Keuchel and I are both dreamers. He wishes to once again don the MLB uniform. My dream? I would live midway between Wrigley and Comiskey Park (I refuse to call it by its garishly sponsored 'phonie' title) and you would find me on the Chicago 'L.'

Well, just prior to our retirement, we had a family meeting about where my wife and I were to reside once retired. Like Keuchel, I entered the gathering with some anxiety. Can I pull this one off?

Our family met up and time for the vote: 

• Our older Bloomington daughter opened the first inning with a curve ball: "The Cities."  
• Her younger sister, a Minneapolis resident says, “Me too.” Uh, oh. My dream seems to be quickly vanishing.
• I glance at my wife and resignedly said, “We don’t even need to finish voting, do we?” She said, “Nope.”

But, I got the last vote and when we bought, we purchased our home in the Como Park area of St Paul, equidistant between the Saints’ CHS stadium and Target Field. One-half mile drive, park, and hop on the nonelivated light rail -- right behind the engineer and I am at CHS or Target in 30 minutes. The stuff dreams are made of.

So when Dallas Keuchel was scheduled to pitch this past Saturday night, I knew I had to attend. Dreamers stick together. I wanted to see what he had left in the gas tank and how well he could draw on his craft to work over these kids from Gwinnett at CHS against the AAA Saints.

I quickly scrambled to Seatgeek and it seemed like everyone else had the same idea. Or maybe it was the fireworks after the game. Regardless, I had to grab a box seat, 2nd row right behind home. Great seat. I never sat that close in my life but it gave me a great ring-side seat to zero in on Keuchel. I again discovered that CHS isn’t any more forgiving on my knees than Target and that the concession prices are similar. 8,000 in attendance, with a ton of fans wearing the Saints hats and shirts.

Never a dart thrower, Keuchel didn’t touch 86 mph; topping out at 85, with most pitches in the 81-83 range. The changeups skirted a dangerous 78 mph. Control issues immediately surfaced and Keuchel ended up working out of jams every inning with 3 singles and 4 walks. No runs given up and he left with the score 0-0 after 4.1 innings. clearly on a pitch count (86-47).

Keuchel worked from the center of the rubber. Williams caught him, calling an excellent game, with Keuchel shaking him off only twice. When Keuchel missed badly, his body language told the story: For the time being, no big meal money. Dinner will be a tunafish sandwich out of a vending machine. No airline tarmac, just the back of a bus. And hotels? Roommates snoring loudly. Not a nice dream.

Gwinnett’s catcher often looked to the bench for a call. That drives me crazy. I see it all the time in Div I ball in Arizona. Show some confidence in catch and let him call the game! If he needs correction, immediately teach when the side is retired. Coaching and development: That is why the minors exist.

The roster lists St Paul catcher Williams at 225. I do not believe that figure for a minute. I would be surprised if he measured in at 200. And that catcher look? Camargo was the DH but one look at you know, "Now there is a catcher." Speaking of dreams?  I have always wanted to be the bullpen catcher --  if I ever were to grow up. I best hurry. I was born in ‘48 but with H/W at 6’2”/240lbs, that should round out my Saints uniform, right?

Wallner’s first hit was a shot at First who ducked so the ball didn’t go through his sternum and out his backbone. Gardenhire had Wallner in left and I was eager to see the concerns others have expressed about his defense (I only listen on the radio). No chances, no harm, no foul.

Speaking of Gardenhire, he coaches 3rd. I am not sure if that is a personal preference or AAA economics. As well, just three umps on the field. Is that standard in minor league ball?

Celestino played CF. A ball was hit to deep center and he mounted his horse and took off, crashing into the wall, doing his best takeoff of Buxton. He got up slowly but he was fine.

The game also features forum favorite (sic) here at TD, Kyyyyyyyle Garlick manning 1st base after his round of DFA’ville. When Garlick's name flashed on the scoreboard, I groaned to myself and looked around to see if the ghost of Jake Cave too would appear.

Oh, lest I forget, within the International League, the catcher, batter, and pitcher can appeal a ball/strike call. Three calls per side per game. At first I didn’t know what was going on. On three occasions, the catcher patted his batting helmet, and the ump patted his black cap, swirling to official scorer upstairs. Then, magically the pitch is graphically imaged on the scoreboard, with a clear outline of the strike zone. Guess what? Ump was correct on all three calls that catchers had appealed.

Back to the game. Beginning in the 5th inning, Gwinnett began throwing batting practice and it was soon 10-0. I wondered if we were going to have to employ the “mercy rule." It stayed that way until the 8th when Sadzack began throwing batting practice for the Saints, giving up 4 ERs on two gopher balls. You could have fried an egg on Sadzack’s head when Gardenhire strolled to the mound. Sadzack is 31 now and can see his MLB dream vanishing. Maybe he can join me in my bullpen?

Gardenhire called in Funderbunk. Batting practice wasn't quite over and Funderbunk too thought it was time to toss some batting practice. Two more runs. Fortunately, the Gwinnett batters knew a way out of the game, just like old dreamers know the way out of a long blog.

Saints, 10-6. See you on the light rail and at the park, db