Sarah

I know Cubs fans are in love with Javier Baez and he strikes me as the same kind of player as Eddie Rosario - very talented defensively but still inconsistent offensively. I hope they both figure it out because they are exciting players. The best part about that play if you watch the whole video is that when he was running off the field another PR guy (I think it was Carlos Correa) jumped up to bump up against up him and knocked him down. Ha! http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/03/eddie-rosario-laser-throw-dominican-republic-puerto-rico-world-baseball-classic-video-wbc

I think it's fun and hope it continues. I will be the ugly American and say it sucks that some of the games are in Japan so are on at random times early in the morning, wish I have been able to watch more of that bracket. But the others that are on at normal times for us stateside have been enjoyable.

Well, we're already Twins fans - what could be worse... Kidding

I am boring because I always pick the four #1 seeds to reach the Final Four...and picking Duke to win it all is against my religion. Thanks for setting this up, let the games begin!

I will watch it when I can - last night the Dominican team was leading 9-2 with two outs in the ninth inning and Tony Pena replace Fernando Rodney with Jeurys Familia to get the last out. I couldn't figure out why he would do that, I thought maybe he was just trying to show off...hmm, should I use Dellin Betances here? Would definitely be an upset if this team lost.

I think it's a good deal if you already work downtown and have parking available or it is similarly convenient for you to take advantage of this. The X factor is the weather (Yeah I know you could say the X factor is the weather for anything outside) - if it's 60+ and sunny for most of the home games during April and May it's a good deal, but during most of the seasons so far at Target Field games during April and May have been brutal. And I don't think finding a seat will be a problem. :-)

In what may be the only time I’m ever in the men’s restroom at CHS Field, I took in the world premiere of “Safe at Home” last night, Mixed Blood Theatre’s new show about baseball, race and immigration. The story takes place prior to game seven of the World Series and centers on whether a Dominican pitcher scheduled to start the biggest game of his career will instead use the platform to protest the game and take a political stand. Image courtesy of Photo by Szer Design In what may be the only time I’m ever in the men’s restroom at CHS Field, I took in the world premiere of “Safe at Home” last night, Mixed Blood Theatre’s new show about baseball, race and immigration. The story takes place prior to game seven of the World Series and centers on whether a Dominican pitcher scheduled to start the biggest game of his career will instead use the platform to protest the game and take a political stand. The show is divided up into nine “scenes” (or shall we call them “innings”) scattered throughout the ballpark, each with their own story to tell: in one, an Irish and Latino vendor argue about the profitability of selling beer versus churros; in another, the owner of the team (and newspaper publisher) discusses the merits of “responsible journalism” with the reporter ready to break the story prior to the game. As a baseball fan, I thought the scene between the umpire and the MLB executive was particularly well acted and fascinating as they discussed exactly how this would play out if it actually happened in a game. The story is definitely topical and the issues resonate, especially with the choice of using a baseball game as the backdrop to the simmering issues presented as opposed to, say, a football game – after all, baseball is the national pastime with a deep history inextricably linked with our struggles as a nation. The show itself is a technical achievement – groups of 25 are guided to different areas in the ballpark by an usher to watch separate seven minute scenes that run like clockwork throughout the evening. (At the performance I attended, our usher shared that he has learned a lot about baseball in working on this play, saying, “I’ve learned that the ball is round.” I think he was kidding.) It also takes theatre fans outside their comfort zone as you’re standing up in sometimes cramped quarters while the drama takes place right in front of you. Attendees seemed unsure as to whether they were supposed to clap at the end of each scene so we did what Minnesotans do – we just stood their awkwardly until the usher directed us to the next scene. I have enjoyed many Saints games at CHS Field (and if you haven’t been there yet you really should check them out this season) so I knew I would appreciate my surroundings. As the show serves as a veritable tour of the ballpark, I caught myself a couple of times paying more attention to that than watching the show – during the scene in the clubhouse, my eyes drifted to the “Hall of Saints” pictures located above the lockers. “Oh yeah, I remember Rey Ordonez played for the Saints,” I caught myself thinking, and then, “wait a minute, there’s a show going on here. Focus!” I give credit to the writers and director that they kept the drama flowing even as you’re being shepherded periodically throughout the ballpark onto the next scene. The acting is strong throughout and that may be the one regret I had about the show – at the end of the 90 minute performance you’re ushered into the Saints dugout and back through the stands to leave the ballpark without the chance for the actors to take a bow and show your appreciation for their work. But this is a minor quibble, if you’re a baseball fan this is a fantastic opportunity to see an entertaining new show in a beautiful setting. The pre-show gathering spot is in the Securian Club (the enclosed and heated space along right field) and while you’re outside briefly to travel from scene to scene, they all take place indoors. The show only runs through Sunday, so for more information about performance times and tickets, visit Mixed Blood’s website. View full article

In what may be the only time I’m ever in the men’s restroom at CHS Field, I took in the world premiere of “Safe at Home” last night, Mixed Blood Theatre’s new show about baseball, race and immigration. The story takes place prior to game seven of the World Series and centers on whether a Dominican pitcher scheduled to start the biggest game of his career will instead use the platform to protest the game and take a political stand. The show is divided up into nine “scenes” (or shall we call them “innings”) scattered throughout the ballpark, each with their own story to tell: in one, an Irish and Latino vendor argue about the profitability of selling beer versus churros; in another, the owner of the team (and newspaper publisher) discusses the merits of “responsible journalism” with the reporter ready to break the story prior to the game. As a baseball fan, I thought the scene between the umpire and the MLB executive was particularly well acted and fascinating as they discussed exactly how this would play out if it actually happened in a game. The story is definitely topical and the issues resonate, especially with the choice of using a baseball game as the backdrop to the simmering issues presented as opposed to, say, a football game – after all, baseball is the national pastime with a deep history inextricably linked with our struggles as a nation. The show itself is a technical achievement – groups of 25 are guided to different areas in the ballpark by an usher to watch separate seven minute scenes that run like clockwork throughout the evening. (At the performance I attended, our usher shared that he has learned a lot about baseball in working on this play, saying, “I’ve learned that the ball is round.” I think he was kidding.) It also takes theatre fans outside their comfort zone as you’re standing up in sometimes cramped quarters while the drama takes place right in front of you. Attendees seemed unsure as to whether they were supposed to clap at the end of each scene so we did what Minnesotans do – we just stood there awkwardly until the usher directed us to the next scene. I have enjoyed many Saints games at CHS Field (and if you haven’t been there yet you really should check them out this season) so I knew I would appreciate my surroundings. As the show serves as a veritable tour of the ballpark, I caught myself a couple of times paying more attention to that than watching the show – during the scene in the clubhouse, my eyes drifted to the “Hall of Saints” pictures located above the lockers. “Oh yeah, I remember Rey Ordonez played for the Saints,” I caught myself thinking, and then, “wait a minute, there’s a show going on here. Focus!” I give credit to the writers and director that they kept the drama flowing even as you’re being shepherded periodically throughout the ballpark onto the next scene. The acting is strong throughout and that may be the one regret I had about the show – at the end of the 90 minute performance you’re ushered into the Saints dugout and back through the stands to leave the ballpark without the chance for the actors to take a bow and show your appreciation for their work. But this is a minor quibble, if you’re a baseball fan this is a fantastic opportunity to see an entertaining new show in a beautiful setting. The pre-show gathering spot is in the Securian Club (the enclosed and heated space along right field) and while you’re outside briefly to travel from scene to scene, they all take place indoors. The show only runs through Sunday, so for more information about performance times and tickets, visit Mixed Blood’s website.

I went to the Gophers baseball game last weekend and agree with the comments here - I found the storage container-type dugouts and the no dirt infield kind of bizarre but other than that it was a perfectly fine place to watch indoor baseball. Much better than being outside in March...but I do agree about the concessions, they cost more than the game ticket. I parked in the lot kitty corner across from the stadium that is skyway connected although I didn't see how you'd get up there from the concourse so I figured it wasn't open for these games. It was just a short walk across the street though so pretty convenient and I think it was $7 to park. My high school baseball team is playing a game there in April so I'll be back.

I will find out next weekend as I'm going to the Gopher baseball game at US Bank Stadium. Love going to the new Siebert Field when the weather cooperates too, it's a beautiful ballpark. The construction around it was a bit of a pain last year but they did let you park for free around the ballpark since the parking was limited so that was nice. Not sure if they are going to let people do that this year, I guess we will find out.

I will, thanks! And I put Gaiman's book on my list too.

In the article I read about this it also linked to one of my favorites (hard to believe this is from 1999). I still chuckle when they say "Hey, we've got Cy Young winners over here!" http://www.baseballisfun.com/2017/01/15/even-tom-glavine-and-greg-maddux-admit-that-chicks-dig-the-long-ball-1999/

I read a lot of books during the winter - not so much during the summer because I am usually watching baseball. But here are a few that I have enjoyed this winter: American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Do No Harm by Henry Marsh Writing my Wrongs by Shaka Senghor Bellevue by David Oshinsky My Korean Deli by Ben Ryder Howe Rez Life by David Treuer Bohemian Flats by Mary Ellis The badass librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer I have Mission Jimmy Stewart and Hillbilly Elegy on my desk so those are next on my list. Also a few more I hope to get to before baseball season starts (otherwise they will have to go on the list for next winter): My name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick (he also wrote a book about the Mayflower that I enjoyed) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah A student of weather by Elizabeth Hay The Mortifications by Derek Palacio Embers by Sandor Marai

One of the comments on the Star Tribune article was "Who was the Twins director of Asian scouting - Helen Keller?" I had to chuckle at that one, sometimes you just have to laugh...

From what I know it sounds like a much better opportunity than working at U of M events. They posted something about looking for people for Gopher game days and more than half of the comments were people saying stuff like DO NOT WORK HERE, they are totally disorganized, it's nothing but aggravation, etc. Yikes!

I guess that explains why the Mariners have never won anything. Seriously though, I agree with this - I've noticed several times my jet lag is worse when I travel eastward.

It didn't start out amazing, but I saw a movie recently which was basically two different movies. If anyone hasn't seen "A Hologram for the King" with Tom Hanks consider yourself lucky. It started out as a movie about him experiencing culture shock trying to land an IT contract in Saudi Arabia and then about halfway through it tried to turn into a romantic comedy with him and a Saudi woman doctor. It was bizarre - all I could think was "this is like two separate movies smushed together." Can see why it didn't do well, still not sure why Tom Hanks did that one. Maybe it was a favor to one of the creative team or something...

I also went to the original old timers hot stove league banquet on Monday (which I think is technically a Twins Caravan stop even though it's in the Twin Cities) which featured Trevor May, Byron Buxton, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine. They were great - Kris Atteberry asked Trevor May about what he is trying to do to stay healthy and when he mentioned Pilates Atteberry said, "I think this is the first time in the history of this banquet that Pilates has been incorporated into the conversation." Also Kris asked Derek and Thad if they get mistaken for each other and they said when they were doing a satellite interview with MLB Network they had ear pieces in before the interview started and they could hear the guys in the control booth saying, "Wait, which one is which? Is Falvey the guy on the left?" And Derek said his favorite part was when one of the guys said, "Oh, Falvey is the guy with the chubby cheeks." John Anderson from the Gophers was also there and talked about how he is interested to get into US Bank Stadium for some baseball games. I'm looking forward to seeing how it is configured and plays for baseball too! And as far as none of us looking like Brad Pitt...we're baseball people not supermodels. :-)

I was at the Paul McCartney concert a couple of years ago and Target Field is a great venue for an outdoor concert. (My friend invited me to sit with her in the Legends Club, yes that was nice of her.) I'm not a huge music fan but how I could I pass up the chance to see Sir Paul? I mean, he's a Beatle! My sister and I also bought cheap tickets to the first concert (Chesney/McGraw) and even though we were sitting in the upper deck along the left field line I didn't have any trouble seeing or hearing anything. Tim McGraw is a really good entertainer - Kenny Chesney on the other hand...not a fan. My sister was at the U2 concert at TCF Bank Stadium and she said even though it rained during that concert it actually kind of added to the atmosphere.

I attended as well and thought it was a great conference - some fun baseball talk during the winter. I only found out about it by accident, maybe if they do it next year it will be advertised better. (Not that it needs to be, it was very crowded but I think part of that was because it was free.) St Thomas seemed like a logical place to hold it since they are now offering a degree in business analytics. Maybe that's how other attendees found out about it?

I have lived in the Twin Cities almost my entire life so I am definitely a Minnesotan. I've been a baseball fan for as long as I can remember - not sure why exactly since no one else in my family likes baseball. I guess it's just in my blood for some reason. I'm a Twins fan of course but I just love watching baseball in general. I was at game 6 of the 1991 World Series so it's pretty hard to top that as a memory. Also I was just talking with someone the other day about how time flies - I remember thinking opening day at Target Field would never get here and now the ballpark has been open for seven years... My first "favorite" Twin growing up was Kent Hrbek. My second favorite Twin was Chuck Knoblauch (don't judge me...remember he was a great player once upon a time). I've liked most of the Twins players in recent years. I was a faithful reader of Gameday and other Twins blogs before Twins Daily started. I come back to Twins Daily because you can never get enough good baseball discussion!

My sister's famous comment when I showed her the picture of me and Scott Erickson from that event: "He looks like a Ken doll!"

I sat next to Trevor May at one of the Twins welcome home luncheons a couple of years ago, he has a good sense of humor. The events with Escobar, Morris and Provus would be pretty good too.

Wow, I have tried to repress some of the names on this list. With apologies to Erickson, we seem to have a problem with guys named Scott because the guy that came to my mind was Scott Aldred. Yeesh. I was pretty young way back when but I remember that Scott Stahoviak was touted as “the next Kent Hrbek.” Well, not quite…