Notes from the Ballpark: Haze and Twins Hits Take Over Target Field in Brewers Series Sweep

[Melissa Berman]

The Twins just wrapped up a two-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers to start a mammoth 10-game homestand. This series featured a walk-off home run, thick wildfire smoke, more Dollar Dogs sold than we likely care to know, and some of the best fan attendance of the season. Here are my notes on what I observed while at the ballpark.

Image courtesy of Melissa Berman

Day 2 of the Border Battle was the haziest game in Target Field history. Fans should not have been sitting out in it. 
On Wednesday, smoke from the Canadian wildfires rolled into Minnesota again, and its effect was extremely noticeable at the day game. Target Field was packed with kids groups, retired folks, and 32,222 Brewers and Twins fans, enjoying not being at work or school on a warm summer day.

During the game, the air quality was in the red (unhealthy for all) category, which the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advises everyone should avoid prolonged time outdoors. The air got worse as the game went on, too; the air quality index (AQI) was at 145 at Target Field at about 1 p.m., and by the end of the game, the AQI was at 194. Wednesday evening, after the game was over, the Minneapolis AQI hit 246, the worst in the United States and world and the worst air quality on record in the Twin Cities. An index score between 0-50 is considered healthy, according to AirNow.gov.

While it did not look quite as extreme as the apocalyptic haze out of New York that led to the June 7 Yankees game getting postponed, the air at Target Field smelled smoky, like a dirty campfire, and smog cloaked the downtown skyline. Even the other side of the stadium was obscured; the normally-dark green batter's eye looked more gray to the naked eye. Truly, pictures do not do justice to how hazy it looked at the stadium. Fans and media speculated that Brewers fielders might have lost a towering Joey Gallo ball in the smog, but it was also a challenging play for the second baseman to make, and I don't think this is as likely.

My lungs secondhand burned as I watched Carlos Correa burn around the bases for a triple in the third inning. I arrived late to the game, and even so, by the end, my eyes were watering, I had a light headache, and I left with a bad taste in my mouth- literally. As I walked back to my car, another fan leaving the game lit a cigarette and I chuckled- what I had just breathed was undoubtedly worse. And I had simply been sitting in the stands watching the game, not running full speed around the bases.

On Wednesday afternoon following the Twins game, the City of Minneapolis canceled all outdoor programming and sports in city parks due to the poor air quality.

As extreme weather and wildfires become more commonplace, MLB may need to consider implementing an AQI threshold to determine if a game is safe to play. Many Target Field ushers and employees are elderly, and they (and everyone else) should not have to compromise their health to go to work. Even as I write this a few hours after coming back from the game, I still have a light headache.

Maybe this series is just destined to have crazy weather: last year, game 1 of the Brewers series at Target Field had an apocalyptic-looking shelf cloud that led to three rain delays, the concourses flooded with standing water, and a viral video showed a Dippin' Dots cart sent flying in the high winds. 

Once again, Brewers faithful packed the park, though attendance was slightly down from last year.  The two-game series was electric, packed, and had a fun, raucous atmosphere. Target Field lately has welcomed several teams with large and traveling fanbases, including the Cubs, Giants, and Blue Jays. Still, nothing compares to the amount of Brewers fans who turn out to Target Field every year for the traditional two-game series.

Each year, I make a mental note to leave extra time to find parking and navigate the jam-packed concourses for this series.  Luckily, the new AI security system drastically cut down on wait times to get into the park, unlike last year, when I got in during the second inning. Attendance this year was excellent, but down from last year:  game 1 on Tuesday night drew in 34,514 fans (compared to 37,183 fans last year on Game 1, also a Tuesday night) and Wednesday’s series finale drew 32,222 fans (down from 38,802 during last year's Wednesday day game, a sellout).

None of this is to say attendance wasn't good at this series: Target Field was electric. Some wonder what Target Field would look like if the series took place on the weekend, but the lower level of the ballpark was already jam-packed, and both Twins and Brewers fans crowded the standing rails; the only place it could have filled up more were in the very upper rows and corners of the 300-level. Only this year's home opener, listed as a sellout 38,465 fans, had more fans than Tuesday's game. Games 2 and 3 of the Cubs series Mother's Day Weekend had more fans than Wednesday's game, but not Tuesday. 

Dollar Dog Night at one of the busiest games of the year produced some amusing results. 
Tuesday is always Dollar Dog Night at Target Field, and 34,514 hungry Twins and Brew Crew fans descended on Target Field. Rumor has it that Target Field had some excess hotdog reserves left over from past Tuesdays, so they were not enforcing the traditional two-dog-a-time maximum.

My friends were buying rounds of Dollar Dogs like drinks, and to Twitter's delight, a guy in my section bought so many dollar dogs for his group of friends that they gave them to him in a carboard box. Only when the Brewers are in town, right? Overall, at least in the upper deck where I was, the vendors kept up with the demand, and no one left Target Field hungry (except perhaps Brewers fans, hungry for a win). 

Carlos Correa is definitely back, and fans are delighted. Fans still aren't on Max Kepler's side. 
After being booed at home earlier this season and assurances from many that he would return to familiar form soon, Correa continued his season breakout with Tuesday's dramatic walk-off home run and a massive two-run triple on Wednesday (not to mention he had a grand slam on 6/10 vs. the Blue Jays).

As I wrote in a piece last month, slumps affect everyone, and fans should be patient with Correa rather than turn against someone who will be a franchise fixture for years to come. Finally, to everyone's relief and delight, Correa is back and is clearly feeling good, too: his wristwatch celebration after his walk-off home run is likely to be a defining image/ moment for the season and perhaps his career.

However, on Tuesday night, when Max Kepler came in to pinch hit for Royce Lewis, there were audible boos from the stands. The boos were likely due to Kepler's struggles at the plate this season, and also Rocco Baldelli's perhaps confusing decision to pinch hit him for fan favorite Lewis. Kepler ended up drawing a walk that at bat, but fans' frustration was palpable. 

Other humorous in-stadium moments. 
The Twins put Brewers left fielder, Christian Yelich up on the video board during the lookalike segment, comparing him to comedian Pete Davidson. Unfortunately, Yelich did not seem to notice, though he is well aware of the comparison. I also spotted several laptops around Target Field during Wednesday's day game, where some fans were taking advantage of the Twins' excellent Wi-Fi to "work from home" at home (plate). 

That's all for now- see you around the ballpark!

_ _

What were your series takeaways? Did you go to either game 1 or 2 of the Border Battle? What were your observations? Let us know in a COMMENT below. 

View full article

[Craig Arko]

Summers are going to have many more smoky days like this, next year moreso than this.

[Melissa Berman]

1 minute ago, Craig Arko said:

Summers are going to have many more smoky days like this, next year moreso than this.

Agree completely.. there needs to be guidelines in place to determine what safe playing air is. This shouldn't be something for teams to individually determine 

[wsnydes]

I was at Tuesday's game.  Obviously, an entertaining game.  It's always a good time when the Brewers are in town.  The atmosphere at Target Field is about as fun as it can be during the regular season.

[CharlieDee]

I hate hearing Twins players getting booed at home.  

[Melissa Berman]

17 minutes ago, CharlieDee said:

I hate hearing Twins players getting booed at home.  

Agreed- nothing like booing a player who is in a slump and trying his absolute best to break out of it

[Melissa Berman]

28 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I was at Tuesday's game.  Obviously, an entertaining game.  It's always a good time when the Brewers are in town.  The atmosphere at Target Field is about as fun as it can be during the regular season.

Tuesday night was such a blast. We hardly ever see Target Field that crowded besides for a playoff game, the Cubs, and perhaps for the postgame concert nights they're holding now- I bet T-Pain tonight is going to draw a massive crowd

Edited June 15, 2023 by Melissa Berman

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, Melissa Berman said:

Tuesday night was such a blast. We hardly ever see Target Field that crowded besides for a playoff game, the Cubs, and perhaps for the postgame concert nights they're holding now- I bet T-Pain tonight is going to draw a massive crowd

Toronto draws pretty well too, but it was impressive to see crowds like that on a Tuesday and Wednesday.  

I'm interested to see turnouts for the post-game concerts.  Especially when compared to how the team would normally draw.

[Nine of twelve]

Referring to Pete Davidson as a comedian is a bit of a reach.

[Melissa Berman]

24 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

Referring to Pete Davidson as a comedian is a bit of a reach.

You make a valid point LOL

[TwinsDr2021]

19 hours ago, Melissa Berman said:

Agree completely.. there needs to be guidelines in place to determine what safe playing air is. This shouldn't be something for teams to individually determine 

MLB would be way better talking about the fans safety first, it looks bad (and is) that they rest of the stadium personal are out in the elements doing their jobs (Not to mention the thousands of hard working people that have jobs outside)

[Cody Christie]

Shout out to the guy wearing a Kyle Waldrop jersey in that first photo. That's a true fan 😆