Goodbye HHH Metrodome

Game 163 Cheap Seats!






And so another exciting season ends. Damned Yankees! But we did not lay down for the Yankees. We made them look not so mighty. Both teams had good plays, amazing plays and a few stinkers. I think we let our nerves get the best of us. Expected I guess when you have a young team playing the Yankees.


Thank you Twins for another amazing season. I went to my first last dome game with a week left in the season. Of course I had a blast and said my goodbyes to the dome. And then Sunday drew closer... All it took was a call from a friend asking if we shouldn't get tickets for the last dome game. Thanks to a scalper we were there. Another exciting game! I screamed my voice out. And with the win came another dilemma. Tuesday? Yup, again went to a scalper on craigslist. But when I didn't hear back on where to meet by Tuesday morning and he didn't return my calls by Tuesday afternoon, I got nervous. Rightfully so. The son-of-a-bitch sold them out from under me. But he didn't let me know until 2pm, when game time was 4pm. I was livid, and sad. Luckily I quickly scanned craigslist again and there was another set of cheapseats for the same price. I called and told her my story. We met by the dome and she told me there were 20 calls after mine, all offering more. But since she knew my story she told them no. What an amazing person. So my lesson for you all is do NOT buy tickets that matter off of Craigslist unless you can meet them right away to secure them. It is too easy for them to sell them to the next caller at a higher price. Lesson learned!


I know I might have lost readers since I did not write much this year. I will be back next year. A fresh start. This year was hard in that we have gone through many personal problems. It has been hard to justify the time to watch the games, let alone analyze and write about them and the players. We have struggled and the struggle isn't over, it is maybe just starting. But I have loved watching the Twins this year, even if I haven't been telling you about it. It has helped cheer me up when I have been depressed, gotten me out of the house when it has been hard to leave the safety of my home, and let me attend a few of the best games I have ever attended. When the stress was too much, turning on a game (I had to DVR most of them) at midnight and watching it would help relax me. I even would feel even more blue on the days there were no games. I will sorely miss it over the next few months. Yes, I am way too addicted.


The naysayers are spouting off again about how we never stood a chance, we don't get quality players and that, in general, we suck. Took them a whole 5 minutes to reload the muck throwers, and change out of their fair weather fan garb. But I am pleased that despite everything that was stacked against us, we made it to the playoffs and stood up to the powerhouse Yankees. We may have lost all three games, but we held our own.


Way to go Twins! I am proud of all of you!


Can't wait for next year and outdoor baseball!


Goodbye HHH Metrodome for fourth and last time!

Back in the saddle

Sometimes life gets busy! Things have been a little nuts, and I expect them to continue to be for another month. I am walking in the Breast Cancer 3 Day in three weeks, and my training takes 2-6 hours per day just walking, and now I need to do some heavy fundraising, too. I have been watching every game on DVR but that is the extent of most days. I haven't had time for all the reading and chatting that I had grown to love. I miss it! So I am going to do my best to squeeze in a little more time for at least keeping up with my favorite pages.

I went to the game Sunday and I have to admit that it was the first game I was actually out walking the concourse DURING the game! Okay, it was only for maybe 15 minutes, but I have never done that. I chose to go because I wanted to see the Angels, and I knew it was going to be rough. I was hoping it would be closer, though. But I still had a blast. The game started with 41K and I would guess after the stretch there were less than 20K.

But here is a question I would really be curious to ask the players - When the crowd gives up on them and gets quiet or leaves the stadium, how much are they affected by it? There was a real change in atmosphere once it became obvious that the results for that game would be the same as the previous two. Heavy, quiet, bored... you know what I mean. I know they can feel it, but to what extent? Is it enough of an impact where if the crowd stayed in the game and was cheering and loud that they could turn it around and win a game?

I for one did my part and cheered the entire game, sometimes (okay - often) being the only one clapping in my area.

Let's hope for a much better result against the Indians and get some energy back into the fans!

Go Twins!!!

Swarzak rocks!

Did you watch last night? It is always fun to beat the Brewers, but watching the new guy made it even more fun.

Anthony Swarzak pitched his major league debut as a starter. He threw 98 pitches in seven innings with 3 strike outs, 2 walks, and 5 hits. He handled himself with so much poise that it was hard to remember at times that he was a rookie in a stadium that was jam packed with 40,500 fans. And anyone who has been to a past Brewers vs Twins game knows the raucous atmosphere. I would like to point out that he threw almost 100 pitches and went seven innings, something that our starters have struggled with all season. If you saw the expression of the always stalwart Anderson (he was practically beaming), you could tell that the staff was pretty happy with him, too. His excellent performance earned him three pies in the face, courtesy of teammates Cuddy, Gomez and Ayala. I know that one game does not predict success. But he should be very proud of his debut!

Rochester AAA stats for 2009 - 44 innings, 32 strike outs with a WHIP of 1.16. He had a 3-4 record with a 2.25 ERA.

He now has a major league 1-0 record with an ERA of 0.00.

Good job Swarzak! You made it a fun game to watch.

We love you Ardell

My Father-in-law passed away yesterday. This is going to be a very rough few weeks for my family as we try to get my mother-in-law settled and deal with our pain. I may not be around for a while, but check back in a few weeks. I have started researching a couple of interesting questions and can't wait to share what I learn.

As I won't have much time probably for reading my blogs and newspapers, if you come across anything interesting or fun, please email it to me.

Please keep my family in your prayers.

Back soon.

Transaction Tally

4/14/09 - Brian Duensing optioned to AAA Rochester
4/15/09 - Scott Baker activated
4/17/09 - Philip Humber designated for assignment, Juan Morillo claimed from the Rockies
4/20/09 - Jesse Crain placed on the disabled list due to shoulder inflamation, Jose Mijares brought up

More Kubel

And Kubel had another great night last night getting another four hits, yeah! That's my boy!

(Funny side note - the pregame is on and my daughter saw a picture of Kubel and said, "there's your baby, Mom." Baby?? lol! Funny word choice.)

Go Twins!

Kubel hits the cycle!

Ok - you knew I would have to brag this up, right???

Way to go my boy Kubel!! Not only hitting the cycle, but leaving the grandslam for the exciting game winner.

I am having a blast texting all my friends who don't get the Kubel-love.

So what ya saying now all you nay-sayers???

Go Twins!!!