2015 Hammond Happenings

[DJL44]

"Torii will be worth his weight in gold just for the help he'll give to others and the tickets that will sell to come see him."

 

He weighs about 225 pounds. At $1200 an ounce that's $4.32M for Torii. Too bad they're paying him $10M.

[Halsey Hall]

Wed morning at the park.  A few more guys showed up today.  Mark Hamberger threw off the mound.  AJ Achter is here.  So is a beefed up Aaron Hicks.  Looks like he added some upper body muscle.  Torii joked it was from steroids.  Bp took place on a couple of fields today.  As usual Vargas cleared the fence the most with Hicks losing a few balls also.  Supposed to be a high in the 60's for the week, perfect in my book. 

 

Max Kepler and Thorpe are also here now. 

[Squirrel]

Halsey, is most of this happening on the back fields? Any access yet to the stadium?

[Halsey Hall]

No access to the stadium til the 22nd.  The ticket office is open and a small gift shop next to it is all.  Some people have just walked in and looked though, they tell me.  I'm staying away. All the action is down the street. 

[NoCryingInBaseball]

I see that Reusse must have heard the same bantering from Hunter about Hicks because he tweeted: 

Patrick Reusse ‏@1500ESPN_Reusse Torii Hunter here working out for 2nd day. He's the Pied Piper for players -- including Aaron Hicks, who arrived today.

I pointed to Hicks & made a gesture as to width of his shoulders. Torii went right to his man Puck's playbook for teammates & shouted:
"Steroids! I'm turning him in." Hicks might as well get used to it. Agitation is going to make a comeback in Twins clubhouse this spring.
 

Great stuff Halsey!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Nice to hear Hicks has bulked up a bit. A bit more strength might help him.

[Squirrel]

Halsey, were you there today? I stopped by for a bit, but couldn't stay long. Saw Hughes in his vehicle leaving. But saw Hunter, Hicks, Vargas and I think Hermann (?) take some BP. So great to hear that crack of the bat and to see green, manicured baseball fields! Stopped by the gift store and bought my yearly hat purchase. (see below) The woman in the gift store mentioned that there would be two open houses for the 'new' stadium; one on Feb. 22 and another on Mar. 1, from 10-2, with organized tours and half-price concessions. Didn't ask about the presence of any players or mgmt, but the 22nd is the ribbon cutting so I would assume someone would be around. (Maybe Halsey knows?)

[Halsey Hall]

Chi - Yes I was there, but wouldn't you know it, I was over the right field fence at the time.  Those guys hit in the second group and I was sure Vargas would launch a few far enough to fetch.  Not to be today, but he did send one out right handed toward the high school which I picked up on the way back.  So all was not lost. 

 

Nice hat!  Nothing cheap in there now though, but the stuff sells.

[USAFChief]

Halsey, were you there today? I stopped by for a bit, but couldn't stay long. Saw Hughes in his vehicle leaving. But saw Hunter, Hicks, Vargas and I think Hermann (?) take some BP. So great to hear that crack of the bat and to see green, manicured baseball fields! Stopped by the gift store and bought my yearly hat purchase. (see below) The woman in the gift store mentioned that there would be two open houses for the 'new' stadium; one on Feb. 22 and another on Mar. 1, from 10-2, with organized tours and half-price concessions. Didn't ask about the presence of any players or mgmt, but the 22nd is the ribbon cutting so I would assume someone would be around. (Maybe Halsey knows?)image.jpg

Nice. A simple TC logo...no M, or any such nonsense.

[Squirrel]

Nice. A simple TC logo...no M, or any such nonsense.

Well, along the back it does say, in small letters 'Spring Training 2015'

[USAFChief]

Well, along the back it does say, in small letters 'Spring Training 2015'

A tolerable deviation from good taste.

 

Barely tolerable, though.

[Squirrel]

A tolerable deviation from good taste.

Barely tolerable, though.

Heh, my ponytail will cover that part up anyway.

[Halsey Hall]

Presidents Day today, so alot of kids at the ballpark, along with many more adults.  Seems everyone wants autographs or photo's taken with the players.  It'll get worse from here on out, although the Sox will finally open their gates on saturday so we'll lose some east coasters. 

 

New today were Sano, Jorge Polanco, Eduardo Escobar and Tommy Milone.  Vargas works hard and after batting practice goes to Perry's Hill and runs there most everyday.  He got alot of ooh's and ahh's today by launching some very long balls over the fences.  He's a treat to watch take bp. 

 

Ruesse told me we lost a prospect, must of been in the Dominican, as he was swimming and got hit in the head by a prop of a boat. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ruesse told me we lost a prospect, must of been in the Dominican, as he was swimming and got hit in the head by a prop of a boat. 

Uh.

 

Um.

 

HOLY.

 

OUCH.

[jimmer]

I heard it was Mariners prospect Victor Sanchez from Venezuala

[GMinTraining]

What day do the position players start working out at Hammond Stadium officially?   How long will I have to see the Hunters; Hicks; and Vargas's practice on back fields?  Date?

[Brock Beauchamp]

What day do the position players start working out at Hammond Stadium officially?   How long will I have to see the Hunters; Hicks; and Vargas's practice on back fields?  Date?

Saturday the 28th is the first full squad workout.

[Seth Stohs]

I heard it was Mariners prospect Victor Sanchez from Venezuala

 

That was the name being reported over the weekend. I don't know if any other players were involved.

[Bob Sacamento]

Halsey, I'll see you there Friday, they still taking the field around 8a?

[Halsey Hall]

I heard it was Mariners prospect Victor Sanchez from Venezuala

Leave it it a TD'er to have the info!

[Halsey Hall]

Halsey, I'll see you there Friday, they still taking the field around 8a?

They start just before 9.  Of course they're here earlier doing whatever they do in the clubhouse.  It's still informal, so some show up later.  But it's really pretty formal, as the coaches seem to have the drills and all down to a time. 

[Halsey Hall]

Saturday the 28th is the first full squad workout.

 

What day do the position players start working out at Hammond Stadium officially?   How long will I have to see the Hunters; Hicks; and Vargas's practice on back fields?  Date?

On the back fields, good question.  They start games 4 days after reporting, so not much time to get ready.  They have yet to use the field next to the stadium.  That one and the adjoining field will probably be used for all invited, and the back two for the minors. 

[Halsey Hall]

New faces today at the park included Ervin Santana, Tervor Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia, though none took the fields.  I decided to try to get a team bat signed and knocked off 3 more today with Tommy Milone, Caleb Thielbar and new skipper Paul Molitor signing it.  The major league roster hits on one field and the minors hit on another, and Molly watched intently as Vargas, Hicks and Sano took their turns.  Vargas hit on to left that landed on the roof of the Medical building way beyond the right field fence.  Sano hit the road a couple times. 

 

Yesterday some old guy with NY on his pants walked right into the bullpen when Perkins was throwing.  Nice going, easterner, as now we are locked out of that area.  

 

Talked with a friend who works in the gift shop and she's about in a panic.  These construction workers should have been done the 1st, and still haven't finished.  She said the gift shop floor is a disaster, the they've had to put a new door on 5 different times and can't get it right.  The Twins wanted Mortenson to get the contract, but Lee County nixed it, keeping the work local, so it's mostly spanish speaking construction workers doing their thing. 

[NoCryingInBaseball]

Just made arrangements to be at the practice fields of Hammond Stadium on Friday morning!  Hope to join you guys....although I don't know who are Twins Daily regulars.

[JB_Iowa]

Talked with a friend who works in the gift shop and she's about in a panic.  These construction workers should have been done the 1st, and still haven't finished.  She said the gift shop floor is a disaster, the they've had to put a new door on 5 different times and can't get it right.  The Twins wanted Mortenson to get the contract, but Lee County nixed it, keeping the work local, so it's mostly spanish speaking construction workers doing their thing. 

 

Well, it is mostly taxpayer money so I see keeping the contract local.

 

C'mon Bill Smith, get in there and get this finished.

[Squirrel]

Just made arrangements to be at the practice fields of Hammond Stadium on Friday morning!  Hope to join you guys....although I don't know who are Twins Daily regulars.

Just look for Halsey; he'll point everyone out to you.

[BarryPA22]

Hey Halsey!  I'm coming down March 11th from PA for a week and need some guidence.  Can I look you up and maybe you can guide me through my second visit.  I would appreciate it!

[JB_Iowa]

I like Dorsey's memory timeline:

 

http://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2015/02/18/dorsey-reflects-touring-hammond-stadium-changes/23628625/

[Halsey Hall]

Hey Halsey!  I'm coming down March 11th from PA for a week and need some guidence.  Can I look you up and maybe you can guide me through my second visit.  I would appreciate it!

Sure, give me a heads up and we'll plan on meeting somewhere. 

[Seth Stohs]

March 8th can't get here quickly enough for me!! Looking forward to a week at the Fort!