Steven Trefz

Nothing says "baseball road trip" like a journey to the hallowed grounds of the Chicago Cubs. The Twins go to Chicago every year, but this one-stop, mid-week series is one that Twins fans have been waiting for since 2019. Shout it from the rooftops...we're going to Wrigley Field! Image courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Chicago Cubs – August 5-7 Wrigley Field: Capacity 41,649 2023 Attendance: 2,775,149, up from 2,616,780 in 2022 (Averaged 34,261, 6th in NL and 9th overall MLB) After facing the Chicago White Sox in a three game home stand, the Twins journey to the Windy City for another short three game trip. This will mark the first time the Twins have invaded Wrigley Field since taking both games in a two-game series in 2021. The Twins got swept in a three-game series at Wrigley in 2018, so this will be a unique travel experience for Twins fans. Traveling to the game via the purple or red line is the easiest route, with downtown Chicago being only a 15 minute el train ride away. Metallica is holding court at Soldier Field on August 9th if you want to stay for the weekend! Wrigley Field opened in 1914. That’s right, 110 years ago! The ivy has scaled the outfield wall since 1937, and modern expansions and lights brought the ballpark closer towards the 21st Century in 1988. The jewel-box charm remains, and the neighborhood continues to offer one of the most “baseball” experiences in all of baseball. You can smell remnants of Old Style spills from decades past, and experience elbow to elbow seating that adds to the ambiance. How can you find fault with having a stadium where home runs can literally leave the ballpark, brick walls can be run into, and people on rooftops can pay more for their tickets than people behind home plate? The Cubs themselves have grown up from their lovable loser Cubbies vibe, finally reversing the curse and winning a World Series in 2016. The most recent iterations have flirted with success, but ultimately couldn’t escape the rebuild cycle that follows such a formidable championship run. This year’s squad closely resembles last year’s non-playoff roster, with only the addition of Michael Busch (1B) and Shota Imanaga (SP) being notable. Will the "new to them" skipper Craig Counsell put them back into serious consideration for a championship? Or will the youth movement stall out by late summer? The Twins will be traveling 818 miles for 3 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare at Wrigley Field? Anyone planning to go to Chicago for this weekday series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Regular season baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The Twins spend the dog days of summer trying to beat the heat in Arlington, TX. Their reward for enduring a four-game series against the defending champions? A trip to the Pacific Ocean to face the retooling Padres. Let's go! Image courtesy of Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports Texas Rangers – August 15-18 Globe Life Field: Capacity 43,000 2023 Attendance: 2,533,062, up from 2,011,381 in 2022 (Averaged 31,272, ranked 7th out of 15 AL teams, 16th in all MLB) Texas exists as a geographic outlier in the baseball universe. Even Moon’s Baseball Road Trips doesn’t know what to do with it, as trip to a Rangers game gets lumped in with a “heartland” road trip which starts at Target Field of all places. Globe Life Field opened to empty seats in 2020 thanks to the Covid pandemic. The seats didn’t necessarily fill up for mediocre baseball in 2022 either. The retractable roof at the new ballpark offers 71-degree days when the world outside is boiling in Arlington. Continued aggressive spending and a state-of-the-art stadium hoped to propel the Rangers to better days ahead in 2023, and it actually worked! 2023 brought a World Series title home to the Rangers, as they found a way into the playoffs and then got too hot to stop. The trend towards “entertainment district” stadium usage continues here, as teams seek to maximize fan spending for blocks in all directions. While in the entertainment district you can go to Six Flags, a waterpark, AT&T Stadium, and a mall. What you can’t find is a downtown vibe (this may be a positive to some fans) or easy public transit. The Rangers are recent entries into the MLB history books, but they have a unique tie to the Twins. In 1972, the Washington Senators found a new home (sound familiar?) in Arlington, Texas. Until then, the Dallas-Fort Worth area only hosted minor-league experiences. Some have argued that they’ve mostly only hosted minor-league experiences since then too. The Twins took four out of six versus the Rangers in 2023, but they lacked the mid-season moves that helped provide ex-Twin Mitch Garver and the Rangers with their rings. When the two teams clash in the heat of August, the trade deadline will have come and gone, and the rosters will be shaping up for the playoff push. Must see baseball if you ask me! After this four game series, its time to head west to San Diego! San Diego Padres – August 19-21 Petco Park: Capacity 42,445 2023 Attendance: 3,271,554, up from 2,991,470 in 2022 (Averaged 40,390, ranked 2nd in NL and 3rd overall MLB) The Padres franchise started in 1969, and while a host of Hall of Famers have donned the jersey, none have brought home a World Series. Tony Gwynn helped lead them to National League pennants in 1984 and 1998, but even a recent spend-a-thon couldn’t bring sustained success to the club. Now, the team finds itself in the midst of another rebuild, having jettisoned Juan Soto and failing to bring back Blake Snell. What version of the Padres will be waiting to host the Twins in late August? Will Dylan Cease be a successful spark to the rotation that puts them in the playoff hunt, or will the Padres be trading away the core yet again? Regardless of the product on the field, Petco Park welcomes any baseball fan to experience. Petco Park opened in 2004 in the midst of the retro-classic era of ballparks. They basically sold out during a solid but moderately unsuccessful season, so that should tell you what you need to know about the quality of the stadium as a destination. Its very accessible, and offers family and baseball fans various opportunities to connect with the game. Foodies and beer lovers will also find hospitable hosts around the ballpark. Light rail and the trolley system are great ways to get to the game, “Park at the park” provides open lawn seating, and the beautiful weather make this a bucket list “must see” for any Twins fan. The Twins will be traveling 4332 miles for 7 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on this August voyage? Anyone planning to go to Texas or San Diego? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The first road trip after the All-Star Break sends the Twins east again, for a return trip to Detroit and their first trip to Citi Field since 2019. What's unique about Lindor's lair? Can the Twins take advantage of two middling teams, or are they heading towards a Polar Bear trap? Image courtesy of Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Detroit Tigers – July 26-28 Comerica Park: Capacity 41,083 2023 Attendance: 1,612,876, up from 1,551,149 in 2022 (Averaged 20,946, ranked 12th out of 15 AL teams, 25th overall MLB) The Twins look to kick-off their first road trip post All-Star Game with a return to Comerica Park. For more information on the stadium, you can check the notes from April’s trip there. For this iteration of the east coast swing, the Twins will be looking to gain in the standings while simultaneously lowering their rivals. After three games against the baseball version of the Motor City Kitties, the Twins head back to the Big Apple to face the always dysfunctional and entertaining New York Mets. New York Mets – July 29-31 Citi Field: Capacity 41,922 2023 Attendance: 2,573,555, up from 2,564,737 in 2022 (Averaged 31,712, 8th in the NL and 14th overall MLB) In 1962, the New York Mets launched their franchise, hoping to fill the void left when the Giants headed to San Francisco. 1969 brought a World Series title for the Miracle Mets, and they again reach the pinnacle of the sport in 1986. Other than a brief glimpse of success, ultimately falling to the Royals in 2015, the Mets have been more of a joke than a dynasty. Steve Cohen’s purchase of the team in 2020 led fans to a false hope of big spending equaling big success. The spending happened, and nothing but dysfunction has ensued. Temps should be warm at Citi Field in late July, and many of the same tourist attractions that one would catch at a Yankees game work for Mets trips. Times Square and Central Park are just a river away, and Queens and Brooklyn present numerous cultural activities. Located just outside of LaGuardia airport, a Twins traveler can fly in and find easy rideshares to the stadium or lodging. Citi Field replaced Shea Stadium in 2009, and its open concourses and intimate seating and sightlines offer a better overall fan experience than Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere is still uniquely “New York,” from is giant apple to its Jackie Robinson rotunda, fans experience baseball at its finest…win or lose. Hopefully the Twins win, and enjoy their off day as they travel home, because quick trips and division rivalries are waiting for them in August. The Twins will be traveling 2531 miles for 6 games, 1 off day, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on this return trip east? Anyone planning to go to either series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 16 road trips during the 2023 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The Twins look to head into the All-Star Break on a roll, but they will have to crisscross the country to do so. Divisional foes collide in Chicago, and then the Twins make a rare trip to San Francisco. This trip isn't for the road-weary! Image courtesy of © Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports There might not be a better summer city in the United States than Minneapolis, but if there is one, it's Chicago. Even in the swelter of July, it's a treat. Chicago White Sox – July 8-10 Guaranteed Rate Field: Capacity 40,615 2023 Attendance: 1,669,628, down from 1,936,798 in 2022 (Averaged 21,405, ranked 11th out of 15 AL teams, 24th overall MLB) The Twins make their second and final journey to the South Side to kick off the last road trip before the All-Star break. For more information on Guaranteed Rate Field, feel free to check out my previous notes on the third road trip of the 2024 season. For now, let’s focus on how this particular trip is different than the one in late April. Nothing will be surprising by the time this series rolls around, for this will be the third time the squads have faced off. What might be new is the intrigue of the trade deadline, as the White Sox are odds-on favorites to be cellar dwellers, and the Twins should be looking to add to their strengths for a playoff run. The weather should be gorgeous, and the tickets should be easy to come by. Will the stadium drama be solved by then, or will it still be a topic looming over the hosts? Either way, the Twins need to make hay while the sun shines in Chicago, because they have a long way to go to reach their next destination: San Francisco! San Francisco Giants – July 12-14 Oracle Park: Capacity 41,265 2023 Attendance: 2,500,153, up from 2,482,686 in 2022 (Averaged 30,806, 10th in NL and 17th overall MLB) The Twins last visited Oracle Park way back in 2017, when the likes of Ervin Santana and José Berríos were providing a veteran and youth 1-2 punch in the rotation. Minnesota took two out of three then, but managed to drop two of three at home to a struggling Giants squad last season. Baseball and San Francisco have a long history, but the most recent iteration dates back to 1957, when the New York Giants joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in heading west for new opportunity and greener financial pastures. The Dodgers and Giants have kept the rivalry ridiculously strong, and both have seen great success in recent decades. In 1989, the Giants were getting ready to host the Athletics at Candlestick park for Game 3 of the World Series, when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck and tragically shook up the series. That was back when the team called Candlestick Park home. Barry Bonds infamously broke records into the Bay in the 2000s, and championships finally arrived in the 2010s, with three titles in five seasons. Oracle Park opened in 2000, and people have been raving about it ever since. Whether it’s the temperate and pleasant weather, the majestic views of the San Francisco Bay, McCovey Cove and its baseball-hunting kayakers, or the food and beverage options that are second to none, that one is a must-see destination. The product on the field will be mid-level for the Giants this season, as their attempts to bring in elite free agents have mostly been rebuffed. The Giants notoriously signed Carlos Correa before the 2022 campaign to a historic contract, only to back out of it within a week over injury concerns. They signed three impressive free agents this winter (Jung Hoo Lee, Jorge Soler, and Matt Chapman), but they've missed out on their truly titanic swings, from Correa to Aaron Judge to Shohei Ohtani. How will Correa be received in his return to the Bay? Will ex-Twin Taylor Rogers still be manning the bullpen with his brother Trevor, and will ex-Twin LaMonte Wade Jr.’s star still be on the rise? The Twins will be traveling 4,609 miles for 6 games, 1 off day, and ____ wins? The All-Star Break will greet the Twins after enduring three massive road trips in a row. With the games starting again back at Target Field July 20, the team has 10 straight days of home cooking to which to look forward. Will they be returning home triumphant? Or will the White Sox and Giants play spoilers heading into the break? Anyone planning to go to either series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The Twins will travel an epic 6,789 miles to face the worst and the best of the west. Their reward for surviving Oakland and Arizona? A trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit lifelong Twin (no more) Jorge Polanco. Will the Twins connect on this West Coast swing, or will this be a midseason miss? Image courtesy of © Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports If things go according to the team's plans, this could be the last time the Twins go to Oakland for a long, long time. Oakland Athletics – June 21-23 Oakland Coliseum: Capacity 56,782 2023 Attendance: 832,352, up from 787,982 in 2022 (Averaged 10,276, ranked 15th out of 15 AL teams, 30th overall MLB) On the one hand, the Athletics gained fans last year! On the other hand, the bulk of this gain came through a reverse protest during the summer, and the team is still gearing up to move to Las Vegas. The Oakland Coliseum was a living trailer for the Hall of Fame in the 1980s, then the setting for an actual Hollywood blockbuster in the early 2000s. Lately, the club has been known more for thriftiness than for victories, and the stadium hasn’t been updated for years. Paint is peeling in the suites, and A’s fans' tears are running in the streets. (There's also sewage in the dugouts sometimes. That's a statement better posed in prose.) The Coliseum itself bears the weight of being home to Al Davis’s Raiders starting in the 1990s. The addition of a towering bowl of seats increased capacity, while magnifying just how empty the stadium looks today. Interestingly enough, the Coliseum used to mirror Dodger Stadium before “Mount Davis” was erected. With such low attendance, Twins fans can find their way down to the field level for little-to-no cost. Oakland itself boasts connections to the sights and sounds of the Bay Area in general, and there are waterfront and cultural experiences throughout the region. The Oakland Zoo gets solid reviews, and the entertaining sights of San Francisco are just a bridge away. Hopefully the Twins can stack the wins in Oakland after just facing them at Target Field the week prior, because after an off day, they have a date with the defending NL champion Diamondbacks in the desert. Arizona Diamondbacks – June 25-27 Chase Field: Capacity 48,405 2023 Attendance: 1,961,182, up from 1,605,199 in 2022 (Averaged 24,212, 12th out of 15 NL teams, 20th in MLB) The last time the Twins landed in Phoenix in June to play the Diamondbacks, the year was 2022 and the temperature on the ground was 108. My airport Snickers bar melted between the gift shop and my friend’s car. Luckily, Chase Field has high-quality air conditioning! With only the Metrodome to guide my indoor baseball expectations, I found Chase Field in and of itself worth the trip. A 20th Anniversary Museum display opened in 2022, and it pointed out how this young franchise had won a World Series against the Yankees during my lifetime. While it seemed a bit overly ambitious at the time, in 2023 they almost repeated the feat. This balanced and youthful team remains loaded and ready to keep aiming for championships, while MLB remains their broadcast partner. How will the finances support keeping the young nucleus intact? The Twins should be paying very close attention to that answer as it unfolds. The Phoenix area has plenty of hiking and outdoor activities, delicious local eateries, and indoor entertainment venues. The abundance of spring training parks also gives the opportunity to catch a rookie league game or two while you're there. The stadium itself opened in 1998, and boasts a retractable roof and plenty of room to roam. From the outfield swimming pool and restaurants to the kid-friendly experiences, Chase Field has plenty to offer a visiting fan. As the fourth-oldest stadium in the National League, however, renovations are in order, and the fight about funding has been circling the media as of late. Will another playoff run seal the deal, or will the fickle fans in Arizona see their team chase a new home? Win or lose against the defending NL champs, the longest road trip of the season continues with a flight to the Pacific Northwest to face old friend Jorge Polanco and the Seattle Mariners. Seattle Mariners – June 28-30 T-Mobile Park: Capacity 47,929 2023 Attendance: 2,690,418, up from 2,286,267 in 2022 (Averaged 33,215, ranked 4th out of 15 AL teams, 110th overall MLB) Fresh off hosting the All-Star Game in 2023, T-Mobile Park dials up the fan experience with a retractable roof, beautiful sight lines, and stellar food and beverage options. This isn’t your grandpa’s Kingdome, for sure. Success hasn’t been a part of the Mariners’ story, but their current squad is on the way up. Established in 1977, the Mariners endured losing seasons every year until 1991. They hold the less-than-awesome honor of having never been in a World Series, so the town is hungry for change, even if the ballpark is now entering its 25th season. The park hosts the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest and Mariners Hall of Fame, which pays homage to great moments in professional baseball throughout the region. The ‘Pen is a foodie and pub crawler’s dream, and there is a Fan Walk with engraved bricks memorializing those who root for the squad. The Mariners and the Twins don’t share much history, but the Polanco trade will add immediate intrigue. They never seem hot at the same time, and their superstars never seem to be competing for attention simultaneously. I’m not heading to these games looking for baseball drama, but hoping for some relaxing and captivating scenery and experiences. If you like heights, the Space Needle is a must-see. The Museum of Pop Culture also seems like a worthy stop, and you can’t be in this part of America without the temptation of a Goonies filming site pilgrimage coming up in the conversation. The Seattle Japanese Garden also looks amazing and perfect for healing and restoration, especially if the Twins are struggling at this point in the season. The Twins will be traveling 6,789 miles for 9 games, 1 off day, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on this western swing? Anyone planning to go to say farewell to Oakland, or hello to Phoenix or Seattle? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The Twins have back-to-back three-town road trips in June, but the first one will serve as the biggest test of the 2024 season thus far. Traveling to face the Astros and the Yankees seems daunting, but adding a trek to Pittsburgh to face the upstart Pirates as well seems a bit ridiculous. What will this 4,041 mile gauntlet of travel bring Twins fans? Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Houston Astros – May 31-June 2 Minute Maid Park: Capacity 41,168 2023 Attendance: 3,052,347, up from 2,688,998 in 2022 (Averaged 37,683, ranked 2nd out of 15 AL teams, 7th overall MLB) As this grueling road trip begins, the Twins head to the ballpark that has hosted four of the last seven World Series. On the bright side, it is also the ballpark that hosted the last Twins playoff victory! Minute Maid Park carries history, scandal, success, and futility all in one amazingly crafted and retro-fitted setting. I think what’s probably most important for Twins fans to appreciate about baseball in Houston can be traced back to the O.G. stadium: the Astrodome. The sporting world’s first fully enclosed and air-conditioned stadium, the Astrodome changed the game and almost all other games around the world. The Astrodome gave us the first synthetic turf playing surface (hence why we call all the new stuff Astroturf even if it isn’t!), the ability to play ball in any type of weather or geography, and the introduction of year-round civic and sports arenas within a city. The current ballpark was constructed around a former Union Station railway concourse, and harkens to the culture and community that it serves. Oil, agriculture, trains, Bar-B-Q, Mexican food, boom/bust economics, and espionage/waste disposal (couldn’t resist). The retractable roof might come into play in May, with an opportunity for outdoor baseball early and late in the season. This element allows for a natural grass playing surface. Originally named Enron Field in 2000, my kids’ third favorite orange juice stepped up to the plate for naming rights once Enron imploded. Hopefully, the Minute Maid Train will fail to leave the station due to a lack of Astros homers, but recent history would argue to bet the “over.” The Twins were a mere 4-16 at Houston since 2015 until they took two of three during the 2023 regular season and split the two games held at Minute Maid in the postseason. How will Yordan Alvarez and crew welcome the Twins in 2024? Minute Maid Park used to contain the legendary and questionable "Tal’s Hill” in centerfield. The berm & flagpole served up quite a few highlights and lowlights for fielders, and it stretched the dimensions out to 436 feet. The hill left the building after the 2016 season, replaced by a restaurant, standing-room seating, and a lower medical liability deductible. The dimensions also came in with its removal to a reasonable 406 feet. Interestingly, berms or mounds in the field of play used to be a way to give a better view to standing-room overflow fans ON THE FIELD!!! Can you imagine? Showing up to a game, discovering that it was sold out, but being told to “Worry not! Centerfield has some room for you!” It sounds like an alternate reality. A trip to Houston offers a few sights worth your time. A Twins fan should plan to check out the Space Center, and enjoying some beach and fishing time out at the Gulf of Mexico are potential highlights. Mainly, just get excited to watch high quality baseball, in a crazy cool stadium, alongside a fan-base that has doubled-down on their team. I’m sure there will be many stops on a tour-de-baseball this year where the hometown fans could care less. Houston ain’t one of those stops. The reward for surviving this series? A 1,600-mile flight to the evil empire. Bring on the Yankees! New York Yankees – June 4-6 Yankee Stadium: Capacity 47,309 2023 Attendance: 3,269,016, up from 3,136,207 in 2022 (Averaged 40,358, ranked 1st out of 15 AL teams, 3rd overall MLB) Yankee Stadium screams “we own you” to Twins fans. Up until last season, the Twins had gone 3-24 at Yankee Stadium since 2015. But 2023 brought a four-game split at the newest house that Ruth built and a season series victory for the Twins. Will 2024 bring more redemption, or will the arrival of Juan Soto swing the mojo back in the Yankees’ direction? What Yankee Stadium lacks in hospitality to opponents’ chances for success, it makes up for in baseball history and charisma. Monument Park shares the rich tradition of the pinstripes and is the place to be before the first pitch. The tiered outfield seats provide a few too many flashbacks to Twins crushing defeats of the past, but being present for the “roll call” tradition of the Yankees' outfield bleacher bums and knowing that millions of humans are within blocks of you offers a lot of excitement. Expect long lines outside of the stadium, and prepare to pay a premium (even with resale) for anything not in the top deck. The stadium feels corporate, but that's just because the Yankees are big business, and visiting fans won't have much of a presence at the game. Yankee Stadium is a must-see for any baseball fan, but it's definitely not the most hospitable environment for away teams. Yankee Stadium resides in the heart of the Bronx, so parking and any “quick” travel to destinations don’t happen. With an off-day before the series begins, the Twins have an opportunity to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Big Apple. The Statue of Liberty takes most of a day to visit appropriately, and traveling the New Jersey coast to see Ellis Island also offers a wonderful view of downtown NYC. If you do find yourself in Manhattan, Broadway, TV show scenery, and Central Park are must-sees. Finding affordable lodging and navigating the traffic are obstacles, but the public transit system is top-notch and can get Twins fans most anywhere they want to go. The reward for enduring the Yankee faithful? A trip west to face a team on the rise, the young and hungry Pittsburgh Pirates! Pittsburgh Pirates – June 7-9 PNC Park - Capacity 38,747 2023 Attendance: 1,630,624, up from 1,257,458 in 2022 (ranked 14th out of 15 AL teams, 25th overall MLB) The 2023 Pirates squad stayed in the mix for the majority of the season, but faltered down the stretch. With stud pitching prospect Paul Skenes warming up for his MLB debut, the 2024 squad seeks to make the transition from over-performing youth to tested veterans. The infield duo of Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz looks to take the next step, and Pirates fans began to show their appreciation for a team on the rise. PNC Park consistently makes Top 10 lists for its scenic beauty and baseball viewing sightlines. When it opened in 2001, its city-centered orientation and river views awed baseball fans (while the product on the field left something to be desired). Now that the team has a squad to match the view, attendance should continue to climb. Visiting fans will find hospitable hosts, but Twins fans shouldn’t expect too much success at the end of such a grueling road trip. Hopefully a few “raised Jolly Rogers” won’t pirate the Twins’ playoff hopes for the season. Pittsburgh itself has plenty to offer a baseball tourist, from its downtown atmosphere of food and entertainment to the Andy Warhol and Roberto Clemente Museums. June is the perfect time of year to walk about the city and to take in the unique landscape. The Twins will be traveling 4,041 miles for nine games, one off day, and ____ wins? How do you see the Twins faring against these mighty foes? Should we be happy to steal four wins, or will last year's momentum in Houston and New York continue into 2024? What else should Twins fans know before they head to any of these three amazing ballparks? Let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The Twins travel east in the middle of May in hopes of keeping the Guardians and Nationals down at the depths of their divisions. With sights and scenes abounding for fans, this road trip looks like a highlight of the season for the Twins traveler. What awaits those who care to venture to Cleveland and Washington, D.C? Image courtesy of © Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports Cleveland Guardians – May 17-19 Progressive Field – Capacity 34,830 2023 Attendance: 1,834,068, up from 1,295,869 in 2022 (Averaged 22,643, ranked 10th out of 15 AL parks, 23rd overall MLB) Baseball in Cleveland began in 1894. This trip takes me to the most current iteration of Cleveland baseball, Progressive Field. I grew up memorizing Major League and even parts of Major League 2 (no shame). This stadium isn’t Municipal Stadium, but it’s been around a while nonetheless. 1994 saw the building of the current iteration of the ballpark, and 2019 brought an extensive concourse renovation at the 200 level with entertainment and open walkways. Built downtown, with plenty of surrounding neighborhood options for food and drink and a consistently winning team, Progressive Field strikes me as a ballpark that should have more fans in attendance. 2023 saw an increase in attendance, but a drop in victories. After an extensive re-brand in 2022, the Guardians look to rebuild their squad now. One unique attribute to see is John Adam’s Drum. This dedicated fan brought the “thump” to every game since 1973 but passed away in 2023. This continuing tradition carries a new note now, and it will be interesting to see how things like this continue as the rebrand continues. Sights around town include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, East 4th St., and the House of Blues. Need a unique place to stay? How about the actual “A Christmas Story House.” Seriously. Leg lamp and all. Cleveland rocks, but hopefully their rebuild will continue to roll along at a snails pace. After wrapping up the three game series against a divisional foe, the Twins continue east for a 370 mile journey to the nation’s capital for the first time since 2016 to face the Nationals. Washington Nationals – May 20-22 Nationals Park – Capacity 41,339 2023 Attendance: 1,865,832, down from 2,026,401 in 2022 (Averaged 23,035, ranked 13th out of 15 NL parks, 22nd overall MLB) In 2004, the Montreal Expos’ story ended, and the Washington Nationals’ story began. After Major League Baseball took over the Expos, they brokered the move for baseball to return to Washington, D.C., after the town birthed and lost the Senators…twice. The Twins and Rangers can thank the city for their franchises, but the Nationals haven’t had much to be thankful for since 2019 saw them rise to the pinnacle and bring home the World Series. The days of Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg and Juan Soto are long gone. 2024 sees the beginning of the Joey Gallo age! Most towns on the MLB circuit can provide a weekend of sights and sounds, but Washington, D.C., could easily take a week or more of a tourist’s time. May is a beautiful time to visit the city’s national monuments and museums, political landmarks, and coastal sights. After the team languished at RFK Stadium for its first four years, Nationals Park opened in 2008 with much fanfare and little flair. There isn’t a distinguishing component of the stadium, but it serves as a great venue to watch baseball along the Anacostia River. With its walkable open-air outfield concourse, and its clean lines, Nationals Park focuses the attention on the actual game. With a drop in play and in attendance, will the Nationals need to re-think this strategy to attract fans? Or will this stadium continue to be a road teams’ heaven? The Nationals have had a losing record at home since that 2019 run, and Twins fans hope that momentum continues at least until mid-May! The Twins will be traveling 2,225 miles for six games, zero off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on this eastern trek? Anyone planning to go to Cleveland or Washington, D.C.? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

For a few years, COVID was a tremendous damper on the annual Toronto road trip for fans and for players, but normalcy has returned. This first rematch of the Twins' playoff series win will carry plenty of intrigue. Image courtesy of © Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports For years, now, it's felt like the fortunes of the Twins and Jays were oddly intertwined. This May series will be a way for them each to check in on each other. Toronto Blue Jays – May 10-12 Rogers Centre: Capacity 45,517 2023 Attendance: 3,021,904, up from 2,653,837 in 2022 (Averaged 37.307, ranked 3rd out of 15 AL teams, 8th overall MLB) When Toronto got their MLB franchise in 1977, they started out in a retrofitted football field called Exhibition Stadium. The SkyDome (renamed Rogers Centre in 2005) opened to great fanfare in 1989, and soon gained classic replay status as the setting of Joe Carter’s World Series winner and the Jays' back-to-back championships. In the 2010s, the Blue Jays boasted the highest attendance in the American League. Rogers Centre was the first stadium in the world with a fully retractable motorized roof. It hosts a hotel with rooms that look out onto the field, and rests within the Old Downtown neighborhood of the fourth-largest city in North America. The field itself is a bit cookie-cutter in form, but the recent renovations and new outfield dimensions provide variety, and they offer excellent food and tourist vibes throughout the concourses. The Twins’ history with Rogers Centre includes the American League Championship Series--three road game victories that propelled them to the 1991 World Series. They've had 50-50 success over the past four seasons, and there's been a small dose of COVID vaccine controversy. With travel restrictions lifted, and a Blue Jays squad with World Series aspirations, this should make for a fun mid-season matchup. The sounds, tastes, and sights of Toronto are pretty epic. The CN Tower observation deck, Lake Ontario beaches and waterfront, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and an actual “distillery district” all exist within a few blocks of the ballpark. With the increased attendance in 2023, and the Blue Jays being a young team on the rise, finding a seat at the games should still be easy enough, but be prepared for increased "anti-Twins" vibes after last season. The Blue Jays have been busy this winter, though more in terms of quantity of transactions than in terms of obvious impact. Will Austin Martin be called up in time to return to Toronto to face the team that dealt him away, and even face his trade counterpart José Berríos? The potential storylines make this a one-stop series worth paying attention to. The Twins will be traveling 2,960 miles for 3 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins? The highlight of the past two decades of Twins fandom comes back into focus in this playoff rematch. Will the Blue Jays get revenge, or will the Twins continue their winning ways? How do you think the Twins will fare north of the border (though south of home)? Anyone planning to go to Toronto? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

By the third road trip of the season, the Twins will have had 17 games against AL Central opponents. Their first trip West is followed immediately by another three games in Chicago against the rival White Sox. Image courtesy of © Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports Why fly to the Pacific Ocean just to turn around and head to Lake Michigan without an off day in between? Doesn't matter. It has to happen, and it has to go well if the Twins want to stay on top. Los Angeles Angels – April 26-28 Angel Stadium: Capacity 45,517 2023 Attendance: 2,640,575, up from 2,457,261 in 2022 (Averaged 32,599, ranked 6th out of 15 AL teams, 13th overall MLB) To say that Angel Stadium exists because Disney exists isn’t an overstatement. The birth of Disneyland in 1955 led to the pursuit of community development in the Anaheim area. In 1966, that development took the form of a baseball stadium, then known as Anaheim Stadium. The 1980s brought a change in architecture, as the NFL's Rams filled in the outfield seating area to increase capacity. In 1998, though, the Angels returned to the open-concept outfield, as the Disney corporation placed its imprint upon the setting and installed the “Outfield Extravaganza” rock pile in left-center field. Mike Trout hits baseballs there for a living. Shohei Ohtani used to do so, too--no small feat for a left-handed batter, but part of the show until Ohtani departed for the real city of Los Angeles this winter. Attendance remains high, despite the club's losing ways, but the loss of Ohtani is going to hurt. Most of the Angels fans in attendance at the Twins series there last April were sporting Ohtani jerseys and living and dying on every sighting. Now its all Trout, and while he's been a generational talent, he's also been injured quite often. Will Miguel Sanó or Aaron Hicks be there to greet the Twins when they come calling this season? Only time will tell. Chilly nights in the early and late parts of the season make it advisable to layer up if you choose to attend. While the days are Chamber of Commerce beautiful and mid-70s, the nights will remind Twins fans of home. Angel Stadium contains some connection to Twins lore, as it was the ballpark that stole Torii Hunter from us, and the site of the beginning of our playoff futility in 2002 (technically, the futility started in Game 2 at the Metrodome, but I’m gonna go ahead and blame Angel Stadium since the Dome is no longer around to defend itself). In 2019, the Bomba Squad launched eight homers during a game at Anaheim en route to their record-breaking season. The Twins dropped two of three last year in Anaheim, as injuries and bullpen woes took a toll. Having a car is the name of the game when traveling around Angel Stadium. With Disneyland right around the corner, there is no shortage of hotel options in. Trying to join the Twins for the whole road trip gets expensive and extensive, however, because as soon as Sunday afternoon's game is over, its "wheels up" and 2,008 miles to a Monday night affair in the Windy City! Chicago White Sox – April 29-May 1 Guaranteed Rate Field: Capacity 40,615 2023 Attendance: 1,669,628, down from 1,936,798 in 2022 (Averaged 21,405, ranked 11th out of 15 AL teams, 24th overall MLB) The artist formerly known as New Comiskey Park & The “Cell” has been around since 1991, but South Side Chicago baseball has been cooking since 1910. While the new stadium resides in a residential area, it carries a “big” stadium vibe compared to its North Side counterpart. Sharing an owner allows you to also buy Bulls gear at the ballpark, which works for me. The White Sox are posturing for a new stadium further north, in the city's South Loop, but with the Bears also jockeying for priority and financing, it's not clear when or if new digs will come to fruition. They saw decreased attendance last year, and if that trend continues with more poor play in 2024, the stadium is in no position to draw in fans on its own. The upper deck of Guaranteed Rate Field leans into the “upper” definition, while the bleachers get hot…but probably not in April. In the 2000s, a person could shower on the outfield walkway. I’m not sure who thought that was a great idea, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t try it out one blistering August afternoon. Specific memories and tastes call out to me from my time in Chicago: Giordano's pizza, the NU library (nerd out zone), Lake Michigan, Soldier Field and the Museum campus, Sears Tower (to blend in, resist the temptation to call it by its new corporate name), and the Magnificent Mile. The smell of the L-Train platforms wafting in the Lake Shore breeze. The early-season angst of White Sox fans. With this being a Monday-Wednesday series in late April, I’m guessing there should be quite a few good seats available. Just remember that getting a lower-level ticket is worth the extra price! Who will actually be playing for Chicago by the time the Twins arrive? Your guess is as good as mine. Will Dylan Cease be traded by the start of the season? Will Luis Robert or Eloy Jiménez still be healthy? Who will be the new bullpen stars, now that Liam Hendricks is in different colored Sox? The Twins will be traveling 4,336 miles for 6 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins? The Twins have a chance to head into May having put the White Sox in their place, and having padded their stats against the Angels' transitional team. But at over 4,300 total miles in six days, this trip also has a chance to sabotage any early momentum. How do you think the Twins will fare on this quick boomerang trip? Anyone planning to go to either series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

Nothing beats a baseball road trip. Twins fans and friends of the Eastern time zone can look forward to this mid-April tangle with the Tigers and Orioles. Here's a look at the stadiums, local attractions, and key storylines for avid Twins travelers. Image courtesy of © Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports Detroit Tigers – April 11-14 Comerica Park: Capacity 41,083 2023 Attendance: 1,612,876, up from 1,551,149 in 2022 (Averaged 20,946, ranked 12th out of 15 AL teams, 25th overall MLB) The not-quite-new home of Tigers baseball launched in 2000, as Comerica Park attempted to replace a jewel box ballpark icon in Tiger Stadium. How did they do it? Well, for starters, they built a bunch of giant Tiger statues. Then they made the dimensions of the outfield astronomical in nature. The walls were so far back that they realized they messed up and brought them in a bit in 2003. Players’ stats continue to take a hit from the dimensions, and they brought the walls in again (in right-center and center field, this time) in the last couple seasons. Comerica Park hasn’t been hospitable to the Twins for the past four seasons. Despite Detroit being in the dumps, they have been 18-12 against the Twins at home since 2020, including a 4-3 mark last season. As the Tigers look to a young stable of starting pitching, questions remain about their ability to score enough runs to compete in the post-Miguel Cabrera era. Located just a few blocks from the Detroit River and Canadian Border, Comerica Park sits in the downtown district, with plenty of entertainment and eatery options. There is a Motown Museum, The Corner Ballpark (a recreation of Tiger Stadium), the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Henry Ford Museum just down the road. In-Stadium attractions include a carousel, Ferris Wheel, and the Tigers Hall of Fame. The Twins won’t have much time to celebrate or lick their wounds, as they must journey 528 miles east without an off day to face the high-flying Orioles. Baltimore Orioles – April 15-17 Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Capacity 44,970 2023 Attendance: 1,936,798, up from 1,368,367 in 2022 (ranked 9th out of 15 AL teams, 21st overall MLB) Baltimore excelled in 2023, cruising to the top record in the American League with 101 wins. The eventual World Series champion Rangers sent them home early in the playoffs, however, and this sparked changes both in roster and ownership. The team was sold on the heels of a renewal of the lease on their retro classic home, and Corbin Burnes was brought in to push the rotation into “playoff-caliber” status. The Twins got swept at home by the Orioles last July, but managed to win two of three in Baltimore later that same month. Oriole Park at Camden Yards will forever be tied with Ken Griffey Jr. in my mind. Not because of anything that transpired there, but because the Ken Griffey Jr. Super Nintendo game was the first time I saw the ballpark. Built in 1992, Camden Yards changed aesthetic templates for Major League ballparks. (Also, eventually, Griffey hit a ball over Eutaw Street, creating a tangible, non-digital connection between visitor and venue.) The warehouse in right-center frames a beautiful backdrop for baseball and batter’s dreams. The seats are designed for viewing baseball, but the third-base line is the way to go. Legends Park holds statues of Orioles greats, the walkways bustle with food and fun, and the city itself carries a history of the birthplace of baseball immortality, Babe Ruth. The Inner Harbor and National Aquarium are tourist destinations that boast ships straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean, and over 17,000 animals. Locals have been pursuing a Loch Ness-type creature named “Chessie” since the 1930s. Ok, interesting. My friends in the area don’t describe Baltimore as a vacation hotspot, but it sounds like a great 2.5 days to me! The Twins will be traveling 2327 miles for 7 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on their opening road trip? Anyone planning to go to either series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 16 road trips during the 2023 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

Nothing beats a baseball road trip, and the Twins' 2024 season offers 13 different road trips and 22 destinations from which to choose. When the season opens in late March, Twins fans can catch the AL Central champions in the two closest places on the baseball map: Kansas City and Milwaukee! Here's a look at the stadiums, local attractions, and key storylines for avid Twins travelers. Image courtesy of Mike De Sisti - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - USA TODAY NETWORK As familiar as these parts of the baseball world might feel, you might be surprised by a couple of things. Let's take a closer look. Kansas City Royals – March 28, 30, 31 Kauffman Stadium: Capacity 37,903 2023 Attendance: 1,307,052, up from 1,277,686 in 2022 (averaged 16,136, ranked 14th out of 15 AL teams, 28th overall) For the second year in a row, the Twins begin the season in Kansas City. Last season started with a three-game sweep to launch the Twins on their playoff campaign, but at the end of July, the young and streaking Royals returned the favor with a three-game sweep of their own the next time the Twins visited Kauffman Stadium. With Bobby Witt Jr. locked up for the long term, the Royals look to make a statement against the reigning division champs. The Royals’ home park’s first season of use was 1973 (under the name Royals Stadium) with artificial turf. It was renamed Kauffman Stadium in 1994 after the team's first owner, Ewing Kauffman. Kentucky bluegrass replaced the turf in 1995. Folks hoping to check this one off their bucket list better hurry up, though, as they are proposing a Target Field-style move to downtown, fresh with its own propaganda website. Kauffman has an open bowl format and is southeast of Kansas City, in a complex with the Kansas City Chiefs stadium. Visiting fans have excellent access to the players during batting practice, and other than Opening Day (which should be an overpriced sellout), they can also get great seats for low prices. The outfield concourse reminds me of the Twins’ Fort Myers facility, with its open boardwalk vibe, and is similar to Dodger Stadium regarding the geometric alignment of the field and seating. Kauffman resides outside of Kansas City's pace, so tour guides send a journeyer into town for BBQ and nightlife. There are a few hotels across the highway if you want to walk to the stadium, but there is plenty of parking there as well. The difference between premier and regular parking is about the time it takes to load up a ticket-buying app, so it is not necessarily worth the extra cost. Hopefully, once the series is over, the Twins will be firmly set in their winning ways and ready to head 568 miles northeast to tackle their Upper Midwestern rivals, the Brew Crew. Milwaukee Brewers – April 2-3 American Family Field: Capacity 41,900 2023 Attendance: 2,551,317, up from 2,412,420 in 2022 (average 31,497 per game, ranked 9th out of 15 NL teams, 15th in MLB) The annual rivalry interleague matchup with the Brewers will only take up about 24 hours, and hopefully, it goes better than the 0-2 trip to Milwaukee last year. Carlos Santana will be wearing the away jersey this time and looks to mash in his former team’s home park. With Corbin Burnes now hurling for the Orioles, the Brewers will be looking to prove that they still have what it takes to compete. American Family Field began as Miller Park in 2001. The offseason prior to 2020 brought new cash inflow and a new name. This retractable-roof complex looks like a combination of an airplane hangar, a Metrodome, and an advertisement convention. Yet, when the Brewers got it going, the place also brought out an energy that could deliver electric baseball. The food options in the stadium revolve around sausage and don’t stray far from there, but like Kansas City, the parking lot is Tailgate Central. The Twins and Brewers have been rivals since Milwaukee dwelled in the American League. When MLB instituted interleague play, the league designated certain pairs of teams to play annually. As they say, familiarity breeds contempt. The local fanbases have learned to love the home and away series every season, and they have learned to hate each other. Word on the street is that American Family Field is one of the least friendly places to wear a Twins jersey--or the best, depending on where your ticket seats you. The Brewers isn’t just a fun name; it’s a destination reality. Local and global-level breweries make this city a beer connoisseur's playground. The Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Lake Michigan coastline provide alternative travel stops for various tastes. Once inside the ballpark, the immortal “sausage race” offers a beloved in-game diversion. Bud Selig and Bob Uecker have statues and museums, and you can circumnavigate the entire stadium and experience it in an inning or two. The Twins will be traveling 1332 miles for 5 games, 2 off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on their opening road trip? Anyone planning to go to either series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Baseball is almost here, Twins Territory…let’s get talking! ____________________________________________________ Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 13 road trips during the 2023 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

The Twins' season-opening road trip in 2023 included statement games, exciting promise, debut performances, and trending disappointments. What can the first week of 2023 teach us about how the Twins aim to approach 2024? Image courtesy of © Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports When the Twins' 2023 campaign opened at Kauffman Stadium on a chilly Thursday, Mar. 30, expectations were tempered. The Cleveland Guardians entered the season with a slight edge in the AL Central odds race, with the Chicago White Sox also in the mix. The Twins were right there in the conversation, but on Opening Day, a playoff run was not a foregone conclusion for the squad. A look back at the lineup and bullpen usage might surprise you. Max Kepler led off, Carlos Correa batted second, while Byron Buxton was batting third to kick off his designated hitter plan for the season. The clean-up hitter, Trevor Larnach, was followed by José Miranda in the fifth spot. Next was the second baseman, looking to build upon his solid 2022 campaign… Nick Gordon. A trio of new guys rounded out the Opening Day lineup, with Joey Gallo hitting seventh, Christian Vazquez batting eighth, and Michael A. Taylor holding down the ninth spot. The other new Twins entered the game as pinch-hitters when Zack Greinke was replaced by a lefty in the sixth inning. Kyle Farmer took Gordon’s spot, and Donovan Solano took over at first for Gallo. Pablo López got the start for his new team, and he threw 5 1/3 innings of two-hit baseball. What followed was an ensemble relief performance of hitless excellence, with Caleb Thielbar, Jorge López, Griffin Jax, and Jhoan Durán closing the door on a 2-0 victory. The lineup stayed relatively consistent as the Twins opened the season with a fanbase-simmering 4-0 start on the road. In fact, Ryan Jeffers getting a turn at catcher in the series finale in Kansas City was the only difference in the starting lineup through the first four games. Then, injury struck. Kepler pulled up while running to first base during game four in Miami, and the outfield shifted around for game five of the season. Willi Castro took left field, Larnach moved to right field, and the lineup went without Buxton for the first time due to “planned rest.” What followed was a punchless 1-0 shutout loss to 2022 Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara; a wasted stellar return from Kenta Maeda; and the start of a lineup fluctuation that never really stopped in 2023. All of this occurred while Twins fans tried to make peace with their inner “Carew,” while watching Luis Arráez raise his 2022 Silver Slugger Award in another uniform and swing his way to the start of a second consecutive batting title. Buxton returned to claim the leadoff spot for game six, and Solano got his first taste of the third spot as we began to see how the Twins would approach lefty starters like Jesús Luzardo during the season. Hot-hitting Larnach was dropped to eighth, and notched the team's only RBI for the afternoon. Pablo Day was back in effect, as he only surrendered one run over seven innings, but Dylan Floro got the win in relief for the Marlins, as the Twins' relief combination of Thielbar and Jax imploded to hand Miami the series victory and bring Twins Territory crashing back to reality and a 4-2 record. This was good enough to lead the division, but ultimately provided a glimpse of the reality that this quality squad was going to fall just shy of “what could be” in 2023. What can we glean from the first six road games of 2023? Here are my Top 5 Takeaways from the opening week of last season, as we begin to dream in earnest about Opening Day, 2024, coming up on Mar. 28. (The Twins will open at Kauffman Stadium once again, for yet another season-opening road trip.) There was an “intention” of lineup consistency that never made its way to week two. Throughout most of the season, the lineup varied by the day, with Correa moving up and down the list, and the other infield spots alternating according to the vagaries injury and splits. This year should start with more of the same intentionality, with a core nine rising to the top early. Surely, injuries and slumps will determine how long that lasts, but we should remember that it was the original goal. What roles will key incumbent Opening Day starters Gordon, Larnach, and Miranda have when the 2024 edition rolls around? Seen as vital cogs to the 2023 playoff machine last spring, they became afterthoughts before June finished. Larnach carried the offense through the first two months, but injuries again derailed his opportunities. He experienced a late-season resurgence, but got left out of the playoff rotation. Does this trio still have a place on the roster, with the emergence of Edouard Julien and Royce Lewis in the infield, and Matt Wallner in the outfield? Some of the quiet offseason that Twins fans are bemoaning now probably reflects the reality that Gordon, Larnach, and Miranda are looking to rebound in 2024. How many Opening Day starters are available as free agents right now who are worth the price of an upgrade over these young Twins? The Twins bullpen alternated between lights-out and close-your-eyes from the very beginning. The inconsistency of the “next tier” of Jovani Moran, Cole Sands, Emilio Pagán, and Jorge Alcalá showed warning signs right from the get-go, despite the 4-2 start. Also, Thielbar, Jorge López, and Jax all showed the ability to lose their grip in a heartbeat. Pagán recovered, but is now gone, while the lesser Lopez continued to struggle and left under a cloud after the All-Star break--in exchange for Floro, who vanquished them in that early road contest. Moran was non-tendered after the season, then re-signed to a minor-league deal. Sands, Alcalá, Thielbar and Jax all remain, and will no doubt factor into the bullpen conversation relatively early. Brock Stewart became a “find” mid-season, and looks to return to a prominent role alongside Durán. Who takes control and finds a “role” in the Opening Day bullpen next to them? If the start of 2023 taught us anything, it's that you can never have enough arms waiting in the wings. Pablo López was “him” from the very start of his Twins career. He won the playoff game that ended the curse, and he returned to bring the only Twins victory against Houston in the next round. While his ERA crept up in the middle months of the season, it bodes well that he showed up ready to roll from game one, and López should be ready once again to start strong in 2024. Last, but not least, we remember that when Byron Buxton is healthy and in the lineup, he is amazing. The Twins jumped out to their 4-0 start because Buxton willed them to offensively. After game four, he was batting .375 with a 1.000 OPS. From his shoes to his demeanor, he looked electric. Then, before the Twins could even make it back home, he wasn’t anymore. It was clear that something was wrong, and once the travel and games began to stack up, his knee and demeanor buckled. He fought valiantly through the pain, but if we can believe the reports coming out this offseason about a “pain-free knee” and a plan to return to center field, 2024 could be the year for our starcrossed All-Star. Hindsight truly is 20/20, but its all we have to work with in the midst of this frozen cold stove. What do you remember about the Twins' 4-0 start to 2023? What surprises you when you compare the Opening Day lineup to the playoff version? Who will emerge in the bullpen rotation once the season kicks off? What do you expect, from Pablo Days to Buck Trucks, in 2024? Let the prognostication begin! View full article

The Twins entered Tuesday's matchup expecting a pitcher's dual. They were half right. Cristian Javier delivered while Sonny Gray and a collection of Twins starters struggled out of the bullpen, and the Twins now must win two straight to keep their season alive. Here's how the loss came to pass. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson, USA Today Box Score Starting Pitcher: Sonny Gray - 4 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (83 Pitches, 57 Strikes, 69%) Home Runs: None Bottom WPA: Gray (-.302), Royce Lewis (-.152), Ryan Jeffers (-.038) Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs): The Twins came into Tuesday's Game 3 riding high after bringing the home field advantage back to Target Field. With a sell-out crowd awaiting them, the former stars were shining. Johan Santana tossed the first pitch to Joe Mauer (who made an excellent scoop!), and Pablo Lopez was shocked to see his fellow Venezualan hero Santana sporting a #49 Lopez jersey. It turns out that was the highlight of the game for Twins fans, because once the actual pitching started, the Astros started teeing off. Sunny Skies = Astros Runs Gray had yet to surrender a run in the 2023 postseason, but by the time he left the mound in the first inning the Astros sported a 4-0 lead. The afternoon shadows had not yet crept in, and the Astros hitters were more than ready for Gray's offspeed pitches. Jose Altuve led off the game with yet another hit, this time a single. Yordan Alvarez was initially awarded with a double to right, but that was later changed to an Alex Kirilloff error on a play that loomed large early. With runners now at second and third, Kyle Tucker finally scraped across an RBI single. Gray looked to get out of the danger, but Jose Abreu is danger. Target Field was not yet silenced, but the game now carried a sense of urgency and angst. In the bottom half of the first, Javier struck out Edouard Julien to start off the frame, but Jorge Polanco worked a walk, and Max Kepler boomed a double to put the Twins back in business with runners at second and third with only one out. Now in the shade at home plate, Royce Lewis echoed shades of Game 1's beginnings, by reaching on three straight pitches and leaving runners in scoring position. October Correa was up next, but he too could not time Javier in the shadows, and was the third strike out of the inning. October Javier is Real The Astros have another playoff ace, and his name is Cristian Javier. The talk entering today's game revolved around the extra two runs per game that Javier gave up this season compared to 2022. His K-rate was down from 33% to 20%. The more important statistic was his 11 innings of one-hit baseball in the 2022 postseason, and the fact that it definately carried into today's contest. Javier scattered five walks alongside the one hit, but his nine strikeouts continually came at the right time. The Twins left runners in scoring position in the first, third, and fifth against Javier, and he completed five scoreless yet again. Alex Bregman Still Has "It" Alex Bregman finally delivered in this series, blasting a lead off home run in the top of the fifth. After allowing another double to Alvarez, and a walk to Tucker, Gray left the game and Emilio Pagan came in with cluttered bases, and he left them cluttered to send the Twins to the bottom of the fifth down 5-0. Kenta Maeda got the call for the sixth inning, and it was Bregman who again built the Astro lead. This time he delivered a single that plated Jeremy Pena with one out to make it 6-0. Twins Finally Break Through, and Then Break Down Yet Again Once Javier left the game in the top of the sixth, the Twins and their packed stadium gathered some hope for a rally. Correa led off with a single, and Matt Wallner worked a walk to put Correa into scoring position. Willi Castro was looking to give the fans something to finally cheer about, and he delivered the first run of the game with a single to right. With the fans on their feet yet again, Ryan Jeffers stepped up to the plate and promptly hit a hard ground ball to the wrong man. Pena dove, flipped and the Astros completed the 6-4-3 to strand yet another runner in scoring position. Bailey Ober came in and pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but the ninth was not as kind to him. Alvarez launched his fourth home run of the series to up the score to 7-1. Ober walked Tucker, and then gave up a moon shot to Abreu for his second of the night. 9-1 Astros. The Twins crowd tried their best, but they started streaming out before the game ended thanks to the endless Astro assault. Griffin Jax came in to finish off the ninth inning, and the Twins bats stayed silent to end the game. The Twins need to turn the page on today, and deliver tomorrow to send us to one more Pablo Day on Friday. What's Next Game 4 pits Twins RHP Joe Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 11-10, 4.51 ERA in regular season) against Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (0-0, 0.00, 3-3, 5.29 ERA in regular season). First pitch changed due to the Rangers sweeping the Orioles Tuesday night. The Twins will now have their first pitch at 6:07pm CDT at Target Field on Wednesday evening. Postgame: Bullpen Usage Chart: FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT Maeda 0 43 0 0 25 68 Ober 0 0 0 0 38 38 Pagán 0 14 0 0 14 28 Stewart 0 0 22 0 0 22 Paddack 0 19 0 0 0 19 Thielbar 0 18 0 0 0 18 Jax 0 0 0 0 9 9 Durán 0 0 7 0 0 7 Varland 0 0 0 0 0 0 View full article

I prefer to run my demons until they pass out... Good catch! Thanks!