Steven Trefz

The Twins entered Tuesday night's contest against the division-rival White Sox amid a horrendous four-game losing streak to start the 2025 campaign. Could the bats find a way to light things up in the first night game of the season? Here's how the first Twins win of the season finally came to pass. Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-Imagn Images Box Score: Starting Pitcher: Simeon Woods Richardson: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (82 Pitches, 51 Strikes, 62%) Home Runs: Harrison Bader (2) Top 3 WPA: Ty France (.168), Jose Miranda (.165), Edouard Julien (.118) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) The Twins needed to get off to a hot start on a cold 42° evening on the South Side of Chicago. The wind was blowing fiercely "in," and the offenses were going to face an uphill battle against the conditions. With the Twins coming into the game unable to score in their last 14 innings, the incline seemed overwhelming. Rookie right-hander Shane Smith kicked off the tundra game with a walk to Matt Wallner, and a two-out Trevor Larnach bloop single put runners at the corners for Ryan Jeffers. The rookie caught Jeffers looking on a perfect down-and-away slider to end the threat, though, and he'd keep the Twins bats frozen in Smith's MLB debut. Simeon Woods Richardson came into Tuesday night's contest as the only Twins starter who hadn't gotten a chance in the 2025 season, and no one could have imagined just how much pressure he would be facing to get the Twins into the win column after a brutal opening week on the road. Nick Maton worked another lead-off walk on a full count, and Twins fans held their collective breath as the powerful Luis Robert strode to the plate. A strike-em-out, throw-em-out, later, Woods Richardson and fans could breathe easy again. Here We Go Again? The Twins went down in order with three feeble groundouts to start the second inning, The White Sox decided that one good inning by a Twins starting pitcher was enough, as Andrew Benintendi whiffle-balled a 75-mph floater to the outfield, and scampered to third on a single up the middle by Lenyn Sosa. Brooks Baldwin hit a pop fly toward the net in foul territory in left field, and Larnach had it bounce off his glove as he collided with the net. One pitch later, it was 1-0 White Sox on another single up the middle. Woods Richardson left the ducks on the pond from there, but once again, the Twins found themselves looking up at their opponent in the early innings. The Twins got another Wallner walk with one out in the top of the third inning, but Correa's subsequent chopper turned into a slick double play to end the threat before it could begin. That made it 17 consecutive Twins scoreless innings, and counting... Facemasks and Flailing Bats As Smith continued to stare down the Twins, he had easy targets. Most of the hitters were using full facemasks to battle the cold, but their eyes told the story. Searching, desperate, and disappointed. Byron Buxton's eyes thought that he had ended the futility streak with a blast to left, but the cruel wind brought the ball gently back into the field of play as a harmless fly ball. Four exit velocities of 100-110 mph in a row, with nothing to show for it as the fourth inning came and went as the previous 17 had gone. But was this a sign of joy to come as the game progressed? Turns out that it was a sign of White Sox exit velocities to come, as Sosa raked a double to right in the bottom of the fourth to advance Benintendi yet again to third base with only one out. Woods Richardson's pitch count climbed with each full-count offering to Baldwin, and the 78th pitch resulted in a sacrifice fly for his second RBI of the game, and a 2-0 White Sox lead. Bullpen Time! Any Relief for the Twins? Rocco Baldelli elected to pull Woods Richardson before the third time through the order. Maton greeted Louis Varland rudely, by crushing a solo home run straight through my "wind blowing in" argument to make it 3-0 after five innings. Meanwhile, Smith just kept his unorthodox dealing, mixing his curves, changeups, and fastballs to frustrate the top of the Twins lineup in the top of the sixth. A couple of two-out walks to Buxton and Larnach gave the Twins a brief glimpse of hope, however, and more importantly, they sent Smith to the bench. New pitcher Penn Murfee came in to face the tying run in Jeffers, This time, Jeffers delivered a line-drive single to the right-center gap to plate Buxton and keep the inning alive. Ty France was next man up, and after flailing pitifully on two sweepers, France swung mightily to line a single up the middle to plate Larnach and pull the Twins within a run on this two-out rally. Willi Castro did what Willi Castro does and took one for the team on the first pitch, and thus, Edouard Julien became the man of the season with the bases loaded and two out. Julien proved to be a worthy Canadian import, as he stone-cold tied the game with an opposite-field single to left. It was a 3-3 ballgame! The much-maligned Jose Miranda then came up with the bases still loaded, Murfee on the ropes, and Miranda delivered the knockout... bloop. 5-3 Twins! What happened next might matter most in the grand scheme of the 2025 season. With runners on the corners and two outs, Baldelli left in Wallner to face the new left-handed reliever Fraser Ellard. After falling behind in a 1-2 count, Baldelli then sent the runners in an attempt to catch the White Sox off guard. Did they not trust Wallner to put the ball in play? Were they hoping to catch Ellard by surprise and induce a balk or wild pitch? At first glance, the joy that came with avoiding the pinch-hit move got swept away by a questionable strategy decision. Stay tuned to the post-game interview for more insight into the "why" behind both moves. Let's not dwell on it now, instead let's delight in A LEAD!!! Any Momentum Left? Cole Sands won the bottom of the sixth, and Wallner got his rematch with Ellard to start the seventh. Wallner walked yet again, albeit on a pitch that would have been strike three in spring training thanks to the electronic zone. Carlos Correa came up next and took strike one, about 6 inches off the plate, before flying out harmlessly for the first out. Buxton followed suit, which set up another early-season managerial litmus test. Larnach stayed in the game to face the lefty. In this sample size, Larnach's strikeout doesn't look great. The trend of sticking with the lefty-on-lefty match-up is worth watching as the first weeks continue, though. Jorge Alcalá got the bottom of the seventh, and he showed that his outing goes much better when he's not taking a rocket line drive off of his pitching arm. The Twins got the top of the eighth rolling with another Jeffers single and a France walk. After a Castro popout, left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert entered the game and the "we don't pinch hit anymore" streak ended at Julien, as Mickey Gasper entered the game as the new DH—and promptly struck out swinging. More managerial decision data to ponder as Julien isn't given a chance to repeat his RBI from earlier in the game, and the Twins looked to their bullpen stars to collect six more outs to preserve the first win of the season. This Ends Well...Right? Griffin Jax got the call in the eighth to face the heart of the White Sox order. In Jax's first outing since serving up a homer on Opening Day, he struck out Robert, surrendered a single to Andrew Vaughn on a full count, and gave up a 33.8 mph infield single against the shift to find himself with runners at first and second with only one out. With Miguel Vargas at the plate, and anxiety rising in hearts across Twins Territory, Correa reminded everyone why his glove has bits of gold AND platinum on it. Jax took those heroics and ran with it, striking out the previously red-hot Sosa to end the threat for good. Eisert stayed in to face Wallner in the top of the ninth, and Wallner stayed in to face Eisert. This time the confidence was rewarded with a bloop "double" down the left field line, thanks to the hustling lumberlack's effort. With a chance to build the lead against new reliever Jordan Leisure, Correa went down looking. Buxton, however, showed that Wallner wasn't the only speedster on the roster, as he hit a tailor-made grounder to Baldwin—who chose to look the runner back to second instead of throwing really hard and quickly because Buxton is fast. Harrison Bader, who replaced Larnach defensively in the bottom of the seventh inning, came to the plate for his first at-bat of the night with two on and one out. Four pitches later, it was nobody on, one baseball out in the bullpen, and an 8-3 Twins lead! Bader's blast turned a nail-biting ninth into a Danny Coulombe mop-up outing, and the White Sox were the ones left flailing as the last out was recorded for the first Twins win of 2025. What’s Next: Pablo Lopez (0-1, 3.60 ERA) looks to deliver the first series win of the season against righty Sean Burke (1-0, 0.00 ERA) in yet another day game. Can they snap this season's current mid-day curse and head home on a roll? After scoring six runs in the first 81 innings, the Twins closed out Tuesday's game with eight runs in four innings. What version of the Twins offense will take the field Wednesday? First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm CDT. Postgame Interviews: Bullpen Usage Chart: FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT Coulombe 0 16 0 0 22 38 Varland 0 23 0 0 11 34 McCaughan 0 0 0 31 0 31 Topa 0 8 0 19 0 27 Alcalá 0 12 0 0 13 25 Durán 0 24 0 0 0 24 Jax 0 0 0 0 24 24 Sands 0 0 0 0 13 13 View full article

The Twins end the 2025 season by taking on the Rangers in Arlington and the Phillies in Philadelphia. Two strong fan bases, two strong teams, and no margin for error. How will this final road trip of the season test the Twins' faithful? Image courtesy of © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Texas Rangers - September 23-25 Globe Life Field - Capacity 40,300 2024 Attendance - 2,651,553 (Averaged 32,735, fifth out of 15 AL parks and 12th overall) The Twins' August 2024 trip to Arlington, Texas, was one of few bright spots in a season of road trip failure. Minnesota was a Jorge Alcala five-run disaster away from completing a crucial four-game sweep of the reigning American League champions. But that inning happened, and what followed for the bullpen and the rest of the team was an encapsulation of the whole season. Globe Life Park has served as a home away from home for the Twins, as they have managed a 9-4 record there since it opened in 2020. While the record has been positive, the results are much closer than they appear, with 11 of the 13 games being decided by two or fewer runs. Success, yes. Stress, also yes. Texas exists as an outlier in the baseball universe. Even Moon Baseball Road Trips doesn’t know what to do with it. A trip to a Rangers game gets lumped in with a “heartland” road trip. The retractable roof at the new ballpark offers 71-degree days even when the outdoors is boiling in Arlington, which should be nice in case of any post-summer heat waves. 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 2021 either, but a World Series championship can do wonders for the attendance figures. After a step back in 2024, the Rangers hope to recapture national attention in 2025. The trend towards “entertainment district” stadium usage continues here, as teams seek to maximize fan spending for blocks in all directions. While in the district, you can go to Six Flags, a water park, AT&T Stadium, and a mall. What you can’t find is a downtown vibe or accessible public transit. The Dallas metro area also has the usual big-city highlights, along with a JFK memorial and the iconic Reunion Tower. From Texas, the Twins head 1,487 miles northeast to the land of the Phanatic to face the loaded Phillies. Philadelphia Phillies - September 26-28 Citizens Bank Park - Capacity 42,901 2024 Attendance - 3,363,712 (Averaged 41,527, 2nd out of 15 AL parks and 3rd overall) In mid-August of 2023, the Twins entered Philadelphia in hopes of staying the course on their playoff run. The Philiies had just come off of a World Series appearance, and were trying to regain that elite form. The Phillies started the series with a 13-2 whooping against Dallas Keuchel's comeback bid, but Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray led the way to a series victory in games two and three. The Twins made one trip to Veterans Stadium in 2002, and came away with a series win. Citizens Bank Park has been a wash for the club, with the Twins winning two series and the Phillies taking the other with the Twins holding a 5-4 advantage overall at the park. I was surprised to discover that the Phillies have lost more games than any other American sports franchise. I only seem to remember the captivating squads of the 90’s, and the World Series attending teams of recent history. However, the giant former home of the Phillies, Veterans Stadium, often saw nothing but epic disappointment. At 67,000, Veterans Stadium had the capacity for greatness, and the vibe of concrete sterility. In 2004, the team began a new chapter with the more intimate and contemporary Citizens Bank Park. The seating at Citizens Bank is described as “sitting over the field,” and the unique wind tunnel alleyways and small left- and right-field corners set the stage for home runs and excitement. Opposing fans can get up close and personal with the visitor’s bullpen in left-center field, or just hang out and listen to the Phillies fans give them grief. Of all of the stadiums that I researched, this one seems to be the least hospitable to away team jerseys and presence in general. Attenders beware! The ballpark also seems to be set up for prime standing room only options, and its main food vendors exist in the open outfield concourse. There’s a kid’s wiffle ball field in right-field and a Wall of Fame in left. And, of course, keep your head on a swivel unless you want to get accosted by the Phillie Phanatic. Philadelphia itself oozes history and tourist destinations. The start of American democracy and government, the pursuit of freedom and liberty, and the origins of the great cheesesteak all find their home here. You can pretend you are Rocky as you run the steps of the Museum of Art, or just sit there and watch other people exhaust themselves trying. There you have it Twins fans, after 40,952 miles of road trips, Minnesota will be finished with the regular season. When the season ends on September 28th, where do you think all of these games and trips and memories will leave the Twins? With more games to play, or left wondering what might have been? Only time will tell, but I hope you get a chance to experience the story somewhere in person in 2025. View full article

September begins with a 3,982 mile trip to Anaheim and back. The catch for Twins fans is that a stop in Kansas City’s ballpark starts that journey. What awaits the Twins in their return trip to Kauffman and their only adventure at Disney? Image courtesy of © Jay Biggerstaff -Imagn Images Kansas City Royals - September 5-7 Kauffman Stadium - Capacity 37,903 2024 Attendance - 1,658,337 (Averaged 20,473, ranked 12th out of 15 AL parks, 26th overall MLB) When the Twins travel to Kauffman on Road Trip #2 in early April, they face chilly temperatures and a poised and ready Royals squad. With warmer weather and a season mostly behind them in early September, what kind of reception awaits the Twins? Weekend September games in Kansas City also potentially involve Chiefs games for those football-inclined. But will this series involve a pair of playoff contenders, or two AL Central pretenders? Regardless of what happens agains the Royals, there is a 1,600 miles flight to California (with no off-day in-between) to make. You can see our full write-up of Kauffman Stadium here. Los Angeles Angels - September 8-10 Angel Stadium: Capacity 45,517 2024 Attendance - 2,577,597 (Averaged 31,822, sixth in AL, 13th overall) The Angels had to watch Shohei Ohtani hoist the World Series trophy last season across town, while watching Mike Trout ride out most of the season on the bench with injuries once again. Trout was in the lineup when the Twins came to town in April 2024, but it didn't matter as the Twins swept the Angels convincingly. Last year's successful trip to Angel Stadium was an outlier for the Twins this decade. Minnesota had lost the previous three series to Ohtani and friends. In fact, since the stadium opened in 1966, the Twins have played 328 road games against the variously named Angels, and have come away with 157 wins compared to 171 losses. It's a long flight, and the Twins have traditionally played jet-lagged in Anaheim. 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 pursuit involved building 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. 1998 brought a return 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. Trout still hits baseballs there for a living. Attendance remains high in Anaheim despite the loss of Ohtani and the general losing ways of the club. Angel Stadium seats less than Dodger Stadium, but I wonder what might happen if the Angels could get on a roll again. Beautiful September weather, late summer on the beach, and sun for miles highlight this trip. Having a car is the name of the game when traveling to Angel Stadium. There is a bus option from downtown LA, but that doesn’t scream “relaxing road trip” to me. Also, with Disneyland right around the corner, there is no shortage of affordable hotel options in Anaheim. At only 2.5 miles southeast of Disneyland, a person has to go, right? From here, the Twins head home for their last homestand of the season, but it's a doozy. Three teams, nine games, 11 days. The Diamondbacks, Yankees and Guardians pose a threat to end the home schedule — will the Twins have enough left in the tank after this road trip to face it? View full article

As the Twins look to close August on a roll, they return to Chicago to take on the White Sox and sneak up into Canada to tussle with Toronto. From this vantage point, the road trip looks winnable, but that’s why they play the games. Image courtesy of © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Chicago White Sox - August 22-24 Rate Field - Capacity 40,615 2024 Attendance - 1,976,344 (ranked 8th out of 15 AL teams, 19th overall MLB) The Twins travel to Rate Field to close out Road Trip #1 to start the season, but when the heat of August comes to call, the environment will feel completely different. From temperature to temperament, the Twins will most likely face a completely different Sox team on this trip. Win, lose, or draw, there is no rest to be found. It’s time to head to Toronto to see what’s left of the Jays. You can check out our full write-up of [Guaranteed] Rate Field here. Toronto Blue Jays - August 25-27 Rogers Centre – Capacity 39,150 2024 Attendance - 2,681,236 (Averaged 33,101, ranked 3rd out of 15 AL parks, 9th overall MLB) In mid-May of 2024, the Twins steamed into Canada with some energy and hope, and they left with a two games to one series victory. The middle game of the series, however, is the one that sticks out in the memories as an ominous foreshadowing of the Twins' 2024 season. The Twins mounted a 7-1 lead in the third inning against Kevin Gausman, only to have the young Simeon Woods Richardson falter against his former team. Cole Sands got touched up for three runs, and the end of the Steven Okert/Jay Jackson reclamation projects surrendered the rest of the damage in a 10-8 loss. The Twins have been traveling to the Rogers Centre with their passports since 1989, and they've been leaving with their tail between their legs since then also. A combined 56-81 record speaks to the difficulty of international road trips in the middle of the baseball season. Surprisingly, the Twins have gone 15-6 in Toronto since the 2017 season, so recent trends offer hope for the 2025 journey. When Toronto got their MLB franchise in 1977, they started out in a retro-fitted football field called Exhibition Stadium. In 1989, the SkyDome was introduced (renamed Rogers Centre in 2005), soon to gain classic replay status for Joe Carter’s World Series winner and back-to-back championships. In the 2010’s, the Blue Jays even boasted the highest attendance in the American League! The SkyDome/Rogers Centre boasts about being the first stadium in the world with a fully retractable motorized roof, hosts a hotel with rooms that look out onto the field, and rests within the Old Downtown neighborhood of the 4th largest city in North America. The field itself? A bit cookie-cutter in form, with excellent food and tourist vibes throughout the concourses. 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. If you don't have your passport yet, now's the time to get your paperwork rolling if you want to catch the first of this year's annual trips. From here, the Twins head home to welcome wayward travelers from San Diego and then a rematch with the White Sox. Will Minnesota be traveling into September in style? Or will the playoff hopes of 2025 be in the rear view mirror already? View full article

At the start of August, the Twins head to Cleveland and Detroit for a set of must-win series against their AL Central foes. Will the Twins be able to make a move when it counts the most in these return trips? Image courtesy of Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire Cleveland Guardians - August 1-3 Progressive Field – Capacity 34,830 2024 attendance: 2,056,264 (Averaged 26,028, ranked 9th out of 15 AL parks, 20th overall MLB) By this point in the season, the Twins will have already played seven games against the rival Guardians, so if they need to make ground up in the division, they are running out of time. When the Twins traveled to Progressive Field on Road Trip #4, it was late April and hope sprung eternal and chilly. Cleveland in early August brings a threat of rain and plenty of warmth, so be prepared for delays and reschedules and who knows what else. This is the last stop at Progressive Field for the season, so there is little room for make-ups. You can see a full write-up of Progressive Field and its surrounding attractions below. From here the Twins journey just 169 miles down the road to Comerica Park to face the Tigers in another rematch from earlier in the season. Detroit Tigers - August 4-6 Comerica Park - Capacity 41,083 2024 Attendance: 1,858,295 (Averaged 23,824, ranked 11th out of AL parks, 24th overall MLB) The Twins were in Detroit not that long ago on Road Trip #8, and they hope that this final trip of the year into the Tigers' den is one they can safely walk away from. Similar weather patterns follow the Twins from Cleveland to Detroit, so who knows how the schedule will actually play out. Whatever happens, the Twins need to take this series if they want to have any chance at postseason baseball. You can see a full write-up of Comerica Park and its surrounding attractions below. From Detroit the Twins go back home to welcome their third straight divisional opponent in a row: the Kansas City Royals. How do you think the Twins will look after these rivalry games? Will the dog days of summer be worth following? Or will Twins fans start turning their eyes towards the football season already? View full article

The Twins celebrate the end of the All-Star break by hopping on planes and traveling 3,900 miles to take on the Rockies and Dodgers. One team is mired in a perpetual rebuild, while the other is set up like a video game. How will the Twins fare on this bi-polar journey? Image courtesy of Max and Dee Bernt/Flickr Colorado Rockies - July 18-20 Coors Field - Capacity 46,897 2024 Attendance: 2,540,295 (Averaged 31,361, ranked 8th out of 15 NL parks, 15th overall MLB) The Twins last journeyed to Coors Field in 2023 to close out the season, and they treated their hosts poorly in two lopsided victories before dropping the finale in extra innings. In the other two trips to the Rockies' domain, the Twins struggled to score runs in 2008, and clobbered the ball in 2014. All in all, the Twins finished those series with three wins and three losses, bringing their overall Coors Field record to 5-4. Say what you will about Rockies baseball, but the fans continue to know how to pack a stadium. It seems like just yesterday, but Coors Field has been fueling baseball physics controversy since 1995. After two seasons at the now-imploded Mile High Stadium, the Rockies moved into their “new” home at over 5,000 feet above sea level. Coors Field led the league again in “runs park factor" last season, and it wasn’t even close. Baseballs fly there, humidors and big dimensions be darned. Quirks of the stadium include seats in center field called the “Rockpile,” an in-park brewery, a purple row of seats in the 300 level which marks the Mile High point, and a mixed-use development district around the ballpark. The National Ballpark Museum is across the street and exists as a “must-stop” for anyone on a baseball tour de force. The Denver Art Museum, Rocky Mountain parks and trails, and the Denver Zoo all can provide some entertainment between games. Colorado isn’t expected to be a nuisance to many this season, but they have shown consistent resilience at home, and mid-summer games usually bring out the home fans. The Twins will have to take this series seriously, because their next competition is 996 miles away and will probably still be undefeated by the time July rolls around. Los Angeles Dodgers – July 21-23 Dodger Stadium: Capacity 56,000 2024 Attendance: 3,941,251 (Averaged 48,657, ranked 1st in NL and 1st overall MLB) In 2023, the Twins headed to Dodger Stadium with some momentum. Trevor Larnach was on fire, and hope was flowing wild. Three days later, Nick Gordon's career as a Twins was ended with a broken leg on a hit-by-pitch, and the only victory the Twins could salvage was a surprising win against the unbeatable Clayton Kershaw (with the backdrop of his mom's passing). The Twins have played 11 total games at Dodger Stadium, spanning four series from 2005-2023. They have won twice. Twice! Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter took Derek Lowe deep to claim victory in June 2005. After that, it took 18 years to get another victory! Facing the defending champions on their home turf doesn't bode well for the 2025 squad. The Dodgers got their start in the Northeast and later moved westward. After the move from Brooklyn, they settled first in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but the Dodgers found their forever home in 1962 at Chavez Ravine. Beautiful, breathtaking, “an aesthetic ideal” mirroring Hollywood itself, Dodgers Stadium tops many ballpark bucket lists. The construction crew literally moved 8,000,000 cubic yards of rock and material amidst the natural landscape, slicing a piece of baseball heaven into place. Jackie Robinson’s presence exists inside and outside of the ballpark, with statues and stories in full display. With the Dodgers being a juggernaut on the field, finding affordable "good" seats can prove equally daunting. The Kirk Gibson Home Run Seat (section 302, right field pavilion, Row D, seat 88) stands (sits?) immortal. If you haven’t re-enacted that iconic scene from the 1988 World Series while playing baseball, or softball, or whiffle ball/ping pong/ice fishing for that matter… then you need to turn in your baseball fan card. Just turn it in. There is also the infamous Dodger Dog, which, unsurprisingly, isn't worth the price tag. Specialty Dodger-ritas and loaded nachos, however, are worth it! Los Angeles has been ravaged by wildfires this winter, but they don't directly impact the Dodger Stadium area. The scenic Malibu coastal drive will never look the same, but travelers to L.A. will still have the iconic Hollywood sign, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive, the Walk of Fame, Universal Studios, the ocean, and more, all worth the trip in and of themselves. Some of them are free. Some of them are the opposite of free. Whatever befalls the Twins in this epic road trip, they get to finally return home after almost two weeks on the road to face the Nationals and Red Sox. How do you think this dance with the National League West's darlings and cellar dwellers will turn out Twins Territory? View full article

Interesting! Does HOU compare to any other stadiums you have seen a game at? The folks I know in Houston are, of course, biased...but I've had a few Twins fans chime in that the Astros fans at least take the game seriously and its never empty...so maybe it was just a comparison to Target Field in that respect?

I forgot to quote you :) It can't just be darts...because every team seems to have a Tampa/Toronto road trip and a few other sequences that match up...so maybe limited darts with pre-manufactured options?

I've contemplated doing a series preview like I did back in 2023, and re-visiting these. The goal of these is mainly to get fans thinking about the various road trips and giving some deeper thought to the cities and stadiums for fans to consider. Once we get to June there should be more intrigue and an idea of rosters/injuries/etc...but if you wait to buy plane tickets until the week of the series you will pay for it :) Hence...road trip basic prep articles for now to get the fan planning ahead a bit...and then hopefully re-visit as the season goes on. What are your thoughts on series preview articles? Helpful? Overkill? Thanks for the question!

When June turns to July, the Twins head to Detroit and Miami for yet another lengthy road trip. While no one knows if the Tigers and Marlins will be up to the challenge, the Twins need to be if they want to finish the first half of the season strong. What awaits them in these cities? Image courtesy of Mark Brown/Getty Images Detroit Tigers - June 27-29 Comerica Park - Capacity 41,083 2024 Attendance: 1,858,295 (Averaged 23,824, ranked 11th out of AL parks, 24th overall MLB) The Twins split a mid-April four-game series at Comerica in early 2024, and actually came away winning the road series in July two games to one. 2024 was an outlier to the prior seasons, but generally all of the road trips to Detroit have been close contests. Since the Twins began playing their road games at Comerica Park in 2000, they've played 220 games. The Twins have won 109 of them while the Tigers have held serve with 111 wins. Far from being hostile, but far from being friendly, the expansive Comerica dimensions and atmosphere have proven to be a literal wash for Twins clubs looking to make hay in the standings. 2025 looks like it will bring more of the same middling results on the road. When Comerica Park opened, it 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 back in starting in 2003. Players’ stats continue to take a hit from the dimensions, and the walls were brought in yet again prior to the 2023 season. Located just a few blocks from the Detroit River/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 for traveling fans include a carousel, Ferris Wheel, and the Tigers Hall of Fame. After the Twins leave Detroit, they have to journey 1385 miles to the heart of Miami to face the Marlins. Miami Marlins - July 1-3 loanDepot Park - Capacity 37,442 2024 Attendance: 1,087,453 (Averaged 13,425 - ranked 15th out of 15 NL teams, 29th overall MLB) The Twins began 2023 with a sweep of the Royals, and they carried the momentum right into loanDepot Park with a resounding 11-1 victory and a 4-0 start to the season. Then, Sandy Alcantara pitched a complete game shutout to spoil Kenta Maeda's return, and the perfect season and winning road vibes ended all at once. The Twins ultimately lost that series two games to one. In eight games at Marlins Park/loanDepot Park, the Twins are 3-5. The first games Minnesota played in Miami were in 2007 at Dolphin Stadium, and they came away winning two out of three in that series, making them 5-6 overall in South Beach. The stadium's first season of use was in 2012 (Marlins Park), and it was renamed loanDepot Park in 2021. It has a retractable roof so the games are guaranteed to occur regardless of weather, which is a must for anyone making that long of a trip to catch a ballgame! The in-stadium nightclub may have closed, and the neighborhood around LoanDepot looks more like a residential zone, but the ballpark itself is beautiful inside and outside. The best part? A visiting fan can usually get 30-dollar prime area seating. I mean, it's all for sale... and no one's buying. Twins fans rejoice, but the stadium employees and Marlins players aren't too impressed. The World Basic Classic proved that both the stadium and the community can get excited when the product on the field is competitive, but Marlins ownership isn't too keen on that being the goal. This "communidad 305" thing looks interesting. BYOInstruments? Soccer atmosphere? The fun probably can still occur if your team has a strong representation in the stands. Their bobblehead museum contains 400 of the old owner Jeffrey Loria's collection, but its almost hidden behind an outfield stairwell, so you might have to explore to find it. LoanDepot Park sits in the southern part of the city, just west of Biscayne Bay. If the roof is open, sightlines from the back of the first-base line is the place to be. If closed... go party and play instruments, I guess! At 85 degrees and sunny, it's hard to complain. Let's hope the Twins can muster up some victories in South Beach, because they have a ten-game, three-team homestand to endure against the Rays, Cubs, and Pirates afterward before the All-Star Break. How do you think the Twins will fare on this road trip? Can Minnesota tame the Tigers? Or will the sub-.500 results of the past in these cities carry on forward to 2025? View full article

The Twins thought they had defeated the demons at Yankee Stadium in 2023, only to see them revisited two-fold in 2024. How will the Twins do when they bravely journey back into the enemy's lair in August 2025? Image courtesy of Christy Radecic New York Yankees - August 11-13 Yankee Stadium - Capacity 46,537 2024 Attendance: 3,309,838 (Averaged 41,896, ranked 1st out of 15 AL parks, 2nd overall MLB) The Twins thought they had broken the Yankee Stadium curse in 2023, only to get swept right out of town in early June of 2024 by the eventual World Series runner-up Yankees. 13 wins and 39 losses. That's the Twins' record at the newest iteration of Yankee Stadium. If you thought that was terrible, just take the last decade into consideration. Since 2015, the Twins have won five games in the Bronx, and lost 26! 2013 was the only season that the Twins managed to win a series, and the general outcomes would be comical if they weren't so consistently devastating. The Yankees squad that awaits to start the 2025 campaign might be without Juan Soto, but they've added to their bats and arms just like they always do and should compete for the World Series yet again. 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. 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. The stadium itself feels surprisingly bland and non-distinct, but if the Yankees are playing well, it's tough to be an opposing fan there. Yankee Stadium resides in the heart of the Bronx, so parking and any “quick” travel to destinations don’t happen. Then there’s the potential for rain. Luckily, MLB appears to have also thought this through and scheduled an off-day in case the opener needs a re-do, but there isn't a mutual off-day following the series, so any make-up game would have to find its way later on during the season. Enter the enemy's lair thick-skinned and multi-layered and get ready to enjoy baseball at its finest. Twins fans 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 fans most anywhere they want to go. Even if this trip hurts a little, the Twins return home to face what they hope to be some healing opponents in the Tigers and Athletics. Will the Twins come out on top in this week of August baseball? Or will this be more of the same from some difficult opponents? View full article

When the MLB schedule makers conceived of the 2025 schedule, they once again threw the map aside and said "let's just pick cities." Therefore, the Twins roll through the middle of June by flying to Houston and Cincinnati because...why not? Image courtesy of © Jerry Lai-Imagn Images and © The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating, Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC Houston Astros - June 13-15 Minute Maid Park - Capacity 41,168 2024 Attendance: 2,835,234 (Averaged 35,002, ranked 2nd of 15 AL teams and 8th overall) In 2024 the Twins took two of three at Minute Maid, matching their 2023 series victory. Minute Maid Park became the home of the Astros for the 2000 season, and in the years since the Twins have found average success, going 19-21 over the forty regular season games in Houston. The story of Houston baseball runs through 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. It 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. Minute Maid Park carries history, scandal, success, and futility all in one amazingly crafted and retro-fitted setting. 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.” Minute Maid Park used to feature the legendary and questionable "Tal’s Hill” in centerfield. The berm & flagpole served for quite a few highlights and lowlights for fielders, and it stretched the dimensions out to 436ft. 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 it to a reasonable 406ft. 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. When in Houston, check out the Space Center and enjoy some beach and fishing time out in the Gulf of Mexico. Or if the weather's too warm and muggy for your liking, just get excited to watch high-quality baseball in a crazy cool stadium alongside a fan base that has doubled down on their team. The Twins won't have time for any of this, however, because they need to head a thousand miles northwest to Cincinnati. Cincinnati Reds – June 17-19 Great American Ballpark - Capacity 43,500 2024 Attendance: 2,024,178 (Averaged 24,989 - ranked 12th out of 15 NL teams, 21st overall MLB) The Twins were happy to see Cinergy Field go away, because they got swept out of there in 2000. Great American Ballpark has served as a more gracious host, albeit a neutral one. The Twins have gone 6-5 in its four trips to Great American. The last time they played there was in 2023. The Twins entered Cincinnati in mid-September in need of victories to cement their standing on top of the American League Central. They were greeted with a loss, but came back to take two out of three and kept the playoff juices flowing in the right direction. Home to baseball’s oldest franchise (going strong since 1882!), Great American Ball Park celebrates its 20th year of hosting the Reds in 2023. With a list of legendary players behind it, the team boasts a history of success, and has a Hall of Fame of its own to prove it. Like many teams, however, that history seems to stop in the 90’s. Built on the shores of the Ohio River, Great American Ball Park offers contemporary fans a baseball-specific venue with waterfront views and quirky vibes. The higher up you sit, the better the view of both the game and the area. With wide concourses and five levels of seating, finding a place to enjoy the game shouldn’t be an issue. When in town, cultural highlights include the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Findlay Market’s beer gardens open on gameday, and riverboat cruises offer a unique way to spend time between games. Following this road trip the Twins get to enjoy some home cooking against Milwaukee and Seattle. Will they return on a roll, or rolled over? View full article

When the schedule was adjusted to accommodate the Tampa Bay Rays' stadium situation, what was already the longest road trip of the season at the end of May became the stuff of epic tales. From Tampa to Seattle to Sacramento—here we go! The move to Steinbrenner Field, while temporary, raises questions about the franchise's long-term viability in Tampa. Why not use their spring training site in Port Charlotte? Too far. Worse amenities. Instead, they'll play in a smaller venue, likely with premium ticket pricing, while inching toward an inevitable relocation. The Tampa area still offers plenty for visiting Twins fans—the Salvador Dalí Museum, Sunken Gardens, Florida Aquarium, and Big Cat Rescue are all worth a stop. But if you plan to attend, act fast—these games are expected to sell out by February, and secondary market prices could be steep. From there, the Twins embark on their grueling cross-country trek: Tampa to Seattle. Seattle Mariners - May 30-June 1 T-Mobile Park: Capacity 47,929 2024 Attendance: 2,555,813 (Averaged 31,553, 7th out of 15 AL parks and 14th overall) The Twins' 2024 visit to Seattle could have easily resulted in a sweep if not for Griffin Jax's rough outing and a crushing extra-inning loss fueled by Mitch Haniger's heroics. Since 1999, the Twins have gone 47-56 in Seattle, but they haven't lost a series at T-Mobile Park since 2021. T-Mobile Park offers stunning sightlines, a retractable roof, and top-tier food options, far removed from the Kingdome days. While the Mariners have endured long stretches of mediocrity—including zero World Series appearances—they're an ascending team in 2025. Beyond baseball, Seattle has plenty to offer: The Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest & Mariners Hall of Fame The 'Pen – A paradise for foodies and pub crawlers Fan Walk – Engraved bricks honoring devoted fans The Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, and Seattle Japanese Garden provide memorable off-day activities for adventure seekers. If you're up for a detour, a Goonies filming site pilgrimage along the Oregon coast might be tempting. But there's no rest for the Twins. After Seattle, they head straight to Sacramento for four games against the nomadic Athletics. The Athletics - June 2-5 Sutter Health Park: Capacity 14,014 2024 Attendance (@ Oakland): 922,286 (Averaged 11,528, ranked 15th out of 15 NL parks, 30th overall MLB) The Twins' final trip to Oakland in 2024 resulted in a solid two-games-to-one series win. They've fared well at the Coliseum in recent years, going 7-2 there since 2022. But 2025 marks a new era, as the Athletics begin their three-season limbo in Sacramento before officially moving to Las Vegas in 2028. They'll play at Sutter Health Park, a minor league venue with a spring training vibe—but games that count. Oakland was never kind to the Twins, who posted a 138-177 record there. The A's, meanwhile, endured dismal attendance in 2024, the only MLB team to draw under one million fans. Their planned move to Vegas has severed ties with their dwindling Oakland fanbase. The A's did make some notable offseason moves, retaining Brent Rooker while adding Luis Severino and Gio Urshela. They could be a real threat by the time they reach Las Vegas. For fans making the trip, Sacramento offers hidden gems: The Sacramento River – Scenic wineries and restaurants The Crocker Art Museum – A top-tier art collection The California State Railroad Museum – A must-see for history buffs With fewer seats available than the A's average attendance in 2024, this series could be a unique opportunity for Twins fans to get close to the action. From there? No break. The Twins head straight to Toronto for a June 6 showdown with the Blue Jays, then return home to face the defending champion Texas Rangers. The Big Question: Can the Twins Survive This? This coast-to-coast gauntlet—Tampa to Seattle to Sacramento to Toronto—is brutal. Will the Twins emerge battle-tested and resilient? Or will this stretch derail their season? What’s your prediction for the Twins’ make-or-break road trip? View full article

In 2024, the Twins were a combined 1-11 against the Orioles and Brewers. The Twins' fifth road trip of the 2025 season gives them the change to exorcise both demons. What awaits the Twins and their amazing fans in Baltimore and Milwaukee? Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Baltimore Orioles - May 13-15 Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Capacity 44,970 2024 Attendance: 2,281,129 (Averaged 28,514, eighth out of 15 AL parks and 19th overall) The Twins journeyed into Baltimore in mid-April of 2024, and they limped out after getting outscored 22-9 in a three-game sweep. Minnesota has been traveling to the newest Oriole Park iteration since 1992, and have collected a 57-67 record over that span. From 2015-2019 the Twins used Baltimore as boost trip, winning 12 of the 16 matchups, but before and after have been far less beneficial to the club. Oriole Park at Camden Yards will forever be tied with Ken Griffey Jr. in my mind. The connection has nothing to do with Griffey's legendary blast in the 1993 Home Run Derby — still the only home run ever to hit the warehouse in right field — it's due to the fact that the Super Nintendo game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball was the first place I saw the ballpark. Built in 1992, Camden Yards changed aesthetic templates for Major League ballparks. The warehouse frames a beautiful backdrop for baseball and for batters' 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 ’30s. My friends in the area don’t describe Baltimore as a vacation hotspot, but it sounds like a great trip to me! Unfortunately for the Twins there is no off-day and another 800 mile journey to Milwaukee to take on the rival Brewers. Milwaukee Brewers – May 16-18 American Family Field - Capacity 41,900 2024 Attendance: 2,537,202 (Averaged 21,328 - ranked 9th out of 15 NL teams, 16th overall MLB) The 2024 journey to Milwaukee led to something the Twins hadn't experienced there since 2021: a victory. The two-game series split finished off a winning opening road adventure and set the team up for a successful season that just couldn't sustain itself. The Twins have been playing their interleague and border battle rivals at American Family Field (amongst the other names) since 2001, and in 64 games the Twins have held their own to the tune of a 30-34 record. Because of the unique home-and-home nature of this series, its the only National League road trip guaranteed on the schedule each season. Familiarity has bred parity for this series. American Family Field began as Miller Park in 2001. 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. And yet, when the Brewers got it going on, the place also brings out an energy that can deliver electric baseball. 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 a variety of tastes. Once inside the ballpark, the immortal “sausage race” has gone digital, but the spirit remains. Bud Selig and Bob Uecker have statues and museums, and this season will carry a special meaning after Uecker's passing. Following this week-long road trip the Twins return home to take on AL Central foes Cleveland and Kansas City in some must-win series. Will they find redemption and a winning streak to lead into those crucial games? Or will the Twins return road-weary and twice shy? How do you think this fifth trip will go Twins Territory? View full article

The next road test for the 2025 Twins takes them into the Guardians' lair and up against the Green Monster. To Cleveland and Boston we go! But how will it go? Image courtesy of © Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cleveland Guardians - April 28-May 1 Progressive Field – Capacity 34,830 2024 attendance: 2,056,264 (Averaged 26,028, ranked 9th out of 15 AL parks, 20th overall MLB) Progressive Field provided the Twins with all of the information they needed when evaluating the 2024 season. One win, six losses. Four of the losses were by one run, but just as the final divisional standings proved, that was all it took to shift the tide towards the Guardians. Each time the Twins entered Cleveland, they were looking for momentum and a chance to prove their dominance in the division. Each time they left defeated. The Twins have been battling Cleveland at Progressive Field since the mid-90's. 259 games are in the books, and the Twins lose far more often than they win at the Rock and Roll Capital of the World. 112 wins and 147 losses in the past three decades. The last three seasons are particularly rough, with the Twins dropping two out of every three games to the Guardians on the road in that span. Baseball in Cleveland began in 1894. This trip's destination, however, is 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. Progressive Field opened for business in 1994, and 2019 brought an extensive concourse renovation at the 200 level with entertainment spaces and open walkways. The Guardians rebrand brought them back to the top of the AL Central, and the future looks bright for the organization. A trip to the southern tip of Lake Erie brings plenty to see and to do. Built downtown, with plenty of surrounding neighborhood options for food and drink and a consistently winning team, Progressive Field can be well attended when the team is winning, so Sox fans should be aware if they plan to catch these games. Cleveland itself boasts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and several neighborhood eating highlights. A short drive to Canton brings the Pro Football Hall of Fame into the mix, while lake and outdoor activities also are available. One unique attribute and history that carries on is John Adam’s Drum. This dedicated fan brought the “thump” to every game since 1973 but hadn’t been in attendance since Covid started. In fact, he passed away in 2023, but his tradition carries on. One of his original drums is actually now enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. After hopefully surviving three games in Cleveland, the Twins will continue on east to Fenway Park to tackle the upstart Red Sox. Boston Red Sox - May 2-4 Fenway Park - Capacity 37,755 2024 Attendance: 2,659,949 (Averaged 32,838, ranked 4th out of 15 AL parks, 11th overall MLB) The Twins' September 2024 trip to Fenway Park started with nail biting excitement and a miracle 12-inning endurance victory in game one. What followed were seven and six run defeats in a double-header from H-E-Double-hockey-sticks. The Twins have been taking road trips to Fenway Park since before they were the Twins! For the first 523 games they had a lot shorter distance to travel as the Washington Senators, but they struggled to a 239-284 record at Fenway. In 1961 the Twins started flying halfway across the country to play in Boston, and their record got worse...way worse. The Minnesota Twins have played 330 games at Fenway Park, and have only won 140 of them. In fact, for six decades the annual journey to Boston has basically been a guaranteed losing effort. 2019 was the only season in the last decade that saw the Twins leave Boston with a series victory. One of two remaining “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 Americana. 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. 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). Being the birthplace of our nation also provides numerous places for investigation. Boston Harbor, Paul Revere’s home, and the replica of “Cheers,” the bar! Each neighborhood in the old city has its own special eateries, and the revolutionary era graveyards and crypts are worth a tour. From Boston the Twins haul everything back to Target Field to tangle with the Orioles and Giants in an extended orange homestand. Will they be riding high after this important road trip? Or will the return to central time zone not be the only losing going on? How do you think the Twins will do? View full article