Saturday, July 31, 2010

Matt Capps' First Entrance onto Target Field [video]




Pioneer Press: "I don't think I've ever had an ovation quite like that," said Capps, who ran out to the same song he did in D.C. ("The Final Countdown"). "It gave me some goose bumps coming in. It feels good when people appreciate what you've done. To come here on Day One and get an ovation like that, I mean, what a feeling."



P.S.


Twins win!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Can the Twins play the Royals/Orioles everyday?

Jamie Squire/Getty Images


Best road trip ever!

Okay, maybe not technically but it sure feels like it. Over the past 7 days on the road, the Twins have outscored their opponents 60-16! The highest point of the trip was on Monday, when the Twins all padded their stats by beating the Royals 19-1! That score deficit apparently tied the Royals’ worst loss ever—but one poster on the Kansas City Star website made a pretty strong argument as to why it was actually the worst Royals’ loss ever.

Which is why I like the Royals, and their fans. They really love baseball. They also have blog headlines like this:

“Avoiding The Shutout: Royals Lose 19-1 To Twins”
“Game 99 Open Thread - Twins at Royals: I guess it really can't get much worse on the field tonight compared to last night's game.”
“Royals Make It Interesting, Lose Nevertheless: A 6-4 loss is like a win, right?”

See? Finding the positives! No temper-tantrums!

So kudos to Royals Fans!


Some other things worth noting:

Friday, July 23, 2010

FAN ON THE FIELD!

So during the 8th inning of Pavano's complete game shut out last night, a Baltimore fan ran onto the field. I don’t have cable, but I am assuming as per the norm they did not show the fan on TV.

I don’t support fans on the field—but honestly, somewhere deep down inside, you're kinda cheering for these idiots. On the radio last night, John Gordon made this particular incident sound pretty epic ("Oh wow, this is ridiculous! Looks like they have him trapped.... oh no! My goodness!! He jumped back into the stands…. That is one of the longest delays I have seen for a fan on the field in quite some time.").

Then I saw a video.



WHAT KIND OF FAN ON THE FIELD WAS THAT?!? The kid wasn’t even running! The police weren’t even running! It dragged on until the kid just stopped and pretty much said “ok, I’m done.” What the heck!?!

Apparently, the Orioles have a no-chase policy. Yeah. The “no effort” approach.

I understand how this no-chase policy could work. But I’d really rather see that idiot tackled a la the famous Boston batboy fan on the field tackle of 2006.




While listening to this fan on the field business last night, I realized that I have yet to see any fans on the field at Target Field. This isn’t a bad thing, but it is a little odd considering this used to happen quite frequently at the Metrodome. Not as frequently as wedding proposals on the jumbotron, but frequently in a similar “oh my god this would be more exciting if this was the only game I came to” type way.

Why no fans on the field at Target Field? Probably because many of the seats are raised up further off the field than at the Dome, and there’s that moat that separates most fans from the seats where one could easily jump onto the field.

It could also be because one of the consequences of running onto the field is that you are kicked out of the stadium for life.

Oh, and you’re arrested and fined thousands of dollars. I only know this through word of mouth, but if you don’t believe me you are free to test it out yourself.

So basically, if you wanted to be smart about it, you'd have to run onto the field in the bottom of the 9th inning during the stadium's last game ever.




From what I understand, they actually showed this fan on the field on TV. I’m not sure why. Maybe because it was on a national station, or maybe because everyone watching suddenly felt very nostalgic (like I did). “This is it. This is the last fan on the field I'm ever going to see at the Dome. ... GO, GO, GO!”

Man, if he had gotten over that fence that would have been so epic.

Moral of the story: Fans on the field can be annoying. No-chase policies that allow fans to jog around the field for several minutes can be even more annoying. And I prefer wrestling holds over tasers. Thanks.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Mike Redmond: "They should bring me back just to hang out."

With all of the excitement surrounding the Twins’ series win over the White Sox this weekend, I almost missed this gem, hiding at the bottom of the notes following a short Pioneer Press story on Mike Redmond from Saturday:

Former Twins catcher Mike Redmond, released by Cleveland, kidding, on the Twins: "They should bring me back just to hang out."

Yes! Please! Can Mike Redmond come hang out?

Just imagine: More naked batting practice. More smelling ‘em RBIs. More piggyback rides for Punto.






Morneau lamented to an FSN reporter a couple weeks ago about how much he missed Redmond, and felt it was affecting the team. "Not having (Mike) Redmond here has made a difference in the dugout," He said. "He didn't play every day, but he was involved every day. He was in there, yelling and just having fun. Keeping you loose in the dugout.

"Being positive is the most important thing. Sometimes this game can beat you up, it's so negative."

Prior to the series win over the White Sox this weekend, when the team slipped into third in the division, it seemed like all of Twins’ Territory had reached a Jim Souhan-level of negativity. It was so bad I even contemplated leaving this blogging business so I wouldn’t have to keep up with all the mean things big old meanies were saying on the internet—like “Fire Gardy!”, “Sit Mauer!”, and “It’s our job as fans to complain about the team!”

I just want to have some faith, keep watching, and scream like a banshee when our boys come through. Like this:





See? Isn't that more fun than just complaining about Nick Blackburn?

The Twins have good players, those players just need a spark.

So what do you say Twins? Can Redmond come back? Just to hang out?


Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Please take a moment…

…to remember George Steinbrenner.

Never in my life did I think I'd be sad to see this man pass. But alas—he was a baseball legend.

I was inspired to draw a picture.




I tried to make it as realistic as possible.

R.I.P.



…to cheer on the Saint Paul Saints.

After Sunday’s Twins’ game, I flipped channels until I came to a Saint Paul Saints’ game during a rain delay. Lots of videos detailing Saint Paul Saints history, Kevin Millar love, etc. It went on for about an hour. Then the game started back up, and the Saints were losing 2-13 in the top of the 9th.



…to watch Jacque Jones pop out?


(Click to Englarge)

Picture Courtesy of My Mom!

Cuddyer, Terry Tiffee, Red Dog, Gardy, Varitek?

Everybody loves Jacque Jones.



…to realize the American League's All-Star game winning-streak is over.


Dang it!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Cliff Lee to Twins! Er, Yankees! Reds? No wait—Rangers!

Isn’t this FUN? Aren’t you just on Google News searching for “Cliff Lee” every other minute?

What? You aren’t? Here’s a super informative time-line of the reports coming out on Cliff Lee:


July 3: Why Cliff Lee Has No Shot at Coming to The Bronx This Season

July 3, 10:10pm: Source says Minnesota Twins leading race to acquire pitcher Cliff Lee

July 6, 12:15am: Twins offer prospects Aaron Hicks and Wilson Ramos to Mariners for Cliff Lee

July 6, 5:03pm: Rangers favored to land Cliff Lee

July 7, 10:40am: Joel Sherman (NYPost): "[T]he perception in baseball is that Minnesota is the frontrunner for Lee. "

July 7, 5:53pm: Joe Christensen (StarTribune): “The Twins and Mariners have yet to exchange proposals for Lee.”

July 8, 8:12am: Cliff Lee to Twins?

July 8, 1:25pm: Baseball Source: Rangers Favorite To Land Cliff Lee

July 8, 8:05pm: Reds in early stages of negotiations for Lee

July 9, 4:01am: Joel Sherman (NYPost): Yankees on brink of trading top prospect for Cliff Lee

July 9, 8:01am: Yankees-Mariners talks about Lee may be breaking down

July 9, 9:30am: Are the Yankees About to Get Cliff Lee?

July 9, 11:32am: What if Yankees get Lee?

July 9, 11:51am: Yanks Bag Cliff Lee Under Mets and Omar Minaya's Noses

July 9, 12:59pm: Report: Lee trade to Yankees is off

July 9, 3:45pm: Joel Sherman (NYPost) Yankees won't get Cliff Lee in trade after Mariners back out

July 9, 5:01pm: Joel Sherman (NYPost) Yankees don't get Cliff Lee; Mariners trade him to Rangers


Don't you feel informed now?

You're welcome.



UPDATE:

July 9, 5:30pm: Rangers make bold move, deal for All-Star Lee

MLB.com is finally calling it!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Bobblehead Day Madness and Other Home-Stand Notes

VOTE FOR DELMON YOUNG TO BECOME THE FINAL MEMBER OF THE 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM!




HE LOST 30LBS IN THE OFFSEASON!



Target Field’s First Bobblehead Day (a.k.a. “Whaa? No Re-entry?”)

July 4th was a big day in Twins Territory—Target Field’s first Bobblehead Day. If you never went to a bobblehead day at the Metrodome, this is typically how it went: a few crazy fanatics would get in line the night before, pitching their tent outside one of the gates and such. All the sane people would show up the next day, one to three hours before the gates opened. The gates opened two hours before the game, everyone filed in, got their dolls—then immediately turned around, got their ticket signed, and left the game. Fans were allowed to re-enter later with the signed tickets. Some fans came back, many didn’t.



Crazed Fans stand in line at the Metrodome for Kirby Puckett Bobblehead Day, May 3rd, 2009



At Target Field, however, things are different—there is no re-entry. This was announced in the Target Field Fan Guide, on the Twins’ Website, and also in an AP story carried by the Pioneer Press, WCCO, and USAToday.

Apparently, however, some people live under a rock, because when I checked Facebook later a fan who runs a Target Field page was complaining about the different re-entry policy. “Fans were trapped rats at 11 AM” the guy wrote in his status.

The horror! Twins fans “trapped” in Target Field for two hours on a beautiful day!





One person who responded to the comment said she had never even been to Target Field before—and she was raging over the no re-entry policy!

I really do not know how someone could go out of their way to specifically get tickets for bobblehead day and plan to be there early without hearing about the re-entry policy, or at least looking into it. I became aware of this policy change before the season even started. It's not like no one knew about it. Not to mention, ushers were outside warning people in line that there was no re-entry.

The change in policy makes perfectly good sense--unlike at the Dome, it would be way too easy for fans in Target Field to slip their re-entry tickets to ticketless fans outside the park. Steel bars are all that separate the park from the street in a lot of areas, plus there are all those patios on (or hanging over) the sidewalk outside. Just think about it.

Spending two hours at Target Field before the game starts really isn’t that bad. If you’re worried about spending too much money on food while there, bring your own food (but remember—projectiles such as apples must be sliced). If you're hot, go into air-conditioned Hrbek's, Town Ball Tavern, or another area. If you're bored, go to the game station behind center field and play video games. If you don’t want to carry your bobblehead with you around the park, bring a bag to carry it in. If you don’t have enough forethought to bring a bag, sign up for that Treasure Island thing in left field and get a free Twins bag at the game. If you find something else to complain about, just don't even bother coming in the first place.

Seriously. If you’re a Twins fan and call yourself a “trapped rat” because you have to spend two hours in Target Field with a bobblehead, there is no helping you.


Anyway--welcome to the family, Minnie and Paul.











Jim Thome is a Freaking A-Hole

There have been many things to look forward to this season, and there was one I was looking forward to particularly: seeing Thome hit his 573rd and 574th homerun to tie and pass Harmon Killebrew for 10th place on the all-time homerun list.

Of course, out of all the games I have attended this season, and even just in the past week—Thome waits and hits both 573 AND 574 on Saturday when I was not at the game.

I know, I know, cry me a river. But they did replay Harmon’s video congratulations video and have Thome do another curtain call before the game on Sunday.







Congratulations Thome! It's so great to finally see you in a Twins uniform!



The Story of Corey Koskie, the Dragonfly

About halfway through Sunday’s game, my Mom looked over at me and said “Don’t move! There is a pretty dragonfly on your head!”



After the critter stuck around for a few minutes, we named him Corey Koskie.

Corey Koskie ended up sitting on my head for almost the entire game. I even went to go to the bathroom and Corey Koskie WAS STILL ON MY HEAD!





The people sitting behind me were pretty amazed with Corey Koskie as well. Thankfully, they saved me by gently re-directing Corey Koskie in the 7thn inning when he started trying to climb into my ear.





In the 9th inning, my Mom suddenly noticed that Corey was gone. I figured he had flown away. When we were leaving, however, I looked down at the ground behind my seat and saw Corey Koskie lying on the ground twitching!




My Mom and I tried to make him comfortable. We figured it was post concussion syndrome and there wasn’t much we could do about it. We left him on top of a piece of newspaper.









Post-Game Fireworks Were Kinda Lame

Friday’s game was exciting, because (a) the Twins actually won, and (b) there were the first ever post-game fireworks at Target Field!

So the fireworks were actually sort of lame. My favorite part was just seeing all the light turned off at Target Field.

Here's a video of the beginning of the show:




That's pretty much as exciting as it got. It probably looks better on video.

The players and their families watched the fireworks from the field. Joe Nathan, now apparently regulated to team babysitter, could be seen chasing a bunch of kids around.




If anyone from the Twins organization is reading this, here’s my suggestion: instead of only lighting fireworks from the top of the parking ramp behind right field, light off fireworks from a few of the different parking ramps surrounding the field! Heck, get some lasers or something too.

When I was leaving the game after the fireworks, I noticed the craziest thing of all:




It's a Glen Perkins street flag!



Other Pictures from the Homestand:



Beiber craziness at Target Center.




Pavano craziness at Target Field.




Is this a joke? (yes--that is a Cubs Mark Prior jersey!)




Remember--vote Delmon!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Punto Safe at First










































That, my friends, is called grit.