an airport hanger feel to me! I gotta have it wide open. Have never been to impressed with it. Huge parking lot for tailgating about the only great part of it! Twinkfan, Love that new Twins commercial with Gardy's long hair! lol trebor..."sightlines"? Incidentally, compared to Miller Park, ATT would be in the "gem" category, despite ATT's flaws. Miller Park falls somewhere in-between SkyDome and train wreck category. Please explain, Luke, how the roof at Miller Park impacts the seating bowl sightlines. (This oughta be good...) jesus Winona, you just have no sense of humor at all, do you? Think about it, here I am - satirically noting that a steel roof is so damn big that it completely blocks one's line of sight to the baseball field below. That the roof is so damn big, if it sat on a rainbow, Skittles would pop out (I can hear kev in az roaring on that one). Here I am - satirically noting that the 46,000 people that fit into the seats at The Can could also comfortably fit in relatively the same seat locations in the roof if it were turned upside down. Good God, it's true what they say, Minnesotans just don't have a sense of humor. luke, please back away from the keyboard, I'm getting cramped down here. Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:58 PM by luke's strap on (aka kevin in az) 86 Butera and Swarzak shooting laser beams at some super drunk chicks for more than 3 innings. Linked. She got more second looks than the Zapruder film. I couldn't get a shot of her because the light was awful up there. Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:36 PM by Jared 87 If there were awards given on this board, I think we would have the ESPY'S of posting in the last few days. Kev, #86 that is fricking hilarious! Monumental failures are always explained away later with, "It's satire! Don't you get that?!" If you're getting cramped, open the retractable roof, Kev. Not funny. Just not humorous at all. Everyone knows a comment board is by far the worst place to try to convey humor. But then again you have to have a sense of humor to try to be funny. That was just brutal. I was at Miller Park both Saturday and Sunday. I have been going to the Twins-Brewers series each year since 2001. As a baseball purist and traditionalist, I am not a huge fan of the retractable roof but aside from the retractable roof aspect of it, it's a great stadium and great atmosphere...definitely beats Target Field in my mind in regards to the experience and atmosphere. I like the loge level, which is equivalant to Target Field's club level. I was out in the LF loge bleachers in the sun so I did not let the roof bother me. I still got the sun and the breeze. Miller Park's tailgating experience is #1 hands down. You also can't beat the sausage races, beer barrel polka, and Bernie Brewer. Not to mention, they actually play some organ music throughout the game between innings unlike Target Field, where its all DJ type of stuff. You definitely know you are in Milwaukee and its a great atmosphere! There is a reason Miller Park is ranked in the top 10 for ESPN stadium experiences. Target Field just doesn't seem to offer anything unique or different. The Minnie and Paul sign was a knock-off from the Liberty Bell in Philly. The Bud Deck is cool but nothing special. Just another "exclusive" area...The trees were nice, but we all know what happened with that. Not to mention, Miller Park offers much larger concourses and its much easier to navigate throughout the ballpark. In all due respect, they did not have many, if any, site/size constraints when constructing Miller Park compared to Target Field, PNC Park, and AT&T Park to name a few. It's also nice that they include a lot of the Braves/Brewers history throughout the ballpark for ALL FANS to enjoy, not just the exclusive club level as is the case at Target Field. And the new HD Videoboard is massive. It's gotta be one of the largest in baseball, if not, the largest. KC still might have the largest, but Miller Park's is pretty impressive. Mike - there was a show on Travel Channel (I think I mentioned it earlier) that highlighted the tailgating experience in Milwaukee. Not sure how the ballpark makes money on in-park concessions...but one thing's for sure, they sell lots of beer. Those sausage races are pretty fun. While speaking about that, I miss the old video board tire races. The new version at TF just isn't the same. As for the video board, according to the article I found (clicky), Miller Park's new one is actually BIGGER than TF's. The article states that it is the third largest in MLB, next to Phoenix and KC. Posted on June 29, 2011 at 09:55 AM by luke 94 Can somebody please tell me how to get on the Bud Roof Deck, Thanks? Sorry Mike, I will take old county stadium any day of the week. I made yearly trips to the old yard starting in 1982. Miller Park not the same as County Stadium fer sure. Looks like a giant conehead! LOL! I will say the tailgaiting is topnotch! Michael you need a ticket to get up to that. Access is by the Captain Morgans Deck. No access to the general public unless you have a ticket for the Bud deck! I agree with Luke, the TF scoreboard races are cheesy, awful and Bullseye typically wins. How convenient. They might as well just get Nintendo to sponsor that bit and let people play a race on Mario Kart for prizes. Michael- to get to the Bud Roof deck you have to use the elevator access by the Captain Morgan Party Deck on the second (club) level. There is the bar on your left, captain morgan bar on your right, keep going towards the foul pole and there is door on the north wall (5th street side) for an elevator lobby. Michael - the Roof Deck is OK. I know Rick has stated many times on here that if you're looking for a hangout spot, the Roof Deck is the place to be. But, serious watchers of the game will find it very difficult to keep track up there. It's for the "casual" game-watcher. But, it is a different perspective from up there. I've been up there a couple times myself. AND, courtesy of the Star Tribune this AM (clicky), a Vikings stadium deal could be "close." What scares me a little is the fact that they "dropped nearly $200 million" from the cost of the place, which suggests to me that this could be a roofless endeavor. If you drop $200 million from the cost, that seems to suggest that any roof, fixed or retractable, would be out of the question. Posted on June 29, 2011 at 11:20 AM by luke 99 "It's also nice that they include a lot of the Braves/Brewers history throughout the ballpark for ALL FANS to enjoy, not just the exclusive club level as is the case at Target Field." Excellent point!!! Switching gears --- does anyone else wonder why Nishioka usually attends any mound meetings taking place? To apologize for the error/misplay he just made? Posted on June 29, 2011 at 11:41 AM by Rick 102 What luke? You mean Charley Walters didn't break the story?? Miller Park: It felt to me like a mall with a gymnasium in the middle. I tried to forget about the roof, I really tried, but it's darn near impossible. Even when it's open, it's still ever-present. It never feels like you are sitting outside. That ballpark does not disappear. And if you're not tailgating, the parking is atrocious -- exclusive, expensive and distant. We were directed to the east lot and had to walk about half a mile to get to the ballpark. I don't mind the walk as much as the lack of alternatives. I've parked a few times at the downtown library, which is almost exactly the same distance from TF as our parking spot was from Miller Park. But nobody has a monopoly on transportation alternatives at TF, which is how it should be. (By the way, a monopoly is exactly what Zygi has in mind for Arden Hills. And don't believe whatever you may be hearing in the media about deals being done. Many people who will need to weigh in have not.) I had a good brat at Miller Park, and a seat close to the field was pretty cheap. And I did like some of the historical stuff. But overall the design felt pretty clunky to me. Posted on June 29, 2011 at 12:27 PM by Rick 104 lol kevin. I know...the Star Tribune breaking a story. Absolutely amazing. What Rick said about not being able to forget about the roof, that it's ever present, was mainly the undertone of my satirical response a few comments earlier in regards to the roof. Rick, I assume you've been to The Can in Milwaukee, do they have a specific lot just for tailgating over there? I thought that Travel Channel show said they did, I can't remember. I'm not sure TF really feels like sitting outside. The seating bowl is pretty deep, the outfield stands are pretty high, the canopy and it's shadow looms large over everything. Dugout box seats section 17 and over look 137 were about the only spots I've sat in TF where I really felt like I was sitting outside. Even when I sat in section 2 it didn't really feel outside. And of course all the ADA spots I've sat in tucked under overhangs/canopies certainly didn't feel outside. Outside: Outside: Not outside: Posted on June 29, 2011 at 1:52 PM by Rick 107 Well said Rick. A picture paints 1,000 words...or in this case, 3 pictures paint 3,000 words. I've sat in Section 2, and to me, it's just as much outside as Section 17. It's in the same price category. Even when I've sat under canopies (I've been in 124 under the LC overhang, as well as up in the 300's several times), and it seems like outside. Sunshine, a nice breeze, sometimes a little mist, sirens, train horns...all the stuff we didn't have at the Dome definitely makes it feel outside. A picture can paint 1 million words if you want, but unless you are actually experiencing it, a picture does not do any justice to the actual physical experience. If Miller Park feels so "inside" than why was I sitting and baking in the sun on Sunday in the LF bleachers? Why could I feel a breeze? Why could I smell and breath fresh air and hear the sounds of sirens/bikes/traffic? Why could I see the sun and clouds in the sky as well as airplanes? If that is not outdoors, than what is it??? While you may be inclined to feel like you are sitting indoors, I felt just as much outdoors at Miller Park as I would in my seats in section 124 at Target Field to be honest with you. Yes, Target Field is more "open" but I still feel the same breeze, smell the same fresh air and absorb the same sun. Here's a question, watching today's game on the telly, do I now see "For Tickets Call..." decals on the stairs in the Champions Club? I've never seen those before until today. That's sort of strange. You can't really see those on the telly (the only reason I caught it was because of an instant replay), so it's like a sales pitch to those folks who have already paid top dollar to sit back there, and they're STH's. It's a little like ESPN the Magazine (or any other magazine) putting subscription cards - in your subscription copy of the magazine. Nice win today and yesterday after the brutal beating on monday night. Moonshot Scott striking out 9 and giving up only 6 hits! What is that 5 1-0 wins this year?. Still can't figure out how a team lights you up for 25 hits and 15 runs one game and then we shut them out 2 days latter 1-0. I guess that just baseball. Be nice to take 2 out of 3 vs the Brew Crew over the weekend! I've noticed the advertising on the stair risers since the start of the year. I don't think it is there for the Champions Club clientele, there would be a lot of people tumbling head over heels as they tried to read them as they walked down to their seats. The ticket ads have been there all year. they're not there for the benfit of Champions' Club clientele, but rather for the home viewer. Of coursse, one needs HD to really see what they say. Crazy game, baseball. Leadoff hitter smacks a triple, #2 batter bloops one to first base, and that run ends up winning the game. Hoping for 2 out of 3 against the Brewers, our guys need to start getting on the winning track again. I am sure you all have seen the Link attached to my name with the Cubs fan who launched the ball back on to the field on the Tejada HR. This is disappointing to see this be sensationalized, as I feel terrible for the real fan who gets taunted for not throwing back a HR ball at TF. Posted on June 29, 2011 at 6:47 PM by tk 115 Perhaps what we need here is a review of the meaning of outside. If you had all your doors and windows open while sitting in your living room, would you be outside? If the roof was removed from your single story house, would you be outside sitting in your living room? If I'm inside Target Field, where am I? If I'm admiring Target Field from outside, where am I? What does outside mean to you? So many questions, so many answers .... Sunday is listed as "Armed Services Appreciation Day". I think that is the game were we had the skydivers last year, has anyone heard if that is going to happen again this year? I thought that was better than the flyover on opening day. The weather doesn't look great for Sunday, but then again I haven't heard anything and the Twin's have nothing on their website. trebor, I don't know, I remember when I checked those seats out at the Open House, I thought those stairs were incredibly narrow. I wonder how many people have stumbled walking up or down those stairs, even without the ticket ads. We have an HD tv at home, and I still hadn't noticed them til today...lol. Guess our HD isn't that great after all. Well, that's Comcast for ya. You really don't need the HD to notice the signs; only to read them. I'm sure you were just too focused on the action to be bothered looking at the background. Just back from a great 2 weeks that included the day game 2-1 loss at AT&T and this Tuesday night's 6-4 win over LAD at TF. Some specific pictures and comments I can share, but too tired tonight. I will just toss this one out: leading the charge in a "TF is So Way Better than AT&T" campaign couldn't be more wrong. The Phone Booth is far and away #1 out of the 15 or so parks I've seen. More later, as if anyone cares. That would be true. I've known the phone # to dial up for Twins tickets for years. I should have said I noticed them during that 15-0 shellacking...the decals would have been an improvement over the action on the field on that particular night. Vikings stadium deal? No announcement I think the Vikings -- especially Bagley -- are delusional. They Right now it appears as if they are trying to pretend they are closer than they really are, so that when it blows up (which it most certainly will) they can throw up their hands and say, "It's not our fault that this didn't happen." That would be a great way to add a year to their Metrodome purgatory. Unless, that is, they've already decided to go to L.A. and just need some cover. This would certainly provide that. It begs the question of whether these Vikings guys can be trusted at all. I'm not sure it would be in anyone's interest to make any sort of deal with them right now, unless it is to say, "We're going to tell you where your damn stadium is going to go, what kind of roof it's going to have, who is going to own it, and how much you're going to pay. Now, you say 'thank you.'" Posted on June 29, 2011 at 11:45 PM by Rick 122 Just my opinion, but I don't think the Viqueens are looking to add a year to their Metrodome purgatory. They have stated in no uncertain terms in the past that there is no way in hell they want any sort of a lease extension in the place. MSFC offered them a 2-year extension a couple years ago, and the Vikes just scoffed it off. I think Rick has it right, the Vikes have already paved a road to LA. We could very well have seen the last game in Minnesota on Dec 20, 2010. Here's a question: does this Vikings drama reak of the Baltimore Colts' situation of 1983 - whereby they packed up and shipped out in the middle of the night (in a blizzard)? The little I know about the Bob Irsay/Baltimore situation, it sure sounds like it. If Ziggy thinks he can make one more dollar in Los Angeles than he would in Minnesota, the Vikings are as good as gone. I would put it at pennies - he's that greedy. And --- good riddance! someone on this board actually posted being at target field one doesn't feel as if they are outside? seriously, you are stretching it in your argument about the glories of miller park. the civic/business leadership of that region see's that stadium location as a missed opportunity. take all that baseball vibe and summertime good feeling and put it in dt milwaukee and you have what TF gives minneapolis. miller park looks and feels like an airplane hangar. it's a nice stadium but it's not in the same league as target field. Well the fans sure seem to enjoy Miller Park, its ranked #8 for overall stadium experience in the latest ESPN rankings. Target Field meanwhile, dropped down to #3 from #1 last year. Lambeau Field is #1 so the 'Sconnies have two in the top 8. The only reason Target Field is in the top 10 is that its a new ballpark and its the cool "place to be". I acknowledged the fact that I do not care for the roof at Miller Park. I just think its a better overall experience than Target Field. What does Target Field offer that is unique and different? There are too many "exclusive" areas at Target Field in my mind. The concourses are still too congested. Bernie Brewer, Sausage Races, Beer Barrel Polka and tailgating are all unique to Milwaukee. Not to mention all of the history throughout the ballpark that ALL FANS can enjoy. What does Target Field offer? Best Buy sing-along with TC? JB Hudson Kiss Cam? Top 40/Pop music played so frequently. I will give them the Minnie and Paul celebration sign, but that is a knock-off of the Liberty Bell in Philly. You don't need expensive downtown bars/restaurants when you can bring a grill and pack the cooler in your trunk and set up some chairs with thousands of other fans and enjoy your food and beverages. There are also picnic shelters so your family can enjoy a nice picnic before a game. Not to mention all of the games people can play in the parking lot. Nice try Mike, but you can have the cone head Miller park! You from Sconny by chance? LOL! P.S. I loved County stadium man. Reminded me of the old met. Spent always a long weekend watching games over there after they tore the old met down. The fact that a great deal of historical and memorabilia items/displays are off limits to many of the very people who are paying for the palace is a crime. Sorry Rick and all the other douches who hate the Vikings and want them to move. The stadium is getting done, it's a done deal! You were right when the Twins stadium was in the proposing stages. Too bad your a bunch of anti-stadium douches now who hate the Vikings. The only one who's "delusional" is Rick and his Viking hating parrots like Luke. Wow. Did you even read my comment? The deal is not done, that much we know for sure (see the linked Strib article). And the deal will not get done unless the Vikings change their strategy. That's my point. Further, I think the Vikings may have already decided that they are moving and are just looking for political cover. And who said anything about hating the Vikings? Or being anti-stadium? Or wanting the team to move? Posted on June 30, 2011 at 11:40 AM by Rick 132 This blog use to be a useful and insightful blog. Too bad Rick seems to miscalculate that the majority of Twins fans are also Viking fans and when you mess with the norseman you get the horns! Maybe Greet Machine can get off his lazy ass and start blogging about the Viking stadium since Rick is being such an arrogant jerk on the subject Bye bye Ballparkmagic, use to be a an insightful blog, now a Viking hating mecca Oh, I get it. Vikings shills. Well, I'm on your side. But, whatever... Posted on June 30, 2011 at 12:04 PM by Rick 135 Rick's a Packer fan, all there is to it! What in the hell? I feel like I was gone for a two-week vacation and have come home to find my house trashed! I think BPM must have gotten a mention on KFAN this morning. Posted on June 30, 2011 at 12:26 PM by Rick 138 Not necessarily called out on the radio, but you did make Rubechat Rick. Posted on June 30, 2011 at 12:43 PM by Tyler 139 That's awesome! He posted my entire comment and either didn't read it or didn't understand it. And his request for "bombardment" has resulted in exactly four comments so far. So, let me just clear a few things up: I'm neither anti-stadium, nor anti-Vikings, nor even anti-Arden Hills -- though I do think the Farmer's Market is a better site and is where it will ultimately get built if the Vikings brass can get their heads out of their asses and learn a little bit from what the Twins had to do to get their ballpark built. I'm not even anti-tailgating, but I think people don't realize that what has been proposed for Arden Hills will give Zygi the right to charge you whatever the hell he wants to tailgate in his parking lot. I'm not sure that's in the best interest of Vikings fans. And I've been preaching a "just build it" mantra about the Vikings stadium for a long time because I know it's cheaper to build now than it will be to build later (and try to attract a franchise). Sheesh. Posted on June 30, 2011 at 12:58 PM by Rick 140 Rubechat? Never heard of it. They do know the definition of "rube", right? That was the first omitted commandment right? Thou shalt not insult the rubes and their all knowing leader PA. Yikes! There is nothing worse than people immediately going ad hominem without understanding that the person they are attacking ultimately has the same goal--in this case, a new Vikings stadium. Apparently reading comprehension is lost on those particular Vikings fans. I'm a Vikings stadium supporter (though I would prefer it at the Dome site or Farmer's Market), but I also know that Lester Bagley and the Vikings have bumbled this process for several years. Apparently, they have not learned anything from the Twins and Gophers, or from prior failed Vikings' attempts. You simply cannot take the year off between sessions and then try to piece together a stadium deal at the last minute. Yet, that's what the Vikings have done every year... and every year it gets crazy media coverage and then fails. What does Bagley do the rest of the year? Is he trying to make a career out of being a Vikings stadium spokesperson? How can someone constantly fail and still manage to keep their position? For a PR professional, he really has terrible people skills and a knack for saying the wrong thing at precisely the wrong time. Just to be clear, I'm not being a hypocrite by calling out Bagley while also criticizing those Vikings fans who came on here and attacked Rick... there is a difference between attacking a person and questioning their job performance. Posted on June 30, 2011 at 1:25 PM by The Rational Actor 143 I'm for the Farmer's Market that way my Twin Domes plan can go into real fruition. We build the Vikings stadium at the Farmers Markets with a huge structure to retract a roof that can also hoover Target Field to prevent rain delays, just like what was proposed at the Kansas City complex. No more rainouts for Twins games, everyone wins! I'm so glad my Twin Domes plan is still not dead! BTW I'm the REAL Rhino T, not that phony who posted under my name a couple posts ago. Responding to a question from a few days ago, I attended the Friday and Saturday Twins-Brewers games at Miller Park last weekend. I had previously been to County Stadium, but not the new park. It's quite a marvel of engineering and construction. Standing outside of it, the vastness and height of it are striking, something highlighted by the lack of other structures nearby and the height of the roof structure. Comparing a retractable dome to an open air stadium ought to be thought of in terms of a car having a sun roof or being a convertible. Both expose you to the elements, but only one truly makes you feel like you're outdoors. We tailgated before both games, but still ate some stadium food. Miller Park's food didn't seem very impressive, certainly not in comparison to expectations. While on one hand the tailgating scene certainly draws in money for the Brewers via parking fees and game ticket revenue. However, it seems as if that scene robs the club of millions of dollars in concession revenues every year. Food for thought, so to speak. I like the sun roof metaphor for Miller Park. You can open the sun roof and roll down the windows, but you're still not driving a convertible. Conversely, if it starts to rain, you're going to get wet in the TF convertible... Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:42 PM by Rick 146 Juan Uribe is sad but it will make you happy. Linked. Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:24 PM by Jared 147 Welcome Vikings fans! Who get's the privilege of introducing them to Luke? Good times! WTHF is that supposed to mean ftk? Jorge, Thanks for using the term outdoor rather than outside. Target field is definitely an outdoor stadium. I have not yet been to Miller Park, only county stadium, so really can't commit on it's feel. But I have been to Safeco and the Skydome. Both those have an outdoor feel when the roof is open. There may be an aesthetically unpleasant monstrosity in your view but in no way does that nullify the fact your outdoors. If that is all it took, then being next to anything big would equate to not being outdoors. If you were on Nicollet Mall next to the IDS tower or at the bottom of the Grand Canyon your still outdoors. And just a quick note on your sun roof versus convertible comparison. I would agree that something like Cowboy Stadium is a "sun roof" type enclosure. Where as Safeco and Skydome are more like a convertible with a huge spoiler. Rick, Finally I pulled this up to take time to enjoy it. Holy cow -- what a website! This is a fulltime job, I would say. It is beautifully done and in such an interesting style. Looks like you have quite a gaggle of followers. Hooray for such enthusiasm for the sport! Hugs to you and the family, Marilyn I've been to both Safeco and Miller Park and consider Safeco to be far superior and I consider TF to be superior to both. Miller Park is a green house with a large lobster claw overhead. Safeco seems like a real outdoor ballpark when the roof is pulled back over the rr tracks, but it is still a retractable roof stadium. And would all the Vikings fans (of whom I am one) please ratchet down the rhetoric. Everybody on your best behavior. That's my mother-in-law up there in 152. Posted on June 30, 2011 at 9:09 PM by Rick 154 If the contributions here from KFAN listeners with marching orders is typical of the average KFAN listener, I'm grateful that it can't be picked up in this corner of the state. Those guys are morons. We used to have a regular poster here with what seemed like a KFAN background (based on his heavy usage of the word 'rube'), and he seemed like he was cut from the same cloth as these guys are. If we're lucky, they'll hate the site enough to stay away for good. /wave @ Rick's mother in law. Welcome! A bunch of us rather like this little corner of the internet. :-) Has anyone here ever been to PNC Park in Pittsburgh? I've always thought it was like a mini-TF (pittsburgh folks probably consider TF a slightly larger PNC). To me, both the left field and right field seating at PNC is very similar to TF in the way they're situated(cantilevered seating and scoreboard in LF, RF seats jut into the main concourse seating like the RF bleachers do at TF). Luke, I have been there. At the time it was my favorite park to have visited. I liked its intimate feel and the view of the skyline. In terms of aesthetics, I like it more than TF, if only because I am partial to retro-style ballparks (this is one of the few issues I disagree with Rick on). PNC has a charm that TF does not, unless you find the aisles inside SuperTarget to be charming. Note, I am not saying TF doesn't have great qualities: I'm just saying it doesn't have much of a feeling of charm structurally. But hey, it's just an opinion. The lack of "charm" at TF did start to nag at me a little bit by the end of last season, and I'm feeling it again this year. When I read the comment about "airport concourses" last week, it immediately stuck a chord. And I've always hated the Target red on all the signage. For character, I think my favorite spot in the park is that concourse out behind the left field bleachers (and the bleachers themselves). All the exposed steel really does something that I didn't expect. And I'm really not completely anti-retro. I was just a little disappointed by some of the detailing in SF. It just felt a little dated, and a little cheap. I hear that's not the case in Pittsburgh. I haven't been to PNC yet. It was on my schedule for this summer, but budgetary and time constraints made that impossible. Everything I've read about it gives me the impression that they really did things right. And I can't say for sure, but I don't think it's as tall as TF overall. I think they did a compromise with only one level of premium space and a larger split upper deck, trying to emulate Forbes Field a little bit. (Great goal.) Posted on June 30, 2011 at 11:25 PM by Rick 159 I just learned something about the organ music at TF, from a recent article about Sue Nelson: "...no cheerleading tunes until a Twin is on second base." I bet she's had some quiet games up there this year... Posted on July 1, 2011 at 12:08 AM by Rick 160 I love the Vikings more than life at times, but just wake me when the stadium BS is over - just like the strike. I have been to PNC and would agree - best of the new parks. TF is awesome and I STILL can't believe it's where my team plays, but PNC is better. Miller Park is a sun roof. But, the tail gaiting is the best! The smell entering the parking lot is a sensory overload. Rick - you never have to defend yourself - you have earned the right to voice your opinion. (and I'm not just typing that because his mom in law might be reading!) Just my quick 2 cents. What would be an example of "charm" that you guys are looking for? Just curious. As far as PNC and TF and one being taller...I know Populous had mentioned, when they built TF, they built an 11.5 acre building on an 8.5 acre site. If memory serves correctly, PNC had a small footprint to deal with as well (as I believe so did AT&T). Rick, was AT&T sort of the last of the retro group? I know like, Progressive in Cleveland broke the brick-facade mode and went with the all-steel exterior (BTW, a Camden Yards style park in Cleveland would NOT have looked great), and Chase Field did too by taking on a more modern look. The only one I think might still fit in the retro, Camden Yards mold would be CBP in Philly. I still don't know what mold Miller Park would fit into... "I love the Vikings more than life --- " How sad can commentary get? Target Field is 144 feet tall and PNC Park is 88 feet tall. The second deck at PNC is not cantilevered very far over the lower seating bowl. If it was it be even more intimate for those upper deck fans. Right, Kev. Actually, TF does have one whit of charm that Phoenix definitely does NOT have: at least TF doesn't look like an off-season H-Bomb testing site. Here are the "retro" parks, in order: Baltimore (1992) These are "retro" in the sense that their facades and detailing emulate either early-20th century warehouses or predecessor ballparks. I left out those which I consider to be post-retro in some way: Phoenix (1999) Some day I'll publish my complete chart with all the various categorizations. By the way, I started typing the corporate names for these parks, but just couldn't continue. For one thing, many have changed since the park opened. For another, it reads like a grotesquely huge corporate wasteland. Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:37 AM by Rick 167 Yes I remeber new comiskey just missing out on the retro parks! The renovations to New Comiskey did retro-fi it a bit. I've always thought it was a highly-underrated ballpark. Posted on July 1, 2011 at 12:05 PM by Rick 169 ESPN has a bit of Mauer coverage relating to injuries and struggles and includes audio from Mike and Mike in the Morning and their interview with him. luke, you consistently seem to think I like the d-backs and chase field because I live in AZ. That's like assuming a Boston native, living in NY must like the Yankees and Yankee stadium. GET A CLUE DUDE! Seats on the lower deck at New Comiskey are great despite the viewing platform in center field cutting off some bleacher views in left center and right center. The concourse is very roomy. The food is also terrific. It's been a few years now, but I remember the grub being some of the best in the majors. The retro fit definitely improved the appearance and atmosphere of the ballpark. However, it can't make up for a few fundamental flaws. An opportunity to face the ballpark towards the Chicago skyline with a terrific view was passed up due to a desire by the White Sox to place the main entrance at home plate on 35th street. There are no bars or restaurants located in immediate proximity to the park. There's some tailgating, but otherwise it's straight into the park. Even the renovations can't make up for the fact that the upper deck is still dangerously steep and a very long way from the field. Rick, I can remember when it first opened up and the vendors were falling down the upper decks due to how steep they were. Loved the old comisky. Would sit behind home plate any your head would be right around ground level! LOL! Too bad the new comisky missed out on the real true retro look and feel. Ooops I see you beat me to the punch on the steep decks at the cell Jorge! Jorge - I could be mistaken, but didn't the New Comiskey partition off some of those upper level seats for that reason? Kev - But in the same manner, you consistently seem to think I'd be a bad influence at the yard :). And for the H-Bomb crack, I didn't at all mention that you liked Chase or the Backs, I was just making a comparison. Rick - I see what you mean. Per your list, I can name only five (Atlanta, Baltimore, Arlington, NYS and Washington)parks that have non-corporate names. You listed 21. Honestly, that statistic is a little sad. Atlanta is a bit of a toss-up IMO: while the park was named Turner Field after Braves owner Ted Turner - the Turner name is a corporation in and of itself (Turner Broadcasting). At least the Vikings "fans" went away quickly. They, however briefly, lowered the average IQ on this board by about 45 points. A footnote to that episode is that I tried to register for that forum to post a direct response, but never received an activation code. (And, yes, I checked all of my spam filters, and even requested that the code be sent again several times.) Either their software is screwed up, or somebody was doing some screening... Posted on July 1, 2011 at 3:08 PM by Rick 177 Just as the Rubechat clowns can issue marching orders to their faithful, dimwitted followers, so can you, Rick. Post your response here, and we can cut and paste to our heart's content. Luke, the top eight rows of the upper tier were removed in the renovation that added the canopy roof to New Comiskey. Thousands of seats were 86ed in the process although the addition of seats on the more desirable lower level via the elimination of foul territory and premium seats behind the backstop mitigated some of the loss. So the furthest seat from the field at the ballpark is now somewhat closer. However, the steepness of the upper deck was not changed by the renovations which were completed in phases from 2001 to the present. By the way, one of the improvements included largely enclosing the upper tier concourse to cut the wind and provide cover for fans during periods of rain. As someone who is well traveled and listens to a lot of sports radio stations...KFAN has got to be one of, if not THE worst sports radio station in North America! Their lineup is a joke. I have to agree with you Kev. I flipped my dial from KFAN long ago. My dial currently sits on the former KSTP radio which is now 1500ESPN. I like it FAR better than I ever liked KFAN. I know KFAN has a lot of local shows: i.e. Paul Allen, Power Trip with Mike Morris, Barreiro's show and others. 1500ESPN is largely syndicated, obviously with stuff from ESPN; BUT, say what you will about Reusse (hell of a guy, met him at a book signing once); say what you will about Soucheray, but I think those two guys alone offer a great deal more than anything KFAN pukes out during the day. KFAN is one of the premier sports radio outlets out there. The witty banter regarding pop culture on The Morning Trip IS top notch. The insight Paul Allen gives due to his NFL pro play-by-play calling can't be re-created. Dan Cole provides A refreshing look on the ludicrosity of uber fandom and Dan Barreiro is not only an expert at the periphery of sport but a social lantern in the dark JOKE of this world of today. ... what more do you want? Paul Allen's voice drives me nuts. Every time one of his commercials comes on, I change the channel or hit the 'mute' button. And the commercials are just stupid. A play by play guy in a couple's bedroom on their anniversary? Stupid, stupid, stupid... I cobbled together a Picasa slideshow with some comments on my AT&T Park experience. clicky. Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:22 PM by schweady 184 Very nice slideshow schweady. Makes me want to go back to that gem of a ballpark. Oh boy, what a great storm delay, 9:10pm start and midnight fireworks. Some great pics to follow. Do you think the fireworks kept this game from being Postponed? Or are we actually now aware of how rain delays are to operate in waiting them out? Watching on tv, they showed the weather radar several times, and explained that there was two bands of storms coming through, but that after that second band it would be nice weather. The Twins have a very high-tech 'weather center' right behind the vistor's dugout, so they can provide the most up to the second information to the teams and the umpires. My current gripe is that the yahoo! box score (linky) says that "Thome homered to deep left". That ball cleared the fence by two feet! Posted on July 2, 2011 at 08:13 AM by F_T_K 188 I got to experience my first real weather "fiasco" last night. The most frustrating part for me is the fact that we now postpone games on the forecast of bad weather, not actual bad weather. There is absolutely no reason why that game could not have started on time last night and had three innings in before the first rain drop at just after 8:00 or so. Yes, it then started coming in sheets, but that's when the tarp should go on. My second biggest frustration is that no PA announcement was made until just after 8:00 when they said to take cover because of high winds, and then about five minutes later that Hennepin County was in a Thunderstorm Watch. My third biggest frustration was that a Brewer fan one the pop fly contest during the delay by catching all three in tough winds (so hats off for that!). The Twins fan dropped a can of corn on his second try because he was trying to be cool and catch with only one hand. Two hands, people, two hands!!! ****won**** too many beers during the rain delay I guess! Great photo set, schweady! Posted on July 2, 2011 at 09:51 AM by Rick 191 antifire, I wondered about the delay when the weather was only potentially bad. Then I realized that if they played a few innings before the storm, they would have to burn the starting pitcher, who wouldn't be able to outlast a delay. With Frankie ultimately going a strong 7.0, I think they made the right decision. Posted on July 2, 2011 at 09:54 AM by Rick 192 I wonder if they have a laptop with weather.com in the weather center? What more information could they get than what we all get online? A wise investment I'm sure. I had no problem with the rain delay...the second storm burst was even more impressive than the first. We biked downtown, leaving home in the 90s. As we reached Nicollet Mall on 3rd St. the winds were just howling and it felt like the temperature dropped 15 degrees instantly. My disappointment was the fireworks show. Maybe I was spoiled by the huge shows at Cleveland Stadium in my youth, but this one seemed short and kind of ho-hum. Still, it's nice to be able to see a good ballgame AND fireworks any time. (Including first inning fireworks!) Rick, As it turned out, yes it was the right decision for the Twins. Too many times teams manipulate delays for their own benefit. Maybe it should be left to the umpires to decide rather than the home team, or maybe MLB should say just like the NFL does. The decision on whether or not to play a game should be consistent and fair to all involved. Fiesta, Good point about the fireworks. They left a lot to be desired. I suppose you get what you pay for. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have linked you to the "large" version, or what Flickr calls "lightbox". It removes all the junk and focuses on the images. Simply use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard to advance through them. Enjoy! Posted on July 2, 2011 at 1:00 PM by Jared 196 Also, I wanted to add a couple tid bits. The weather software used by the Twins in house meteorologist is proprietary to the company the team contracts with. It includes a lot more information and a lot easier access to that information than the general public can find online. Also it includes some of DTN/Telvent's proprietary forecast products that you can't find anywhere else. Ultimately, it is not the meteorologists call (as previously mentioned) and handing the final call entirely to the umps probably would dilute the rose colored decision making a bit but wouldn't be any less or more informed. Also, I remember hearing somewhere that the fireworks are under some heavy restrictions (not sure if they are county, state or federal) due to proximity of downtown and the large buildings. So while I too believe they aren't anything special, I also believe they would give us everything they could. Maybe not a ton of big boomers but if they could have them they would have a few in there. Very nice pix! Too bad the fireworks were so wimpy. Note: Bloomington has a great show that always happens on the third - well worth the effort. Outstanding photos Jared. You are very talented and the ballpark was incredibly photogenic last night. I made the executive decision to leave right after the game last night instead of sticking around for the fireworks, because I recall being totally underwhelmed by the 1st fireworks show of the year on May 27th. Just absolutely pathetic in comparison to other shows I've seen in other ballparks across the country. St. Louis for instance had an amazing show last September that was epic!! I hope this is a downtown safety issue and NOT a money issue. I hate to be cynical, but Busch Stadium is located right downtown too. Great pics from SF Schweady. I walked to the park that day right at gametime and picked up a single in the 8th row just outside 1st base for $20. It was an absolutely gorgeous week in the Bay Area. I agree with you that it blows Target Field away. You have to experience it (I'm lookin at you Luke!!) to understand the greatness... Thanks, Max, Rick, others. Maybe my perception is skewed by the absolutely gorgeous weather we had out there, or maybe the entertaining little 2-1 pitching matchup that afternoon, or maybe the outstanding SF fans, but if I had to list my top 5 out of the 16 parks I've experienced in some fashion, right now it would be something like: 1. AT&T Park 7. Kauffman Stadium Right. None are even close. One other tidbit I learned last night. I asked an usher to enforce the aisle policy because my seats are on the aisle in section 102 looking to home plate and it was ridiculous the number of people just wondering up and down and even stopping in the aisle. He told me that it isn't enforced until the bottom of the second inning. This was the same usher that made me move from in front of the railing behind the handcapped seats to behind it (literally a distance of no more than six inches) before the game had started after the rain delay. (It was still a light drizzle and didn't want to head to the seats yet. After a little "debate," I went back to the seats. He must have felt guilty, because he did start enforcing it immediately. I did make sure to thank him afterwards. Way to go Twins! Blowing a 7-0 lead against the stupid cheeseheads! What a devastating loss. I would rather lose 15-0 then lose like that!Cappps has to be the worst closer in baseball. 13 of 19 in save opportunuties is unacceptable. This bullpen has cost us about 8 games alrady this year. There are blown saves and there are BLOWN SAVES. This wasn't a one run nail-biter when Capps came in. He had a three run lead. If the Twins had had one more run it wouldn't have been a save situation and Capps probably wouldn't have even been brought in. Fans can draw their own conclusions. Go back in time and undo that Ramos for Capps trade. Where would the Twins be now? Substantially better off, don't you think? Posted on July 2, 2011 at 9:39 PM by Rick 207 The two players that have the most Bill Smith fingerprints on them...Nish and Capps. I'm not sure if Rauch could've done this on his worst night. As much as I like Cuddy...this team has to start in a new direction. Cuddy is about to start the downside of his career, and I fear another long-term contract for what will be a .255-14-71 guy. The sad thing is he's by far the best player on the team this year, and the most reliable. Tying up $12-14 million a year in him to go with Baby Jesus' pay would not be a good move for Bill...but that hasn't stopped him before. However, Bill could get 4 more Nishs for that money. I hate to say it...but if the Indians can find some way to keep that team together and add a few players, they could dominate the division for several years. The Royals are the usual "3 years away" and the Twins and Sox are aging badly with payroll issues. The Tigers are a Verlander surgery away from sub-.500. Does anybody remember The Jake selling out nightly during the 90s over several seasons? Only during the early part of the '00s did that stop. Fast forward to the last few years, and they're the worst draw in baseball. Speaking of...has anybody been to Progressive Field? I'm piecing together my Rust Belt tour and PNC is my priority. I'm trying to squeeze in Progressive since it's only 2-3 hours away, but the home stands that both parks have in common don't match up too well to my schedule. I'm thinking about bailing on Progressive unless somebody tells me how great it is. PNC is really what I'm after, and with the Pirates playing some decent ball, it should be halfway lively. Posted on July 2, 2011 at 10:04 PM by twinswschamps2027 (aka twinswschamps2011) 208 OK, let's also go back and undo Bartlett/Garza for Young too. Is there a Smith deal that we wouldn't want undone? Posted on July 2, 2011 at 10:26 PM by Rick 209 I found Progressive to be a great place to watch a game, and many similarities to Target Field in layout. We went before TF opened, so my direct comparison is dated. Considering Cleveland doesn't offer much else to see, except the Rock & Roll HOF and walking by the football stadium, I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for a non-Twins series. I definitely wouldn't sell the ballpark short, though, and personally would put it in a leage with TF, Kaufmann, and Busch, all of which I've liked. Never seen so many fans of an opposing team as I saw on Saturday night at Target Field. Brewers fans everywhere. Have Brewers' fans always traveled this well to Minneapolis or is it just the Target Field novelty? I know Twins fans always travel very well to Milwaukee and Kansas City but have never seen this many Brewers fans in Minneapolis. A lot of Twins season ticket holders must sell their Brewers' games at very high prices because talking to some of the Brewer fans around me, some of the prices they paid for tickets was incredible. Maybe the Twins need to triple the prices for the Brewers games just like the Brewers do to the Cubs and Twins fans. I think it's because of Target Field. Some Brewers fans went to the Dome, but nowhere near this much. There were tons last year too. Wonderfful evening. Pretty good sandwich with a good beer in the Townball Tav. Walked around a bit. Seats in the shade with a nice breeze - absolutely beautiful weather. Couple of dingers and a few sparkling defensive plays. Seven run lead. Then Capps. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I wonder if Matt Capps is related to Ron Davis. Yes...I forgot about Delmon...he has Smith's fingerprints on him too. Any Brewers fan that paid a lot of money for their ticket bought them pre-season. Twins tickets haven't been commanding a premium since late April. Posted on July 3, 2011 at 08:52 AM by twinswschamps2027 (aka twinswschamps2011) 215 I think the Capps trade was done only because they thought they had a shot at going all the way last year, and that is tough to do without a real closer. Capps was much better than Rauch last year. As it turns out, we did our usual bowing to the Yanks, Capps isn't that good, and we sure could use a backup catcher that hits above .200. Now let's be honest, Ramos isn't tearing up the league at .236, but he does have a .706 OPS. Our MVP catcher is only .120 behind that! And, Capps regains his spot on top of a leaderboard -- blown saves, with 6. Yes Capps blew it. However, I think some blame needs to be put on Cuddy. That ball should have been caught. He's got a great arm, but other than that is probably a below-average right fielder. Should have been playing deeper with two outs. The Brewers are traveling really well this year because of how well they are doing. Brewers fans travel very well when the team is playing well. I remember during the Molitor/Yount/Deer/Cooper era during the 1980's the dome would have tons of Milwaukee fans. Thanks JCT- I don't mind going 2-3 hours out of the way...it's probably the only chance I'll get to see Progressive Field. The one possible series is the 9-23 through 9-25 to catch the Twins at Progressive and the Reds at PNC. And, yes...the two cities' chambers of commerce aren't getting me too excited. It will be a baseball trip exclusively unless I go to the R&R HOF. I'm starting to think I could be seeing two playoff teams in the Indians and Bucs! Rick-did I read right a few posts back that you actually plan on seeing 30 parks every 5 years? How do you do that on a restricted budget? Toronto? Fenway? Maybe my recall is wrong. Posted on July 3, 2011 at 6:12 PM by twinswschamps2027 (aka twinswschamps2011) 220 I'd also say the neighborhood near Jacobs (Progressive) doesn't have a great reputation. Pay a little more to park closer to the ballpark. I'll be interested in your report, and if you agree with my comments at all when you've seen it. Did someone say Cleveland chamber of commerce? Posted on July 3, 2011 at 8:38 PM by kevin in az 222 Is it a bad thing when I watch closing arguments in a high-profile murder trial on TV over the Twins beating the Brewers this afternoon? lol. Actually I was referring to the Casey Anthony trial. And, after all these years, I still think OJ was guilty, and should have gotten the death penalty. I splurged on a ticket in the front row of the club level for today's game. I'm really looking forward to it! Baseball on the Fourth of July, it's a beautiful thing. It was 50 years ago today that Julio Becquer hit his famous pinch hit grand slam with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. I was a child attending the family's annual 4th of July bash to celebrate my grandfather's birthday. My great-aunt Bea, a dyed-in-the-wool Twins fan until the day she died in 1969, burst out of the kitchen where she had been listening to the game on the radio to announce what had happened. She was so excited she had to repeat it several times. Happy 4th of July to everyone and especially to Julio Becquer. Double-header that day. Killer hit an inside the parker as well. What a lovely day at the ballpark today! Duensing with the shutout, Cuddy goes upper-deck, Nishi and Casilla turn two twice, and a great crowd. Club level seats are nice, too. I could get used to sitting up there! Progressive is a great ballpark, but the concessions/walkway are not open like TF is. Actually, there are a couple cool bars just north of the stadium. And the Rock and Roll HOF is really cool. I thought I'd spend an hour or two there but it ended up being 4 hours. PNC is definitely worth any trip, my favorite of the new ballparks with TF right behind it. Hard to believe we're one week away from the All Star Game already. Interesting tweet by DSP regarding the grass pattern...it looks like its here to stay awhile.... @TwinsPrez as much as I love the grass pattern...change it please!!! TwinsPrez Dave St. Peter: Thanks for the update Mike. Maybe he will finally answer my repeated Tweets of when they are going to get Pepsi Max at the stadium. I tweet him every game after the Pepsi Max Top 5 are shown on the video board. I think he may be too annoyed by now :) From the Omaha World Herald regarding the recently completed College World Series: Discussions have also begun about changing the "batter's eye." That's an area beyond the center field fence that provides a visual background for players at home plate. It's supposed to form a dark, uncluttered background behind the pitcher so batters can pick up the white ball coming toward them. Currently, a row of evergreen trees stands in front of a dark fence in the batter's eye at TD Ameritrade Park. NCAA baseball officials are considering whether that part of TD Ameritrade Park needs changing, Dixon said. "If we heard anything negative about the stadium at all, it was about 'the Christmas trees' out in center field," he said. Posted on July 5, 2011 at 2:48 PM by Raging Peasants 236 I would settle for 3-3 leading up to the all star gamee. That puts us at 40-49. Then the big push to get back to 500 with the big homestand after the break. Best shot at getting to 500 might be end of August, Hey all, If anyone is interested in attending Bert Blyleven Day at the ballpark on July 16th, the Parkinson's Association has tickets available for the game. PD is Bert's charity of choice, as his father passed away from Parkinson's several years ago. Tickets are $24 each, with some of each ticket benefiting the organization. (Plus you don't have to eat a Bert's Burger to donate!) Follow the link for info. Posted on July 5, 2011 at 5:32 PM by fiesta 238 Just got my first foul ball ever tonight at Target Field. Several years and a few years in row 2/3 at the "other place" and 1.5 seasons at TF nets it! A youngster in Row 18 is now the proud owner! Is Gardy DRUNK!!! Why is Capps still closing. He is garbage! Ridiculous Stat of the Day: With tonight's outing, Capps is credited with his 4th hold of the season... Capps needs to be sent down to AAA for a few weeks before he screws anything else up. Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:15 PM by twinswschamps2027 (aka twinswschamps2011) 242 This team is one of the top winningest teams over the past 30 games in the majors, and this lineup is one of the ugliest things I've seen in a long time. The rotation and Cuddy deserve a ton of credit for the 21-9 record over this time. We have 5 durable starters, all of whom are pitching good to great right now. Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:18 PM by twinswschamps2027 (aka twinswschamps2011) 243 I didn't tune into the game until the bottom of the 8th inning. Listening on the radio, you could really hear the boos as Capps was on the mound in the 9th. Cuddy is living up to his All-Star selection the last several weeks. Hope he stays hot for a while! It seems every save situation with the Mad Crapper is a drama waiting to turn into a nightmare. So much for a snapper mow em down inning. I sure would not keep him around next year if he is already making 7 mil! I want Ramos back. A few more big macs for the crapper and he will be looking like our chubby lefthander Mijares! Was at the game last night. They have stopped the new Capps video board Western themed entrance and he entered to Stone Temple Pilots, but it was the same ol' Capps. What about doing Elvis Presley's Heartbreak hotel when the mad crapper waddles in? Anyone else find it funny that Tom Kelly is calling Dick Bremer, Richard? Listening to TK makes this already sloooow game seem even loooonger. A lot like watching a game with grandpa: he's got quite a few interesting things to say, he has some insight that only experience can provide, but that flat voice makes it so dang difficult for the listener to stay awake. Well 2 out 3 not bad! I mean look at that lineup we threw up there. And we did come back from 5-2 to tie it. I will settle for a split before the all star break! Well, they didn't get the 7-2 I was hoping for, but I will gladly take the 6-3! Anybody see the pittsburgh pirates grass cut last night! LOL! http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=16623075&query=game_pk%3D288193 Anybody see the pittsburgh pirates grass cut last night! LOL! http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=16623075&query=game_pk%3D288193 ^^LOL!! "Brandon Wood getting some wood" I am not sure how the grass cutting plays that much on the play of the ball, I would think the length has a bigger factor. Anyone hear of the broker ABC Tickets? I stumbled across their website today and was dumbfounded by the inventory of Twins games they have: http://www.abctickets.com/sports/baseball/mlb/minnesota-twins.html. Dave, You've stumbled onto one of those sites which draws from the same big database of broker inventory across the country. There are literally hundreds of sites like it which show that exact same inventory. Here are two other examples: http://betterboxoffice.com/ResultsTicket.aspx?evtid=1469057&event=Chicago+White+Sox+vs.+Minnesota+Twins A lot of times you'll find that some of the inventory duplicates stuff on Stubhub, but not always. I believe it's a cheaper alternative for the sellers. Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:49 PM by Rick 258 I'm still snickering a bit at the idea that one pattern of cutting the grass plays differently from another. Major League baseball really is one big head game sometimes. Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:53 PM by Rick 259 Especially when the grass is only 5/8" high. It's a little like concerning yourself over which way the bristles on your toothbrush lean. I just realized that if the Twins sweep the White Sox this weekend, we'll pass them in the standings. But, I'm hardly getting ahead of myself here, right? Pass that powder-based beverage, with some extra ice cubes! Whitties 6-26 vs our boys the last 32. Lets hope that trend will continue! I would settle for a split. Anthing more would be a bonus. A sweep by sox would be disaster! Be interesting to see how many twins fans show up this weekend. Summerfest going in in Milwaukee now also. Brewers also playing at home this weekend vs Reds. The Bert Blyleven mentioned reminded me of something. I may be alone in this but is anyone else sick of the continous Bert to the Hall of Fame promotion? Whether it's the countdown at Target Field or the multiple mentions of it during any television broadcast, it seems like it's completely overdone. Of course it doesn't help that I think he's a below average color guy whose commentary primarily revolves around 1) that ball was up in the strike zone - gotta keep it down, 2) I hate pitch counts - back in my day we would throw well over 100, or 3) commenting on how great Twins fans are because they give a round of applause to a pitcher that threw 6 no-hit innings. You forgot "the middle inner half of the plate." Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:14 AM by Rick 265 After the ump calls a pitch two feet wide of the plate a strike "Good! Make 'em swing the bat..." Oh Bert... Has he written his speech yet? Oh wait, nope, they talk about it every game... Redundancies: Using "good" instead of "well" and then using well incorrectly. "Hits at the Major League Level" Could shorten that up a bit...does he get paid by the word? And my all-time favorite, "We are going to do this f&*king thing over again, because I just f#%k3d it up....Oh were live, I hadn't known that." moments later, "I'm sorry about that" (I loved the Anthony's face during that. It was even better seeing it live and saying to myself, did that really just happen?) Course Bert has a ways to go to catch up to the Hawk. Too bad none of the games are on WGN this weekend. Alphonse and Gaston: Rare reference to a long-ago comic strip depicting overly polite characters. Used for a difficult fly ball that neither player calls for, dropping in for a hit. Bad guys: White Sox opponents. Ball four, base hit: Plea to White Sox batter with three balls in the count to get on base via a hit or a walk. [This] Ballgame is ovah: End of game call; exclamation is vociferous for a White Sox winner. Big hack, no contact: A mighty swing and miss. Be a two-strike hitter: Turn that next good pitch into a base hit. Bullet in the hole: A sharp single through the infield. Can of corn: A lazy fly ball. Catbird seat: The hitter has a great count. Chopper, two-hopper: A tailor-made ground ball. (See also: Bolingbrook Bounce) Cinch it up and hunker down: A batter needs to dig in against a tough count. (See also: Bow Your Neck and Bristle Up) Cookie: A fat pitch, e.g. �He got a cookie there, Stone Pony, and he couldn�t do anything with it.� Dadgum it: Darn it. Dadgum right: Usually used to punctuate a rant. Double-barreled action: Two relievers warming up for the same team, at the same time. Down to their last bullet: A hitting team on the verge of a loss has one strike left in the ninth inning. Dreaded leadoff walk: A free pass to start the inning that always seems to come around to score. Drops the backdoor on him: Pitcher tosses a curveball. Duck snort: A blooper base hit. Ducks on the pond: Runners on base. For our guys: Often used when listing the upcoming batters for the White Sox in a must-win situation. For those of you scoring at home: Hawk�s cue to repeat the details of a complicated play. GAAAAS: A killer fastball. Get foul: Exhorting an opponent�s hit down the line to land in foul territory. Get outta here: Pushing a White Sox batter�s foul pop to land in the stands. Good guys: The White Sox. Good speed aboard: A base-stealing threat is on base. Got some leather on it: A defensive attempt, usually failed to some degree. Green tee outta my behind: One of endless descriptions of tension, often cast in the form of a reminiscence. (See also: Puckered up) Hang with 'em: When a hitter is robbed of a base hit. He gone: The strikeout call vs. opponents. (See also: Grab some bench) He hung it: Pitcher�s curveball didn�t break, the equivalent of a batting-practice pitch. He just missed that one: The batter undercut just enough to turn a home run into a fly out. Hiney bird: A jerk. I LOOOOOVE�: Hawk�s favorite loves include cotton candy, e-mail, and the Aflac duck. I LOOOOOVE it when you analyze: A compliment to former partners Tom "Wimpy" Paciorek and Darrin �D.J.� Jackson. In my time zone: Back in my time. Looking For it, couldn�t do anything with it: Batter guesses correctly on a pitch but can�t put good contact on it. Looking for the express: A batter waiting on a fastball. (See also: Looking for gas) Matt Abatacola: Broken bat, in honor of the musical name of the Score radio producer. Mercy: Exclamation, commonly used for bad umpiring or a prodigious opponent. No walks: A reminder to make an opposing batter earn his way on base with a hit. Pick to click: A game invented by Hawk where participants predict the player of the game at the beginning of the broadcast. Pitchers are ineligible, or at least never chosen. Poof: A means of cueing an instant replay or answer. Rack 'em up: Used when the White Sox turn a double play. Ride 'em hard and put 'em away wet: Overworking a player, usually in the context of running a pitcher out of a game. Right size, wrong shape: A screaming line drive or home-run clout that lands in foul territory. Roll him up right here: Strike this guy out. Sacks packed: Bases loaded. (Preferred usage: "sacks packed with Sox�) Should be� it is: Delivered deadpan when the White Sox hit into a double play. Sit back, relax and strap it down: Welcome to the broadcast, let�s play ball. Snapdragon: Curveball. Something cooking: Team is rallying. Stay fair: Exhorting a White Sox hit down the line to drop in for a base it. (Preferred usage: "Stay fair� it will") Stick it in your pocket: Don�t make a play, often in the context of a perfect bunt. Stretch: Exhorting a long White Sox fly ball to hit the seats for a home run. (See also: Get on back there) Sucks it up: When a fielder effortlessly handles a ground ball. Thank you very much: An opposition mistake that benefits the White Sox. That ball hit deep: Home-run call, sometimes used for the opposition and delivered with no emotion. That ball was smoked: A screaming shot from a batter. They got a lot of my money in�: Acknowledging a town, usually within the White Sox broadcast network, with a reference to lost golf matches. Watch out: A deadpan exclamation that describes a near hit batsman or a screaming liner hit foul or into a dugout. You can put it on the board�YES! The definitive home run call. (Usually preceded by: "WAY Back�He Looks Up�") We got a WHOLE lot of work to do: The White Sox are losing badly. You can cancel the postgame show: First hit given up by a pitcher, thus ending a no-hit bid. Zone him in, reel Him in and light him up: Focus hard and get a big hit. I cannot stand the Hawk. He's as good of an announcer as he was a GM. No list of obnoxious "Hawk-isms" would be complete without "grab some bench". But the greatest "Hawk Moment" was the dead air as Jim Thome rounded the bases last year. The Sounds of Silence as Simon and Garfunkel might have said. Yes a what seemed like 5 minutes of silence by the Hawk and Stone Cold Pony after the Thome walkoff followed by "and we will be right back". Prediction: AJ Pejerkski tries laying a bunt toward 1st tonight. Very satisfying night. Mauer more than adequate at 1st, some nifty defensive plays, continued quality starting pitching, typical Sox screwups, some helpful calls from the HP umpire, Capps perhaps finding his seat back on the wagon, and AJ and Co. can sit down and shut up another day. Looks like found a new first baseman! Wow 8 straight over the whitties Wow, I was watching MLB AtBat11 during the game for Jays/Indians. What a blow-up at the end by the Jays, screwed up a potential fantasy baseball win, and more importantly to get back to 7 games out. Oh well, we didn't lose ground like the Sox! I have never understood the hatred of Twins fans towards Pierzynski. He always played hard here and was traded away. I have always liked and wished the Twins would have tried to bring him back after the Giants cut him. Twins players were well rid of him. Clubhouse poison, I believe, is the term. Oh my, it's fun to watch the Twins beat up on the White Sox. Good game all-around for our guys. Mauer looked great at first (think Morneau is worried about his spot, yet?), good pitching, solid defense, Nishioka is looking more and more comfortable at the plate and in the field, nice catch by Butera to end the game - but why is that Sox fan ducking? Get that ball and save your guy from making the out! Twins are really making this season interesting. Let's go get another win tonight! I heard he was at San Fransico, but never heard a thing like that about his time at the Twins. This article was sort of a cupcake piece on him, but an interesting take on him. Everytime i see him on Jim Rome's show, which I rarely watch, he seems to come across nicely and as someone who wants to play every game. Sadly the same can not be said about every Twin. Posted on July 8, 2011 at 11:40 AM by Duffman 283 The Twins (players and fans) loved AJ. He was traded (reluctantly) to make room for Mauer, nothing else. (Well, we did get Nathan and Liriano in the deal...) He had a rough year in SF but, by all accounts, the Sox (players and fans) love him. Personally, I cheer for him every time he comes up. Great player. Posted on July 8, 2011 at 11:57 AM by Rick 284 "I have never understood the hatred of Twins fans towards Pierzynski." A great many Twins "fans" are complete morons - simple as that. Supporting evidence abounds. For instance, a Strib writer reported the other day that he was near a crowd just after Thome hit a dinger and heard them all asking each other wher Big Jim was a LH or RH hitter!!!!!!! "Personally, I cheer for him every time he comes up. Great player." Indeed. And --- is he not as tall as Mauer? How are his legs? I agree Rick, but most in the stadium tend to boo him. Also Schweady seemed to be hinting towards his dislike for him. Pershitski is just the type people find fun to pick on. Such a whiner. We used to tally times he would appeal for a strike ruling on a not even close check swing and the HP ump would ignore him. Some cheap entertainment one game when a group near the plate did sound effects very loudly for every part of his between pitches at bat ritual: velcro ripping/slurping sound for the gloves adjustment, squeaky sounds for the helmet adjustment, "wheeee!" during the little swing... Rube, yeah, but you have to think is gets to a guy just a wee bit. Is there something wrong with The Ballpark in Arlington or is it just Texans? Last night's horrific tragedy was the third time someone has fallen over the railings since the place opened. Anybody been there? Is there anything at all about the architecture of the place that might lead to such a dubious record? I have always liked AJ. He plays hard and with emotion. I'd much rather have that than some robot type player. I do not believe Mr. Pierzynski has ever started a game at first base. Posted on July 8, 2011 at 1:08 PM by Rick 291 How soon people forget. The hatred started when Anthony John started mocking the Twins, and most memorably he turned towards 30,000 Twins fans and did the "smell 'em" when he arrived back to play against the Twins. I have been in the top row of section 5 at The Ballpark in Arlington. The out-of-town scoreboard is the left field wall/fence and there is an opening between it and the stands. I believe the railings were revised in part of the stadium after one incident but they exceed design standards. Posted on July 8, 2011 at 2:41 PM by Raging Peasants 293 I love watching this game online because I know Capps is going to come in, let the Chi Sox get close, and Perkins will come in to save the day/game. I may be in the minority here... but I did not like AJ one bit when he played here. Yes, of course I cheered for him as a Twin, but I met the man and he was the most pompous, arrogant prick I've ever met, next to Al Franken.. A friend of mine claimed he acts like that on the field because of gamesmanship and that Jared Allen is the same way... to the contrary as stated, i met Pierzynski and Allen, where Jared was one of the most personable athletes I ever had the pleasure to meet, AJ was nothing but David Simms from 'Tin Cup'. Complete jerk, good riddance.. jcm - I think you're in a bigger majority than you think - maybe not as big as the majority that thinks Casey Anthony is GUILTY of murder, yet, it's still a sizable majority around there that would agree with you: AJ was a total prick and a baseless clod when he played here. Sure hope there's another high profile trial on CourtTV soon to keep the whole world transfixed. If only there was someone who could keep us up to date on Ratko Mladic. Well schweady, CourtTV no longer exists. You want court drama, you go to HLN. "You want court drama, you..." ...may need to reconsider your priorities. Posted on July 9, 2011 at 1:33 PM by Rick 300 People say build it and they will come...so is Twinsville starting to come a reality? Click my name for the Strib story on the first signs of development around Target Field. Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:17 PM by Jeff 302 I see the Twins have added a new feature where you can select your seats based on a seat map rather than letting the system select "best available"....I am not sure when this went live on the website, but I just noticed it today for the first time. Very nice feature as you can actually see the availability based on a seating chart and not let the system pick for you. i was @ miller park for the sat twins game and saw the old fsn guy telly heughs, hes now doing work for the brewers fsn team.. i said high to him and he put me on fsn right b4 first pitch for about 30 seconds asking me about the trip from the twin cities and had me open up my grill and show the viewers what i was grilling.. then he sent it back to dick and bert for first pitch... that was fun.. i have tix for face value for fridays game ... get at me click on the link Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:54 PM by mazaratirick 304 Mike - I noticed that today as well. A little bit like a TicketKing or StubHub-esque seat selector. It's a nice addition. I also like the three-tier (red, yellow, green) availability indicator as well. That's a nice addition. I am glad we do not have to listen to these FOX announcers more than once or twice a year. I think they have talked maybe 5 minutes about the Twins and the rest of the time about the White Sox and waxing Buerhle's balls. The analyst is at least obnoxious, and may be an idiot. Not entirely sure. Posted on July 9, 2011 at 5:13 PM by Rick 307 Ben Revere. My new favorite Twin? Posted on July 9, 2011 at 5:15 PM by Rick 308 Mijares in the bottom of the 9th in a tie game. This cannot finish well... The only weak part of Ben's game. Strong game by the Twins, can't fault the Twins for this game. I have never been so pissed off at a national announcing team as I was today. Nice to see a Major League baseball team win in walk off fashion and NOT act like they just won the World Series (or AL central). Back to the grind tomorrow. I think Swarzy can pitch a gem if he gets some early run support and feel comfortable mixing his pitches. Glad to actually be able to sit on my couch and watch a Twins game (though wish there'd been a different outcom). As for the announcers, I must have had a premonition, as I muted the announcers a couple innings in. I thought the anouncers were giving the Twins their due; unlike Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, who spend every game worshiping at the Yankee altar. If those two stop their near-ceaseless praise of New York long enough to throw in a kind word or two about the other team, they seem to feel they have to balance that comment out with equal praise again for the Yankees. Hypothetical question...If Derek Jeter would have hit his 3,000 hit (home run) at Target Field, who wants to bet that the fan would have thrown it back??? Let's hope not, but when it comes to Twins fans and catching opposing players' home run balls, you just never know... Congrats to Derek Jeter and how exciting for that fan who caught the ball. Very class act to simply give the ball to Jeter and not expect a huge payout. Love or hate the Yankees, Derek Jeter is a class act in my mind. Even though I hate the Yankees, I have always enjoyed watching Derek Jeter play the game. Posted on July 10, 2011 at 11:01 AM by Mike 315 Winona Mike, My only beef was how they were going on about how quickly Buerhle was pitching, while Duensing appeared to be working just as quickly (didn't have a stop watch, so who knows). T he other thing that bothered me was the Revere catch. They weren't like, what a catch, and were questioning if he caught it. Only after the replay they gave 2 seconds of praise, and then talked about how he could have played football... It was also talking about how any team in the central could get hot at any time and how it was the white sox turn yesterday...getting hot is one close game with your ace on the mound? I am moving on and glad we have the Homers back :) Tom Kelly really gets you into the game and pumped up over the last few games he has called. Besides the Diamond Cutter conversations, he really add a nice flavor from a managers perspective. Someone on here said if the Twins can get within 8 games at the break, we will be okay. The Twins pick-up 10 games since that time and are 7 games under (.500). This should be an exciting second half if the Twins can continue to find ways to win games. Watching our guys beat the White Sox never gets old. 3 of 4, could have been a sweep but I'm not going to complain about 'only' winning 3. Two games for F_T_K coming up - Thursday against KC, and the Monday make-up game against Cleveland. Hopefully the team continues to play well! The homestand following the All-Star break is going to be huge for the Twins. It's also good timing considering the non-waiver trading deadline is July 31 meaning we should have a good idea whether the Twins are sellers this year. 4 games each against Kansas City, Cleveland and Detroit. Plouffe and Young called up, Tosoni and Rivera demoted back to AAA Rochester. Span is also expected back soon, so it will be very interesting post All-Star break. I just hope they can keep Revere in the lineup when Span, Young and eventually, Kubel are back. The Twins playoff hopes will not be decided until September, unless they going on a long slide out of the break. Over the course of the next 73 games the Twins play 45 against the division (9 KC, 10 CHI, 13 CLE, 13 DET), including 6 against Cleveland in the last two weeks of the season. If the Twins continue to play as they have, they will win this division. As I said months ago, the standings do not matter until July 4th. Anything can happen the first half of the season, injuries, poor play, team issues. Not only that but if they can play poorly the first half of the season they can do the reverse the second half. You know what, Duffman, I am so PO'd at the fact that the Twins always have to have their fate decided in September. I would love, just ONCE, for this club to win the Central Division outright: no tie-breakers, no sharing the title...can't this club win the thing outright? I swear, we've said that now every year for the last two or three years "It'll be decided in September". If we have a good, solid ball club, we should have things well in hand by the second week of August, instead of having to wait until the LAST minute of the LAST game of the season. we should have things well in hand by the second week of August What did you sprinkle on your Wheaties this morning Luke? A division in hand by mid August? Unless every other team in the division stinks this won't be happening. If the Twins won divisions in August, then how in the heck would Alexi Casilla make his living on late game winning singles? Well, mid-August was a bit off...but do you see the point I'm trying to make? This ball club has no idea how to win the Central Division without a)a tie-breaker or b)the last out of the season. Some might contest that it makes it more exciting, but when it happens almost every season, it gets downright dull. And, besides winning the Central Division outright, I'd like to see an "American League Champion" or a "World Champion" logo on the tickets soon. The Central Division Champions year after year is getting a bit tired. Fans started turning on AJ during his final season here due to a story on ESPN.com that stated even his teammates didn't like him very much due to his abrasive attitude. It later transpired that the story was overblown, but it got traction after the local media caught on to it and the label stuck. Once AJ got traded and eventually wound up with the White Sox, the fans made him a target for booing. TK wasn't bad on commentary for a weekend and it would be nice to see him every season for a series or two. However, his act would get old if he worked full time. Weren't the Twins the first team to clinch a division last year, and with more than a week to go? Then they kind of coasted and never recovered. They have had some tight races and not so tight. 2002 - won division by 13.5 games Luke, you get PO'd that the Twins win the division is September? What team doesn't win their respective division is September? The reason for the unbalanced schedule is so September matters. Also after the start the Twins had, how could we not expect this to come down to the end of the season, hell they're not even at .500 yet. Anyone here also a futbol fan? I want to rage (in a good way!) about that USA v Brasil match yesterday. :-) C'mon Twins win it early for Luke. He's got big plans for mid-August through September and NO time for a silly, competitive race down the stretch. Ridiculous. I mean people were praying for MEANINGFUL games in September when the squad got out to their 17-37 start. Now they are in a position to do that and you bitch about how they get it done? Man o man I am at a loss for words. Jeez, every time he posts it is dumber than the time before. How is that possible? Please head back to the KFAN RubeChat ASAP. Thanks much. Well, Duff...I didn't think I was the only one on here to express disgust with the unbalanced schedule and what becomes of it. I know there's been others. The team is constructed to just barely limp into the playoffs in a weak division, and then hope to get lucky. They are, for the most part, achieving their goal. Wow, I thought Luke had gone underground once the Vikings gang moved over here? I could care less if the Twins win the division in August or after a 3-team playoff in September/October. As long as this team can show the same grit in the playoffs. I have a feeling the Twins will make us happy this season or in the next two. As long as the Twins stay competitive and don't get me PO'd for 40% effort (see April/May), I can only be happy for us to be playing meaningful ball at the end of the season. Late last or so, I thought the Twins would go 10-3 leading up to the break, and they went 9-4 (including a guess the Twins would win 3-of-4 in Chicago). Since predictions have been working for the most part so far, (guessed 15-5 on May 29, and finished 14-5, with a rain out)...I am making the call on the next home stand of... (9-3) You read it here first. Luke, you having disgust for the unbalanced schedule does not change the fact that they play it. The nice part of that unbalanced schedule is that it does put the division up for grabs in September. It's kind of interesting to go back to Rick's earlier posts, such as "Oh, the ideas" from 09/28/2006 and see how many of the early ideas ended up in TF. "Some might contest that it makes it more exciting (winning the division title in September), but when it happens almost every season, it gets downright dull." And locking up the division title in August and coasting toward the final game of the season would just be white-knuckle excitement, eh Luke? trebor - I agree. I've gone over previous posts several times, if nothing else, just to see the pictures again. Probably not, Winona. But, I harken back to a line from the movie Mighty Ducks...when the coach of the Hawks told the team, "It's not worth winning if you can't win BIG!" Sure was frustrating having the Twins take all 7 games to win the World Series in 1987 AND 1991. In hindsight it probably wasn't worth the hassle since they didn't win "big." ;-0 I don't care when/how the Twin's win the division the next time they win it. I just want to see them turn down the celebration a bit, and maybe try to project the idea that winning the division is just the first step, not the ultimate goal. Last year after the Twins won the division, they trashed their brand-new locker room at Target Field, and I don't think they won a game the rest of the year after that. Celebrate like you've been there before, and like you're planning on winning a few more games. I whole-heartedly agress FTK, I would take it a step further though. I would love to see a walk-off victory handled with some class instead of a big group huddle at home plate. It;s one game gentlemen that it took you until the bottom of the 9th or extra innings to win, there is nothing to celebrate. That may have been a bit harsh. Celebrate, with a little more jubilant high five line than normal, but the big mob at home plate is excessive. Any make date announced yet for the June 14th rainout with Chacago yet? My next game will be Thurdsay. So far 0-6 this year at Target Field. Lets hope I break the curse! So --- what's the final cost of that Texas ball? Insurance, medical, funeral, etc. --- couple hundred grand at the least, not counting emotional trauma, and cost borne by the taxpayers? And --- what's the cost of an identical ball (less some rubbed in mud) at the local sporting goods store --- $12? You're all heart Ben. It's not like the guy was fighting a crowd for the ball or going crazy. Lost his balance and a tragic accident resulted. Save the $12 ball speech for the clown who escaped the same fate last night in the HR derby by STANDING ON A TABLE trying to catch a ball and then toppling off and barely caught by a brother and friend. Tell that to This Guy. It was a tragic accident, but Ben is right. It's never worth it, especially when you are near railings. People in general just need to calm down. One lady in my row got run over in April by a gentleman going after a FREE T-SHIRT that was shot up into the stands. Luckily, she came out of the mess with just a sprained ankle and some bruises but her husband yelled at the guy and deservingly so. One of those T-shirts was headed my way one time. The frenzy around me was bizarre - arms flailing about and bodies contorted. I remained seated because I did not care about it and the shirt landed in my lap after being batted about by several people without regard for anyone else. The shirt, by the way, was the cheapest piece of junk you can imagine, probably one that would not sell - the Twins do not give away quality stuff, at least not out of air guns. Bottom line (and I know I keep reminding all you of this), way too many people are basically complete idiots. I think they would probably be jostling over little baggies of dog shit - anything free. My mom caught one of those T-shirts back at the Metrodome. It didn't last two washings. Very cheap garbage. Some ballparks at least shoot hot dogs. Oh, wait. At TF, that wouldn't be much better... Posted on July 12, 2011 at 6:47 PM by Rick 349 Yeah, I don't think a hot dog would laast more than a couple washings either. Wow. There are a bunch of players in this ASG that I've never heard of. That's just wrong. Posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:20 PM by Rick 351 Winona, Some of those hot dogs would survive to feed the cockroaches after a nuclear holocaust. Posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:23 PM by Rick 352 Nice SSB by Jordin Sparks, but does anybody else think the moment of silence is becomind something of a cliche? And it really bugs me that Joe Buck does the PA work at these games. He's a TV announcer. Leave the PA stuff to the PA guys, I say. Posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:37 PM by Rick 353 I don't understand why people hate Joe Buck. I think he's pretty good. Posted on July 12, 2011 at 9:25 PM by Rick 356 Rick - I agree about the moment of silence. And, I hate that too when the TV guy becomes the PA guy during that kind of stuff. HOWEVER, Joe Buck might be an improvement over Adam Abrams when the ASG comes to TF in 2014. I think Adam Abrams should have stuck with KOOL 108. He's definitely no Bob Casey. F_T_K and jc...I agree with both of you. Jack Buck was much better. "Into deep left center...for Mitchell...and we'll see you...tomorrow night!" I think I know what he think he meant to say... but here's my favorite of all of the gems dumped out there by tonight's dynamic (in their own eyes) duo: "It's surprising there aren't more passed balls in all star games, because catchers are used to hitting against pitchers, not catching them." I believe it was McCarver's voice that time, but it's a statement either one could easily make without the other batting an eye. Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:27 PM by schweady 358 Well, I really wanted to enjoy that game, but it was kind of a yawner. How many boring, pointless and weird ASGs do we need before they make some reforms? Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:33 PM by Rick 359 minnesota passive aggressive fans don't like joe buck because he chastised saint randy moss "mooning" at lambeau field. that alone tells you all you need to know about the mindset of the sports fans here. so therefore they think he sucks as a baseball announcer also. Buck's sucking has nothing to do with Moss comments. It's his overly melodramatic approach, and the strange looks when he goes back and forth between the camera and the person he's in the booth with constantly. I love how baseball forums die over the AS Break. I'll add some of my irritation with Buck is his ascending to the throne at Fox apparently based on his father's experience, not his own. 1.) Get rid of the "winner take home field advantage" (a great solution to this is have the league with the better Interleague play record win home-field advantage in the W.S. or simply go back to the rotation between AL and NL) Home field advantage in the World Series should go to the team with the best overall record, plain and simple. (Bob Costas is probably glad that most people don't remember that awarding home field advantage to the league who won the ASG was his idea.) As for the ASG itself, it's already dead. The financial structure of MLB has killed it. I mean, why would players come? 1. They don't need the money -- a big difference since the hey day of the event, when players were paid peanuts. 2. They don't want to risk injury (happy nutcases like Heath Bell aside) because it jeopardizes big contracts. 3. The time off is better for their regular season stats. 4. And the "glory" is all but gone when fully one third of each roster is made up of guys who have no business being there. 5. There's absolutely no penalty (PR or otherwise) for not showing up. (Did anyone else notice that way more of the no-shows were American Leaguers -- and pitchers at that? Would it surprise anyone if the word quietly went out in advance that the NL needed to win another one of these to move back toward some semblance of parity after AL dominance for so long?) And why should I, the average fan, care about it? There hasn't been a seven-game World Series since this format was adopted. And even if there was, under the old plan, it was a 50-50 shot that your league would get the home field, exactly the same chance as it is now. Let's face it: The ASG should probably go the way of the Hall of Fame game because exhibitions of any kind have no place during the regular season of any sport where so much money is at stake. I hate to say it, but the more I think about last night's game, and the whole ASG thing, the more I think it sucked. Right now, I'd rather that they skipped the break altogether and guaranteed that the post-season would fit into October. Posted on July 13, 2011 at 11:04 AM by Rick 365 I agree with most of that Rick. Only thing I question - is the home field for game 7 the only "advantage" of home field advantage? Or is there some advantage (real or imagined) possibly gained by having games 1 & 2 at your own ballpark? I completely dislike the AS game being tied to the World Series in any fashion and would overturn it in a second if given the chance. "I hate to say it, but the more I think about last night's game, and the whole ASG thing, the more I think it sucked." I can't imagine why anyone would hate to say that - trying hard but just can't get there. Is anyone even excited about the fact the Twins will more than likely be hosting the event in 2014?? When the official announcement is made, the Twins will simply use that to their advantage and try to sell the "get your 2014 All Star priority" by securing season tickets... It's not only an exhibition game but also a big corporate-fest now and I hate to see what they would even charge for ticket prices for the event in 2014. I'm not too excited about it Mike. Chance of the average fan getting tickets are probably next to none. Well, at face value price that is. I will most likely be watching it on TV like all the other All Star games. But I would be happy for the Twins and Minneapolis. Humpty Dumpty is back together again. Clicky. Posted on July 13, 2011 at 12:39 PM by luke 370 Rick- As Tim pointed out, my dislike for him started with the Randy Moss incident. At that point he began inserting himself as part of the game as opposed to just commenting on it, both in baseball and football. Since then he had become a mixture between Chris Berman and Bob Costas. When he first started out he was really good. He was still trying to make his own name, instead of trading on Dad's, on Fox Sunday baseball. As he gained experience he also became more cocky and pompous, once again seeming to believe people were watching that game for his commentary and not the game itself, much like Chris Berman. Couple that with what he believes is his deep Costas like knowlege of the game and he becomes an arrogant douche. His announcing is not bad, just he is. I don't like Joe Buck, he comes off as too dull, but don't hate him either. As for Buck's critics, several factors are behind the strong negative feelings many have towards him. - He's over exposed as the #1 announcer for Fox on MLB and the NFL. For one season Fox even did its pregame show at gameday stadiums so Buck could host that program and be the #1 play by play guy. Curt Gowdy and Brent Musburger also suffered a big backlash due to being seen too much. - The aforementioned overexposure has led to heightened attention to his gaffes. Every announcer makes them, but Joe's seem bigger because of who he is, the attention he receives, and his high profile assignments. - Buck has a very calm style that many fans feel is too calm in the era of guys like Gus Johnson and Kevin Harlan. It's one thing to let the action speak for itself. However, some people, especially NFL fans, think Buck too often crosses the line from being understated to sounding like he's bored and would rather be anywhere else except at the game he's calling. - There is a certain smugness to Buck that puts people off although he's not even in the same area code as Bob Costas on this front. Plus, to quote Donald Sutherland from "Animal House", his jokes are terrible. - Some fans still resent his quick rise to the top and attribute it to nepotism due to Joe being Jack Buck's son. Lots of fans are frustrated sports announcers at heart who figure Joe would be calling minor league baseball in Tulsa if not for his familial connections, or at least would have made it to the network level much later and not have risen up the ladder so quickly. - Joe has had voice problems related to a virus he contracted over the winter. It led to his voice becoming hoarse at times. Fox has kept him on the air despite the issues and against what many would consider better judgment. - Look at a game Joe Buck worked in the late 1990s when he began his career and look at one recently. He's much slimmer to the point that he sometimes looks a little too gaunt, more tan, and has lightened his hair in what appears to be an effort to make his growing baldness less noticeable. Right or wrong, he takes some flack about these cosmetic changes for "going Hollywood" to an extent. Joe is just trying to look good in his sext messages. You gotta work a little harder these days to land a chick 25 years your junior even if she is a gold digger. I had no idea that Buckyou had ever said anything about Moss... I couldn't fill a thimble with the total amount I care about either one. All I know is that he and the Yankees are darn near the two worst things to ever happen to baseball. And the DH. And Oliva's knee. and (Not My) Bud Selig. oh, boy... I guess the long break is getting to me... and Mike wants to ADD another day to the ASG lounge break? what are you, Mauer's agent? Friday night at TF. Looking forward to sitting out in the heat and sipping a Leinie Shandy. Will they still have a license to sell Leinie...? Posted on July 13, 2011 at 9:15 PM by Rick 375 A small sigh of relief was heard when I read this in the latest Sh*tdown News: (I'm not usually a fruit-in-your-beer guy, but it was a rather warm evening on our most recent visit to TF and a shandy went down quite nicely. Perhaps it was because my son-in-law was buying??) Posted on July 13, 2011 at 10:15 PM by schweady 376 Ah, no Coors, Cold Hard Blast, does anyone else see the hidden connotation? If the state did want to make an "example" of someone for selling forbidden fruits the stadium would have to be considered a high profile opportunity. Maybe this will improve the ratio of pop to vendors - currently running about 1 to 15 or 20 up by 204. Man, take away a man's (or woman's) beer, and they just shut down altogether. So someone tweeted Twins Prez DSP asking if Sunday's game would be pushed back to the evening due to the excessive heat.... Of course he said no, the game will be played as scheduled. It's JULY for god's sake and there will be heat and humidity!! I will be there sitting in the hot sun in section 125 both on Sunday and on Monday afternoon (makeup game from 4/22). It will probably be a little bit uncomfortable but I can't complain. You are allowed to bring in bottled water, so not a big deal. DSP also tweeted the team will wear the "M" hats August 5-7 for the '91 WS Reunion weekend. And for $391, you can buy the entire 1991 25-piece team bobblehead set No way I'm buying that bobblehead set if they don't add Terry Leach to it! Temps in the 40s and rainy (though not at game time) on 4/22, temps in the high 90s and high humidity for the makeup game. How about some middle ground? It's all good - it's outdoor baseball! Well game #7 tonight. Will I be 0-7 after tonight? Looking forward to some Holiday Brats! Last game was a rainy beatdown loss at the hands of the Texas Rangers June 10th. I'm due man! A nice 8-3 homestand would be nice. Any make up date yet for the Chicago rainout of June 14th yet? TwinkFan I hope you are 1-6 after tonight. I'm looking to go to 3-1. A 9-3 homestand would be even better since they have the makeup game with Cleveland, giving them 3 consecutive 4 game series, all in the Central. Time to make up some more ground. Your right Stevie B forgot about the makeup game on monday! My next 2 games after tonight are day game vs Tribe on 20th then Tigers on the 22nd. Streak has got to end and soon! I am 8-0 since my trip to KC in early June. I was 3-12 prior to then. Hoping to see another win tonight and make in 9-0 in my last nine. BTW, Bobblehead limited edition? Wait 6 months, there will be another limited edition. Can anyone say Inscription Wall or Metrodome Medallions? Ya got a nice streak going there TK! Something has got to give. Mike - it's about high time Minnesota actually gets summer. I don't remember a summer this good since 1988. I've been looking at the forecast, and we're talking a string of high-80s low-90s for about the next six days. You know what's happening, don't ya? God is paying us restitution for the awful winter we endured. More power to Him, if that's the case. What would really be nice is to see a string of high 80s in mid-December for once. That's what I call restitution. "BTW, Bobblehead limited edition? Wait 6 months, there will be another limited edition. Can anyone say Inscription Wall or Metrodome Medallions?" Wait 6 weeks and pick up a set on the Bay for $150. And, twice as many this time??? How is the weather in DT Mpls? It rained until about 2pm in St. Cloud, and WCCO has thunderstorm and 100% chance of rain at 7. Nothing is showing up on NOAA Radar Jared? Twinkfan-Congrats on the first win at TF this year 1-6. Twinkfan, you can own the first 4.5 innings and I will take the second half of game. I am now 9-0 at TF since my road trip to KC. Now .500 at home this year. Plouffe with a shot tonight, wow, but only 412' and Young with the bat, defense, another story. Delmon came back quick from injury and smacked the ball..The only ball he didn't get Revere wouldn't have been able to get it..Clearly over his head without a chance,,Nice to get back to the ballpark tonight.. I'm enjoying watching Nishioka on defense. He covers a lot of ground and has a great first step. Still a few communication issues on balls up the middle, but they'll get better. Sorry TK, I went to the game last night and didn't see your post until this morning. Lucky for us the rain stayed away. Anything I was seeing was holding off rain until late night last night and it looks like it held off a bit extra since the storms are now just moving through the state. A similar setup is shaping up for tonight's game except the rain looks to have a greater impact around game time. Thanks TK, was nice to finally get win this year. The way it started I thought here we go again. Left way too many runners on base early in the game with some poor at bats to boot early. Nice 2 out rally in the 5th and then the Plouffe bomb. I'm sure Gardy not real happy with the 3 errors. Would be great to be back to 500 at the end of this homestand if possible. P.S. Had a great brat at the game from Holiday. Not many people standing behind home plate so was able to have a great view also during the bottom of the 7th! Even Mauer got a hit!! I was thinking about planning a road trip to Detroit later this summer. Never been to Detroit and have only ever heard negative things about Detroit in general... But I figure there must be some places to stay that are better than others? Any experiences/suggestions worth sharing? Thanks! Just out of curiousity --- why would you plan a trip to somewhere you have never heard a good thing about? Hoping the negatives are just broad sterotypes about Detroit that aren't necessarily true... I've heard the ballpark is nice, and like to follow the Twins on the road when I can. Everybody I know who has ever been to Detroilet has had nothing but negative things to say. I had a colleague who went to Detroilet for a conference once, and I think it's his goal in life now to convince the organization to never have their conference there again. I think the negativity about the city goes far beyond mere stereotype, and is probably pretty factual from people who have visited. Comerica is on the more underrated ballparks in baseball. Not to mention, Ford Field is very nice as well. We drove to Detroit in 1999 (Tiger Stadium's final year) and also in 2003. Took the car ferry across Lake Michigan. Checked out Kellogg's cereal in Battle Creek, stopped in Ann Arbor to see the Big House, checked out Windsor, Canada, Joe Louis Arena, Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village and than drove up north to Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula. Came back down through the U.P. and into Wisconsin. The city of Detroit itself is not very great but we found some things in the suburbs to do and stayed in Dearborn. We didn't go to see Detroit in particular, but built our trip around the Twins' stop in Detroit. It worked out well and was very happy I got to see Tiger Stadium in its final year as well as Comerica Park and Ford Field. Not to mention pastys in the UP which, I assume, you had enough sense to partake of. It has been years since I was last in Detroit and most of my work was in the northern suburbs but we did stay in Dearborn occasionally and it was very nice. If you are an automobile or history fan, Dearborn has The Henry Ford, Greenfield Village and Ford Motor Company's Rouge factory tour. Detroit itself has Belle Isle, Greektown, a cruise down Woodward Avenue, Motown Historical Museum, Detroit Historical Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts. We would also take the tunnel down to Windsor, Ontario but that was prior to 9/11; do not know how much of a hassle it is to cross the border these days. @Raging Peasants I have some family in the Detroit area, and you now need either a passport or enhanced drivers license (whatever that is) to get into Windsor. Such a shame...This team is trying so hard to dig themselves out of their grave and this fat ass Matt Capps is single-handedly holding them back. Once again he rears his ugly ass. Brutal. Just brutal. Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:55 PM by Rick 407 I wasn't joking when I suggested Capps get sent to AAA 2 weeks ago, before he screws anything else up. He is the worst closer in the game. I'm unable to watch tonight and I'm following on gamecast. I have a feeling I could hear the boo's all the way down here in satan's crotch, az Matt "Ron Davis" Capps simply cannot be allowed to close games for this team anymore. I have 9th inning facial ticks that I have not felt since 1986 with Davis on the mound. Ah Jeff. Remember when they used to cart that jerk from the bullpen to the mound in that ugly golf cart with the Twins cap roof? I just remember the place booing hysterically anytime Garnder or Miller would bring Davis in. 1984 was particularly disturbing and this Matt Capps really brings back those awful memories. That was ugly. I think it's time to let Joe Nathan handle the 9th again. Kevin - If Capps had glasses and longer hair, we'd have a dead ringer for Davis. All I can say is that Matt Capps should wash Nick Blackburns's car tomorrow. In all seriousness, if that "performance" is not enough to remove Capps from the closer role, I don't know what is. The Ron Davis era, while good for funny tales, is something I had hoped not to relive. Unfortunately, it's the mid-80's all over again. I got nothing. How can you let this continue. starts off the inning with 4, four, FOUR, straight balls. Gets a great play turned in by Repko in right for the 2nd out to save his hopeless attempt at a save. 0-1 pitch up into the swing of a good player, and that's the ballgame. I think the Final Countdown had a different tone for tonight, hopefully this is the Final Countdown to the chances Capps gets. I would very much like to stand up and shout again when the game is on the line... Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:22 PM by Rick 415 If Capps is to come into another game, I would rather just have Mauer place a ball on a Tee than to see breathless Matt Capps try to do something. At least with a tee, you likely won't walk the lead-off guy. Methinks the good run that we had is over. Back to reality. I'm still predicting no better than third in the AL Central this year. I'm also predicting 4-6 over the rest of this homestand and the nails for the coffin can be started. Ok. I had a couple of beers on the deck and thought about this. I am going to be positive. Perhaps a great weakness was exposed tonight that might have gone otherwise unnoticed (until too late) if Capps would be saved the game with his "warning track outs." Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. I have tickets to the game tomorrow. Perhaps Nathan or Perkins as the closer? So my facial tick will get better? Gardy is soooooo pigheaded when it comes to bullpen management..Capps has been lucky all year and hasn't had his pitches for 5-6 games..STAND UP AND SHOUT....Nathan has been hitting the corners..mixing his pitches and changing speeds...Come on Gardenweasel.. B - I did the trip to Detroit back in the late 90's to see Tiger Stadium. At that time I stayed a couple days downtown across the street from the Renaissance Center. It was a nice location then right on the elevated light rail (Detroit People Mover). I actually felt safer there than I did in the Tiger Stadium neighborhood. If I was going now I'd probably stay in that general area again, perhaps in the Greektown Casino-Hotel which is pretty close to Comerica Park. When I did that trip I also included Toronto(Skydome) and Cleveland(Jacobs Field). It's a pretty nice circular drive around Lake Erie to hit those three in one trip, which also includes a stop at Niagara Falls. No one remembers Davis being carted to the diamond in that golf cart, Kevin. Davis pitched for the Twins from 1982 until 1986, after they moved into the Metrodome and the cart wasn't needed for that short trip from the foul-territory bullpens to the mound. Went to Detroit last year with a large group. We stayed at the Hotel St. Regis and do not recommend. I recommend going with a large group and staying somewhere close to downtown near some of the casino areas. I will likely never go back to Detroit and glad it is off my ballpark list. I think the majority of this comes from the way the Detroit fan base acted towards Twins fans. I had never been to an away ballpark and felt so harrassed (verbal language, items thrown at). The Twins announced that a 25 piece set of bobbleheads will be offered featuring the "entire roster" (to include TK) of the '91 Series team. Let's see --- 25 players plus one manager = 26 where I went to school. How soon we forget for the two years prior to his surgery Nathan was pretty much like Capps is now, with the exception his defense would some how bail his ass out. As much as I dislike Perkins for the arrogant prick he is, and for quiting, ala Kevin Slowey, on the team last year, he is pitching incredibly well right now, its time to put him in as the closer. Nathan is doing well in the role hes in now, keep him there. I went to Detroit for the last year of the old Tiger Stadium and have gone back to see Comerica. It's not my favorite of the new parks but it's still pretty cool. We stayed in Ann Arbor both times- great college town and if I remember it was only about a 25 or 30 minute drive in. Matt Capps has the most blown saves in the American League with 7, to go with his 15 saves. (Soria from KC is next with 5). Saving two thirds of your chances is not major league closer material. This team is scrambling and clawing for wins, we can't be giving them away. Pickoff. Sommersault triple. Nifty 4-6-3. Some missed scoring opportunities, but Blacky's rolling. Nathan magic. Then Capps. 4-pitch walk. Drunks in 106 and 107 pick this unlikely moment to try starting the wave but an usher STOPS! them. Kid in front of me turns to say with a huge smile that it's his first game. Everyone knew what was coming but nobody had the heart to say it. For the entire top of the 9th, I joined lustily in the booing. Perhaps most telling, this time my wife and daughter did not attempt to stop me. Oh, for just a simple fly ball somewhere in our 9th instead of that swinging suicide... Really wishing I did not have tickets. Those WC Dugout Box seats at $85 were really tempting. One of the things that made last night's game all the more disgusting was DickBert spending the first four innings blathering on about Hochevar's mediocre (at best) season. Duffman, not sure what team you were watching in 2008-2009, but in those two years Joe Nathan converted 86 of 97 save opps, with an ERA of 1.71 and a WHIP of 0.90. He also had 163 Ks in 136 IP. In order to equal Nathan's stats from 2009, the rest of this season Capps would need to throw 29 hitless innings, giving up no runs, strike out 68 and convert 32 save opportunities. Even then, his ERA would be 2.77 vs Nathan's 2.10. At the ballpark tonight, and I have to say that this is exactly what I longed for all those cooped-up years in the Dome: hot, humid, sunny, gentle breeze--almost perfect conditions for enjoying outdoor baseball. Posted on July 16, 2011 at 7:14 PM by Rick 432 I'm sitting in front of a fan in an air conditioned house, watching the game on an HD tv. Only thing I'm missing is the food and the humidity! :-) Back in the mid-eighties I was attending a game during the time when Ron Davis was really lighting up the scoreboard - and hearing about it from the fans. His wife was sitting a few rows in front of us and got up to change a baby's diaper (is that baby the one who now plays in the majors?). Seeing her and the baby gave me a different perspective on booing. I don't think I've booed a player since - muttered a few unpleasant words maybe, but no booing. Capps has pitched poorly, but I'm not going to boo him. Also, he wasn't the one who left runners in scoring position earlier in the game. It was a very nice evening weather wise Rick. Bit humid and slightly warm but with the breeze it was very pleasant. Tomorrow afternoon may be a totally different story ... It would be interesting to see some sort of chart that tracks game time weather conditions for each home game. Something like average temperature, dew point, wind speed, and precipitation during game time rather than daily highs/lows. Yes Nathan puts up great stats, but no save is safe when he is on the mound. Sadly I fear we will see this again. One of two things will happen this year, Nathan costs the Twins the Central Division title, or he does not finish the year as the closer. Even tonight he gave up a hit, as opposed to Perkins who did not. It's been said many times, but the whole idea of a single "closer" is not born out by statistics. Managers would do better going with match-ups in the ninth just like they (well, some of them) do successfully in earlier innings. Even so, I was totally pumped to see Joe Nathan in the ninth -- to literally get my wish (comment 415 above) to stand up and shout with the game on the line. (I did. Loudly. From the front row of section 315. My voice is sore this morning.) As to the quality of the save, I'm satisfied. It's a little bit over the top to expect every save to be one-two-three. A hit here and there must be expected of any pitcher who is human. Just how many closers can be truly lights out over the course of multiple years? Mariano Rivera? What usually happens is that somebody gets real hot, closes very successfully for a while, then fades quickly. That sort of describes Capps, although the "real hot" segment is a little hard to pinpoint. Nathan's now in his third act. There will be a time for him to step aside. But right now, I think both he and we need to see whether he's got one more hot streak in him. From what I saw last night, and have seen in his recent setup outings, all signs point to yes. Posted on July 17, 2011 at 07:29 AM by Rick 438 I do have to admit, I was a little nervous when I saw Perkins start warming up in the bottom of the 9th. Sorry, bottom of 7th, I was thinking Nathan was going to get the night off and we were to see Capps. tk, If Gardenhose had put Capps in the game with a 1-run lead last night, he would have needed a security escort to his car. Gardy was not at the game, as Ullger took over responsibilities with Gardy going home sick, that is why I was more worried. Patrick Klinger made the rounds to both FSN and 1500 to talk about the 1991 Bobblehead set. Patrick spoke of the "26 bobblehead set" with 25 starters and Tom Kelly. It now shows that all 25 players and manager will be in the set online. I wonder if someone made a mistake on the front end or if they have gotten some backlash of not having the complete team? Anyone seen anything or have any knowledge to the situation? At last night's game the black doormat, patchwork batter's-eye looked even worse than usual -- it had significant white streaks down it in several places, apparently from the rain. Did they fix that today? Heaven forbid that it's distracting for the players -- then they might have to go back to spruce trees in the outfield. I'm surprised nobody posted pics of number 28 being revealed on the Admin Bldg wall around here. I know at least FOUR people here were at the game last night. ah, what the hell, I found it on YouTube (clicky). Posted on July 17, 2011 at 4:14 PM by luke 446 "I wonder if someone made a mistake on the front end or if they have gotten some backlash of not having the complete team? Anyone seen anything or have any knowledge to the situation?" Initially, they tried to slide by with a 25 piece set (something to due with how the Chinese like to pack things), leaving Terry Leach out and, apparently, thinking no one would notice (Leach was probably the least noticible guy in that Series, but "entire roster" would include him regardless of any other factors)). Someone, I believe at the Strib, who is more adept at second grade math than anyone on the Twins, called them out almost immediately. Then the Twins "walked it back", as they say, claiming the "mistake" was due to having sent the ALCS roster to the Chinese for production. Then someone else pointed out that the ALCS roster was 23 players. Oops. Klinger said his "staff has spent hundreds of hours" on the promo without explaining how that many man hours can be expended without any one checking the appropriate roster. Bottom line --- just another large platter of hot, steamy turtle shit brought to you by the "not a bad seat in the house" folks. 3 out of 4 is good, although 4 of 4 would have been better. Double-header in the heat tomorrow, hope guys stay cool and keep their cool. I'll be at the early game tomorrow, thankfully in the shade! For those that did not get the chance to see Young's face of the Thome homer, a friend of me sent me the link. Click name. Posted on July 17, 2011 at 8:07 PM by tk 450 We were standing at a drink rail above a 200 level section on the 3rd base side for that Thome homer and I am pretty sure that was my reaction as well. I am not one to get too overly excited about hits to the outfield, mostly because I can get a read on flight path pretty well but as soon as contact was made I immediately yelled OH MAN! WOW!. Just knew right away it was gone. That was a blast, but no way was 490 feet. Hit tracker will have a more accurate distance tomorrow or Tuesday. (linky!) Posted on July 17, 2011 at 10:10 PM by F_T_K 452 She gonna be a hot one in the yard this afternoon. Man would be speacial to take 2 today with our sub pitchers! I would settle for a split! Need 5 more wins to make it an 8-4 homestand! Chips fall our way we could be in first by the end of the week? Perhaps? Here's something weird I just heard on MPR. Craig Edwards, who is their meteorologist AND works at Target Field, wants everyone to know that the body temperature of the people around you at today's games WAS NOT included in the heat index calculation. This means that the "microclimate" of your ballpark seat is likely to be even more uncomfortable that the rest of downtown Minneapolis due to the heat being generated by the person sitting right next to you. So...drink more beer (I think). Posted on July 18, 2011 at 08:50 AM by Rick 454 True price of bobblehead set = $396 ($5 "convenience fee"). Typical Twins BS - if you can not buy the the set for $391 then $391 is NOT the price of the set. I really do not understand why they think it is perfectly OK to lie staright into your face. In the ESPN story about the game yesterday, the estimated distance reported for Thome's HR is 464 feet. Linked. I have been at TF for most of the HRs on that list and even though Thome's was a big time no doubter, the Nelson Cruz HR seemed like a longer hit. It was a laser into the 3rd deck and still had a ways up and out to go, Thome's was more on a downward plane when it landed in the trapezoid seats. Posted on July 18, 2011 at 09:29 AM by Jared 457 Note: It "seemed" like a longer hit. Its hard to argue against Hittracker, just my opinion. The only accurate, well close to, that I have seen was the Butera HR that barely cleared the 339' fence. Estimated at TF to be 350, tracker had it at 352. Ben - did you buy the set? What about shipping charges? Yes, I did - I'm one of those bobblehead idiots you hear about. Nothing about shipping so maybe one can assume it is inclusive. There is one on the Bay, listed yesterday, bid up to $430 shipped - so someone is asleep at the switch. The sets were sold out by 9:45 so it must not be a bust, as was some "50th year" commemorative set they did last year, and were still hawking several months later. Ben: What kind of demand do you see for the upcoming Ron Gant/Kent Hrbek 1991 bobblehead? More or less than last years Minnie & Paul bobblehead? Just wasted 10 minutes of my life listening to Skip Bayless argue that Jim Thome is not a hall of famer. Some incredibly pointless wanderings into questioning everyone who homered during the steroids era... One of his major points is that Thome never came in higher than 4th in MVP voting. I know it's just ratings generating noise, but based on that logic, shouldn't Zoilo have been a lock? :) Skip Bayless is as worthless as much as Jim Rome. Twins should trade Aaron Hicks, Kyle Gibson and Kevin Slowey for the cost-controlled Ubaldo Jimenez. Yes or no? Discuss. Our boys wilting in the heat today! Down 4-0 bottow of the 7th! One mistake by Swarzak a 3 run bomb by the tribe! As Harry Carry would say! LETS GETS SOME RUNS!!!!! It was hot at the ballpark today. I made it through the 5th inning, and headed for my car. Now I'm back at the air conditioned office listening on the radio! Had to be brutal FTK. I bet 3/4 of the fans left after the 7th! Were you in the shade??? Looks like our boys are trying to get into the clubhouse quick also! I see the Mad Crapper in for mop up duty! Prompty gives up the home run! Last time he struck out anybody was what 10 apperances ago. Not a good stat if you wanna be a closer! WOW Better get the nightcap game! Rookie pitcher Diamond. Lets hope he has some stuff. I was in the shade, lower level on the third base side, but there was almost no breeze so it was stuffy. Every now and then a breeze would come through, and you'd hear all the people go 'oooohhhhh' as it passed them... The ice water and 'frozen lemonade' vendors were doing brisk business, that's for sure! Some journey man named Huff mows us down like Cy Young! Maybe it was those Ugly green hats? I thought St Pattys day was in March? This was the game that was originally scheduled for "Earth Day", so both teams wore the green hats. I was at the game this afternoon. My seats were in the Skyline Deck, Sec V, Row 2. We only lasted to the end of the 3rd. Then we were in the SRO space between the LC and Captains Deck. I have no idea how some people lasted all 9 innings out in the sun. Something I found pretty funny was that if you didn't know any better, when looking at the people wandering the concourses, you would think we all just got off the water rides at Valley Fair! Everyone was drenched! Would like to have seen some of the ladies drenched so to speak. Would have been a great game to break out Twins Halter top day once again. The place look empty after the 7th inning Mike? I would assume the Legond club was standing room only with the AC and all! I battled the heat in the sun of the Diamond Box this afternoon. I am one that likes the heat and it was almost too much for me. It's great drinking 4 Liters of water and not having to wait in line to go to the bathroom. Off to the night game, seems like everytime Capps is in a game, we lose :) I gotta say, I feel incredibly sorry for those who sat their bums in the RF bleachers today. That aluminum must've been HOT! I think the MCS (abbrev. Majestic Clubhouse Store) sells seat cushions still, doesn't it? I thought they did last year. The June 14 rainout is rescheduled for a day/night split doubleheader on Labor Day, Monday, September 5. Huge DH at come against 1st place yeam and the Twins lay a big egg! You can stick a fork in them there done!!! 2 runs a game - are we going back to the ugly days of April and May? And what is wrong with a picture that has Span and Kubel starting in Rochester and Ploufe and Rebco starting at Target Field? Not good today. This team managed the unthinkable to even sniff the top of the division, and then lose a doubleheader at home to the divison leader. This team is a tease. One person that isn't a tease though is Capps...he just sucks. Posted on July 18, 2011 at 10:37 PM by twinswschamps2011 483 Two of the eleven games we have attended this year have been played under really nice, comfortable conditions. The rest have been cold (even bitter cold), rain, sleet, snow, drizzle, opressive heat/high humidity. And we stayed home, eating the tickets, once. Not a good ratio. I think it's safe to say that the average fan is learning more about outdoor baseball than he learned last year. "Ben: What kind of demand do you see for the upcoming Ron Gant/Kent Hrbek 1991 bobblehead? More or less than last years Minnie & Paul bobblehead?" About the same, or less, would be my guess. Die-hard collectors will want one but their numbers are seriously on the wane. Then there are the folks who are excited about the subject and the anything free types but they were attracted to the M & P as well. If this one next one is as junky as the last one it may well kill interest altogether - which seems to be the team's goal. I think the demand is going to be high for the Ron Gant-Kent Hrbek bobblehead, due to the fact it is very unique. While the die-hard collectors will get theirs as usual, I have a lot of friends who are casual fans who do not collect bobbleheads but they really like the uniqueness of this bobblehead and want to get one. For as much junk as those Minnie and Paul bobbleheads turned out to be, you can't even find that many online. Alot of this is due to the fact that these "sellers" cannot get as many tickets to Target Field as they were in the old Metrodome, where they would snatch up a lot of cheap seats GA tickets. Has anyone ever done the "watch the Twins batting practice" offered to season ticket holders? How many ST holders do they open this to on a daily basis? I have a chance to tag along with a friend to an upcoming game. Mike --- Demand will be high - whatever that is - but I don't think any higher than last year. There were lots of people excited about the M & P bobblehead as well - and I think it could be successfully argued that it was no less unique than the forthcoming piece. And --- given that the Twins have become less, rather than more, generous, I fear that cheapness will once again factor in. I hope I'm wrong but I will point out that these bobbleheads are not being included in the "guaranteed giveaway" packages for fear of excess breakage. Yesterday's losses, at least the night cap, was all on Gardenhire. How can you start a rookie pitcher with that lineup and expect to win? Also what was with letting C. James sit out there twisting in the wind when clearly he did not have his stuff? Gardenhire has to manage the games against the Indians, Tigers, and White Sox, as though they were playoff games. If he doesn't the Twins will not gain the ground needed to make the playoffs. Plus it will give him practice, since we all know he sucks at managing in the Playoffs. I would say the next 6 games will tell us alot. Tough 10 game road trip to Texas and Anaheim. I got a feeling Sunday was our high water mark at 5 games under and 5 out. I hope I'm wrong. Guys just have not much offense going! Gardy did blow that game. He should have never sent Diamond out for the 7th. 6 innings was more than what the Twins could have hoped for. Who do you propose he start in that situation Duffman? Baker going to the DL threw a wrench in the plans as it would have been Swarzak/Baker for the 2 games and then stay with the normal rotation after that. Diamond didn't do that bad and maybe if the lineup produced some runs they get a win. Slowey would probably be the only guy at Red Wing not a "rookie" and I don't know where he sits in terms of options, etc. He's not the kind of guy the team would be looking at to bring up for a spot start and send back to Rochester on the next plane. I'm beginning to wonder if Gardebhire, especially given his favoritisms and narrow minded stubbornness, has shown us all that he has in terms of management creativity and abilities. Maybe the "replace Gardy" drum-beaters are gaining purchase? His options have been limited, even severely limited, but his choices seem clearly to be becoming increasingly suspect within that context. Diamond gave the Twins a quality start. His walk to Ezequiel Carrera in the 5'th with two outs cost him; But lack of run support is what gave him the L. Stevie- I wasnt suggesting they not start Diamond, but give him the A line up to support him. Instead they gave him Plouffe, Repko, Hughes, and Casilla. Not exactly much run support. I know it was hot out yesterday but with 4 games against the Indians the best lineup possible should be in for all 4 games. Also why is Plouffe playing right field? Put him at 2B or, SS, when Nishioka is out. End the 5th Casilla experiment, put Cuddy back in Right Field and let Hughes play first. Span and Kubel come back put Hughes on the bench, Cuddy at First, Kubel in Right, Span is Left, and find a way to get Young in from time to time. Gotcha Duffman - i see your point there and would agree with that assessment. It's too bad Thome has been so limited this year because there is almsot no way they can play him both games of a doubleheader, even when the weather is good. I thought Casilla had come around but seems to be dropping again and Revere is (not) hitting his way out of the lineup after looking so solid for a while. Hopefully Span/Kubel come back recharged and ready to give the team an offensive boost. One would think that Delmon has to be on the blocks for a trade before the deadline. Might get a draft choice and a suspect perhaps. But with Span and Kubel due back soon something has to give. How about these position changes: Since Delmon tends to flop around in right filed let him flop around behind the plate, at least with his bulk he would stop a lot of balls even if he couldn't catch them, plus he does have a pretty strong arm. Speaking of strong arms, move Joe to third since he's got that good arm and seems athletic enough to man the hot corner. This would allow you to shift Danny V. to shortstop and Nishi to second, both moves that make me more comfortable than the "Lexi" experiment #5, (although he's hot right now how long will it be until he reverts to form). Then when Justin returns you can put Michael back in right Denard in center and Revere with he's weaker arm in left. I'm sure Gardy would jump all over those moves trebor. I think Young will be gone by July 31st. The Babby Jesus might be your future first baseman perhaps after Morneau is forced to retire early. Forget pitching, How about the simple fact that the Twins offense has not produced in this homestand? Averaging 3.67 runs/game is not going to win you many games. Per LaVelle's blog: They are averaging 3.67 runs a game during this homestand. Unacceptable. They are batting .258 during the homestand, but if you take out Joe Mauer's .550 (11-for-20) average, the team average over six games at Target Field since the break is .223. I have two tickets for tonights game available. Terrace level, sec 226, row 2, seats 9 and 10. Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:09 PM by j2k 502 I couldn't believe all the small kids and senior citizens at the game on Monday afternoon. It was actually so hot it was dangerous, even in the shade, for the very young and very old. Even though lots of people didn't want to end up paying for a ticket and then not using it, common sense needed to prevail, especially among parents. Sometimes it's okay to skip the game. No kids or old folks in my party and we spent exactly one inning in the sun before finding shade for the other eight and we still could never have never claimed we were comfortable. It does seem like Gardy regularly runs a "concession" lineup out there, built of spare parts, with the sense that, "Hey, this is all I've got to work with." It could be argued that yesterday he sent two such lineups out there. How good would this team be if Gardy could ever start the "regular" lineup? 1 - CF Span Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:31 PM by Rick 504 I miss Bob Kurtz. Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:31 PM by Rick 505 now you see why it's retarded to say a catcher "called a good game". they don't call shit... they stare into the dugout and put down signs. who was that who kept posting about how well Butera "called a game"?... there was more than one of you.... What a win! What a comeback! If the Twins lose that game, they lose the series. Now the Twins can regroup and hopefully salvage a split. BTW, I am sure mj you did not mean offense by your comment in 507, but I would have chosen a different word. Just saw Cleveland's Perez meltdown in the dugout after giving up the game winner. Was he upset that his LF didn't dive for Valencia's flyball? It looked catchable to me. Anyone feel the same? Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:19 PM by N.D. (aka N.D. "Rube") 511 On the radio, they said that the left fielder was actually an infielder playing out of position due to an injury earlier in the game. And, yes, it looked like a catchable ball for your average left fielder. Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:22 PM by Rick 512 Ah, Travis Buck was the original left fielder, and he was hit in the helmet by a Liriano pitch in the 5th. The LF in the 9th was Luis Valbuena. He's listed as an infielder on the Indians roster. Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:27 PM by Rick 513 From the AP report: Valbuena came in to run for Buck and stayed in the game in left field, just the second time in his career he's played in the outfield. The other came on Aug. 19, 2010, at Kansas City. And Perez's comment, which may tip how he really feels about it: Valencia's blooper fell in front of left fielder Luis Valbuena... but Perez refused to give (Valencia) too much credit after the game... "You can't be too happy about that hit," Perez said. "He's happy because they won, but I'll take that swing every time. It just fell in there." Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:36 PM by Rick 514 Wow. Is there a worse way to lose a game? I'm sure ballplayers are given a bit of a break when playing out of their natural position. But still. If the home team doesn't make it through, damn sure I'll be hoping for a Tribe/Buccos World Series. Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:41 PM by N.D. (aka N.D. "Rube") 515 Hmm, I think the worse way to lose a game is for your closer to walk the lead-off man, then give up a two-run homer in the ninth with two outs and two strikes on the hitter. But it's a close call. And if it can't be the Twins, how about a rematch of the first World Series in 1903: Pirates vs. Beaneaters (Red Sox). They could sing a few choruses of "Tessie" in Boston. Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:04 AM by Rick 516 Yup, left myself wide open on that one. Delmon Young would've eaten that one up. Ahem. Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:33 AM by N.D. (aka N.D. "Rube") 517 Interesting history of the "Tessie" chorus. Just think. We all despise the wave at the yard??? Wait until we one day make it back to the W.S. and the loudspeaker prompts..."Everybody Clap Your Hands!" Holy shit. Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:38 AM by N.D. (aka N.D. "Rube") 518 A Pittsburgh-Boston World Series? Sad to say, but ESPN will be banging this Pittsburgh drum like they knew it all along. If you listen closely it will be very contradictory though. "Look at these Miracle Pirates. They were worst in the league the last 500 years and Vegas oddsmakers had them at a 5,678,942 to one shot to make the playoffs this year..." then they call in one of their MLB talking heads who raves about how they had this talent all along and he could see starting last season that they were a world series contender for this season. I almost forgot: Let's go with a rematch of the 1925 World Series -- when the Senators took on the Pirates (and lost in seven games). It's time to avenge that defeat! Posted on July 20, 2011 at 07:22 AM by Rick 521 Interesting philosophical question: which is more annoying, the wave or "Everybody Clap Your Hands"? As "The Ultimate Book of Baseball" said about the Mays/Mantle/Snider debate of the '50's, if the answer could be found the universe would be a more well ordered place. A guy in our section on Saturday night loudly pointed out that the Twins always suck immediately after they play that "Everybody clap your hands" thing. I can't remember the exact quote, but it was very loud, and it went something like this: "Stop playing that song! It's terrible! Everybody hates it! It must stop now! The Twins always suck when you play it! (Just then, a Twin grounded out.) See? SEE?!?" We were laughing. Posted on July 20, 2011 at 08:19 AM by Rick 523 I should add that, blessedly, it was only played that one time on Saturday night. Posted on July 20, 2011 at 08:20 AM by Rick 524 The wave is more annoying, because people turn their attention away from the game in order to participate in the wave. At least 'everybody clap your hands' happens (or should only happen) when the batter has stepped out of the batter's box. Twins stole a win last night, but I'll take it. I have decided that if I'm ever fortunate enough to have a son, I'm going to teach him how to throw a sinking fastball. Be interesting to see how long people last in the sun today. Talking about 100 latter. At least there is a strong breeze and dew points don't seem to be as bad. Would be nice to get the split today! 5 games out sure sounds better than 7. Course depending how Tigers do today. Nice to win a game. But --- don't know how often we can count on a wimpy (albeit clutch) blooper that should have been caught, even by an emergency fill-in. In case there was any doubt, prices plummeted today. I let go a pair in the shade in LC for $20 each on Stubhub. I'd have gone, but another commitment kept me away. Someone is having a good time cheaply right now! Twins. Not. Out. Of. Anything. Yet. Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:01 PM by Rick 530 I had my cheap set of tix today at $2.00/ticket and they left unused on StubHub...didn't have a chance to e-mail them because of meetings today. Would have been a good game to be at again! Everybody clap your hands is worse, because the team is telling you both when to cheer and how to cheer. Like we're in kindergarten, for cryin' out loud. It's pathetic. Twins taking 2 keeps them in it. Now get the job done against the kitties... LOL I agree BR worst song ever! I will take 3 out for 4 vs the Detroit! I see the Tribe is hosting the White Sox this weekend also. Could make for a log jam if we take care of business and the sox beat up on the tribe! I haven't been to a game in a while, so I don't know how often the Clap Your Hands thing has been done. THANKFULLY, I only heard it once at the April 23 game against the Tribe. It honestly is the worst thing to come out of a studio: what could only be described as a middle-aged guy who just walked out of Kieran's shouting "Everybody Clap Your Hands!" Whose idea was that anyway? Twins are 5 games back of Cleveland and Detroit, and a win (half-game) back of Chicago. It's a long season, but it is starting to get more exciting! It certainly is. And the attitude around here has improved dramatically (unless you count the Capps comments) from a couple months ago. I went back and read some of the comments left on Rick's April 28th page and got a chuckle at how many posts were ready to write off the season and run Bill Smith out of town. Perhaps today he doesn't have to look over his shoulder when he's walking to his car. Capps sucks, Bill Smith sucks. Had to balance against the positivity. I have been one that has been harping on the Twins, but I think it is more about passion and frustration, than not thinking this team can turn it around. I still think Bill Smith has made some poor decisions and made a mistake with the rebuilding of the bullpen. However, that is all forgotten by most when a team is winning, we will just see how it goes down the last couple of months. Ok a Sweep of the Tigers and a white sox sweep of the tribe would leave us only 2 games out. Standings would be as follows. Ok I know its long shot but wouldn't that be something to see monday morning? Be nice to beat Verlander tonight! Clev 51-49 TwinkFan, Twins would be 50-51 if your prediction stands. 1.5 games out. opps a twins sweep would make them 50-51 and tied with the whitties if they also sweep the tribe in the 3 game series. You beat me to the punch on that one TK! LOL! Sure would make things very interesting if it could happen! Has anyone ever done the "watch the Twins batting practice" offered to season ticket holders? How many ST holders do they open this to on a daily basis? I have a chance to tag along with a friend to an upcoming game. Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:09 PM by Stevie B Highlight this comment Ignore this person 487 Stevie B--- I was wondering the same thing. Our date is coming up next month and I'm trying to decide if it is worth leaving work early specifically for this. Access is at 4:30pm for a weeknight game and according to the e-mail we will be ushered to the overlook area. I would think it would be worthwhile if it is a nice night and there are only 10 to 15 of us there until the gates open, but if they are scheduling 100 to 150 fans into that area for batting practice, I think we will skip it. Let me know what you find out. When did they start elimating fans from BP? Is it just the home team? I'm always arriving fashionably late around the start of the bottom of the first inning anyways most times. Ha! This website (linked) looks to be the start of something very good. Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:31 PM by Jared 545 I've taken my kid to BP a few times, but not through the STH perk. The Twins go first and are usually done 1.5 to 2 hours before the game. They don't open the gates until 2 hours before the game on weekends, 1.5 hrs on weekdays. So you don't get in in time to see much of the Twins' BP. I think the STH deal lets you into the park earlier, and let's you go on the field. Is that BP routine pretty much the norm around the leaugue? Curious. I can remember seeing the Brewers taking BP in the old county stadium and the Twins at the old met. Not sure what they did at the Dome as I tried to avoid that place as much as I could. Ha very nice Jared. That reminds me. I ran across a pretty funny twitter feed @NotDickBremer the other day... Does everyone get that invite? Something tells me my ST partner isn't sending everything along. Is it a standing type invitation, and how could it be passed on to someone else? Twink - I've always known the Twins to take BP before the gates open. It's been like that as long as I can remember, even back to the days at "The Other Place". It sucks that they do it that way, but the Twins can take BP whenever the hell they want, they own the ballpark. They can troll in to take BP at 3AM if they wanted to. #MoreCircleLessStopwatch Hilarious. Thanks for that Max. Not every STH gets the BP invitation. Probably just a handful each game. It's one of the many limited game day opportunities they offer through the "Sweet spot" program. I have seen the Twins doing BP many times back in the dome, and so far only a couple times at TF. If I recall almost all those times I entered the ballpark right when the gates opened and the Twins were already in the middle of BP. These were almost always weekend games 2 hours before game time. As a side note I would also see many fans getting autographs then too. However, I don't recall seeing that going on anymore in TF. And from the A to Z guide Batting Practice – The Minnesota Twins typically start batting practice 2½ hours prior to game time, with the opposing team taking batting practice beginning 1½ hours prior to game time. Batting practice always occurs at the Manager's discretion. It's either a team by team rule or a league rule. Torii didn't sign during BP last year but he signed after (before the game started but well after BP was over with when they run/stretch in the OF). He told fans it was against the rules. The Twins sign during this time too. Not every time, but I probably see at least one guy do it per game. The only thing that has been offered to me was a stadium blanket and a pin. We drew in our group and I got neither. Oh well, with 20,000 STH I doubt I will get anything again. Well, no $2 tickets for tonight's game on StubHub, cheapest was $35 for a pair in the grandstand when it ended. I will watch from home tonight. Yeah, take your pick: cheap tickets or comfortable weather. More Manaus-like days this weekend, so perhaps a few bargains then. Combine that, too, with folks hoping to scrape up enough to pay their U2 scalper. Personally, I like the weather we've had this summer. This is the kind of stuff we missed for 28 years zZA Damn keyboard. what I meant to say was "28 years at the other place." Luke, it is hard for me to believe that post 559 was just your keyboards fault. Have I not been paying attention to Coomer talk this season on FSN. Tonight he spoke about how he was "talking to Hall of Famer Jim Thome" in one segment and in another "future Hall of Famer Jim Thome" Believe it, tk. Our keyboard is incredibly dirty and sometimes the keys stick. I spent 45 minutes tonight cleaning the thing out. I can ship all the dust I got out of there to you, First-Class Overnight Mail if you'd like. I thought it was Luke's computer exerting its will to not mention that other place. ;-) Verlander was just too good tonight. Go get 'em tomorrow, boys! Luke, wow, I do not think I have to even state the obvious, you can't make that stuff up... The "everybody clap your hands" curse got the Twins again tonight. Cuddy triples, "everybody clap your hands" Thome strikes out for the 1st of 3 and the Twins strand Cuddy at 1. in pick the stick yesterday, Marney picked someone because she thought he'd get a "gap to the double"... later, Bremer said something similar... switching two words around. statements like that are hard to process if you're on beer #3. You're on beer #3 fifteen minutes before the game starts? Daaaannnngggg... "The only thing that has been offered to me was a stadium blanket and a pin. We drew in our group and I got neither. Oh well, with 20,000 STH I doubt I will get anything again." Two things removed from STH deals this year are media guides and ST bobbleheads. Media guides were always an interesting, informative, handy thing to have, IMO - and (almost) everyone appreciates bobbleheads. Also conspicuous but no less absent --- STH would always get some sort of "gift" (opening day panorama, countdown timer, etc.) - never any great shakes but always tangible evidence that ones patronage and loyalty was welcome. Perhaps some may not have noticed but a great many fans I hear from regularly have. The Twins are clearly and aggressively subtracting value from ST packages at the same time as they are looking to maximize price. When asked they reply that they are "especially appreciative of the support of Season Ticket Holders", and that "we have invested more in Season Ticket Holder rewards and benefits than ever before - exponentially more than in past seasons - not less." Addressing the more tactile items referenced above they say they find that "not surprisingly, many, many Season Ticket Holders do not see value in bobbleheads and media guides". So, I guess I'm wrong again. Well so much for the sweep. Got to have the game tonight. Would settle for a split at this stage. Lets hope the whities can beat up on the tribe. Man would sure be nice to get back to 500 sometime soon! I go back and forth on the extra value that STHs get. The basics include reduced ticket prices, avoidance of "convenience" and "processing charges for the STs, the abilty to pay for the tix over time and interest free, plus access - to buy extra tix, to the Met Club, to playoff tix. All of these things (and others) add up and represent real value, which I appreciate. I filled out the lengthy STH survey recently and hit pretty hard on the need to improve value and make gamedays more kid and family-friendly. They should offer discounts on concessions, as various other teams do. They should have a "kid zone" somewhere to take toddlers (that's how you grow the fan base, guys) and more plaza activities for older kids. Those types of things wouldn't be restricted to STHs either. BR, the reduced ticket price, convenience fees waved, etc. is something that has always been a part of most season ticket where ever you go. What gets me is they send a flashy booklet explaining the SweetSoit program. Sure, if not selected, I do not know what is going on. It would be nice if they could give an actual data of what has been done so far and what is still in the works (e.g. 10 have been selected to raise the Twins Territory flag, 500 have watched BP, 2,000 received a trinket, etc.) My position is that the elimination of the media guide (and ST bobbleheads - I'm an avid collector) is evidence of both cheap and greedy, and a low rent slap at a great many long time loyal fans. It really was a nice touch, very useful, and could not have set them back that much (watch for them in grab bags at Twinsfest). Discounts on grievously over-priced consumables and merchandise, etc. do not impress me, and were always part of packages anyway. The point is that they are reaching ever deeper into your pocket - giving you less while claiming to be giving you more - and hoping that, good little sheep that we are, nothing goes noticed. While not a new business model, I am sorely disappointed that it is being applied to their most loyal fans. the media guide was taken away? I could have sworn that when I got my tickets, there was a sheet that listed the vouchers enclosed.... the magazines, the yearbook, and the media guide. But there was no card to redeem for the media guide. anyone else? "But there was no card to redeem for the media guide." BINGO!!! It all looked the same as usual - except for what was no longer there. Ben - I can assure you there are many non STH fans that are way more loyal Twins fans than some of the current STH. Most of the current STH I personally know are what I would call "new ballpark" STH. They only became STH because of TF, not because of some deep loyalty to the Twins. Perhaps you could call them the most loyal Target Field fans? Dave --- I agree. We could, for lack of anything else (or important) to do, categorize "fans" in any number of subsets. I think these would include, but not be limited to: --- scalpers, "ticket brokers", and other bottom feeders I think how many of these folks acquire tickets or gain entrance to the park is not necessarily germane to the overall issue. The Twins are on a roll and after the fast buck. Not unusual. One consideration, in my view, is that the casual fan can, and will, vanish as quickly as he appeared and take many the first category with them. Then the Twins will be back to relying on guys like me more than currently. So, why are they so pointedly trying to run me off? Rick was, at one point, going to do a piece on what many perceive as a growing arrogance on the part of the "corporate" Twins. It was probably going to be a good read but I think he might have decided to forgo that little bit of valor out of some homage to what he views as discretion. I would say financially loyal. I have been going to Twins games as far back as I remember, only 4 years ago did I start buying season tickets, as I finally was in a position to purchase (thankfully no more grad school to pay for). That seems a bit short-sighted Dave and Ben. I never had season tickets before Target Field for two reasons, one I couldn't afford them, and more importantly there was no need for season tickets at the dome. Minus the home opener, a person could walk up and get tickets to any game they wanted. Then comes Target Field where getting a decent seat cheaply was supposed to be damn near impossibly. So whats the logical step? Get some friends and get a cheap ticket package. It allowed me to see Twins play and see the new stadium and not have to stand in line or wait in the virtual waiting room in order to see the Twins play a few games last year. Dave, I am what might be called a "new ballpark" STH, but I am also a baseball afficionado. I have followed the Twins since literally their first game in 1961. I stayed loyal through the bargain basement years of the late '70's when they were basically a farm team for the rest of the American League. But I could not bring myself to enjoy going to the games during the Twins 29 year exile to that baseball Siberia on Chicago Avenue. I had partial season tickets in the mid-'80's, but the sightlines and atmosphere were so bad I gave them up. When TF was built, I happily became a STH again. I'm sure you're right that there are some who are STH's only because TF makes it the trendy thing to do (I suspect these are the idiots we see doing the wave during crucial points in the game). But there are some like me who are "new ballpark" STH's AND baseball afficionados as well. Duffman --- So, what kind of fan are you in your own estimation (let's add some categories)? Nowhere is it written that an occasional patron (however you would define that term) can not be a loyal fan. I would, on the contrary, submit that the "fan" whose money can be relied upon, regardless of regularity, should be highly valued and not disenchanted. Terry --- Absolutely! Fandom does not require attendance at games. The Twins have legions of fans in places like Biwabik and Happy Acres who have never set foot in a MLB stadium. My issue is the Twins seeming disdain for my continued patronage - I will remain a fan even if I choose to throw my money at them no longer. Perhaps the Twins' idea of "Increased Value" is predicated on the notion that inflation makes the same old package (minus a perk here or there) worth more monetarily. Ok now praying for a split. 11 straight to the tigers!!!!! I am strongly considering dumping my season ticket package after this year. I can't even get face value for half of my tickets I have sold this year. I have had season tickets going back to 2005. The single game pre-sale event is a joke... The bobbleheads are gone The media guide is gone I don't use the Metropolitan Club I am not interested in 2014 All Star Game priority I will take my chances on single game tickets on Stubhub and other secondary markets because I am sure it will continue to be a buyer's market next year (except for home opener and Brewers) All Star Game priority??? What, realistically, are the chances of any plain old STH scoring a ticket or two? It is an insult to anyone in possession of more than three functioning brain cells to even mention it. And, Mike, you forgot to mention Opening Day tix. Another sour joke. The Carnival Barker hotdog vendor (e.g. "SSHHHHWWEEEIIGGGGEEERRRTTT!! DUG OUT DOGS DUG OUT DOGS") was a hit in our section tonight...he sold at least 10 dogs on one passing tonight. The guy is so annoying and people were just cheering him on, I think it was there source of entertainment in tonight's debacle. The The last big win I remember seeing us win against Detroit was in game #163. The wave had no energy tonight, wish I could say the same about it the last time I went to a game. Unfortunately the only way to get away from the wave is to have a bunch of uninterested people which usually means the Twins are losing. I was surprised to see how many people stuck out tonight's game. I cannot imagine all those people were just waiting around to catch the Northstar, which was my initial thought :) Not sure what I'd have to say about organizational "arrogance". There's no question that we are witnessing the accelerated transition of the Twins to a Big Corporate Entity (fueled by the ballpark, of course). You have a lot of power in the marketplace when people are clamoring for your product. Beyond that, I'll have to give the idea some more thought. But on the specific subject of media guides for STHs, eliminating them has all the earmarks of a marketing test. Since they've been using coupons, I'm sure they know exactly how many people have redeemed theirs in recent years. If it was a low enough number, they might have realized they could save a little bit of money without pissing off too many people. If it was a high number, then they are taking a calculated risk that not too many people will really miss them. The worst case scenario for such a decision would be that STHs get upset. And if enough get upset, the remedy (sending out belated coupons) is pretty quick, cheap and simple. The risk to such a test is really quite low. I'll give you that it might be a little short-sighted. Successful organizations have a tendency to assume that their success will continue forever. They rarely plan for the rainy day, assuming they'll just deal with it in the unlikely event that it comes along. Further, decisions like this are usually made by numbers people, who occasionally (OK, frequently) forget that they are dealing with real people on the other end. My advice (not that you asked, and maybe you've tried this already) would be to inquire calmly about it and see if you can get your ticket rep to send you one -- or at least a coupon to pick one up at the ballpark. Any rep worth their salt would do this in the interest of keeping a customer happy, primarily because it's easy and costs next to nothing. By the way, is the "Media Guide" different from the "Record and Information Book"? Posted on July 23, 2011 at 12:17 AM by Rick 589 "By the way, is the "Media Guide" different from the "Record and Information Book"?" No - most people just call it the media guide, maybe that's what it was originally called? Wow, no one has commented on yesterday's win, yet? You all in shock or something? I thought the win yesterday was "workmanlike", which is fine by me. I will say it sure helps when Revere gets on base....it is just harder to get him in a double play, and he scoots around pretty good. Nishi also had one good and one very good play going out deep to shag a couple of bloopers. I also commented that at one point we had three players in a row hitting .300 on the scoreboard (Mauer/Cuddy/Kubel), and it almost looked like a big league line up. A month ago we had four players hitting under .200 regularly in the line up. On the flip side, Baker through 70 pitches through 4 innings, so that isn't great. And poor Delmon just has to be traded. His bat isn't SO good that it makes up for his horrible fielding. They have to think about Revere-Span-Cuddyer as their outfield I think. They can hide Revere's arm a bit better that way and keep him in the lineup, and allow Nishi to remain in the 9 spot for a bit. Mean nothing if they don't win today. I think at a minimum they need the split here, because going to Texas is going to be tough. As a STH, I could care less about bobbleheads, media guides, etc. The #1 factor motivating me to renew or not is the ability to sell the games I don't make for face value. It was gravy last year, ok this year (only because I sold a decent amount before the season started), and I anticipate it will get harder to do that. Although, it looked like it was game over in May, at least I feel I have a decision to make now. I love the idea of keeping my same seats year after year, but as a guy that cannot make weeknight games, it becomes tough. Last year, if I had offered anybody my weeknight games for $13 each, I would've had hundreds of takers...right now, I'd probably have no takers. At least I can say I feel like I'm on the fence again...the team, while not great, isn't the mess I saw in May, and they can compete in the AL Central while being mediocre...and they've somehow been much better than mediocre since June 1. I prematurely called the end of the On Deck Circle in May...I wonder if anybody that wants ST next year will get them, or if there will actually be people turned away? I'm guessing everybody that wants them will get them because of the removal of profit for people selling their lots. Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:56 AM by twinswschamps2011 593 Lincster, Late in yesterday's game, Nishi caught a ball that was clearly Delmon's to catch, except for the fact that he couldn't get there in time. There was no harm done, but the defensive liability is just too great. I like a Revere-Span-Cuddyer outfield, and some pitching prospects for Young. But I don't think the Twins see it that way. Posted on July 24, 2011 at 2:37 PM by Rick 595 And don't forget the "double" in the 9th. A quicker left fielder and that ball is a single. Make or break homestand and I would have to say 6-6 is break! I think the hometown nine are done for this year. 7 GB with a brutal roadtrip ahead, we could be out of it soon. Maybe people here should rag on Liriano instead of the constant Delmon bashing..All I said was Delmon wasn't a "liability" yesterday and actually had the game changing hit... Are the Twins already hawking 2014 ASG priority? Steve - I agree with you. If I had to pick one of the Twins 5 starters to win a "big game" or a so-called "must win" game, Liriano would be #5 on my list. Liriano looked lost (again) on the mound today. I swear that sometimes it looks like he doesn't even know how to throw a ball over the plate. The ASG is becoming less special of an event to attend. This year's game still had strips available to the general public a month or so before the game. The reason it sucks is because you have to buy complete strips for $400 or so for nosebleeds. So, you're paying face value for things like the Futures game and the HR Derby and Fanfest when all is said and done. Even ST holders would be much better off buying just the All-Star Game ticket itself off Stubhub or something for $150-$200. My point: Steer clear of the strips in 2014. There is nothing special about having the inside track on them. Two runs is not going to win many games, especially in a league that employs the designated hitter rule. Throw in a few wild pitches a kicked double play ball and it should have been a blowout. I agree wschamps. It just doesn't seem like the ASG has much clout (if any) anymore. Luke, they make you buy strips to make money. If you buy all 6 and planned on only attending one or two events, they make full price on 4 things you would have resisted buying in the first place. Luke - The Twins changed it a year or two ago so the playoffs are "Pay as they play". Each round is only charged to your credit card once the team advances to the next round. I think that they have a pretty fair system. The only bad thing is that at about that same time, you are also asked to make your first installment for the next season. "I think that they have a pretty fair system." Basis for that statement??? Ben, I think he was speaking about the process for STH. I have no issues with how the Twins handle the STH postseason tickets, besides the $30 additional fee :) Again, that is only for full season ticket holders, it is a smooth process. In our partial (40game) package, trying to get comparable seats is a PITA and it is a disaster in the waiting rooms, etc. I gues I wasn't aware there was much experience in regard to post season at TF - :-) I guess I wasn't aware there was much experience in regard to post season at TF - :-) Well this road trip should pretty much seal our fate. Come back 12 games out or more and we should be sellers by the end of the month. Seven games back, around 9 weeks left in the season. Need to make up one game a week. Unfortunately, that means 4 wins a week isn't going to cut it. Twins need to start going 5 and 2 over 7 game stretches in order to make up ground. I don't see that happening, but I'd love to be proved wrong. The next 4 games will be very telling. Ending up 10 games back by Thursday is a real possibility. That would be sad as this has been a fun push back into contention, but if we are 10 games back by Thursday, with the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and road games with Cleveland and Detroit making up 16 of the following 22 games, it is getting harder to see how we make up any games on the leaders by August 21. In that same time frame, the Tigers have the Angels and Rangers at home, home-and-home series with the Indians, but also the Royals and Orioles. I'll stick with our boys for a bit more, but the math is getting to look tough unless we start winning a couple of these tough road series. New post on slappingsingles. Pretty funny, and a doctor who reference for those of you who partake. Posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:47 AM by Jared 616 Detroit is the best team in the AL Central and it would not surprise me if they are big buyers at the deadline. The Twins showed their true colors again when they played Cleveland and Detroit...that is lack of hitting, errors, and inconsistent pitching. Why does Joe Vavra not get any criticism for the team's hitting? The approach at which this team takes at the plate is just ridiculous and painful to watch at times. I just wish this team would either go on a run and make up some ground or lose ground so they can sell at the deadline and begin the process of re-building the roster. Instead, we get the same old inconsistent gain 4 games, lose 4 games. We are running pretty low on people who think the Twins have any realistic chance of making the playoffs - down mostly to homies now. Just not a good enough team, plain and simple. The sad part is that this is satisfactory to the Twins so long as a given level of ticket sales is maintained. Cost v. benefit - it is NOT about winning. I'm feeling the boys are going to find some magic on this roadtrip. You read it here first! With the trading dealine looming July 31st. We will know based on the deals. Me thinks we will be sellers. Addios Delmone, Franscisssssco, Cuddy, Mad Crapper, Kubel, Thome etc etc etc. Hope we can get something for these guys! Tell Cuddy we will make a run for him in the offseason. Well if we can get a draft pic or a player on a 2 month rental why not?. Maybe they have a wink wink deal in the mix for next year already. That's the only kind of deal BS makes - lots of spin our way and a couple of winks that we seem to miss. To add a bit of fuel to the fire...Twitter was well "atwitter" today as it seems as though the nationals are looking heavily at span. In return they were offering the NL's shortstop with the most errors and some other lesser names. Thank you Jared, I needed that. "the nationals are looking heavily at Span". That is the funniest thing I've heard since stupid DC got a team. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. FSN must be trying to tell us something, the music they played during the intro to tonight's telecast had a lyric "feels like we're free-falling"... Yup, that's about right. I love the camera angle pitcher to batter here in Texas,much closer than Target Field.. 106. What was Blackie thinking when he picked the navy road jerseys for tonight? (and it appears that wasn't his only bad move tonight...) Rangers, on the other hand, look cool and crisp in their bright home whites. If my Minnesota math is correct (to paraphrase Bert), the lads are on a pace to give up 24 runs tonight. And lately when the Twins have a runner on third with less than two outs it is time to reach for the Maalox. Let's see. By my Minnesota math, giving up three runs per inning amounts to an ERA of 27.0. Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:12 PM by Rick 631 Great minds, terry... Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:13 PM by Rick 632 Rick, the ERA may be 27, but I really doubt Texas will bat in the 9th - hence the 24 runs pace. I may be a pessimist, but I do know my 4th grade math. I have switched the game off and am watching a movie; won't I be surprised tomorrow morning when I read that the Twins won 28-27 in 10 innings? I've read somewhere that the navy blue road uniforms 'breath' better than the greys. Can we just implement a 'mercy rule' for this team? If you're down by 15, call it a game and come back tomorrow? It is true that the blue breaths better. The Grays are heavy as hell. May God have mercy on our souls. I'm definitely having a "turn my season tickets in after this year" night. Yep - the Fall of Rome had a tour stop in Texas tonight. They found a way to score a runner from 3d with less than two outs - they hit into a double play! That's their 5th in the last 2 1/2 games for those of you scoring at home. Well it was a nice run!!! Down by almost 2 td's and it's only the 5th!!!!MERCY Dang auto-correct. I meant to write that there will be something tragic on this roadtrip, not magic... Can the rangers make it 3 td's???? How can Gardy even watch this? Will one of our position players pitch tonight? Who and what is that fat #54 for us pitching???? T minus 6 days till the fire sale. I cannot believe how this team can show so much and then go out and struggle. I still have not given up home with 2 months to play, but things need to turn quickly. Oops, my Minnesota math was off. I didn't realize there were errors. Only 14 of the runs scored tonight by Texas are earned. That's a much more respectable ERA of 25.2. Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:21 PM by Rick 643 Thanks Rick. Glad to find out the pitching wasn't as bad as I originally thought. Time to remember Scarlett O'Hara's line; "tomorrow is another day". Unfortunately, I think the Texas hitters are thinking the same thing and looking forward to it. Different sport, same idea: Reporter: "Coach, what do you think about your team's execution tonight?" Tampa coach John McKay: "I think it's a great idea." Might want to tune in for the bottom of the 8th: Cuddyer is warming in the bullpen. Why was Young pulled? Trade perhaps...? Saw Cuddyer pitching highlights on the news. That's pretty cool. He actually looked credible. I'll certainly be checking it out on the condensed game later. Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:30 PM by Rick 648 Sure hope Nishioka remembered to give him the ball. When Cuddy broke Andrus' bat for the second out, I thought it looked like he was going to walk over to ask him for it. Then, of course, the possibility in the top of the 9th for the first HR by a Twins pitcher since Kitty in '72. He was swinging for it on the first couple, to be sure. Gotta look for entertainment where you can find it in these games! Someone posted it was fun while the twins were back in the race. I'm sorry, but the Twins were never back in the race. I'll say it again, this team is no better than third place in the weakest division in baseball, and hasn't been better than that all year long. Maybe the Twins' plan was to get the Rangers so tired from swinging the bats and running the bases that the Twins will be able to win the next three games. I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't stay up to watch Cuddy pitch... The pitching, especially the bullpen pitching, and the anemic offense have been such glaring shortcomings this year that the horrid defense has been somewhat overlooked. Did anyone see the look on Gardenhire's face when that routine pop-up in the 8th dropped between Nishi and the left fielder? Hey Rick, when do we get a new page? LOL! This one goes back to June 25th and is on the 14th page and takes forever to load. Perhaps the new page could be... Time to sell??? I like what this guy said in the strib today. johnsm31 The Twins have 5 games before the trade deadline. I think if they earn a split with Texas and take one from Oakland, they stand pat and try to make the playoffs, may attempting to trade Kubel or Young for a relief pitcher. If they go 0-3 against Texas it may be time to sell. Hopefully it was just a bad trip through the rotation, and the pitchers can help each other pull theirs heads from their asses. Once again last night Cuddyer proved to be the heart, soul, and MVP of the Twins, as he has been since Hunter left. Cuddyer should be given an immediate contract extension. The ideas Twinkfan posted are not too bad, I would tweak them a bit. Trade Morneau, he has become too expensive a player for the amount of time he is injured. END the CASILLA era now! I've been saying this since before the season. Do what they did last year with Valencia, bring up a prospect and let him grow into the position, or put Plouffe at second. Fire Joe Vavra, it seems he can not help anyone's swing, unless the players are just not listening to him. Nishioka looks like Christan Guzman did his last year here, just trying to slap the ball and beat out the throw, what happened to trying to drive the ball. Then again this may be why the Twins were able to get him. Sorry Duffman those were not my comments. I cut and pasted those from an articel in the comments section of the star tribune. I doubt anybody would bite on Morneau with the size of the contract and head injury woes! Would Cuddy come back for a home town discount? I mean Cuddy just turned 32. I know, but you posted them here. I don't think he should give them a discount but the Twins should sign him to what every it takes. Some of that could be off set by dumping Morneau. Hmmmmm. A guy with a brain (and neck) injury who doesn't play - where to start the bidding? Howard Sinker is after Ben's heart (and right): I'd also suggest that you not buy any silliness about how real fans stick with the team and don't complain. You are sticking with your team by expecting it to do something. Demanding a better bullpen ... and outfield ... and starting rotation ... and more power ... and fewer Triple-A players in major league uniforms is your right -- and even your obligation. Personally, I think that anyone who is not a lock for the 2013 opening day roster should be available for trades right now. Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:46 PM by Rick 659 The Twins committed 78 errors all last season. With 60 games left to be played this season, they have 72 errors. Not a pretty statistic. Continuing the thought, the Twins hit 142 home runs last year (in a "down" year), but have only 62 so far this year. Now that I think of it, is there a metric in which this year's team is better than last year's? Check that; is there a metric in which this year's team is not substantially worse than last year's team? Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:16 PM by Rick 661 Ben- I didn't suggest the Twins would get a good prospect for him, but it would be more of a finacial move. Morneau is supposedly a few weeks from coming back, you don't think some contender would want a former MVP for cheap for the playoff run and into the future? The Twins could save $14 million each of the next 2 years. Did anyone else catch Gardy's BS about why Liriano has so much trouble with the Tigers? To answer Duffman's question: No. The Twins aren't going to find a team mid-season that has the kind of payroll flexibiloity and desperation needed to take a flyer on an expensive and injured Morneau. Few teams could take on his salary as it is (big market teams like Boston and Philly would go flying over the luxury tax limit and have to pay even more). Almost none would want to take on that financial risk without being sure he was healthy. That's going to take playing time to reestablish. As for the other ideas being floated - absent an immediate 4 game winning streak, they should look to sell any or all of their soon-to-be FAs: Kubel, Thome (love to keep him for #600, but it's not like that will really help sell more tickets), Capps (for a bucket of used BP balls), etc. Slowey will get dealt. Maybe they keep Cuddyer with the thought that playing his whole career with the Twins will have some value to him, translating into a slight discount to resign him. D. Young they can trade in the offseason, unless they get good offer now. They should be looking for a corner OF prospect with some power, advanced middle infield prospects, a back-up C, and/or cost-controlled set-up guys. It's about time a majority of fans start to speak up. Bill Smith deserves much more criticism than he has been getting the last 4 years. Also, why doesn't Joe Vavra get more criticism? The Twins offense is terrible and their approach at the plate is dismal. Ironically, I just received an email from my ticket rep stating that some suites have just opened up for the Sept 5 game. Also mentioned there are group ticket opportunities available for every home series remaining (except CWS series August 5-7). Group tickets available for the Yankees and Red Sox, just two weeks away??? Who would have thought that in March... Obviously the demand is free-falling and it will be very interesting where the STH account numbers stand for 2012. I have also noticed that they have not been advertising the "On Deck Circle" as much this year. It's time for Bill Smith to sell and re-build this roster for 2012 and beyond. Unfortunately, the Twins don't have much value to trade away so it will be interesting how things play out in the next 5 days. ...Thome (love to keep him for #600, but it's not like that will really help sell more tickets) Actually, as deadline sellers, this is one of the few things which actually will sell tickets for the remainder of the season. Of course, there aren't that many left to sell -- unless you're a season ticket holder that is... Posted on July 26, 2011 at 2:47 PM by Rick 666 I've figured it out, this is just how things work: ...the Twins don't have much value to trade away... That's the real problem here. This team is made up mostly of spare parts to begin with. Collectively, there's always the hope that they'll catch fire. But individually, which the trade market uses to calculate value, it's slim pickins. Cuddyer is about the only one that you can imagine some contender salivating over. Maybe Liriano, if they have a good team psychologist. (Mets?) In order to build a contending team, you really do need a core of players who can contend regardless of who you put around them. The 2011 Twins just don't appear to have that. They appear to value competence more than just about anything. Competence does not win championships. Posted on July 26, 2011 at 2:55 PM by Rick 668 Yes, re Thome and tickets, that was my point. With most tickets sold, I'm not sure his pursuit would translate into more $ for the the team. Maybe a few thousand group tix unsold and/or SRO tix, spread over 3-4 games after he gets to #599? I do know that I have seats in the Overlook section on 9/6. Be nice if Big Jim got hot and reached 600 way before then, but if not, I'll be sure to bring a large glove to that game! Interesting aside regarding season tickets: I was listening to a game on the radio (Sunday I believe) and John Gordon was reading an ad for the On Deck Circle, saying it was time to get in line for your season tickets and that there are currently over 3000 in line. With the season as rough as it has been and the line at 3000 currently, it makes you wonder what the line was at before the twins went down the tubes this season. Jared With the season as rough as it has been and the line at 3000 currently, it makes you wonder what the line was at before the twins went down the tubes this season. My guess is that not too many have gotten "out of the line" yet. People had to put down a deposit to get in the on deck circle, which I think is non-refundable (but applied to future season tickets). Not too many would just walk away from that cash, at least waiting until they see if they get "in" and can choose some seats if something strikes their fancy. Of course, many of them may go ahead and choose to walk once that opportunity becomes available... Uh-oh - Better hold the phone on the Twins and TF getting the 2014 Mid-summer Classic. Washington Post (clicky) blogger says that Wrigley Field is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2014. He notes that MLB likes to honor stuff like that (i.e. last ASG of 20th Century at Fenway, ASG at OYS in 2008). He suggests MLB could go for a back-to-back AL ASG (like 2006-2007 when it was in Pissburg and Frisco). Here's how I think it'll go down: TF scores WrestleMania AND the Winter Classic in 2013, Monsters of Rock Reunion Tour in 2014 and the ASG in 2015. Posted on July 26, 2011 at 5:46 PM by luke 672 Umm, that's "Pittsburgh". Posted on July 26, 2011 at 7:16 PM by Rick 674 I still have some faith in our hometown nine, but it's fading fast. Maybe if we could do our September call-ups now, that would give us enough bullpen arms to get us through this road trip. Hey, I thought Pissburgh was pretty funny. Nope. Not funny. Posted on July 26, 2011 at 10:07 PM by Rick 677 That is +1 +1 +1 to Rick. Rick was on a roll, hotter than the Twins bullpen tonight. I can't believe none of you have heard those appelations before. On a more serious note: How on earth do you tag a runner out, five feet from the plate, and call him safe? Answer: why don't you ask the douche of an ump that did that very thing last night in ATL. I care not that it was the 19th inning, that was a sucky, sucky call. Almost as bad as Denkinger's call in 1985 in Game 6. seriously luke -- not funny at all Why would you even say such things? Howard Sinker says today that baseball is cool because there are good things to celebrate even in "the less-than-best of times". Football tends more toward the "winning-is-the-only-thing" philosophy, i.e. there is one Super Bowl winner and every other team is a "loser". Despite it apparently being a non-playoff year for the Twins, it was just plain fun to watch that comeback last night and see Nathan record a tough, well-earned save. Its not that we haven't heard them, its just that they are stupid and ridiculous. This isn't a 4th grade health class snickering a butt jokes on sex talk day. How do you make that call in the Pit/Atl game? Simple, ump sees the slide and the "apparent" tag, ump believes the tag isn't applied, ump calls safe. I haven't watched in depth replays of the call but the angles I have seen can justify the call either way. There are plenty of phantom tags that get called the other way around, only a matter of time the safe call was made instead. Too bad it had to be at such an important time/place of the game. Luke, that is baseball. Calls happen. Don't like it, go back tomorrow and win. Anyone with a few extra minutes right now should go check out what our competition in Cleveland is up to against the Angels... Not sure what I'd have to say about organizational "arrogance". There's no question that we are witnessing the accelerated transition of the Twins to a Big Corporate Entity (fueled by the ballpark, of course). Successful organizations have a tendency to assume that their success will continue forever. They rarely plan for the rainy day, assuming they'll just deal with it in the unlikely event that it comes along. I'd say the Twins have always had the Big Corporate Entity strand in their DNA. It was hidden starting around 2000 when lousy teams, lousy attendance, and a lousy rep due to all the stadium bickering literally forced the Twins organization into having a more humble demeanor. When the club was riding fairly high during the 1987-92 range, it was honestly as fan unfriendly as it got. When the 1993-2000 collapse happened, the Twins had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern era of fan friendliness, doing things they previously thought were beneath a Major League team. As things picked up in the 2000s, the arrogance slowly returned and Target Field inspired success has really brought it to the surface. It will take bad baseball, the new ballpark honeymoon ending, and the resulting drop in attendance to bring a new wave of Twins organizational humility. well tk, you must be as blind as the ump (that wasn't Don Denkinger back there was it - no, it was Jerry Meals). Posted on July 27, 2011 at 2:32 PM by luke 687 "It will take bad baseball, the new ballpark honeymoon ending, and the resulting drop in attendance to bring a new wave of Twins organizational humility." Or the appearence thereof. I, for one, am not going to forget next time around that they are at heart cheap, self serving, and greedy regardless of the BS they are serving up. Enjoy the athletic contests to the extent you can but be careful what you drink. Ben, The last time I checked, the Twins were a for profit organization. I don't have any problem with any company doing what they have to do to make an honest profit. I guess I should feel fortunate that I haven't experienced all of the negative problems with the Twins organization that you apparently have. The point is that the Twins can make enormous profits and still be appreciative of where a great deal of those profits come from. I fail to see where things like cutting seniors off from a few televised games and chintzing long time loyal fans out of a publication is in their best interest long term. Nothing personal. Luke I see why in all your pictures you are wearing giant glasses. Nowhere in that linked video is conclusive evidence that the ump made the wrong call. If there were instant replay and that were sent for review there is a very good chance that call would have been upheld. Sure the catcher makes a swipe tag but does the glove make contact with the runner? If it were me, I would argue on the "no" side. The glove appears to come through on the follow through pretty clean and really they only person who knows if there was contact is the runner. And even then, a tag like that, with so little (if any) contact would be pretty hard for a runner or catcher to truly know because the play happens so fast. Actually Jared, I've since gotten new glasses. The aviators are gone PTL. Were you by chance selected from Pinellas County to be on the Casey Anthony jury? "No conclusive evidence"?? Jared, the catcher CLEARLY had the ball in his glove. The catcher tagged Lugo on the leg, TWICE. Lugo was nowhere near the plate. From the angle in the video I posted, Lugo's foot was five feet from the plate. Sure, Lugo didn't plow him over like Lonnie Smith did to Brian Harper in 1991, but I think it was pretty clear, he was out. AND, to me, it also didn't seem that Lugo's foot even touched the plate. And Meals just waves him through like a drunk officer in US Customs. Stick with the engagement ring business, Jared. Wow Luke, just wow. I said nothing to whether it was the right or wrong call...if you would like to grab your glasses, I will repost exactly what I wrote: "Luke, that is baseball. Calls happen. Don't like it, go back tomorrow and win." It takes a keen eye to be in the ring business and you clearly don't have a keen eye. And since you never were more than a Pine Star on your little league team, I will break it down for you. The fact that you believe the runner was tagged on the leg twice (or even twice at all) is laughable. Sounds like you need to stop listening to the announcers and start watching the play. There is no where in that video showing even the potential of two points of contact on the runner. The swipe tag comes through the runners leg and is no where near the runners arm (as seen in the angle from the 1B camera) like the commentators initially stated (and later retracted). No matter what you state, the only point of debate is if the catcher's mitt makes contact with the runners leg on the swipe. There is no clear evidence that it did (or didn't for that matter). There is apparent evidence that it was *close* and that is all that anyone can 100% confirm, even you and your Joe Cool Aviators. IMO, because of lack of certain evidence, the call could not be overturned in the event of instant replay. It also doesn't matter if the catcher "CLEARLY" has the ball in his glove or where the runner's foot is from the plate, if the catcher doesn't successfully apply the tag and the runner touches the plate. If that were the case, then he could have the ball in the glove on his left hand and try to tag the runner with his foot or his right hand and the player would be out. We all know that is wrong. You have your right to think he was out, like i said there isn't good evidence either way. But you should have way more sound arguments than "the ball was in his glove" and "the runners foot wasn't close to the plate". Anyone who has ever played knows that doesn't fly. Well, OK tk, point taken: shit happens in baseball, as in life. I should probably re-write those last two paragraphs to make them easier to understand, but anyone who has played generally gets the idea and i dont care to comment on it any farther. Just looked at that video and it looks like a clean call to me, especially from the 1B camera. You can see air and shadow between the glove and the leg. Unless they have a "grassy knoll" camera angle that we haven't seen, there's not enough to overturn the call on that clip. It was a terrible slide, of course. And by all rights he should have been out by a mile. But I don't think he was. Posted on July 27, 2011 at 8:31 PM by Rick 697 Looks like the Twins gain at least a split from the hottest team in baseball. I've been reading the comments posted this week and I'm a little confused. Should I be throwing in the towel with these guys? Because they don't appear to be dead to me. I just neeveer thougBut then, I'm not as much of a baseball expert as some. Looks like the Twins gain at least a split from the hottest team in baseball. I've been reading the comments posted this week and I'm a little confused. Should I be throwing in the towel with these guys? Because they don't appear to be dead to me. I just neeveer thougBut then, I'm not as much of a baseball expert as some. Our guys are putting together a pretty fine ballgame tonight. Dare we hope for a series win tomorrow? Or, will the guys be so happy after winning two in a row that they stink up the joint for a split? I like our match-up in the deciding game tomorrow on whether this is a series win for the Twins or split. Baker had a great outing last go round and Harrison has not fared too well in 6 appearances against the Twins. It's probably not that big of a deal, but I haven't heard anyone's opinion yet upon the Purple's signing of Donovan McNabb. Not sure what it is the Vikes have with signing washed up, has-been quarterbacks. Oh, and I won't gloat or anything, but I can drop my protest now. Clicky. Posted on July 28, 2011 at 09:40 AM by luke 703 I know what everybody is saying, but I looked at those clips again and it's just not conclusive. It appears in several angles that the swipe tag missed the runner, albeit just barely. That 1B camera angle, which now appears to have been removed from a bunch of the clips on MLB sites, shows shadow and space between the glove and the leg at exactly the moment it got closest. If he got him, it was probably just with the laces of his glove. Unless there's another angle which isn't being shown publicly (which may well be the case), you can't draw any ultimate conclusions. The most damning piece of evidence may be the runner's reaction. Clearly, he thought he was out, and was genuinely surprised to see himself called safe (stomping on the plate just to be sure). That could be a reaction to his own poor slide, and the fact that the throw beat him by a mile, or it could be that he knew the tag got him. Beyond all of these things, however, is the fact that the umpire is now under tremendous pressure to admit he made a mistake (whether he did or not). All of the TV and radio crews (which you can hear on the Pirates site) are shocked by the call, as were the Pirates themselves (and most of the Braves). But that, by itself, is not enough to conclude that the umpire (who was standing right there looking at the play -- the only person in the world who can make that claim) got it wrong. As always, you have to separate what you think you see from what you actually see or don't see -- a terribly difficult thing for humans. Our minds are designed to fill in blanks automatically, and this play is filled with a whole lot of blanks, even on replay. The whole thing highlights the human nature of umpiring, and the pressure bubble these guys exist in before, during, and after every single close call. It is a further argument for a replay ump in the booth, but I'm not sure that would have yielded a different result in this case. Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:08 AM by Rick 704 I don't know what to think of the Twins...Just when you think they are taking a few steps forward, they fall back. I will say they have always played Texas really well so am not surprised by the last two games. We will see what the next 2-3 weeks bring with teams like the Angels, Tigers, Indians, Red Sox and Yankees all on the schedule. Until they can prove they can beat the top teams such as the Red Sox and Yankees, I will not get to excited. They also did not look great against Cleveland and Detroit as recently as last week. The 2-2 record against Cleveland and 1-3 record against Detroit at home was rather disappointing. I still say sell and re-build your roster for 2012 and beyond because we all know the Twins cannot and will not beat the Yankees or Red Sox in October. The reality is, the Twins have THREE teams in front of them to catch. It would be different if they were in second place and only 6 games back. Not to mention, Detroit is the best team in the AL Central, hands down. I just don't have an appetite for winning the division with 84 wins and than falling in the ALDS again. It does nothing for me. Agreed Rick. The ump was in great position to make a call on the play and its too close to overturn. Nothing against the SF Gate Luke but I prefer the statments provided by ESPN on the matter yesterday and today. ESPN posted an article yesterday stating that MLB acknowled the call and all the quotes within the article were not definites. There were a lot of "apparently" type statements. Which is more in line with a PR type move than anything else. Its just that, they are acknowledging the potential for a missed call. Then today the updated story has more definite terms. They brought up further video review. If they are using high speed video not available to us to determine pant leg movement and such, then so be it. In the heat of the moment there is no way the ump is able to determine with such fine detail all the time. And now if they determine the call to be wrong using such methods then I am okay with that. Although, I take it with a grain of salt simply for the fact that they can say dang near anything to us, doesn't mean its entirely truthful, especially if it appeases the fans. Kinda like Tiger Woods 'really' meant his apology for cheating. I went to ESPN first, and I didn't see anything about it on the homepage. I definitely would have linked to an ESPN or even an FSN article. I Google'd it, and the SF Gate article was the first to come up. Yeah ESPN is overwhelmed with trade talks right now. It was on the homepage for a while yesterday and not at all today. It has mostly been top news on the espn.com/MLB homepage since the play occurred, which is where I found the updated article today. Here's the ESPN take on the call: ...Meals said he saw in his review of the play that Lugo's pants moved slightly when tagged. Meals said that showed him he missed the call. "After coming into the locker room, I reviewed the incident through our videos that we have in here and after seeing a few of them, on one particular replay, I was able to see that Lugo's pant leg moved ever so slightly when the swipe tag was attempted by McKenry," Meals said. "That's telling me that I was incorrect in my decision and that he should have been ruled out and not safe." That's clearly an angle we don't have access to. His statement sounds contrite, but the part he cannot speak is still hiding there: "In real time, it looked like the tag missed him." Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:09 PM by Rick 709 Poking around, I saw this (which you probably did too): So one name other clubs say Pittsburgh has its eyes on is the Twins' Jason Kubel. But Twins GM Bill Smith told Rumblings his team is "trying to make our club better, we still think we're very much in contention, and we're excited to see where we go in the next two months." Smith didn't rule out trading away someone in his current mix if it brings back a piece that "makes us better." But one AL exec said the Twins have too much invested in this season "to do anything now that signals retreat." To quote The Boss, "No retreat, baby, no surrender." Not quite sure how I feel about that. Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:17 PM by Rick 710 Gardy is not the only person in the organization with a very small brain housed in an incredibly impervious enclosure. While I fully support the Twins and the Twins Community Fund, its still disappointing that they had to discontinue the autograph party. Sure, they got over $25,000 last night for their "broadcast auction, part 1" which is good to see, but how many "average fans" could afford to bid on some of those things? Whereas an event such as the autograph party, an autograph card only costs $25.00 or so and just 1,000 cards would have brought in that same $25,000. Same with Twinsfest, you need to pay an admission price (season ticket holders exempt) and than you also need to pay $25 or $30 for some autographs. Although most autograph stations run in the $10-$15 range. It just seems like the Twins organization is taking the cheap and easy way out on this. It takes what, less than 30 minutes to pass an Opening Day base around the clubhouse to have all guys sign it? Heck, they probably just set it on a table in the clubhouse and let the players sign it at their own convenience. I suppose some players didn't want to have sit outside on a Saturday afternoon in June for a few hours. The Twins sure seem to be doing a lot more auctions these days. It would just be nice if the average fan could afford to put some bids on these things. Who pays $4000 to spend an inning with Dick and Bert. No thanks. Not me the average fan! Nice to see the Tigers lose another game, wish the Twins could beat up on them too. Can get back to 5 games tonight! Too bad no one here can afford that "Manager for a Day" item up for bids. Gardy's taken a heck of a lot of knocks on this site this year. He could just sit and take notes. Charity auctions by their very nature draw bids far in excess of the auctioned item's fair market value. People with a lot of money - and not coincidentally a need for tax deductions - end up doing the bidding. There is nothing wrong with this; it does after all raise a lot of money for charity. But it also limits who can realistically participate. Not too many school teachers or government clerks or mechanics are going to bid a few thousand dollars to be a groundskeeper for a day. I wanted to bid on the groundskeeper gig. The nice young man my niece married is working towards a masters degree in turf management (and something else - prairie restoration?), I would have loved to give it to him and let him hang out with Larry for a day and talk turf. But, it quickly went beyond my price level! Fox9 twitter reports that Span is still on the trade block with the Nationals. Twins trying to get P Storen/RF Bernadina. RE: Span trade - ugh. Bernadina is a 27 yo version of Ben Revere, only worse on defense. Storen is good, but I hate the idea of giving up a good, cost-controlled lead-off hitter who can play all 3 OF spots for a guy who will pitch for 68 innings/yr. They should be able to find comparable relief talent and get them for less established value. FTK sounds like your niece is marrying the 2nd coming of Carl the greenskepper? So the young man can grow grass poorly too? By the way Texas' grass did look 10x worse than Target Field's. From The Onion: Posted on July 29, 2011 at 12:37 PM by Rick 721 Rich I see you switched the header from AT&T to O.co Coliseum. Are we finally on the verge of part four of the bay ballpark series? I visited Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in the fall of 2009. The A's, like the Twins at the Dome, are doing everything they can to get the most out of a poor situation. The fans were dedicated and lively. Some have said that the stadium was good for baseball before Mount Davis spoiled the view. I say the sightlines in the older grandstand were so poor that it made it a bad baseball park from day one. Rick, you noted that Shibe Park once served as an anchor for its Philadelphia neighborhood. Interestingly, the neighborhood eventually became an anchor around the necks of the ballpark and the Phillies. During the 1950s and 1960s, the neighborhood became a very dangerous area. It already had poor road access, little to no parking, and poor public transportation links to boot. Fans didn't want to go there due to legitimate concerns over safety around the park and the Phillies compounded things by making minimal captial investment in the park in the years leading to the Vet's approval and construction. Some of the lost ballparks could have been saved into the 1990s or even beyond, but not Shibe Park. The neighborhood and its various issues combined with the 31,000 capacity with no room for expansion rendered Shibe Park beyond hope long before it closed following the 1970 season. My niece's husband is a delightful guy, and we're very happy to have him as part of the family. They just celebrated 9 years of marriage (on my birthday!), and are expecting their first child. And his lawn is perfect. I should hire him to spend a few hours a month on mine!! But yea, he's part Carl Spackler, too... /lol Jorge - I can agree on one point and disagree on one point: Agree: I remember reading someplace years ago that Whatever-They're-Calling-It-This-Hour Coliseum was one of the best of the "multi-purpose" era, mostly because of the way it was shaped. But, it's huge, it's cavernous, and the whole third deck of seats is partitioned off. Disagree: I don't know if I'd consider the A's in a "poor situation." Well, yes and no. Sure, the Coliseum sucks (mostly because of Mount Davis); BUT, the A's were moving rapidly forward to build a new ballpark. They even went so far as to secure naming rights (Cisco Field). As far as I remember it, the A's made the decision, mostly because of the economy, to scrap the plans for Cisco Field. I think the A's sort of screwed themselves in that respect. So, the "poor situation," if you want to put them there, IMO is their own damn fault. "As far as I remember it..." C'mon, Luke. Do at least a little reading before posting garbage like that. The Oakland ballpark situation is nothing like you describe. It's very complicated, intertwined with relocation and public financing, and it's the Giants, not the A's, who hold all the cards in the building of what is still being called "Cisco Field". Now, if you want to know the story, either get to Googling or wait for me to finish my next post. Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:49 PM by Rick 726 Less than 24 hours to the trading deadline. Any predictions for the Twins? I'm guessing they don't do anything. I'm getting tired of these crooked numbers Blackburn is putting up. Does Slowey need a roommate? Wait...Luke posted something stupid? He has never contributed anything but crap to the message board. OK - so maybe I didn't realize the thing about territorial rights with the SF Giants. To me, I don't understand the whole territorial rights thing. I think a little bit of that came up to when MLB wanted to move the Expos to DC. I think the Orioles put up a fight. AND, upon Rick's utterment, the biggest thing (I didn't realize this either), was that the plan they "scrapped" in 2009 was on a particular site, not necessarily the stadium. FD - so, you think I post stupid stuff here? Tell ya what, clicky, get a beer, you watch, you'll awe, your jaw will drop, your eyes will bug out. You watch again. Then tell me what you think. K? Posted on July 31, 2011 at 07:45 AM by luke 730 One of my crazy words, Mike...lol. A review of the team by team stats in all categories illustrates that the Twins' second division (is that term even used any more?) standing is not a fluke. They are in the bottom half - often in the bottom 10% - of nearly every meaningful statistical category. The stats for starting pitching aren't going to improve any after last night and today. ""We're in contention, and there's no question this club has the talent to contend and win this division." --- BS I can't tell if those are initials, or Ben's comment on that statement. If the Twins get hot, and play .574 baseball the rest of the season, they'll finish at 81 and 81. In the 14 team American League, here are the Twins positions in various statistical categories: Hitting Pitching Fielding It is not just a failure in one aspect of the game that has left the Twins below .500 all year. It would seem to be across the board failures. Should be an interesting off-season. And I should have mentioned 13th in RBI's. In fact their differential between runs scored and runs driven in is the highest in the league, perhaps reflective of all the 1st & 3d nobody out double plays they've hit into. Is this the start of Twinsville? Hines to develop residential space in the North Loop neighborhood (property bounded by N. 5th Street, 3rd Avenue N., Washington Avenue N. and the Northstar Rail Line/Cedar Lake Trail) called Dock Street Apartments. Click my name for the renderings. Its exciting to see the start of this development. With Target Field and Target Center nearby, the Interchange project soon to be unveiled, along with a possible new Vikings Stadium and downtown casino, what an exciting urban place to live. This could be the start of something very special to the city of Minneapolis. From the Enviromental Assestment Worksheet, Courtesy of City of Minneapolis... The project area encompasses 3.25 acres and is anticipated to accommodate 400 attached residential units and 21,500 square feet of new commercial uses (see Site Plan). The project proposer's initial project, the 185-unit Dock Street Apartment building with 4,000 square feet of ground floor commercial use, triggered a mandatory EAW due to the project proposer having an option on contiguous land. The Dock Street Apartment project is anticipated to be constructed in 2012 - 2013. The project proposer does not have formal plans for the remainder of the 3.25 acre site. Posted on August 1, 2011 at 1:12 PM by Jeff 739 oh terry, I wish you hadn't posted those numbers. In this market, especially with the new palace, mediocrity suffices as far as keeping seats full and selling beer. So ----- mediocrity it is! This would never fly in a place like New York, of course, but mid west "nice" does not require quality play. I'm sure the Twins are using a ghood chunk of I'm sure the Twins are using a ghood chunk of I'm sure the Twins are using a good chunk of their revenues to pay off bank loans associated with the new building. OK, guys, I'm feeling a malaise setting in. Who has got today's encouraging words? Posted on August 1, 2011 at 4:44 PM by Rick 745 Encouraging words? Luke hasn't posted in over 24 hours! Encouraging words? How about this oldie but goodie - "Wait'll next year!" And you know what? It's still fun going to the ballpark. FO JoJo. I'll give you a few encouraging words to soak up: A) At least it's not football season. If you are a 20-game season ticket holder in Plan F, I have an offer for you. Click on my name and send me email. CA Posted on August 1, 2011 at 9:28 PM by ClarkAddison 750 10 days ago I was in Citizens Bank Park in Philly for a game between the Padres and the Phillies. I enjoyed the experience a lot - here are some highlights of the park: The best part of the game was that it was 1980s Retro Night. While that kind of theme night has the potential of being really annoying, I thought the Phillies did a really good job at it. It was very tongue in cheek. Highlights: Somehow all this 1980s stuff was done with good humor and really went over well in a way that I somehow think wouldn't be possible at TF. I really enjoyed it. (Maybe it's a function of my age, because I got all of the 80s references). But something I think TF could try to duplicate sometime. CA Clark - I always kinda liked CBBP. It's one of the places I'd like to see before (or IF) I die. I don't get the "At least its not football season." I heard the FOX football jingle today and just that got me excited for Football season. The best thing about fall is both the MLB playoffs and the NFL on Sundays. Back to baseball. I don't get how the Twins did not trade an outfielder. And Bill Smith sounded a lot like Terry Ryan explaining why the Twins did not do anything. That is not a good thing. Duff, it's August for God's sake. It's warm and humid out. Sure training camps, TaD's and OTA's are in full bloom. But, I hate the fact that the NFL rains on MLB's parade a bit too early. I love the NFL more than any other cold-blooded American. But I just think it's still too early. As for the Twins not trading for an outfielder? Well, I don't get the way the Twins do a lot of things in the front office to be quite honest. OTA's? There were no OTA's and Training camp, thanks to the lockout, started late. Why do you look at having the NFL start up as raining on MLB's parade? As a fan I look at it as great since we now have two sports to watch. Especailly since the NFL isn't real for another month. Also "Cold-blooded American"? I'm just talking August. Preseason starts incredibly soon. Who wants to think about football when there's still tons of baseball left to be played, and summer left to be enjoyed? I have no problem with the NFL in September. By then, I'm so tired of baseball, I'm looking forward to football (usually since the Twins won't get out of the ALDS). August, just seems early. Two words support my feelings on the NFL in August: Corey Stringer. I love the NFL as much as the next guy. And, I along with the owners, support an 18-game season. IF it were up to me, the NFL preseason would start in September. Give MLB another month. Play two preseason games. Season starts in mid- to late-September. THEN, it gets really exciting. As you say, you have the MLB playoffs and NFL regular season on Sundays. Starting the season in mid- to late-September would push the Super Bowl probably to the last week of February, maybe the first week of March. THEN, following the Super Bowl, Spring Training starts! The way it is now, the Super Bowl is in February, then we have this lull for six weeks: boring NHL games, tiring NBA games, waiting for Spring Training to start in March. "Cold-blooded" "Red-blooded" - whatever floats your boat I guess...lol. 8 games under and 7 games back. We are at the crossroads for sure. WE come back 10 out and you can stick a fork in em! I heard that Reusse was saying Pohlad wants to slash payroll next year from $113 to under $90 mil. We got alot of fat to trim! Crapper, Nathan, Thome, Delmone, Fransico, Kubel I think will be all gone with some others. Baby Jesus will take up 25% of the payroll which may come back and haunt the franchise. How much do you pay a soon to be 33 yr old Cuddy? I know Gardy loves him but don't break the bank on this one!!!! The free spending Pohlad days with the new stadium could soon be OVAAAAAAA! I have to agree with you, Twink. Next year's roster will be sized down considerably. Ben said it best....In this market, especially with the new palace, mediocrity suffices as far as keeping seats full and selling beer. So ----- mediocrity it is! This would never fly in a place like New York, of course, but mid west "nice" does not require quality play. Minnesota fans tend to accept mediocrity and status quo and the fans will continue to fill Target Field. This is especially true when it comes to fans of the Wild and the Twins. I have decided that I am downgrading from 40 games to 20 games next year, and I will be lucky if I even get to 10 games next year, depending on the schedule and such. The Twins will continue to raise ticket prices, while the secondary market will continue to become a buyer's market. With the exception of the Home Opener and the Milwaukee Brewers, tickets will be plenty available on secondary markets for bargain prices. I am sure I wont be the only STH to downgrade or cancel. I'm not hearing anything to make me think that the fork hasn't already been stuck. It feels like the boys will be lucky to go 12-17 in August, which makes September (and October) irrelevant. Gotta hope Thome stays healthy and the Quest for 600 stays alive. Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:32 PM by Rick 760 Be intersting to see what they do for prices. I will probably cancel my 20 game pack and split a 20 game pack with my brother who has seats in sec 321 for next year. I may be looking to share a 40 game plan with someone in order to upgrade my seating - it would all depend on what seating I could get. Anyone interested in talking? On the other hand, Mike may well have the best plan - i.e. just picking out games here and there (rather than STH route) at buyers market prices would get us pretty much the same place and quite possibly better off. To me, who they play (and when) is less important than seeing good baseball get played, so we could be very flexible in our choices (and hope for the best regarding play). There would be added attraction of different seats, perspectives, etc. I know for a fact that I am far from the only guy who is angered by the teams blatant disregard for my continued patronage and loyalty. Their arrogance in assuming I will just swallow whatever they are selling is something I find deeply insulting. "I'm not hearing anything to make me think that the fork hasn't already been stuck." Unless you count BS - post #735. Ben that quote by BS aka Bill Smith sounds like something that begins with B and ends with T and it's not brilliant! "Gotta hope Thome stays healthy and the Quest for 600 stays alive." For Thome's seke, yes indeed!!! But, as far as the team having something else to constantly chirp about and annoy us with (this is going to get VERY old DickBert-wise and otherwise), not so much. Oh! Those were initials -- not commentary -- behind that quote. I see. (In an industry with such public scrutiny of job performance, one might expect Mr. Smith to go by William, just to avoid such potential snickering -- although that might lead to other unflattering comparisons.) I've considered the various STH options, including joining groups (which I have, by the way, for five games each of the past two seasons). But I prefer to sit in as many different spots around the ballpark as possible during the year. It seems like the ticketing software should be sophisticated enough to offer such an option to STHs, but I suspect it's far in the future, if ever. (Also, maybe I'm in the vast minority on the desire for variety.) Posted on August 2, 2011 at 1:57 PM by Rick 766 "Ben that quote by BS aka Bill Smith sounds like something that begins with B and ends with T and it's not brilliant!" Exactly - and an excellent example of the sorts of insults they hurl our way constantly. Who does he think he is fooling? "Oh! Those were initials -- not commentary -- behind that quote." Both actually, since it worked out so well. A guy's got to have a little fun from time to time. "It seems like the ticketing software should be sophisticated enough to offer such an option to STHs, but I suspect it's far in the future, if ever." The "Flex Plan" might be reinvigorated, assuming the team ever returns to a fan friendly mode. If that $90 million target is true, and $113 million is truly their current payroll, that means next year, Nathan (yeah!) $11.75m, Capps (Yeah!) $7.15m, Thome, (Boo!) $3m, and Kubel (meh) $5.2m, (Tot= $27.1m) will gone to cover that gap and create some room. Young will remain since he is still arbitration eligible and with his numbers this year I don't see much of a pay bump. Again assuming that $90m is true and they resign Cuddy, next years lineup: LF Young, Seems to be a void of power. Luke- I still am in puzzlement about how you can complain about being able to watch both the NFL and MLB. Rick - I actually liked the variety of the Flex 40 at the Metrodome due to the fact you could select your seats in different sections, as long as they were in the same price category. Unfortunately, as we all know, the Metrodome had very little quality seats for baseball in the lower level, so I pretty much sat in section 116, 115, and 114 with my Flex 40 plans. The Flex 40 lost a lot of its value as a result of the Twins implementing several restrictions with the move to Target Field, but perhaps, we will see some "weekend" and "flex" plans in the future when the Twins honeymoon is over and they will actually have to market their product and ticket plans? Mike --- One feature of the Flex 40 at the Dump was you could use the value of the voucher against an upgraded seat. This worked out pretty well for us so long as "good" seats were relatively easy to come by. Bobbleheads to the first 10,000 fans on Friday night. Ben, Since you are the expert on this topic, do you have any updated thoughts on demand for this bobblehead? Will it be necessary to arrive early and get in line or will arriving as the gates open be early enough? Stubhub tickets are priced high, even for SRO. The only thing is how early will most people arrive for a night game? Waiting in line on a Saturday or Sunday morning is one thing, but getting in line on a work day is another matter altogether. If I had to guess (and luckily I don't), my guess would be that the "rabid" portion of the demand (staying overnight, line budging, angry glares, etc.) will abate before the bobbleheads run out. Bobbleheads simply are not the deal they once were. A great many collectors do not bother anymore (many never did), preferring to pick one up relatively cheaply on the bay in a month or two rather than enduring the hassle and expense of getting one at the game. I have tickets (20 game plan) but will do only as usual, which is get there when I can. If we get a bobblehead, so be it. Not to mention that if the past couple of years provide any clues, this bobblehead is probably a piece of junque. Luke, Also, the 18 game season is a terrible idea. The season is long enough already at 16 games, and the Super Bowl is already scheduled for February. Moving the season back until the end of September, and playing the Super Bowl in March will never happen. February is sweeps month on TV, and that's when all the interesting stuff is scheduled to make the rating numbers look good. The Super Bowl is far too valuable to the networks where it's currently scheduled to ever see it moved. Getting payroll under $90 million after signing a catcher with dicey knees for $23.5 million a year? Nice business plan with excellent long-term vision. I hate to say it...but somebody is going to overpay for Cuddy...and I hope it's not us. He's a great Twin, but his #s will diminish rapidly going forward. Re STH for next year...I predicted doom and gloom in May with the death of the On Deck Circle and 15,000 STH equivalent next season. Having collected myself, I'll still predict the end of On Deck, but I think they'll squeeze 18,000-20,000 STH equivalent next season. Anybody that wants season tickets will be able to get them. I want to renew, but I cannot be watching my weeknight games move for $5 on Stubhub. Here's something that will probably factor in my decision: Will the Yanks/Red Sox series be prime weekend material, or pushed to April/Sept weeknight action? Also, who are joining the Brewers in interleague play? Cubs, Cardinals, Phillies...or Nats, Dbacks, Astros? The Padres/Dodgers duo was definitely not sexy this year. Posted on August 2, 2011 at 9:46 PM by twinswschamps2011 778 You don't like the idea of an 18-game regular season? Even under that plan the usual 20 games would still be in tact, just instead of four preseason and 16 regular-season, it would be two and 18 - I don't think that would be all that terrible. I love football, I do. I just think it starts way too early. And just think for a moment, how COOL of a concept March Madness would be, if it started out with the Super Bowl?? You're probably 110% right in that it won't happen, you have the Super Bowl, then an entire three weeks of basketball tournaments? Mike, I think we will see the resurgence of some sort of Flex plan in the years to come at TF. I know I'd invest. It's unlikely, but I also think there might even be the possibility of the resurgence of some sort of GA seating in the future (possibly LF, RF Bleachers?). GA might be a bit of a stretch...I don't think there's one ballpark in the bevy of new parks that have sprouted up that have any sort of GA seating. GA was utilized in the big cookie-cutter-era parks, i.e. the Dumpty, Fulton-County, Cinergy Field, etc. I know Turner Field in Atlanta back in the day used to offer a $1 day-of-game ticket in two sections of the ballpark. They don't offer it anymore, BUT, I did see that Turner Field now has a GA section on the first-base side in the 300 level. Speaking of Flex Plans, I sort of like the one the Braves offer. Clicky. Posted on August 2, 2011 at 10:18 PM by luke 779 My guess is that if you aren't in line by 4:00 on Friday, you won't get a bobblehead. Maybe even closer to 3:00. There is a lot more excitement out there with the 91 Reunion coupled with the uniqueness of the Hrbek/Gant bobblehead I really want to show my frustration and cancel my 4 seats (or leave it in my partner hands), but I love baseball too much. I wish we had a bargaining chip that didn't result in having to give up something so beloved. My spouse and I have taken a half-day on Friday to get to the park by about 2pm. I am guessing demand will be high, but for a Friday, I do not see a ton of people making special arrangements to get to the park much earlier than Noon/1pm. Also, by getting to the game when the gates open, we get a chance to watch some BP. On July 4 of last year, we got to the ballpark around 11am and had no issues getting a broken token. I am not liking how the Twins have to adjust their game on August 8 to accommodate the TV telecast. I will miss 3-4 innings of the game with the earlier start time. TK - I notice the Twins tend to do that a lot, especially with Saturday games. Looks like its the Tigers division to lose! They are starting to pull away for sure. Our boyz has a couple surges to make it interesting again. But looks like we have run out of gas and the starting pitching has come back also! As the viking fans always say year after year after year! Ohhh well maybe next year! Will be an interesting off season thats for sure. Looks like Chicago ready to run the OZ out of town soon also. A Super Bowl in March, that sounds awful. It was bad enough when it got pushed back to February. That would be like advocating the World Series be pushed back to December. This may be a first, but I do agree with Luke on the 18-game regular season and two pre-season games, still for a total of 20. It's absolutely ridiculous to have to pay full price for glorified scrimmages. And with the money these professional athletes are making they need to spend some time getting ready in the off-season and not rely on camp for that (I'm talking to you Bryant McKinnie!). A month of pre-season (two weeks camp, two weeks preseason) should be plenty for the professinals to learn a playbook. Yes it limits maybe the time to evaluate talent, but let's be serious, with all the scouting now there arent't that many secrets or "diamonds in the rough." Most teams I think know who they are going with pretty early in the process. Well Duff, the way they're going, we may very well see a WS in December. Probably not, but they always talk about expanding the playoffs. I think last year, it was calculated that if the WS had gone to a Game 7, it would have been like on Nov. 4. MLB sort of wised up on that, they started the 2011 season a week earlier, so as to fit the playoffs into the month of October. I don't think a Super Bowl in March is all that bad. Football can be played year-round. Well, baseball can be year-round too, in the right locale. Certainly isn't a year-round sport here. I can't imagine what to expect in February, 2014 when the Big Game heads north to New Meadowlands Stadium, people paying top dollar to freeze their asses off. March on the other hand, wouldn't be so bad to sit outside and watch a game you paid $1200 a ticket to see. Of course, on the other end of that spectrum, people paid top dollar in February, 2007 for SB XLI in Miami, only to be rained on for four hours. "My guess is that if you aren't in line by 4:00 on Friday, you won't get a bobblehead. Maybe even closer to 3:00. There is a lot more excitement out there with the 91 Reunion coupled with the uniqueness of the Hrbek/Gant bobblehead --- " Maybe. I'm just a bit less certain that 25% of the eventual crowd will be standing in line four hours before game time on a workday - that did not happen at the Dome for much of the last few years. And I don't think the interest in Hrbek/Gant is any greater than it was for M & P (which have sold for as little as $33). You also don't have $6 or $7 "cheap seats" anymore, which effectively eliminates both the "in and out" hoarders and those who would "treat" half of their neighborhood to a ball game. Bottom line --- if you really want a new bobblehead you can probably get one every bit as "free" by staying home (with a few cold ones that cost far less than $8), and watching the game in hi-def (with replays). As far as the " --- excitement out there with the 91 Reunion --- ", have you taken a poll or are you just drinking the usual beverage while listening to DickBert? Sure, there is excitement, but to what degree and, well, so what? I wonder how Terry Leach really feels about being the player the team initially left out of the bobblehead set. I remember Jimmie Hall refusing to have anything to do with the '65 reunion due to his feelings that the Twins were basically jerks just using guys as marketing tools. What do you think the tickets supply will look like for the Seattle series mid week Sept 20th-22nd? LOL!. Twins have to be thankfull that White Sox, Boston, NY, Det are in town next month! September could be ghost town @ TF for sure. Good! I liked those couple of weeks we had with no lines at concessions and bathrooms! I am looking forward to them returning. Rick when is Bay Ball part 4 coming? 16 pages and counting. Perhaps we could have a poll on the next subject line header? Something like Season Ovaaaa, Season of changes, Wait till next years season? etc etc etc I still am holding faith until after the Boston/NY series, with 3 against Cleveland and 6 against the tigers soon after. Anything but "Season Ovaaaa" please. I'd like to see this site stick with English. I'm more surprised Rick did not have a new post for Bert's induction. Are the Angels the only team that does not do the early afternoon or "getaway" game? I'm with TK on this one. The season is not over yet, now in two weeks, it very well could be. Baseball, the original vintage? linky. Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:43 PM by Jared 797 I like the Angels policy of getaway day games. Why should you give your opponent an advantage by playing the game in the afternoon so they can get out of town earlier. FD - what advantage is it for that game? It only affects the next day's game against a new opponent (late night travel for the departing team). You could argue that it helps in a fight for the division title or wild card but it provides no advantage for the getaway day game. Unless, of course, you are playing the Twins and Gardy's substandard getaway day lineups... Sometimes the getaway day schedule is for the benefit of the home team to get out on a road trip, sometimes a courtesy extended to the road team. For many locales, the weekday afternoon game becomes a marketing tool (I think the Twins like this aspect of it, especially with Target Field) for the "long lunch" and school group outings. The LA/Anaheim area seems to be geared more towards an evening crowd only so they don't use the weekday afternoon send off too often. The Dodgers don't seem to have a problem using it though... I am all in favor of making Target Field a "Wave Free Zone" By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 08/04/11 11:24 AM ET Make no mistake, Rangers fans, your team wants you on your feet at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. They still want you to cheer and they want you to make noise. Rangers veteran Michael Young was asked about the wave in an interview with video reporter Emily Jones earlier this week. That's always been my problem with the wave. Not only is it started and maintained by people not watching the game, it actually discourages appreciation for the little things about baseball. I don't hate the wave anymore (now that I have a kid who gets into it), but there's a right time and a wrong time. Learning which is which is sort of akin to learning the difference between a good and bad at bat. Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:32 PM by Rick 801 The Wave is bad. On another topic (clicky for proof): Players Assn chief in the NBA thinks the 2011-12 season will be cancelled. There's a good side and a bad side to that. The good side is that we won't have to suffer watching the Wolves lose 55 games this season. The bad side, now Target Center has a whole bunch of open dates to fill with girly, tweeny, KDWB concerts i.e. Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Justin Timbergay. Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:23 PM by luke 802 But Luke, they'll be inside and out of sight. What do you care if a building with no windows houses 15,000 screaming, pre-pubescent girls for an evening? Unless they're snatching up all the Bieber tickets before you could grab a pair... I'm just saying that TC seems to go after those kind of concerts. And now they'll have even more opportunity book shows like that, with the T-Wolves out of commission and all. I wish TC would book concerts like KISS, GNR or the Rolling Stones reunion tour - part 15. We don't get the cool concerts around here anymore - just the ones that attract the kids. U2 a couple weeks ago at TCFBS was good. We need more shows like that. Target Center may be handcuffed in booking concerts though. Until the NBA season is officially cancelled (or shortened, or whatever) they will probably not be able to book the dates that are already scheduled for NBA games. They could end up with lawsuits or at least contingency payouts if the Wolves come back and have priority. Good riddance to the NBA anyway. You mean more shows by classic, 30-year-old Irish rock bands? Yes, I suppose that would be nice. If only U2 could play TCFBS every weekend. Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:06 PM by Rick 806 You're true on that, Stevie. I didn't think of that. Until the "cancelled" stamp is officially slapped on, TC is still "booked" for the NBA. KISS, GNR nor the Stones are Irish. Stevie B, I meant it would give an advantage in the next game they play (travel), not that days game. I agree with you on that part. I just don't like looking at my season ticket schedule and seeing 12:10 Wednesday games. Those games are hard to attend and difficult to sell. You know what I meant, neither one of those bands are Irish. Real name Chaim, actually. The U2 show was incredible; perhaps even better visually with the heavy rain. The rolling bridges stopped just over my shoulder several times, so we got within just a few feet of each band member. they appeared to be having the time of their lives. Dan and Bob were just talking about how the Angels want the gate of night games (which is much higher than day games). It has nothing to do with the other team's schedule. Strictly finance. (Big surprise there.) Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:41 PM by Rick 811 Night or day, a tailor-made double play is a tailor-made double play. It's 2-0 because they couldn't turn it and now they failed to turn another one. Of course playing a right fielder at 2d and a catcher at 1st might have something to do with that. This page was last modified on June 25, 2011. |
"You talk about the magic, the aura, but what really makes a stadium is the fans. Concrete doesn't talk back to you. Chairs don't talk back to you. It's the people who are there, day in, day out, that makes the place magic."– Bernie WilliamsExplore the SiteHere are 50 images chosen randomly from the 3046 found on this site. Click the image to be taken to the original post. A new list is created every 10 minutes.
The transit corner entrance (Photo by Tom Sweeney, Star Tribune) Looking south (toward Seventh Street). Seville's certainly will benefit from 81 games a year played about a block away! (When I walked by on this day, the place looked deserted, but I stand corrected!) Photo by Tyler Wycoff Better them than me Awesome seat. Awesome sun. Awesome hitter. (Photo by Tony Voda, courtesy Jared Wieseler) Frost on the pumpkins, snow on the plaza Inspecting the delivery A collection of support pillars for the left field pavilion. A final glimpse from the street of stadia installation along the left field line Legend's Club, Section E (Click to enlarge greatly.) Who Owns What (Click for larger version. Source: Ballpark Authority) Though there's nothing there now, you have to believe they'll find a way to add a party deck up there at some point. Bench seating? (Click to see hi-res version.) This is the revised version of the center field pavilion (without the restaurant). It looks like there are no seats, just some ledges for people to sit on. It reminds me of the seating on the "bridge" which sticks out of the new Guthrie Theater. Anything which lands in the trees will presumably be a home run, so the "411" sign is apparently just for fun. A peak inside what will become the main concourse. Viewed from up Sixth Street (that's Target Center on the left), you can get an idea of how the connection is currently planned. As it stands now, the plaza will extend to that support pillar, from which a stairway will empty to the sidewalk below. If they get their wish, additional support structures will provide a walkway along Target Center which will gradually (without stairs) meet the sidewalk somewhere up near First Avenue. Circulation building with construction team on top Peering through Gate 29 -- lots to see In the top of the 9th, the sun hit our backs and summer took one last long look. Banners on the parking ramp are a great touch. They help manage scale and turn a lemon into lemonade. On my way there today I passed the WCCO building and remembered how the Twins schedule used to be painted in giant form on the side of that building (which is no longer visible). Wouldn't that be a great thing to resurrect on the side of that ramp? A giant Twins schedule. I always thought that was cool. This was actually taken from the top floor of the International Market Square. Speakers spaced evenly among the lights This view, from the Minnekahda building (or possibly a predecessor), looks toward the right field corner. The City Market, at left, occupied the land where the B ramp and Target Plaza now stand (over I-394). And the Overlook now juts out just a little beyond where that driveway enters the railyard. Just one lane of traffic and a couple of feet between the fence in right-center and the wall of the parking ramp! The equivalent spot on the model. The restaurant. Arrival back at Target Field Two concepts here remain in the final design. First is the oddly-shaped pavilion in center. Second is the section just above the right field fence. In the current design this section will hang over the field by a few feet. The original doesn't do that, but you can see that the concept goes way back in the planning. Looking down what was Third Avenue, and will be a freeway entrance ramp beneath the outfield stands. Noah is checking out the ample leg room and truly exemplary sight lines. Welcome Visitors From Two Men On (Accessiblity) Glossary BPM - Ballpark Magic BRT - Bus Rapid Transit DSP - Dave St. Peter FSE - Full Season Equivalent FYS - Fake Yankee Stadium (see also: NYS) HERC - Hennepin Energy Resource Company (aka the Garbage Burner) HPB - Home Plate Box HRP - Home Run Porch LC - Legends Club LRT - Light Rail Transit MBA - Minnesota Ballpark Authority (will own Target Field) MOA - Mall of America MSFC - Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission (owns the Metrodome) NYS - New Yankee Stadium SRO - Standing Room Only STH - Season Ticket Holder TCFBS - TCF Bank Stadium TF - Target Field Selected Bibliography - Analysis Selected Bibliography - Surveys
Selected Bibliography - Nostalgia |