Showing posts with label Metrodome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metrodome. Show all posts
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Santana for the Dogs
All kinds of nostalgia going on here.
UPDATE:
I totally called it on the Twins Talk podcast last Wednesday. I knew the Twins would do well against Santana. And I had absolutely no scientific stats to back it up.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Milwaukee Brewers are Not Very Good
Back on May 20th, 2005, I attended a Twins game at the Metrodome against the Milwaukee Brewers with some friends. We were late to the game because we were busy making a huge banner that read: “The Milwaukee Brewers are Not Very Good.” It was a riff on a poster someone had made a year before about Carlos Lee, who had just been traded to the Brewers. Anyway, we only got to hold the thing up across some rows of empty cheap seats for a tiny bit, because Carlos Silva pitched a complete game on 74 pitches. The game only lasted a bit over 2 hours. So at least we had called it.
I know the Brewers got to Baker last night—but it doesn’t even matter to me right now. You know why? The Brewers suck. Do you know why I think that? I spent all afternoon yesterday reading about Bernie Brewer. Yes, that blonde-mustached mascot for the Milwaukee Brewers who looks like Robin Yount.
This had to be the best mascot of all time, or at least tied with San Francisco’s Crazy Crab. Bernie is as genuinely Wisconsin as racing sausages. The problem is that the Brewers ruined Bernie. Now-a-days, when the Brewers get a home run, Bernie celebrates by going from one platform down a big yellow slide to another platform.
This used to be entirely lame up until last year when the Kalahari Resort from Wisconsin Dells decided to endorse the second platform. Now the platform sprays water all over the crowd when Bernie lands on it, so it’s a little less lame.
This slide business is supposed to emulate what Bernie was REALLY born to do—live in a chalet in the outfield and celebrate every Brewers home run by sliding down a slide into a giant mug of beer.
But wait—it gets even better, because all this was actually done in tribute to a REAL FAN.
The guy’s name was Milt Mason, and he was 69 years old in 1970 when the Brewers came to Milwaukee. Milt was so excited to have baseball back in the city that he vowed to live in a trailer on top of the scoreboard until 40,000 fans came to a game. On the 40th day, 40,000 fans came to a game, and Milt slid down from the scoreboard on a rope. Yes--slid. This sliding badly burnt his hands, and he ended up falling the final 15 feet and breaking multiple bones.
The Brewers felt bad so they gave Milt free beer for life. He died a few years later, supposedly from drinking tainted beer.
That same year, Bernie was born as a tribute to Milt.
Can’t make this stuff up.
But gone are the good old days when Bernie slid down into a beer. Now he slides down onto a platform, and he doesn't even wear lederhosen. I understand the ‘trying to not promote beer to the kids’ part of this, but give me a break. It’s the BREWERS, they play at MILLER Park, in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.
The Twins, of course, would never have any beer related mascot.
But I digress...
I know the Brewers got to Baker last night—but it doesn’t even matter to me right now. You know why? The Brewers suck. Do you know why I think that? I spent all afternoon yesterday reading about Bernie Brewer. Yes, that blonde-mustached mascot for the Milwaukee Brewers who looks like Robin Yount.
This had to be the best mascot of all time, or at least tied with San Francisco’s Crazy Crab. Bernie is as genuinely Wisconsin as racing sausages. The problem is that the Brewers ruined Bernie. Now-a-days, when the Brewers get a home run, Bernie celebrates by going from one platform down a big yellow slide to another platform.
This used to be entirely lame up until last year when the Kalahari Resort from Wisconsin Dells decided to endorse the second platform. Now the platform sprays water all over the crowd when Bernie lands on it, so it’s a little less lame.
(Stupid un-embeddable video of the "Splash Zone" can be seen here).
This slide business is supposed to emulate what Bernie was REALLY born to do—live in a chalet in the outfield and celebrate every Brewers home run by sliding down a slide into a giant mug of beer.
But wait—it gets even better, because all this was actually done in tribute to a REAL FAN.
The guy’s name was Milt Mason, and he was 69 years old in 1970 when the Brewers came to Milwaukee. Milt was so excited to have baseball back in the city that he vowed to live in a trailer on top of the scoreboard until 40,000 fans came to a game. On the 40th day, 40,000 fans came to a game, and Milt slid down from the scoreboard on a rope. Yes--slid. This sliding badly burnt his hands, and he ended up falling the final 15 feet and breaking multiple bones.
The Brewers felt bad so they gave Milt free beer for life. He died a few years later, supposedly from drinking tainted beer.
That same year, Bernie was born as a tribute to Milt.
Can’t make this stuff up.
But gone are the good old days when Bernie slid down into a beer. Now he slides down onto a platform, and he doesn't even wear lederhosen. I understand the ‘trying to not promote beer to the kids’ part of this, but give me a break. It’s the BREWERS, they play at MILLER Park, in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.
The Twins, of course, would never have any beer related mascot.
But I digress...
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Kirby the Kestrel IS Alive, and Other Homestand Notes
I don't have cable, but someone told me the other day that Bert Blyleven said that Kirby the Kestrel has not been back to Target Field since awesomely catching and eating a moth on live TV May 6th, 2010. That is not true. Apparently Bert is paying too much attention to the game, because I saw Kirby on Mother's Day and against the Brewers.
AND I saw Kirby the Kestrel circling above Target Field just before the first pitch on June 16th.
(Picture Courtesy of My Mom)
Speaking of birds, has anyone else noticed that a bunch of barn swallows freaking love to fly around Target Field at sunset just before games?? My Mom and I named them.
Peanut-Free Twins
The Twins announced today that they are reserving, for a couple games, a mostly standing room only area for people who are allergic to peanuts. Doesn't that give you the warm fuzzies?
You can see the Star Tribune report on it here. Note lehun14's comment:
Walks Will Haunt
If you were trying to find the one thing that survived the trip from the Metrodome to Target Field, I found it. And it's awesome.
Before:
After:
The after picture wins because (a) it's outside, (b) the ghost doesn't look like he just took a pee bath, (c) it's more haunting, and (d) the disgruntled Twins O-Gram in the corner.
Morneau is MLB's Most Fan-Accessible Player
Before the Royals game on June 10th, some fans near the right field (where the Twins were warming up) kept yelling at Justin Morneau. Justin then came over to the Fans and signed autographs for about 15 minutes!
This was just before the game started. Very awesome on the part of Morneau. He must be trying to show up Mauer in the most fan-accessible player rankings.
Jon Rauch Will Eat You
All those complaining about how the Twins need to trade for a closer need to shut up. Look at this awesome intro the Twins made for Rauch.
Doesn't it feel like Jon Rauch is going to reach through the computer screen and punch you in the face?
Other Pictures From the Home stand:
Liriano, working the strikeout board.
Twins fans watching the game.
Downtown at rainy/humid.
C#$%R@$%c2134dx!@#$!!!!
AND I saw Kirby the Kestrel circling above Target Field just before the first pitch on June 16th.
(Picture Courtesy of My Mom)
Peanut-Free Twins
The Twins announced today that they are reserving, for a couple games, a mostly standing room only area for people who are allergic to peanuts. Doesn't that give you the warm fuzzies?
You can see the Star Tribune report on it here. Note lehun14's comment:
Cool!!!
Can we please create several "double play free" games as well?
Walks Will Haunt
If you were trying to find the one thing that survived the trip from the Metrodome to Target Field, I found it. And it's awesome.
Before:
After:
The after picture wins because (a) it's outside, (b) the ghost doesn't look like he just took a pee bath, (c) it's more haunting, and (d) the disgruntled Twins O-Gram in the corner.
Morneau is MLB's Most Fan-Accessible Player
Before the Royals game on June 10th, some fans near the right field (where the Twins were warming up) kept yelling at Justin Morneau. Justin then came over to the Fans and signed autographs for about 15 minutes!
This was just before the game started. Very awesome on the part of Morneau. He must be trying to show up Mauer in the most fan-accessible player rankings.
Jon Rauch Will Eat You
All those complaining about how the Twins need to trade for a closer need to shut up. Look at this awesome intro the Twins made for Rauch.
Doesn't it feel like Jon Rauch is going to reach through the computer screen and punch you in the face?
Other Pictures From the Home stand:
Liriano, working the strikeout board.
Twins fans watching the game.
Downtown at rainy/humid.
C#$%R@$%c2134dx!@#$!!!!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Corrections
On June 3rd, 2010, I wrote about a kid that caught a Ken Griffey Jr. homerun ball in the Metrodome and threw it back. My Mom informed me that it was actually a grown man who did this, and provided me with her personal photographic evidence.
(P.S.— My Mom also has a blog--scratchemall.com. She hasn’t updated for awhile, but it is still quite entertaining if you’re in on that sort of thing.)
Also: When going over the story I posted on May 28th, 2010—the one about Twins fans buying beers for a lone Cardinals fan during Game 7 of the 1987 World Series—my father told me that he was the one who started the beer buying. My Mom is unable to confirm. I’m skeptical of this, but if he really did start the beer buying, I will forgive him for fumbling the game winning ball Wilson Ramos threw right at him back on May 3rd.
In other words, my bad Twins fans.
(P.S.— My Mom also has a blog--scratchemall.com. She hasn’t updated for awhile, but it is still quite entertaining if you’re in on that sort of thing.)
Also: When going over the story I posted on May 28th, 2010—the one about Twins fans buying beers for a lone Cardinals fan during Game 7 of the 1987 World Series—my father told me that he was the one who started the beer buying. My Mom is unable to confirm. I’m skeptical of this, but if he really did start the beer buying, I will forgive him for fumbling the game winning ball Wilson Ramos threw right at him back on May 3rd.
In other words, my bad Twins fans.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Playing Along
In the last week of the 2008 regular season, the Twins faced the White Sox in a three game series at the Dome. The Twins were 1.5 games behind the division leading White Sox. It was an important series. I’m sure you remember it.
Ken Griffey Jr. had been traded to the White Sox earlier that season. In that late September series, he hit two homeruns and I saw both. I remember the second one particularly. It was in the 4th inning. Griffey nailed the ball and it sailed into the upper deck in right field. Some kid caught it.
And he threw the ball back.
There was a collective gasp. Did that kid really just throw back a Ken Griffey Jr. homerun ball? What the hell was he thinking? Doesn’t he realize what he just did? Everyone around me was shocked. They all understood. Even the next season I still heard people talking about it at the Dome. “Remember when that kid threw back Junior’s homerun ball?”
Actually, I still hear about it. Probably every other time a fan throws back a home run. “Hey, remember when that kid threw back…”
As a youngster, my capacity to recognize baseball players maxed out at three: Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, and Ken Griffey Jr. I don’t know when I finally did recognize some non-Twins player besides Ken Griffey Jr. I’m not sure why this was either. Ken Griffey Jr. was like Kirby Puckett. He was just cool.
For instance, behold my entire baseball card collection:
Yeah, so I’m not a serious collector. My Mom just gave me most of these cards a few months ago after I professed my love for Junior. I had some baseball cards when I was little, but they all ended up taped to the spokes of my bike wheels or something like that.
I was hoping I’d get to see Griffey at Target Field. I wouldn’t even have cared if all I saw was him sleeping in the dugout. Actually, that would have been awesome.
When I saw the Press Release last night, I felt like the Last Great Baseball Player was gone. He was the last of the players I remember watching back when I couldn’t even understand how a player with two strikes could foul off a ball and not be out. Back when it was more fun to try and run down and tag every base-runner than actually play Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. It didn’t make sense, but it was fun. Kind of like throwing back a Griffey homerun ball. It was just a game.
Thank you for playing, Ken Griffey Jr.
I am Soooo Sick of Perfect Games
I used to get excited about these things, but I just can’t anymore. I feel like I could go pitch a perfect game myself. That’s why I’m so glad Jim Joyce blew that call last night and robbed Armando Galarraga of a perfecto.
Apparently, a lot of people aren’t so glad. Now everyone wants instant replay. Even Jim Joyce wants it. Personally, I find anything that makes baseball any bit more like football revolting. When Gardy goes out to challenge a close call, do I want to see all the umpires run off to a little room where they will huddle around, watch a video tape, and decide what to do? Heck no. I want Gardy to be ejected, everyone to throw their hats on the field, and then be able to blame all of the Twins’ misgivings on the umpires. After all, it wasn't all those missed chances that lost the game for the Twins last night, it was that one blown call.
Doesn’t MLB already think there is some ‘pace of the game’ issue anyway? I don’t have any scientific statistical data to back this up, but I feel like the rash of perfect games and crazy low ERAs is just a by-product of MLB pushing umpires to speed things up. The strike zone seems to be widening by the minute. And I don’t get it. Who wants baseball games to hurry up and be over? Football fans?
One of the reasons I love baseball is because the games could theoretically go on forever. The only thing better than a five hour long game is a six hour long game. Screw getting up for work. I feel like the games are already going too fast. Pretty soon every at-bat is going to feel like the one by Michael Cuddyer last Sunday, where ESPN completely fast-forwarded through the whole thing. Players are just magically going to be out or be on base, umpires are going to be running in and out of some tiny replay room, and before I can even finish a Summit, someone will be declared the winner.
I vote for no instant replays, a return to the regular strike zone, and no more perfect games for at least ten years. Bad calls are a part of this pass-time. Play along.
Ken Griffey Jr. had been traded to the White Sox earlier that season. In that late September series, he hit two homeruns and I saw both. I remember the second one particularly. It was in the 4th inning. Griffey nailed the ball and it sailed into the upper deck in right field. Some kid caught it.
And he threw the ball back.
There was a collective gasp. Did that kid really just throw back a Ken Griffey Jr. homerun ball? What the hell was he thinking? Doesn’t he realize what he just did? Everyone around me was shocked. They all understood. Even the next season I still heard people talking about it at the Dome. “Remember when that kid threw back Junior’s homerun ball?”
Actually, I still hear about it. Probably every other time a fan throws back a home run. “Hey, remember when that kid threw back…”
As a youngster, my capacity to recognize baseball players maxed out at three: Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, and Ken Griffey Jr. I don’t know when I finally did recognize some non-Twins player besides Ken Griffey Jr. I’m not sure why this was either. Ken Griffey Jr. was like Kirby Puckett. He was just cool.
For instance, behold my entire baseball card collection:
Yeah, so I’m not a serious collector. My Mom just gave me most of these cards a few months ago after I professed my love for Junior. I had some baseball cards when I was little, but they all ended up taped to the spokes of my bike wheels or something like that.
I was hoping I’d get to see Griffey at Target Field. I wouldn’t even have cared if all I saw was him sleeping in the dugout. Actually, that would have been awesome.
When I saw the Press Release last night, I felt like the Last Great Baseball Player was gone. He was the last of the players I remember watching back when I couldn’t even understand how a player with two strikes could foul off a ball and not be out. Back when it was more fun to try and run down and tag every base-runner than actually play Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. It didn’t make sense, but it was fun. Kind of like throwing back a Griffey homerun ball. It was just a game.
Thank you for playing, Ken Griffey Jr.
I am Soooo Sick of Perfect Games
I used to get excited about these things, but I just can’t anymore. I feel like I could go pitch a perfect game myself. That’s why I’m so glad Jim Joyce blew that call last night and robbed Armando Galarraga of a perfecto.
Apparently, a lot of people aren’t so glad. Now everyone wants instant replay. Even Jim Joyce wants it. Personally, I find anything that makes baseball any bit more like football revolting. When Gardy goes out to challenge a close call, do I want to see all the umpires run off to a little room where they will huddle around, watch a video tape, and decide what to do? Heck no. I want Gardy to be ejected, everyone to throw their hats on the field, and then be able to blame all of the Twins’ misgivings on the umpires. After all, it wasn't all those missed chances that lost the game for the Twins last night, it was that one blown call.
Doesn’t MLB already think there is some ‘pace of the game’ issue anyway? I don’t have any scientific statistical data to back this up, but I feel like the rash of perfect games and crazy low ERAs is just a by-product of MLB pushing umpires to speed things up. The strike zone seems to be widening by the minute. And I don’t get it. Who wants baseball games to hurry up and be over? Football fans?
One of the reasons I love baseball is because the games could theoretically go on forever. The only thing better than a five hour long game is a six hour long game. Screw getting up for work. I feel like the games are already going too fast. Pretty soon every at-bat is going to feel like the one by Michael Cuddyer last Sunday, where ESPN completely fast-forwarded through the whole thing. Players are just magically going to be out or be on base, umpires are going to be running in and out of some tiny replay room, and before I can even finish a Summit, someone will be declared the winner.
I vote for no instant replays, a return to the regular strike zone, and no more perfect games for at least ten years. Bad calls are a part of this pass-time. Play along.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
10 More Videos...
For the first time this season, the Twins have lost three in a row.
But I like to be optimistic over here at Kirby's Left Eye. So here are 10 more videos to entertain the Twins fan.
#1 Metrodome Time-lapse
#2 Joe Mauer Gets Sprayed with Champagne, Doesn't Care
#3 Bert Blyleven: Dick's Shirt
#4 Justin Morneau Opening Day 2007: MVP
#5 Cool Jobs: Twins Organist
#6 3-year-old Wins Game 163 with his Lucky Hat
#7 年11月13日 東京ドーム
#8 Justin Morneau and His Childhood Dream to Win the Stanley Cup
#9 Happy Birthday Orlando Hudson
#10 ESPN: Joe Mauer (and his Mom) Open Fan Mail
But I like to be optimistic over here at Kirby's Left Eye. So here are 10 more videos to entertain the Twins fan.
#1 Metrodome Time-lapse
#2 Joe Mauer Gets Sprayed with Champagne, Doesn't Care
#3 Bert Blyleven: Dick's Shirt
#4 Justin Morneau Opening Day 2007: MVP
#5 Cool Jobs: Twins Organist
#6 3-year-old Wins Game 163 with his Lucky Hat
#7 年11月13日 東京ドーム
#8 Justin Morneau and His Childhood Dream to Win the Stanley Cup
#9 Happy Birthday Orlando Hudson
#10 ESPN: Joe Mauer (and his Mom) Open Fan Mail
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Belated Delmon Young Day
I know a few days ago, or sometime last week, Minnesota Twins Bloggers had "Delmon Young Day." As a fledgling Twins blogger, I felt I should contribute:
Honestly--just found this on my hard drive today. Don't really know what Delmon Young day is supposed to be....
Honestly--just found this on my hard drive today. Don't really know what Delmon Young day is supposed to be....
Thursday, April 29, 2010
10 Videos to Give Twins Fans the Warm Fuzzies
With the disappointing loss to the Detroit Tigers today, I thought I’d try to send out some good vibes.
Here are ten videos sure to give the Twins Fan the warm fuzzies:
#1- Loose Cannon #1 brings home Loose Cannon #2, Game 163 (Turn your volume on max for the best experience!)
#2 1991 Twins Dancing (with Tony Oliva)
#3 Al Newman Twins' Commercial: "YOU GOTTA GO! GO! GO! GO!"
#4 1991 Twins Coming Home Celebration on the Runway
#5 Blowing Out of the Metrodome
#6 Johan Santana wins bet, gets shout-out; shaves Bert Blyleven's Head.
#7 Jacque Jones: Already Home
#8 1991 Minnesota Twins Music Video: "One thing's certain about the Minnesota Twins, win or lose: they are one loose bunch of cool customers."
#9 Joe Mauer: "I made it really clear when we started this process: This is where I want to be. . . ."
#10 Take Me Out to the Twins Game
Tomorrow is a new series! Go Twins!
Here are ten videos sure to give the Twins Fan the warm fuzzies:
#1- Loose Cannon #1 brings home Loose Cannon #2, Game 163 (Turn your volume on max for the best experience!)
#2 1991 Twins Dancing (with Tony Oliva)
#3 Al Newman Twins' Commercial: "YOU GOTTA GO! GO! GO! GO!"
#4 1991 Twins Coming Home Celebration on the Runway
#5 Blowing Out of the Metrodome
#6 Johan Santana wins bet, gets shout-out; shaves Bert Blyleven's Head.
#7 Jacque Jones: Already Home
#8 1991 Minnesota Twins Music Video: "One thing's certain about the Minnesota Twins, win or lose: they are one loose bunch of cool customers."
#9 Joe Mauer: "I made it really clear when we started this process: This is where I want to be. . . ."
#10 Take Me Out to the Twins Game
Tomorrow is a new series! Go Twins!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The world is as open as the ceiling of the sky; and in the Dome, time is again moving at the frequency of the foul ball.
It soars up; until it drops, into the fielder’s glove—two away. My third beer goes down like the hope for a Twins comeback;
and all we can do is wait; within the dull roar that lives under the Teflon sky,
where the grass will never grow, and the game will never die.
(A.K.A. 54,088 Twins fans sing Journey during game 163)
It soars up; until it drops, into the fielder’s glove—two away. My third beer goes down like the hope for a Twins comeback;
and all we can do is wait; within the dull roar that lives under the Teflon sky,
where the grass will never grow, and the game will never die.
(A.K.A. 54,088 Twins fans sing Journey during game 163)
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