Player of the Game

Gomez was definitely Player of the Game. One can only hope he will continue to hit and steal as he did tonight. If such is the case, fans will soon be saying "Torii who?"

It was a strange start to the opener...the snow and cold put quite a damper on the festivities. Me and Curveball arrived early (3:30pm) to pick up our tickets and get underground parking. All thoughts of wandering around the plaza quickly disappeared with the cold. It was nasty. We ended up walking the long way around to enter the dome. I daresay if it hadn't been the home opener the crowd would have been quite smaller. Actually, if this had been 2010 the game would have been postponed. Tonight it was wonderful sitting under the dome roof.

And because we were sitting under a dome roof the fans came out in full force...some 49,000 plus. It was full even in the upper deck general admission seats where we sat. Folks were eager to cheer on our new team members, as well as welcome back former favorites--even those who played for the. Torii was well-received by the fans, receiving more than one standing ovation. It was nice to see him play, but I was just as thrilled that he didn't score a run. He is an Angel after all.

I think our guys played with enthusiasm. Gomez was certainly exciting to watch. He will certainly give pitchers reason to look over their shoulder. The bottom of our lineup produced some hits as well. That was a welcome sight. And Hernandez did well overall. He struggled some in the 5th, but came back in the 6th and pitched well.

So there you have it, our first win.

161 games to go. No excuses.

Just For Today

Look outside. Look at it. It's snowing like it's the middle of football season for chrissake. Does it look like Baseball Opening Day-type weather? I guess if you live in Minnesota it does. I am one Twins fan that is thankful for a roof today!

This baseball fool is not going to let the weather dampen my enthusiasm (I may however pick a parking lot closer to the dome this afternoon). I am ready to start the season with optimism and glee (Knowing myself, I'll probably end the season the same way). Today I am not about to ponder what the Twins' standings will be mid-season or where they will place in the division. I do not care to debate how strong our pitching rotation is or if our lineup will produce the hits necessary for a winning season.

No, Just For Today, I am going to celebrate the start of a brand new season where anything is possible. Truly. Remember 1987?

Just For Today, I am going to cheer & scream for every new Twins player like they are our hope for a future title. They are.

Just For Today, I am going to walk in that monstrosity of a dome (that I admit I love) and let all the tension in my body evaporate as a state of baseball bliss overcomes me.

Just For Today, win or lose, I am going to savor every minute of the game and the joy of watching live baseball.


This day cannot be spoiled by weather or nearly anything else. This day is all about baseball and nothing else. Soon I will be pulling on my new Pat Neshek jersey and heading to the dome. Me and Curveball will be claiming our seats early (just general admission seats tonight) and I'm excited just thinking about sitting there and soaking up the atmosphere.

There's a lot more baseball to come, but Just For Today, I'm going to enjoy the greatest game on earth.

Baseball fool

Two weeks.

Finally. In just two weeks the baseball season will officially begin. I can't wait.

I know I've been a bad baseball blogger. I know it doesn't show, but I have been keeping my eye on spring training...staying updated on how we're doing, learning more about the new players and getting a sense of this "new" team.

But I'm holding back my enthusiasm for the season opener.

And then I will be there. In the flesh.

I bought my tickets for the opening season at Twinsfest. They are sitting in the drawer where I stash my Twins tickets. I am dreaming about that first day. I'm psyched because I have that week off at work, so I can be a baseball fool full-time that week. I've thought about attending the breakfast on the plaza that first day, but I'm not sure I'll roll out of bed that early. I do think I'll make the Noon rally though.

Thinking about it, I can almost feel the excitement on the plaza before the game that night. I can hear myself screaming for my team as the players, new and old, are announced. No doubt, I will leave that game with little voice left. And I'll be back there the next night.

Ah, to be a fool for baseball again!