Article: Spring Training Preview

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2679-Spring-Training-Preview

[Nick Nelson]

One other thing I forgot to mention: If any of you will be down at the complex in Ft. Myers next month, please come say hi!

[John Bonnes]

Giddy-Freaking-up!

[Squirrel]

I can't wait for my snowbird years when I'm down there the whole time. As it is I'll just have to settle for my 2 weeks in March.

 

Will you be in a set location at all? Or wandering? How will you 'distinguish' yourselves from the crowd in order for us to find you to say 'hi?'

[Carneal&Gordon]

Congrats on 3 year anniversary, well done!

[Dantes929]

I'm looking for more contact from all the players more than I am more pop. Closest category to league average the Twins had last year was homeruns. The strikeouts were the hardest thing to watch for me.

[Heimer]

I want to be updated on Hicks and why we should trade some bull pen arms, thanks for asking.

[Lazarus]

On the rare occasion that I've been able to get to Ft. Myers during Spring Training, I've enjoyed watching the early workouts at the back fields to see who is getting more personalized attention and what specific things the coaches are having the players work on. Since the fences are so close to the action, you can often hear the conversations. Including updates on some of these sessions would be insightful for the snowbound masses.

[righty8383]

Looks like I joined on the public launch date. I feel special now:o Though not as special as you moderators who joined a couple months prior.

[dakotanative]

Been around for two years, heh? What a great site. What a great group of writers and commenters. Every morning while I am having that first cup of coffee I hit sports spyder - twins and Twins Daily. Got to have my fix. With such interesting expectations going into the season I imagine my time on the site will double and I might actually go up a level or two in commenting on what is being written. Well done and wish you many years of growing success.

[Halsey Hall]

Well Happy Anniversary! This is a great site. I hope to meet you guys down here next month.

 

To wet your whistles, a little tid bit from today. These guys work hard, but also have fun. Today on the half field the pitchers were doing drills. Everyday Eddie was showing how to cover 1st base, and tripped and took a header. It wasn't much later a body outline was there in the grass where he landed in chalk outline. Never a dull moment around here.

[John Bonnes]

Will you be in a set location at all? Or wandering? How will you 'distinguish' yourselves from the crowd in order for us to find you to say 'hi?'

 

That's a good question. We'll be in the pressbox but also wandering around, I would guess, trying to see the game from different areas. We will have some "Twins Daily" polo shirts on occasion, but probably not every day. Look for our gorgeous mugs, I guess? Or maybe we'll tweet out someplace for postgame cocktails?

[highlander]

i am a certified positive homer. i love florimon's leather at ss, in time i think his stick will improve. i look for a .250 avg with 10 plus big flys. but what really excites me is hicks. sure he took his lumps last year. maybe he just needs to rob a couple home runs to get in a positive groove. he looks to me like a legit five tool guy.

[TC Stunner]

Out of Bartlett, Guerrier and Kubel, Kubel is the only one I see making the roster. I hope the Twins have him and Willingham rotating at DH. Bartlett was out of baseball last year, and Guerrier is 36, coming off of an injury. If those two make the roster, then something went horribly wrong during spring training:-)

[TC Stunner]

i am a certified positive homer. i love florimon's leather at ss, in time i think his stick will improve. i look for a .250 avg with 10 plus big flys. but what really excites me is hicks. sure he took his lumps last year. maybe he just needs to rob a couple home runs to get in a positive groove. he looks to me like a legit five tool guy.

 

 

I agree on Hicks. I really hope he's the starting LF or CF. I think the Twins should only use Willingham as a DH, cause they really need his bat and cant afford for him to get injured. Hicks in LF, Pressley in CF and Arcia in RF or Arcia in LF, Hicks in CF and Collabello/Parmelee in RF. I really hope Hicks works out because a future OF of Hicks, Buxton and Arcia sounds pretty appealing.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

While you spotlight the top prospects (#4) in Florida, I'll be in Scottsdale for a week, watching Morneau and Cuddyer pull hamstrings and sit in rocking chairs. In a year or two they will be back in Ft. Myers, pushing Bartlett and Kubel around the bases in wheelchairs.

[Paul Pleiss]

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! www.isitspringtrainingyet.com

[Halsey Hall]

Be sure to let us know when you'll be down, and maybe a place to look for you guys.

[eLee612]

Flight leaves in 4 hours... Fort Meyers by 2:00!! Who is already there?

[Squirrel]

Flight leaves in 4 hours... Fort Meyers by 2:00!! Who is already there?

 

My flight leaves in 10 days, 9 1/2 hrs ... but who's counting!

[eLee612]

Red Fox has entered the den. And changed into shorts and a tank top, damn!t!! About 50% of my flight was wearing Twins gear… so good to see.

 

Red Sox at Jet Blue tomorrow

Red Sox at Home on Saturday

Rays in Port Charlotte on Sunday

Blue Jays at home on Monday

 

And after Toronto, only 4 teams left to check em' all off the list! Is there any time restrictions as to how early we can get into Hammond (or the sports complex in general)? Would love to check out who's playing on the rest of the fields.

[Halsey Hall]

Red Fox has entered the den. And changed into shorts and a tank top, damn!t!! About 50% of my flight was wearing Twins gear… so good to see.

 

 

I'll be looking for a Red Fox tommorrow! You can get into Hammond any time, but game days 10am to enter the stadium. Practice should start around 9 tommorrow. Probably end around noon. Plenty of time to take the 10 minute drive to Jet Blue.

 

Great game today! It was a treat to finally see a baseball game instead of fundamentals. Of course it ended as some in the past, with Parmalee swing thru a fastball. 3 K's and a walk for Buxton, whom I'm sure all in attendance wanted to see run. It was great so see so many pitchers throw in one game, and they had the radar gun working. Fun morning, for sure.

[eLee612]

Halsey - you're down here full time, right? I might have to talk to you more later... possibly have convinced my dad to migrate south, but I don't have a clue where to start looking at housing.

 

My friend doesn't land until 10:50 tomorrow, so after swinging back to the hotel I'm not sure that we'll get to Jet Blue too much ahead of time. But I anticipate Saturday/Sunday/Monday to be all day baseball (and sunny and 80!! ) so perhaps our paths will cross at Hammond.

[Halsey Hall]

I'm not here full time, just Jan til it warms up home. Who knows when that will be this year.

 

I saw alot of foxes today at the game, but no red fox. Good game though! I may ride a bike over monday, and will be there tommorrow.

[Thrylos]

You can get into Hammond any time, but game days 10am to enter the stadium.

 

Worthwhile to mention that non-game days is the best time to go to the (really tiny) pro shop at Hammond stadium and buy gear. And during spring training it is all Twins, but they do have Miracle stuff in storage downstairs. So if it is quiet, you might get them to get some stuff for you. It will not happen on game days.

[Halsey Hall]

Worthwhile to mention that non-game days is the best time to go to the (really tiny) pro shop at Hammond stadium and buy gear. And during spring training it is all Twins, but they do have Miracle stuff in storage downstairs. So if it is quiet, you might get them to get some stuff for you. It will not happen on game days.

 

If you think the old one was tiny you should see the new one. It's little bitty. It's down past the right field foul pole and holds about 4 people. But you are correct, best to go when the team is away. I did have them get me the Miracle cards from last season. I saw cards today in the little bitty shop but didn't get close enough to see what they were.

 

Also, if someone is coming down and wants to get baseballs signed, buy them at home. A regulation ball here costs 25 bucks, an AS ball 35.

[Thrylos]

If you think the old one was tiny you should see the new one. It's little bitty. It's down past the right field foul pole and holds about 4 people. But you are correct, best to go when the team is away. I did have them get me the Miracle cards from last season. I saw cards today in the little bitty shop but didn't get close enough to see what they were.

 

Also, if someone is coming down and wants to get baseballs signed, buy them at home. A regulation ball here costs 25 bucks, an AS ball 35.

 

Did they move the old one? What is there now? And the new one is like at the stand level, past the bar that was (is?) at short right before the berm?

[Thrylos]

Flight leaves in 4 hours... Fort Meyers by 2:00!! Who is already there?

 

Give him a year or two and they might actually rename the town after him

[Halsey Hall]

The old one is still open. The new one is past the bar beyond the berm and the bullpen just on the curve to the new drink rails. I think the old one will go when the new construction starts in August.

[JB_Iowa]

Sounds like the current store/stores may be temporary until Phase 2 is completed:

 

Phase 2 will give the ballpark another major facelift, as the Twins will widen the concourses while adding new concessions, upgraded restroom facilities and a new retail store for fans.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140301&content_id=68517526&notebook_id=68521978&vkey=notebook_min&c_id=min

 

In the post under new renovations