If you recall (and if you don't, its below...) my last post was a foreshadow of my Game 1 adventure at Target Field. Last night was the actual adventure.
The night got off to a rough start as I walked in and they didn't have my name on the list or have a nametag for me. I'm willing to help a guy out, but come on. First you don't have season tickets for me, then you don't have my nametag? Lucky my Type A personality was ready for anything, resulting in me bringing my confirmation email and my Twins Account #.
If that hadn't worked, then my hostile personality would've kicked in and had a meltdown. Fortunately for the gentleman at the table, the confirmation email did the trick.
We (Mara and I) got to the Legends Club just in time to see Dave St. Peter get grilled about the growing payroll and the receding wins. His answers were very political, which is absolutely what I expected, but still interesting to hear. It was kind of like Occupy Target Field - fans giving their opinions on The Man. There were other interesting questions, but one that particularly peeked my interest was a question about 2nd base.
St. Peter THREW Nishioka under the bus. Hardcore. It was brutal. He basically said Nishi would have to earn his spot on the team during Spring Training (duh), but that they fully expect Casilla to be playing at 2nd and will be looking for a fresh player at shortstop. So... basically this guy is willing to go out and break a leg for the Twins (literally) and we won't even grant him support as he attempts to transition. Sure, it was a rough year for him and for everyone. He played terrible and couldn't make simple catches or execute easy throws, but does that mean we give up on him?
If so, then we should have given up on the whole team a while ago.
Dave also talked a bit about moving Justin Morneau off the field and solely into a DH role. Sucks.
Anyway, back to my experience. It was great. The night really turned around after the nametag incident. There was a free ballpark food buffet and beers were only $4.50. The view was amazing with the centerfield screen lit up with Game 1. It was like an oasis in the blacked-out stadium with the Minneapolis skyline to the right. How poetic.
Towards the end of the night we went on a tour of Target Field. Let me tell you... that Champions Club is no joke. It is pretty sweet. When we were just outside the Club, our tour guide told us a story about how when the Yankees are in town, Yankee fans will fly in and purchase Champ Club tickets because they think they are such a deal. Kind of irked me because the tickets are expensive, it doesn't matter what some Yank thinks.
As the tour progressed, we got to see the underground batting cages as well as the Twins clubhouse. Interesting fact: Mauer and Morneau have the two biggest 'cubbies' (or lockers) in the whole place. They are easily twice the size of everyone else's. What is that about? The less you play the more you get? Sounds like something Michelle Bachmann would say.
Anyway, the whole experience was a lot of fun. My only disappointment of the night hinged on a bet that I made with Mara regarding the outcome of the game and the series as a whole. I put $50 on the Rangers winning it all and a beer on the Rangers winning Game 1. At least I still have the $50 to look forward to.
If I remember, I'll post some pictures of the tour and such at a later date. We weren't supposed to take pictures of the clubhouse, but I was sneaky and managed a blurry one. NBD.
If you recall (and if you don't, its below...) my last post was a foreshadow of my Game 1 adventure at Target Field. Last night was the actual adventure.
Though I didn't get to have Twins season tickets this past year (huge disappointment), I guess being in the On Deck Circle does have a few perks.I will be taking advantage of one of those perks this Wednesday as I head to Target Field to watch Game 1 of the World Series in the Delta SKY360 Legends Club!
The Minnesota Twins were rained out yesterday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The game will be rescheduled for Thursday night, making it a double-header between the two teams. The first game is slated for 12:00 PM and the second game will start at 7 PM. Hopefully the weather can be accomodating.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka broke his leg yesterday while playing against the New York Yankees. As if we didn't already have a curse against them and bad luck, our second basemen now has a broken leg. There is no time table yet, but one can think it will be at least 6 weeks, maybe longer. His leg broke on a play that Nick Swisher was attempting to disrupt a double play. It really wasn't anything dirty, just a play that clipped Nishi's leg and landed on it awkwardly. Here's to hoping for a fast recovery. In the meantime, welcome Luke Hughes.
The Minnesota Twins will begin the 2011 MLB Season in Toronto, Canada for a 3 game series with the Blue Jays. The MLB Season always comes fast, since it has the shortest offseason and this year is no different. The Blue Jays had some of the most powerful bats last season but played in the always tough American League East with the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox. The Minnesota Twins will play their first home game at Target Field on Friday, April 8th.
The Minnesota Twins opening day for the 2011 MLB season is quickly approaching! The season kicks off on April 1, 2011 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 3 game series will test the Minnesota Twins after Toronto proved to be one of the best hitting teams in all of baseball. The Minnesota Twins will open up Target Field on Friday, April 8th against the Oakland Athletics. I can't wait for opening day!
Press Release from the official Minnesota Twins website from March 2nd:
After the resigning of Jim Thome, I can't wait for the baseball season. I love the Minnesota Twins and the philosophy that they use. They win the right way and have been a first-class organization all the way through. They have great scouts and a great minor league system that has produced many quality Twins players through the years. Spring training will be right around the corner, followed by the best part of the year: Baseball Season.
Jim Thome is coming back to the Minnesota Twins. After some rumors that the Texas Rangers were interested in Thome he has decided to return to the Twins, with a 1 year $3 million deal with incentives. Last season, Jim Thome hit .283 with 25 homers and 59 RBIs in 276 at-bats. He brought a big bat to the organization and is definitely a fan favorite. He ranks eighth on the all-time list with 589 homers and needs 11 to reach the 600 Home Run Club. Could he hit number 600 at Target Field? That would be a great milestone. Welcome back Jim Thome!
The Minnesota Twins hosted the Oakland Athletics over the weekend at Target Field. The Oakland A's won on Friday and Sunday, while the Twins were victorious on Saturday. A 3-1 loss on Friday night was avenged with a 4-2 victory on Saturday. Rookie third baseman Danny Valencia homered both days including a huge 3 run homer on Saturday in the 6th inning. The Minnesota Twins lost the rubber match on Sunday, where Francisco Liriano was roughed up in 5 innings. Denard Span and Jason Kubel did not play in the series and hopefully will return soon. Rookie Ben Revere got his first starts in center field and was 2-4 on Sunday for his first two hits of his career. Next up is the Cleveland Indians at home.
