Winter Caravan Stories

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins set out on Monday, as they do every year, on their Winter Caravan across the Upper Midwest. They go to schools, retirement centers and big public events. 

 

I've been to several Winter Caravan stops over the last 6-7 years. Of course, living at the top of the state (geographically only), the nearest stop this year is 90+ miles away. But, most of you reading this likely are within reasonable distance to get to an event. 

 

Of course, it all leads up to Twins Fest at the end of the 2nd week.

 

Use this forum thread to discuss your Winter Caravan stories, either from this year or previous years.

 

Here is little fuzzy photo of my daughter, five years ago today (per Facebook) with Jeff Manship and Drew Butera at a Winter Caravan stop in Thief River Falls.

 

[nicksaviking]

The Winter Caravan has been a staple of the Twins' offseason for decades, back into the 60's I believe It's largely an exercise in spreading goodwill and promoting their product but once in awhile some nice nuggets are dropped for the fans. I recall one year when Gardy was asked during a stop in my city of Fargo whom of Cuddyer, Span, Gomez or Young would be the odd man out of the OF picture, Gardy not so slyly indicated it would be Young. Gardy later acted surprised that this got picked up by the Twin Cities media and subsequently MLBTR.

 

I missed Tony O, Tyler Duffey and Trevor May in Fargo today due to waiting on a pokey repairman. My father did get to see Paul Molitor and Byron Buxton in Detroit Lakes today however, and insignificant as it may be, I'll relay the thoughts of the manager, second hand at least:

 

Miguel Sano will be in RF. It could still be subterfuge if that's how some folks want to view it, but per my old man Molitor didn't couch this statement, there wasn't any suggestion that it may happen, or they'll have to see how it plays out, or they are planning for him to play there, it was just flatly, "Sano will be our right fielder".

 

They expect Byung-Ho Park to start slow and Molitor specially compared him to fellow Korean Jung Ho Kang telling the fans that Park will need time to adjust to the speed of the pitches. The implication according to my dad was that this would be done at the MLB level.

 

Molitor said we should expect a lot of young hard throwing strikeout guys in the pen. My dad thought this was in response to not addressing the bullpen in free agency, but he couldn't remember the exact question. This response is both encouraging and awkwardly hilarious to me because Molitor was sitting next to the decidedly non-hard throwing non-strikeout oriented Casey Fien.

 

Anyone else get to the caravan? Any bombshells dropped?

[Seth Stohs]

Anyone else been to one of the Twins Winter Caravan events during Week 1?? Will they be making a stop near you in Week 2?

 

Keep the stories/memories coming.

[Halsey Hall]

They'll be stopping in Duluth, but I'll be on my way to FT Myers!

[James]

Indirect story, but on Tuesday night my girlfriend sent me a picture of her aunt with Paul Molitor.  Her aunt is a regular at the Bemidji Curling Club and apparently, Molitor and several players stopped by the curling club after their stop that day.  The only player that was mentioned by name was Byron Buxton.  

 

I find the thought of Buxton curling to kind of amusing.  

[TFelton]

At Bismarck ND stop Monday.

 

1st - Trevor May was explaining being in the Big Leagues for the first time, and learning how players go about their work, yet said there were little things you don't think about:  He was asking other players 'where do you go to pick up your luggage when getting off the plane in a new city?'  He opined 'Bags just show up in your room, .....evidently (smile).'  May got a big laugh out of the crowd.

 

2nd - Tyler Duffey said Miguel Cabrera drove a 3-1 outside fastball to the RF wall where Torii caught it with his back to the wall.  Duffey said his heart was pounding knowing he survived while Miggy trotted by him, winked and patted him on the back.  Tyler got a copy of the pict (patting Tyler on the back) and had Miggy sign it.  Life-long memory of one of the greatest hitters of the generation.  I was impressed that Tyler thought about capturing the moment, and really cool Miggy was more than happy to sign the picture.

 

3rd - May followed that up with a story throwing a 3-2 changeup to Miggy which he got out in front of and drove to the wall where Hicks caught it.  Trevor said the next day during a Tiger pitching change, with Miggy playing first, and Torii on first, that Miggy looked to the dugout where May was standing and signaled to him, smiled and said 'Hey May, nice change-up.'  May thought, what is that supposed to mean, you got out, to the warning track (he smiled that wry smile).  May then explained a few days later he homered off him on a good slider, so 'not making that mistake throwing a good changeup (smile).'

 

4th - asked about tough hitters to face, Duffey told the Miggy story, while May told a Chris Davis story.  Started talking about giving up a homerun to him, then thought, wait, 'I gave up 2 to him in Spring Training too.  That's a lot of HR's I give up.'

 

Olivia was good for a number of great stories about Nolan Ryan, Catfish Hunter, and how he 'always hit good against Yankee pitching.'  The older attendees really related to him.

 

Dave St Peter's parents were there in the crowd, and was great that Provus pointed them out.  They were sitting pretty close to us, and wow was that a great proud moment for Bismarck Twins fans...standing ovation.

 

May was clearly the star of the show with his self-deprecating humor, which you don't see that personality on the field and the kids loved it, and he earned two new fans in my house with the kids.  Duffey was the real deal with his insightful stories and clearly cares about the game and matter of fact approach...he earned my pulling for him to be successful.

 

This is the second caravan I've attended and first since David McCarty was on the trip....  As a mid-40's life-long Twins fan, it was awesome to see the kids and older folks, and the smiles. 

 

Bring on Spring Training.

 

TFelton

[Seth Stohs]

 

Indirect story, but on Tuesday night my girlfriend sent me a picture of her aunt with Paul Molitor.  Her aunt is a regular at the Bemidji Curling Club and apparently, Molitor and several players stopped by the curling club after their stop that day.  The only player that was mentioned by name was Byron Buxton.  

 

I find the thought of Buxton curling to kind of amusing.  

 

Yeah, the Twins Twitter site has been posting pictures from their various stops. There were pictures of them curling, and with Paul Bunyan and on Detroit Lake... as well as the other group that's been in ND. 

[nmtwinsfan]

The first time I went to a Twins caravan I was after he 1989 season. I'm not sure who else came but I know Tom Kelly was there because I guess I asked him a question about the pitching after the Frank Viola trade. I was 7, so don't really remember the specific question but my dad always tells me about how exciting it was for me, all dressed up in a Twins uniform, to be able to ask the manager a question.

 

In 2013 I went in Fargo and had a blast with my niece. I'm not a big autograph person but it was cool getting Tony O's autograph as well as Glen Perkins. Dave St. Peter was out in the crowd after the event and I asked him about when he thought Sano would be with the big club. He told me (paraphrasing) that they felt Sano was on the same track as Mauer and that Joe had skipped Triple A and started the season with the Twins his rookie year. This was, of course, before Sano had the Tommy John surgery and before Trevor Plouffe had really solidified his spot at third base. It's interesting to think of what may have been had Sano not injured his elbow.

 

The only other memory I have of Twins caravan is it coming to my school one year. I remember Al Newman being one of the Twins but forget who else. Maybe Jeff Reardon. Anyways, I've been reading the site for year, first time comenter. The articles and insight are up there with any Twins reporting and this truly is one of the only spots on the internet where reading the comments doesn't leave you feeling disgusted and ashamed to share a common ancestor with these people. Kudos, and keep up the good work, I'll keep reading and its been fun thinking about and sharing some fond memories.

[Ben B]

I used to live in Willmar, and Anthony Swarzak and Trevor Plouffe came through one year. Plouffe was on the mic giving out signed balls as prizes. They gave out some single balls first. And then he said something like "and for this prize Anthony and I put our balls together..." And the whole room busted out laughing. 

 

Plouffe then accused us all of having dirty minds.

 

Another year, everybody laughed at Aaron Hicks because he thought "caravan" literally meant they would get a party bus or something and pick up a bunch of fans and go for a ride. 

[Halsey Hall]

They are in Duluth right now and were just shown on the news. 
The sportscaster interviewed Buxton.