Steven Trefz

The Twins came into Wednesday afternoon's series finale in San Diego on the heels of a three-game losing streak and having fallen into a tie with Kansas City for the Wild Card position. Thanks to Trevor Larnach, Edouard Julien, Matt Wallner, and just enough pitching, the Twins got back to their winning ways. Image courtesy of © Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Simeon Woods Richardson - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (101 pitches, 69 strikes (68% Strikes) Home Runs: Matt Wallner (8) Top 3 WPA: Woods Richardson .162, Austin Martin .149, Willi Castro .122 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Who Would Deliver the Knuckle Sandwich? The Twins came into Wednesday afternoon's matchup with the Padres in search of salvaging a game in the series, and a winning road trip overall. They were facing a unique challenge in their quest to snap a three-game losing streak: Matt Waldron and his occasional knuckle-ball. Simeon Woods Richardson took the hill for the Twins in hopes of sending his squad home in style. While Waldron came into the game struggling (giving up 12 earned runs over his last 10 innings), Woods Richardson came into the afternoon rolling along (giving up four earned runs over his last 12 innings). Who would deliver the punches in this final battle of two playoff hopefuls? Twins Punch First...and Often! After scratching across the game's first run in the third, the fourth inning started innocently enough for the Twins with a Jose Miranda ground out. It looked like the pitch-mix and timing of Waldron would keep the Twins off-balance throughout their at-bats. Turns out that the remedy for this situation was some aggressive early swings. Edouard Julien took the first pitch he saw to right, Christian Vazquez blooped a single on the first pitch to right, and although Austin Martin apparently didn't get the memo of "swing away" and took a first pitch strike in his at-bat, he redeemed himself immediately on pitch number two. Martin's double plated Julien and a hustling catcher to stake Woods Richardson to an early 3-0 lead. Castro then said, "First pitch, right?" and blasted a double off of the right field wall to plate Martin and make it 4-0. Larnach, second pitch, single. Lewis, first pitch, single plats Castro. Wallner, fourth pitch, and boy was he glad he waited for that cutter that didn't cut! A three-run blast to right and Wallner's eighth of the year provides what Twins fans hoped was an early 8-0 knock-out! Would the Padres Get Off the Mat? Major League Baseball rules stipulate that games continue even after one of the fanbases declares early victory, and as the Twins have experienced the past few days, the Padres can rally in a hurry. Woods Richardson looked to be cruising through the bottom of the fourth, but a Merrill blooper and a creative fielding "non-error-error" by Julien at second led to an extra 10 pitches and runners once again clogging the bases. A strike out of Higashioka on a full count ended the threat, but the inning meant that the punch-drunk Twins bullpen was going to be needed sooner rather than later to seal this victory. The Twins, desperate to get back in the win column in spite of their recent bullpen woes, kept on punching after the bell had rung. Julien, Martin, Castro, and Larnach stayed hot (first career four hit game!), with more runs accumulated in the top of the fifth for the Twins to push the lead to 10-0. Old friend Donovan Solano pinch-hit in the bottom of the fifth, and he delivered the only bruise on an otherwise spotless five inning bout for Woods Richardson by hitting a solo homer. Cole Sands got the first call up in relief, and he pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Caleb Thielbar conquered Arraez in an entertaining at-bat, and also held the Padres scoreless. Ronny Henriquez came in for the eighth, and he tried to throw the fight. A Jake Cronenworth triple led to a Bryce Johnson run batted in, and Merrill continued to mash the bullpen to the tune of 403 feet to bring the Padres within a fighters chance at 10-4. Steven Okert bore the brunt of the accusations Tuesday night, and he got a chance to leave town a victor. Just to be safe, Julien (four hit night of his own) and Manuel Margot combined for a double and single to give just a little more cushion at 11-4. Okert turned out the lights one, two, three and sent the Twins back home with their hands raised. What’s Next? After an off-day Thursday, the Twins begin a nine-game home stand against the slumping St. Louis Cardinals Friday night. With the Braves and Blue Jays visiting next, its time to regain some momentum in the standings. The Twins send out rookie RHP David Festa (2-2, 4.96 ERA) in hopes that he will continue to improve upon his solid start to the season, while the Cardinals will send RHP Andre Pallante (5-6, 4.07 ERA) to the mound in hopes that he can repeat his seven-inning victorious performance against the Dodgers last week. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm CT. Postgame Interview Bullpen Usage Sheet SAT SUN MON TUE WED TOT Henríquez 27 0 0 10 17 54 Richards 0 13 27 0 0 40 Okert 0 0 0 19 15 34 Alcalá 9 19 0 0 0 28 Thielbar 0 0 9 0 17 26 Sands 9 0 0 0 15 24 Jax 0 9 0 10 0 19 Durán 0 6 0 0 0 6 View full article

The Twins looked to push the Royals even further into their rearview mirror Wednesday, after taking the first two games of the series easily. The Royals sent their season-opening ace to the mound in hopes of staying in the race for the long haul. Something had to give. Alas, this time, it wasn't the Kansas City pitching staff. Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Louie Varland - 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K ( 98 pitches, 66 strikes (67% Strikes) Home Runs: Carlos Santana (16) Bottom 3 WPA: Ryan Jeffers -.099, Willi Castro -.086, Royce Lewis -.091 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Get Out the Brooms? Wednesday afternoon presented a chance for the Twins to sweep the Royals and to put some much-needed distance between them and their AL Central foe. Louie Varland got the assignment, potentially his final chance to remain firmly in the starter conversation as the playoff push ramps up. The Royals sent their second All-Star starter in as many days to the mound, in hopes of salvaging a game and a hope, as lefty Cole Ragans looked to rebound from already losing two games to the Twins this season (after surrendering only 4 earned runs over 11 innings in March and May). Royals Make Things Messy Varland’s day started with cluttered bases, and the Royals finally broke through with the first run of the game in the top of the second inning, with a dribbling grounder to Varland that allowed Paul DeJong to score from third. While Varland was able to limit the damage in those first two threats, Bobby Witt Jr. showed him why he’s an MVP threat with a leadoff home run in the top of the third inning to make it 2-0 Royals early. Meanwhile, Ragans was looking very much the All-Star, holding the Twins hitless through their first 11 batters. Santana Starts a Rally that Never Quite Materializes Ragans’s 12th batter faced had more success--much more. Carlos Santana went down swinging in his first at-bat, but left the yard in his second to cut the Royal lead in half. José Miranda followed up with a ringing double to left field, but was stranded there. The bottom of the fifth saw the bottom of the Twins lineup continue to batter Ragans around, ultimately loading the bases with two outs for Grand Slam Hero Royce Lewis. Ragans won the battle, however, inducing a weak grounder from Lewis to end the threat. Royals Continue to Add to the Pile The Twins’ inability to capitalize immediately came back to haunt them in the top of the sixth inning, when DeJong continued his perfect day at the plate with a moonshot to left-center to make the score 3-1 Kansas City, and to essentially finish Varland’s day on the mound. Jhoan Durán came in to pitch the seventh inning, after remaining in the bullpen since Friday afternoon. While the move made sense with the heart of the Royals order coming to the plate, it didn’t pay off, with Durán surrendering another run on a two-out double to Vinnie Pasquantino. The Twins have posted the third-highest bullpen ERA since the All-Star break, and today continued this disturbing trend. Meanwhile, Ragans seemingly gained energy, movement, and velocity with each insurance run that he was given, mowing down the Twins 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to end his day and hand off a 4-1 lead to the Kansas City bullpen. Last Chance to Clean Up? In the top of the eighth, Trevor Richards got the call, and after getting the first two outs innocently enough, the drama began: a walk, a single, and another walk to load the bases. Facing Maikel García with a full count, and Witt Jr. in the on-deck circle, Richards threw ball four...but Garcia took a rip anyway, to go down swinging and prevent the nail from reaching the coffin for the moment. Would the Twins take advantage of this gift? Manuel Margot and Lewis delivered back-to-back singles against Sam Long in the bottom of the eighth to bring up Santana as the potential tying run. The lone engine of offense for the team today, Santana delivered a deep fly, but to the wrong part of the ballpark, and Kyle Isbel put away out number two at the warning track in center. With Miranda ready to take his cuts at tying the game, the Royals switched to righty Lucas Erceg, and the move paid off with Miranda grounding out weakly to Witt to end yet another Twins threat. Steven Okert walked Witt to lead off the ninth, but picked him off to clean off the bases yet again and to get the Twins back in the dugout with a chance for one last rally. Erceg wiped away that dream 1-2-3 to save the game and the moment for this pesky Kansas City ballclub. What’s Next? The Twins begin a seven-game road swing in Texas against the stumbling Rangers Thursday evening. This series could be a potential window-shopping opportunity, if Texas looks to shed payroll at the waiver wire after a disappointing season. The Twins send out Bailey Ober (12-5, 3.52 ERA) in hopes that he will continue his dominant ways, while the Rangers have yet to name their starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Sheet SAT SUN MON TUE WED TOT Richards 0 0 25 0 33 58 Thielbar 0 32 0 14 0 46 Okert 0 0 0 15 15 30 Durán 0 0 0 0 22 22 Alcalá 0 15 0 0 0 15 Jax 0 0 12 0 0 12 Sands 0 9 0 0 0 9 View full article

The Twins moved their Independence Day rubber match against the Tigers up an hour in hopes of beating the rain. Not only did they beat the rain, but they beat old friend Kenta Maeda to win their fourth straight series. Here's how the celebratory fireworks took flight. Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Bailey Ober - 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K (103 pitches, 77 strikes (75% Strikes) Home Runs: Ryan Jeffers (14) Top 3 WPA: Max Kepler .281, José Miranda .264, Ryan Jeffers .064 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Tigers Roar Early Against Ober After finding their groove against David Festa last evening, Detroit wasted little time capitalizing on Ober's off-speed pitches and sloppy Twins defense. Colt Keith pulled an 0-2 slider into the right-center upper deck to stake the Tigers to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After Maeda mowed down the Twins in order in the bottom half of the first, Ober thought he had turned a 1-2-3 second inning of his own, but Ryan Jeffers allowed strike three to Zach McKinstry to reach the backstop. Former Twin Gio Urshela dumped a single to right to put runners on the corners with two down. Jake Rogers and his .613 OPS then took a 2-2 changeup down the left field line to clear the bases, and put the Twins and Ober down 3-0. Drizzle or no drizzle, the Twins needed to get the bats going, or else this series was going to get washed down the drain. Twins Can Hit in the Rain Too! Back in April, King Kenta reigned against his former club by going six innings and only allowing one earned run. By the end of the second inning today, Maeda ran into double trouble. Jose Miranda laced a leadoff double to the wall in left-center, and had no problem scoring on Jeffers' rope double down the left field line. Max Kepler kept the the line moving with a single, and Brooks Lee's second career RBI came via a fly-out to deep right field. The Twins were suddenly back in the contest, important on a day where a rain-shortened game was definitely in the forecast. Which Starter Will Make the Adjustments? Ober cruised through the top of the third, while Maeda stalled out in the bottom. The inning started innocently enough, with a Willi Castro ground out. After a Carlos Correa single up the middle, a Trevor Larnach walk, and a Miranda "excuse me” single to third, the Twins had the bases loaded and a chance to take the lead with the wind picking up and the clouds rolling in. Jeffers struck out without ever seeing an actual strike, however, and the pressure system all fell upon Max Kepler to deliver. Deliver he did, guiding a 82 mph sweeper through the hole on the left side of the diamond to put the Twins up 4-3. Manuel Margot continued the contact-making theme of the inning, rolling a 74.6 mph bouncer off of Maeda's lunging glove to plate Miranda and make it 5-3 Twins. That stall out became complete engine failure for Maeda, as the hard-hit rate increased in the bottom of the fourth. After getting Austin Martin and Castro easily, Maeda lost Correa to a walk on a full count, and Larnach took a four pitch walk. A.J. Hinch stuck with his starter, and Miranda stuck with crushing the ball. The hits kept on coming for the home team, as Jeffers took an 0-2 splitter even further down the left field line this time to extend the Twins home run streak to 22 games, and pushing the lead to 9-3. The Race is On The only question that remained was whether or not Ober could make quick enough work of the top of the Tiger's lineup in the top of the fifth inning in order to make this game officially count as the lightning moved camera operators to safety and fans started opening their favorite weather apps. Two strike outs helped, two bleeding singles didn’t, and there were two on and two out for Wenceel Perez as fans began to head for shelter. Perez also headed for shelter, after weakly grounding out to Miranda at first base to end the threat and to set up a potential victory. Rumors of getting rained out after five innings were greatly exagerrated...and the game slid on into the sixth, with Ober taming the Tigers in order. Lefty Joey Wentz stayed in the game, which brought Carlos Santana in to replace Larnach from the right side of the plate. Santana walked, Miranda singled to make it a 4-for-4 day, and Jeffers found success again with a slightly shorter blast. The grounder tipped off of Wentz's glove and died in the grass while Santana scampered home. A wild throw to first plated Miranda, and the Twins now found themselves coasting to a 11-3 advantage. In the bottom of the seventh, Miranda found himself up again, and he crushed again, scoring Kyle Farmer with another ringing double. Tarpaulin on terra firma finally look place a few batters later, and the game's conclusion came early with a 12-3 Twins win in seven innings. What’s Next? The Twins host the Astros Friday night to kick off what should be a great summer series at Target Field. Pablo Lopez (8-6, 4.88 ERA) looks to get the weekend started off right, while the streaking Houston squad will put forward righty Shawn Dubin (1-1, 4.91 ERA) in an opener role. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm CT. Postgame Interview Bullpen Usage Sheet SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Funderburk 10 0 0 37 0 47 Durán 19 0 13 0 0 32 Sands 15 0 0 0 14 29 Thielbar 16 0 0 9 0 25 Okert 16 0 0 0 0 16 Alcalá 0 0 15 0 0 15 Jax 0 0 14 0 0 14 Staumont 0 0 0 13 0 13 View full article

I agree, can't get Buxton back soon enough, and it appears that Kirilloff's plate woes are drifting out into left field with him.

The Minnesota Twins looked to salvage the final game of the series, after going 18 innings without scoring a run against Yankee pitching. Clarke Schmidt took that hope and knuckle-curved it into smithereens. Here's how the series sweep came to pass. Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports Box Score Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan - 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K ( 93 pitches, 60 strikes) Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Ryan (-1.37), Edouard Julien (-0.073), Max Kepler (-0.064) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Not the Start the Twins Needed Joe Ryan began today's game with two goals: 1) Stop the demoralizing trend of getting hurt with two strikes and 2) Try to repeat his last performance in terms of length and quality. By the end of the top of the first inning, both goals were shot. After pushing lead-off man Anthony Volpe to a 2-2 count, Ryan gave up a solo home run. Juan Soto struck out on three pitches, but after an Aaron Judge walk, Alex Verdugo stroked a two-strike single. Gleyber Torres laced a booming two-strike "double" off Alex Kirilloff's glove in deep left center scoring Judge. On his 29th pitch of the inning, a fielder's choice groundout plated Verdugo, and Ryan found himself down 3-0 before they even had a chance to take a swing. Ryan settled down in the ensuing innings, but was pulled in the top of the sixth after allowing a double to Gleyber Torres. Caleb Thielbar couldn't strand the runner, allowing an Austin Wells RBI single to make it 4-0 bad guys. Schmidt Starts with Authority Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, on the other hand, dominated the Twins lineup from the first pitch to his last. After a 1-2-3 first inning, Clarke only allowed two singles, a double, and a hit batter through six innings. Over seven scoreless, Schmidt scattered ground outs and flyouts at an even pace, and struck out a personal best-tying eight Twins as well. This marked the first time in his young career that Schmidt had gone seven full. Here is some video evidence of how the Twins anemic attack against Yankees starting pitching continued against Schmidt's consistent mix of cutters, sweepers, and the mesmerizing and lefty-embarrassing knuckle curve. No Relief in Sight Cole Sands entered the game in the top of the seventh, and the Yankees mashers greeted him in a most stereotypically unfriendly manner. After a walk to Soto, Judge attempted to break the netting in the center field wall with a double. A simple Verdugo fly ball plated Soto, and pushed the lead to 5-0. After losing 5-1 and 4-0 the previous two nights, the Target Field faithful began to lament their paid tickets to Groundhog Day. Meanwhile, Schmidt continued to deal into the eighth inning. After retiring Christian Vazquez and Edouard Julien on only four pitches, he got Trevor Larnach to ground out. Jon Berti booted the ball, however, and suddenly Carlos Correa was up with a chance to chase Clarke from the game. Two pitches and a lazy fly ball later, Clarke walked to the dugout having extended the Twins scoreless inning streak to a whopping 25 innings. To the Ninth We Go! After Jay Jackson took down the Yankees in the top of the ninth, the Twins hoped to find some source of hope off of Yankees reliever Victor Gonzalez. There was no hope to be found today, however, as three up became three down and the Yankees sweep was complete. 26 innings in a row without a run, and a date with the Guardians looming large Friday night. Notes Byron Buxton continues his rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints Thursday night. There is hope that he will rejoin the club Friday or Saturday in Cleveland. What’s Next? It's time to take back the Central, as the Twins travel east to face Cleveland for a three-game set. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 3.24 ERA) will attempt to re-establish himself as a strength in the rotation against Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie (2-3, 3.54 ERA). The Twins enter Friday night's contest 2.5 games back of the Guardians for the division lead, and now a full game behind the Royals again as well. First pitch is set for 6:10pm CT. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet SUN MON TUE WED WED TOT Funderburk 23 0 0 29 0 52 Jackson 0 0 28 0 8 36 Staumont 0 0 14 17 0 31 Sands 12 0 0 0 18 30 Okert 0 0 10 0 6 16 Durán 14 0 0 0 0 14 Thielbar 0 0 0 0 9 9 Jax 0 0 0 0 0 0 View full article

On the roller coaster that was April for the Minnesota Twins, the pitching staff tried their best to stay the course and to keep the team in ballgames. The fact that the Twins are streaking back above .500 rests squarly on a bullpen that kept them in more games than they deserved, and some starters who brought consistency to the mound every five days. What hurlers stand above the rest and can claim their spot as pitcher of the month? As the Twins entered the 2024 season, big questions surrounded the starting rotation, while the bullpen appeared to be an area of strength. Injuries took out our closer, and shuffled our newest additions to that bullpen, and questions suddenly emerged all across the pitching staff. Several Twins stepped up and filled a need in April, and helped hold the line until the bats could wake up late in the month. Here are the four that stand above the rest for the streaking Twins. April Pitchers of the Month #4 - Griffin Jax, 14 G, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 17 K When Jhoan Duran started the season on the injured list, someone needed to assume the closer role, whether that be in the seventh, eighth, or ninth inning against the meat of the opponent’s lineup. Jax, once again, took the ball and didn’t flinch. Other than back to back frustrating outings at Detroit and at Baltimore in the middle of April, Jax was lights out. His four saves and three holds show how flexible and essential Jax was to Rocco Baldelli’s end of game management. Jax got the opportunity, and he definitely took command of it. #3 - Joe Ryan - 6 G, 3.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 34.2 IP, 31 H, 5 BB, 41 K You can’t have a winning month without at least one starting pitcher finding his way onto the list. Ryan rises to the top due to his consistency and durability, outpacing all starters in total innings, WHIP, and ERA among Twins with four or more starts. His 8.20 K/BB nearly doubled his nearest competitor, and the team was 4-2 in games that he started. It’s worth noting that Ryan took his playoff “demotion” in stride, and has returned with a new pitch and a leader’s moxie. #2 – Cole Sands - 10 G, 1.98 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 20 K On paper, Sands looked to be a lock for adding length and mop-up capability for a bullpen that started the season depleted. In reality, he’s entered 10 games and served almost as many roles as that. He’s mopped-up for a couple of innings, he’s come in to shut things down in the late innings to the tune of two holds, he’s come in to get one or two outs, and he’s held ground in the middle of tie games as a vital bridge to the back-end of the bullpen. His last two outings have been his worst, so he’s trending in a rough direction. However, without Cole Sands toeing the rubber after short starts, the Twins’ bullpen couldn’t have performed at the level that they did. Indeed, Sands was “weirdly good” in April. Winner – Brock Stewart – 12 G, 0.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 7 H, 6 BB, 17 K After a lights out 2023, Twins fans hoped that Stewart would still have some magic left in his revitalized right arm. April couldn’t have gone better for Stewart, as he did not yield a single run across 12 relief appearances. None. Nil, Nada. Stewart’s six holds also leads the squad. Now with the return of Duran to the closer role, Baldelli has the flexibility again to utilize Stewarts masterful stuff in the inning of his choice. Whatever success the Twins finally found as April rolled around, none of it happens without Stewart shutting the doors of the late innings. He truly is ready and willing to take the hill every day, and the Twins needed every pitch he had to give in April. Congratulations to Brock Stewart for a “perfect April.” The Twins are going to need more of his best if they hope to continue their run back up the division ranks. What do you think? How would you rank your top Twins pitchers of April? Comment below! View full article

The last of the 2024 Twins' road trips takes us east again, to face divisional foe Cleveland and to square off against the Red Sox at the legendary Fenway Park. Will the Twins have a lot to play for, or can they coast their way to the finish line? Only time will tell. Image courtesy of © Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports Though they're far from favorites in the AL playoff projections, both the Guardians and the Red Sox could hang around and have plenty to play for in their own right come September. The Twins won't be able to let up. Cleveland Guardians – September 16-19 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) The Twins make their second trip to Cleveland either in need of a crucial series win against a competitive division rival, or hoping to put an early nail in the coffin of a division rival. Only time will tell which type of series Twins fans will get, but winning games against the Guardians is always great! This will be the last regular-season tussle with an AL Central foe. You can find more details about traveling to Progressive Field and the Cleveland experience from the earlier road trip report. The weather in mid-September mirrors mid-May, so dress appropriately. This four-game weekday series should offer plenty of great seats, and perhaps a Browns game to bookend the trip? From the shores of Lake Erie, the Twins continue onward to their last road stop of the season. It’s on to the curse of the Bambino and Fenway Park…640 miles east to Boston! Boston Red Sox – September 20-22 Fenway Park – Capacity 37,755 2023 Attendance: 2,672,130, up from 2,625,089 in 2022 (Averaged 32,989, ranked 5th in AL, 11th overall MLB) One of two remaining original “jewel box” ballparks (Wrigley being the other), Fenway Park serves as a must-see for any baseball road-tripper. Across the Charles River from the likes of MIT and Harvard, the Red Sox’s home field carries a history of curses and triumphs. From the house that Babe Wrecked to Big Papi’s stomping grounds (ouch), Fenway speaks to the iconic and cultural power of baseball in America. Even my backyard wiffle ball set-up had a “Green Monster” set of evergreen trees…temptingly close but impossible to clear. I didn’t make that up; Fenway did. At 37 feet tall, the Monster serves as the biggest batter distraction in baseball. If you have the opportunity to view a game from the top of the Monster, do it! Best baseball experience of my life thus far. Pesky’s pole in right field sits a mere 295 feet away from home plate, if you believe independent measuring services (“officially” 302, according to the Sox). The pull-happy Twins lefties should do great there, as long as they can remember actually to watch the ball and not the scenery. Being the birthplace of our nation also provides numerous places for investigation for the Twins-motivated traveler. Boston Harbor, Paul Revere’s home, and the replica of “Cheers,” the bar, along with several cultural hotspots and historical museums await. Plan to spend a day walking through the older parts of the city, and enjoy the food and atmosphere that exists everywhere around town. At Fenway, show up early and enjoy a brat on the street outside the ballpark, which serves as a secondary concourse. Investigate the walkways and architecture of the hallowed grounds. Be ready for some excitable fans, who love their team and the game that has tortured them for decades. This year’s Red Sox squad doesn’t appear to have much bite, with injuries attacking the starting staff and little star power in the works. Trying to beat them on their home turf, however, is always a daunting task. Hopefully, by this point in the season, the Twins are the only team with something to play for. The Twins will be traveling 2,783 miles for 7 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on their last regular-season road voyage? Anyone planning to go to Cleveland or Boston? 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 start off the final month of the season with a jet setting trip to play the perennial thorns in Tampa Bay, and the AL Central up-and-coming Royals. These seven games have the potential to give separation to the playoff race, or to send the Twins back home limping. Which will it be? Image courtesy of Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Tampa Bay Rays – September 2-5 Tropicana Field: Capacity 42,735 2023 Attendance: 1,440,301, up from 1,128,127 in 2022 (Averaged 17,781, ranked 13th in AL, 27th overall MLB) It made sense on paper. Home of spring training and epi-center of major league baseball for two months each year, so why not put an actual franchise in town? 1998 brought MLB and the Tampa/St. Pete metro area its own ballclub: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They celebrated by losing at least 90 games in each of their first 10 seasons! Then after a 2008 name change to the Rays (think “sunshine,” not “animal”), the tide turned in many respects. Their first World Series appearance and a constant stream of small market success stories defined the next decade. Attendance, however, hasn’t followed suit. Tropicana Field boasts the notorious label of being “unattractive” and “nondescript.” A concrete dome, with Astroturf (that even the Astros stopped using…), optical illusions from the seating arrangement, and catwalks that giveth (Jason Kubel in 2010) and taketh away (Miguel Sano in 2015). Tropicana Field defines “quirky.” It’s days are also numbered! The new stadium is set to open in 2028, so if you have ever wanted to experience this thing for yourself, now’s the time! Apparently, the Tropicana Field game experience itself can be a lot of fun. Dancing grounds crews, a live ray tank in the outfield (think “animal,” not “sunshine”), a Ted Williams and Hitters Halls of Fame, and plenty of room to roam make the Tropicana experience a good buy. If you can time the series right, you can also catch a few minor league games in the area while you are there. I’m not sure that the Twins have a “history” at Tropicana Field. The Rays’ rise coincided with the Twins’ decline most recently. Rocco Baldelli grew up in the organization. Delmon Young and the Nelson Cruz/Joe Ryan trade stick out a bit as moments of connection. When traveling about town, the Salvador Dali Museum, the Sunken Gardens, the Big Cat Rescue, or the Florida Aquarium are great spots to visit. With a four-game series, there is plenty of time to explore! Then, its time to hop back on a plane for a 1,255 mile journey to wrap up the season series with the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City Royals – September 6-8 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 ins and outs of Kansas City baseball travel, please look back at the article from the opening week preview. For the purpose of this conversation, its important to note that the defending NFL-champion Chiefs will be next door for the Thursday, September 5th NFL season kickoff! Prepare right, and you can catch two games, two sports, two days, in one parking lot! While the Chiefs have been the talk of the town, the Royals have an opportunity to rise within a weak AL Central. Will they still be in the discussion come September? Either way, this city will be ready to party that week, so keep that in mind as you plan your trip. The Twins will be traveling 3,275 miles for seven games, zero off days, and ____ wins? How do you think the Twins will fare on this September voyage? Anyone planning to go to Tampa or Kansas City? 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

Angry shouting because you can’t see anymore ??? 😂

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