A proposal on the jumbotron

A year ago on this Friday night (the date was actually Sept. 8th, but it was a Friday), Curveball (Joel) and I were at the Twins game. I have to previce this story by saying that he had been slightly annoying me all week...not for any real reason, other than he had been sort of weird, not himself...I couldn't put my finger on it but he wasn't himself. It wasn't anything major, but when he showed up at my place "late" (by this I mean he arrived about a half hour later than he had planned on arriving), I was even more in a tizzy. I'll admit it, I sort of laid into the poor guy. We were taking the city bus down to the Dome from my place in south Mpls and I always liked to arrive plenty early. But as we were waiting for the bus, I told him not to worry about it, I wasn't still mad. In fact, in an attempt to demonstrate my love and relax the guy, I told him that I had actually bought his birthday present that day.

We arrived at the dome and Joel had to pick up the tickets. Joel had arranged to buy tickets for "good seats" behind home plate. He said something about getting these seats for our "anniversary" (we had been dating 6 months). I didn't think anything of it...hey, I'll take good seats anytime I can get them!

We settled in. There was a family with two young boys sitting next to us...they were really cute and wearing "Joe Mauer sideburns". I did notice Joel being sort of fidgety at one point, playing with a straw or something in a way not typical of him. I almost made a smart comment like, "Nervous or something?", but I didn't want to resurrect the tension between us from earlier in the evening.

Garza was pitching that night, but not having his best outing. We were behind in the 5th inning and it looked like Garza may already be done for the night. Before the Twins came up to bat in the 5th, I looked up to the Jumbotron and read "Risa, I love you. Will you marry me? Love, Joe."




Now the first thing I want to point out is that it read "Joe". The man sitting next to me is named "Joel". He never goes by Joe. I read it a second and probably third time. My heart started racing. I'm thinking...how many other Risa's could be here...did they mean Joel? (Note: this is not the sort of thing you want to be wrong about). It really was one of those surreal moments, when time takes on a different dimension. Everything became a little fuzzy. I finally realized the woman next to me (who Joel had clued in while I was in the bathroom) was asking me if it was "yes" AND Joel was trying to get on his knee and get the ring out of his pocket AND there was a cameraman right in front of us.

The second thing I want to point out is that the answer was always, without a doubt, "YES". Joel asked me exactly how I wanted to be asked--at a Twins game on the jumbotron. I love baseball. I think it's very romantic (as long as you both love baseball--Joel had actually "found" me on match.com by typing "twins baseball" in the common interest search). And I think any man who will ask that question in front of 40,000 people...well, you don't have to doubt their committment.

Obviously, I wasn't expecting a proposal that evening. He didn't give me any hint that he was going to propose that night...and after the fact, I realized that his "weirdness" all week was due to his nervousness. He had spent the night before (a rare evening we were not together) posting on one of the baseball blogs about his plans to propose.

Back to the proposal...

It was wonderful. We were on the jumbotron, but the cameraman had a hard time capturing it because a hotdog vendor had decided our row was the place to set up shop (and Joel was too nervous to tell him to go away). Joel had a wonderful engagement ring for me...a 1987 World Series ring (a replica for fans). Both of us were shaking when the whole thing was done.

Shortly after the proposal, I got a cellphone call from my boss. I said to Joel, "I can't believe work is calling me right now. I am so not dealing with problems at work." But on the other end, Sue was asking, "Did you say 'yes'?" One of my co-workers was at the game, saw it all and had called Sue. Then Joel asked me if I was going to call Julie, my best friend (who lives in New York).

I was dying to call her, so I went out to the concession area...made the call and got her voicemail. I left a message something like, "Umm, we're at the Twins game and Joel just sort of proposed..." Julie picked up the phone before I could finish and laughed, "he sort of proposed..."

It was a magical evening. The Twins came up to bat in the bottom of the 5th and started hitting. Neshek started pitching and got the win.

Really though, I think I was the winner that night.

Oh ya, one final..."I (meaning "moi") was such a dope for being mad at you" moment...when we got back to my place, Joel went to his car and opened up the trunk and pulled out a dozen roses. That's why he was a half hour late that night...he had stopped to buy roses for me and hid them in the trunk, so I wouldn't see them till post-proposal. The whole proposal tells you why I love the man...he pays attention, he really tries to do those things that matter.

So yup, we got married June 3rd. It wasn't a baseball-themed wedding, but we did have Twins mini-helmuts on the cake. I think, as Joel said that evening a year ago, we'll have lots of fun growing old together. And that will include lots of baseball games!

Baker pitches a gem!

I'm siting at home this Friday night watching the Twins game as I recover from having a tooth extracted earlier today. At the start of the game I wasn't feeling too hot still and my thinking really was that if the Twins play like they did earlier today, I'm not sure I could stomach watching the whole thing. My attention to the game was half-assed at best (o.k. I'll admit I was flipping to What Not to Wear on TLC during the first several innings).

But as the game wore on, the Twins actually scoring some runs grabbed my attention and then...

one of our pitchers was doing something brilliant again...and it wasn't Santana, it was Baker. Going into the 9th, Baker had a perfect game going. Unfortunately, he walked a man at the top of the 9th and gave up a hit...but in the end, pitched a complete, shutout game.

Awesome. Incredible. I love watching pitching gems like that.

Pitchers are interesting creatures. Coming off the field in the 5th and 6th inning, Baker looked like the most miserable man on the field. No one dared to sit next to him dare they mess with his mojo (it's common practice to leave the pitcher alone in the dugout, especially when they have a perfect game going on).

Has anyone noticed that our pitchers come back to pitch incredible games after they have experienced the birth of their child? Remember Silva's gem earlier this season? Maybe our pitchers should become fathers more often!

Win or lose, games like these make baseball a great game.

Way to go, Baker! (And hey, congrats on becoming a Daddy again!)

Crap!

Damn it. Crap. I'm sorry, the bullpen didn't do their job tonight. It's not entirely their fault. Would it have helped to keep Gardy in the dugout? Couldn't hurt. And the starting pitchers could have put less stress on the bullpen. I mean with Crain (remember Crain?) and Reyes on DL, Rincon totally sucking...We're extremely lean in the bullpen. You can only go to Neshek so many times. And I'm sorry, but Boof, lose some weight!!! Get in shape! You're a professional athlete...maybe it's time you look the part. I know it's not about "a look"...but obviously the endurance & stamina isn't there as the game and season wears on...and better conditioning certainly couldn't hurt.

I like that the guys didn't say die in the 9th (even when the bullpen allowed 2 more runs). Buscher got his first major league home run, Tyner got his 4th run of the night and we made it a 1-run ballgame again (of course, if Cali hadn't put on those 2 runs...those would have been winning runs).

Oh, and FSN...quit sending Marnie out to interview the Indians (or other opposing players) after the game! Geez, I don't want to hear from the other team. It's like rubbing salt in an open wound (make that a gaping wound)!

Bottom of the Eighth

Hunter's catch was the #3 Web gem on Baseball Tonight.

Punto's catch was #1!!!

Bottom of the 8th inning. 3-4 game. 1 run behind. There's no more time to lose 1-run games. Somehow we need to find a way to win this game. We have to beat Cleveland.

There have been sensational plays tonight. Tyner's catch at the wall in left. Punto's mid-air bare-handed catch and throw to Morneau--who managed to catch the ball while doing the splits. Hunter's catch in center that involved hitting the wall so hard that the collision could be heard.

Get the job done, boys. We need a win.

State Fair vs Twins

It's that time of year when the State Fair challenges the Twins for top billing. I'm almost glad the Twins are out of town so it's not such a dilemna picking which activity to enjoy.

We did "enjoy" Tuesday's home game. I use the term "enjoy" loosely, because it was not a very entertaining game. Entertaining in the stands perhaps, but not on the field. It was Lutheran night at the dome, which brought the attendance up to 42,000 for a Tuesday night (there were also half-price homerun porch seats). Bethel College football team was seated below us. They don't drink and lead organized cheering fests. And for you single ladies out there, they are also pretty buff. Book tickets for Lutheran Night 2008.

It also seemed to be "Beachball Night". The Santa usher in my section had a hard time with this. He was not satisfied until he was able to snag a beachball and deflate it.

And then it was also the night Dick and Bert were broadcasting from Section 140 (we were two sections over). We couldn't really see much of what was going on there during the game. I wonder how it sounded on t.v., since it was pretty loud at the Dome. We did see Dick on his way in. More like "heard". I heard his voice behind me and instantly recognized that voice. We did manage to get a few pics of Bert before the game. Curveball lost an opportunity to snag a few autographs.

We did manage to combine our love for the Fair with a little Twins baseball. We were at the Fair on Day 1. We saw T.C. in the parade. Curveball got T.C. to do his little wiggle. Later we went by the FSN booth...Anthony LaPlanta and Roy Smalley were there, since the Twins were playing. I was bashful, but Curveball got his pic taken with Roy (I was the photographer).

I did manage to watch most of last night's game while hanging out with friends. It was great to see the Twins pull off a late-game rally--for the second night in a row. AND, Morneau hit a homerun!

Hope springs eternal!

Santana is my man-ah!!!

"You don't have that many chances to do
something very special like that. I was living by the moment but at the same time, I was enjoying everything I was doing out there."

Pitching Ace Santana on his record setting day

Santana was brilliant today. It's just incredible to watch him pitch on a day like today and I was thrilled to be there. In the 7th inning, my friend visiting from California asked what his record was and I said I thought it was 15 (turns out it was 14 set last season).

New record. Santana came out in the 8th with 99 pitches and first tied the club record of 15 and then went on to establish a new record of 17. It was crazy being there...the fans went wild. Santana tipped his hat to the crowd on his way into the dugout. We would have screamed till he came back out.

We wanted him back in the 9th, but since the score was 1-0 cooler heads prevailed. Santana I think was fine with that. We needed the win. There will be another day to set new records.

Friday's '87 Reunion pregame events

'87 insignia painted on field

View of the field from upper deck

T.C. Fun

Curveball (in hat) in autograph line

More autograph hounds

In my book, there's no better way to let go of stress from the work week than by taking in a baseball game. This week was no exception. Not only did Curveball and myself get to enjoy a great game, but we also also enjoyed the pregame activities.

We were anxious to arrive for Friday's game earlier than we normally do. Curveball was planning to snag a few autographs from '87 players. We made it to the plaza about 4:45--45 minutes before the autograph stations even opened! No big surprise--the lines at the 4 autograph stations were already growing long. I let Curveball join the ranks of the autograph seekers while I roamed the plaza.

I'm the type that's always ready to get to the game early and soak up the atmosphere. Last night I was anxious to see the pregame festivities celebrating the '87 season. As I roamed the plaza, I caught sight of a few '87 players making their way to the autograph stations (with security folks by their sides). The people watching was pretty good. It's amazing the things people will bring to have players sign. The most interesting thing I saw was a child's rocking horse.

I also was able to make it through the gate with each of our tickets (2 separate trips) to get the pack of baseball cards of the '87 team. With that done, I decided I might as well head into the stadium and watch the pregame action.

Our seats were located in the upper club section just slightly to the right of homeplate (section 224). Not bad. The field was decorated with special insignia for the '87 World Series. The jumbotron was playing highlights of the '87 season. Two guys sitting a few seats down from me were enjoying the highlights and quizzing each other on '87 trivia.

Just after the autograph stations closed at 6:30, the '87 players started making their way to the field. It was interesting watching as old teammates/friends greeted each other with slaps on the back and hugs. This team shared something special together...a life-defining event. And as the players themselves have said, the fans were a part of that event as well.

Once the players were gathered, top plays from the '87 season were played chronologically...and with each play, another '87 player was introduced. I love this stuff. I'm the fan typically standing up and yelling. Sometimes I get goosebumps as well. It was great to see Gaetti, Viola, Herbie, Bruno...all those guys take the field.

Something special was saved for the end. Jeff Reardon, the closing (and winning) pitcher of the '87 World Series (every bit as good as Nathan), was the last Twins player to be introduced. When Reardon was introduced, much of the crowd stood to welcome him with loud applause.

The fans were trying to send Reardon a message. "Hey, we know it's been rough, but we're still here for you." Reardon has seen hard times these past few years--one of his 3 kids died of a drug overdose. Life seemed to fall apart for Reardon following this tragedy and slowly, he is getting his life back on track. Reardon has started a foundation, in his son's name, to help other kids overcome drug problems.

Reardon was joined by his family on the field. His fellow '87 teammates presented a check to Reardon for that foundation in the amount of $100,000 (the money was raised from the sale of the '87 bobbleheads). Man, it was a great thing to see.

The festivities were over and the game began...with the memory that this little team that no one thought could win it all did just that...20 years ago.