I Couldn't Resist

Sitting down the first base line I saw Twins 2nd baseman Brian Dozier watching the pitcher warm-up. Yep- he was chewing bubble gum and blowing bubbles. So I zoomed in and got this shot.

Sadly, that's one more thing that Brian can do that I can't.

Surprise!

For those of you who are not baseball fans you may not know that the Minnesota Twins have been one of the hottest teams in baseball this past month. They won 20 games in May- something they haven't done in 24 years!! They also ended the month with the best record in the American League and #1 in the Central Division. As of today they are 11 games over .500!! Remember this is a team that has not had a winning record for a number of years.

Some are saying it's a fluke.

Others (like me) are saying that playing under new manager Paul Molitor has given them a boost. Many are pointing out that they have been playing like a TEAM. There appears to be a relaxed sense of having fun. With Torii Hunter back as a wise, experienced player, maybe that has helped.

But who cares??? It is fun right now.

All of this is just a long way of saying I'm going to my first game of the season tonight- against my old faves from Milwaukee and Molitor's old team. Should be a fun evening with my daughter out at the old ballgame.

(On top of that, Monday will be the annual "Trumpets and Twins" when I get the joy of playing the National Anthem with 100 other trumpets. All kinds of great things this weekend!)

We Do It Again In Less Than Two Weeks

One of the great joys the past two summers has been to be part of the Trumpets at Twins event. Over 100 trumpet players get to stand out in centerfield and play the National Anthem. What a kick. It's the sound, the crowd, the noise, the sight we get to see. It's the ability to play the National Anthem! We do it again this year on Monday, June 8 when the Twins host Kansas City.

Here's the video I put together from last year's event. Enjoy.

Toward Pentecost (28): Response

Introverted Packer Fans- Be Warned

It happens every time.

Whenever I wear my Packer hat anywhere outside of the Upper Midwest, someone will come up to me and start talking. Usually starting with

"Go Pack! Go!"

So- as a warning to any introverts- don't expect to be unnoticed when wearing any Packer gear away from home territory. (It's actually fun!)

What I do when I am away is wear my Twins hat when I want to be introverted! Nobody but other Twins fans comment. Even then, it's kind of an introverted little nod.

Bye, Bye- and Thanks for the Memories

The Minnesota Twins announced on Monday that manager Ron Gardenhire has been fired after another 90-loss season. He was manager for 13 years and led the team to 6 playoffs and one ALCS. It comes as no surprise to most Twins fans. Whatever magic there was in earlier years has been lost. But Gardy did a fine job and gave us some good memories.

We'll see what happens next.

Here are four pictures from a game on May 25, 2012 against Detroit when Gardy was, yes, tossed from the game.

A Perfect Night for Baseball

Perhaps the best evening to go to a ball game- the longest day of the year. Last Friday was the annual Trumpets at Twins event where 130 of us played the National Anthem at Target Field.

Good weather. Sun. Clouds. Fun.

And sunset was at:   

T C Bear and friends showed up on the scoreboard for the 7th Inning Stretch.

But it was in the 9th that things got a little out of hand. You see the Twins were ahead 4-2. Closer Glenn Perkins could not manage to hold the score 

and blew the save.

Score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 9th.

Up comes Brian Dozier.

Fuld and Escobar on base.

Look closely- this was taken just at the moment before the ball and bat connect.  

It's a good solid hit.

But there was also a good throw in to the catcher.

Base runner Escobar comes sliding head first.

Note the ball in the picture-

coming toward the catcher showing up in the space 

between the mitt and the runner.

A quick challenge to the call of "safe" at home was overruled.

Twins Win! 5-4. A great evening.

(Note: Posting of Trumpets at Twins at another time.)

Now- for an Update

A month ago I posted about how people were reacting to a picture of a football player kissing with his partner. At the time I talked about how we can go to many professional sporting events where they have that inevitable "Kiss Cam" picking people out of the stands, placing them in the center of a big heart on the Jumbotron and then cheering as they kiss.

I wondered at the time how we can explain THAT to our children and, in essence, what the difference is between that and what we saw on TV when Michael Sam kissed his same-sex partner?

My answer then was just say that two people are in love.

Well, we were at a Twins game the other evening and right there, on that big screen, in the center of the heart (not the one above) was a same-sex couple. While I realize that this might not happen (yet) in some ball parks in some cities, but it did happen in Minneapolis on that evening.

What a refreshing sight!

From a year Ago

This evening I will once again join 130 or more other trumpet players in centerfield at Target Field to play the National Anthem. It was quite a blast last year. Just to get ready- here's the video I made of last year's Trumpet at Twins gig.

BTW: This is a week+ of music.

• Today at Target Field
• Saturday with the Community Band
• Sunday with the Big Band
• Tuesday with the Concert Band
• Next Friday with the Community Band in the parade
• Next Sunday at the Drum Corps show here in town.
• Friday July 4 with the Concert Band

Fun with music

A Great Weekend

Spent a four-day weekend in the Twin Cities, doing some fun things. But before we left I had my first gig of the summer with the Rochester Salvation Army, celebrating Donut Day. I stayed calm- and watched a lot of donuts being enjoyed.

Friday evening went to see the movie, Chef. Don't miss it. It is fun and engaging with excellent cinematography of food. It also has a heart-warming story. Nothing radical or revolutionary. Just a very well-done story that makes you feel good.


While at the Guthrie Theater on Saturday we got a good look at the mighty Mississippi. It was tearing across St. Anthony Falls and under the stone arch bridge like there was no tomorrow.

 

Sunday was a baseball day. Too bad the Twins lost, but it was still fun being there in the spring sun. Lots of jumping around, though.

Monday we first went to Como Conservatory. As usual the flowers were magnificent. The second picture below is a Bonsai bougainvillea in bloom. The white wall behind it and the light makes it look like a ceramic model. No, it was as real and as stunning (if not more) than the picture shows.

Finally, a stop at the Mall of America where the GRAMMY Museum of LA has a traveling exhibition of The Beatles. I had to try the guitar with skiffle great Lonnie Donegan and sit at Ringo's drums. Hey, compared to the still living Beatles, I'm still young.

Out at the Park

Mr. Twins- Joe Mauer- in the on-deck circle

Made it to our first ball game last weekend. A beauty of a day after a week of rain. Twins played the Orioles- and won, breaking a losing streak.

Picked a few pictures from the game that I simply call:

Getting a jump on the ball.

I can't say that "work" follows me, but it is neat to see this in the 7th inning as we support health and fitness at the ballgame.

Next game- next week. Going to be a good summer
of baseball at Target Field.

By the way, did I tell you we have tickets for this
little mid-July shindig at Target Field?

It HAS to be Spring. It Just Has To Be!

After nine to ten inches of snow on Friday, things have warmed up. Good thing, too. Today is the Twins home opener.

At the end of the 2011 baseball season I posted a video of the season's pre-game video along with the 7th inning memorial to Harmon Killebrew.

So, with nostalgia and hope for the season, here it is again!

A Tale of Two Hats

I have two baseball-type hats that I like to wear. In recent weeks I have discovered that which one I wear can have a significant impact on those around me.

I have been in "neutral" territory- i.e. neither Minnesota nor Wisconsin. Alabama has no professional baseball team of their own and I don't think their football teams (Alabama and Auburn) play in the NFL. So the team logo should make very little difference.  What I have discovered is that people respond differently, in general, depending on which one I wear.



Actually, it is probably more correct to say they respond when I wear one and only a select few respond when I wear the other.

Therefore I have started calling them my extrovert or introvert hats.

If I am willing to talk to people I wear the Packer hat. There is a mystique about the Packers that I truly believe has made them the real America's team. People start talking about the days of Starr or Hornung. They wonder if the Pack will be back this year, etc.

If I want to remain quiet and introverted all I need is the Twins hat. Only other Minnesotans will say anything then, and usually some snide remarks about our favorite Twinkies. (Sometimes even a dig at the Vikings is added.) In general, though, Minnesota Nice prevails and we end up talking about other things- usually the weather in Minnesota- if we talk about anything.

I know this won't work at home. Either hat will bring a possible discussion, but in Sweet Home Alabama, it's a different ballgame.

And I am not buying an Alabama or Auburn hat. Way too dangerous.

Now THIS is a Good Sign

Pitchers and Catchers

report

today!

Let's Get On With Spring Now

Well, that's over for another year. As a true Green and Gold Packer fan, it wasn't as good a game as might have been otherwise hoped, but as Super Bowls go, it was, well, a Super Bowl. If you are a Seahawk fan.

Bronco fans? Not so much. MVP Peyton Manning and his Broncos were just plain out-matched, out-played and out and out embarrassed. When the TV team ignores the game for most of the 4th quarter you know  it wasn't worth watching.

So for next year, a head start: Go Pack. Go!

Oh yes, the commercials? Eh, so-so. Some fun, some weird, nothing much outstanding there, either, in my not so humble opinion. Only Coca-Cola hit it out of the park with it's America ad and Chevy came in close 2nd with its cancer awareness ad.

With all that hype etc. behind us, it's time to move on.

It's time to get ready.

Only 13 days until pitchers and catchers report. No, I'm not trying to rush the season. Well, maybe I am after the past two months of winter. But one has to get ready for the 162 games from April through the end of September, including an All-Star Game in Minneapolis this year.

So the football is history. Rants and records and controversy and lots of fun. But let's now get on with spring. The world moves on.

Farewell to "Mo", The Sandman

The "other" # 42.

Mariano Rivera

A Champion of Champions

Metrodome, Minneapolis

10/11/2009

Thanks for the Memories

I know this isn't such a big deal in the great scheme of things, what with chemical weapons and the threat of hostilities on our part in Syria. Wildfires in Yosemite continue in the news. Who know what will show up next week. But it is these little things that keep us from going crazy when the world around us isn't as we would like it. Baseball- and soon football- will at least give us a moment's pause for rest and relaxation.

Sports fans often get attached to our own stars. Here in Minnesota we have known our share of them who we then lose to trades when the time comes. This weekend we begin September and Justin Morneau is gone. He is now with Pittsburgh.

Two weeks ago I was there for the game against the White Sox and snapped these last pictures of Justin in a Twins uniform in the bottom of the ninth.

After many years as a Twin, we wish him well in his new home in Pittsburgh. May he get that World Series ring!

Out at the "Old" Ballpark

Well, Target Field isn't old. But that's where I'm heading today for another game. It hasn't been a great year for the Twins (again.) It looks like we're back to that perennial state of "rebuilding." Consistency hasn't been a word to use this year. But at least we aren't in the basement.

So why go to the game when odds are against winning, except like today when we're playing one of the teams worse than us?

Because it's

• summertime
• baseball
• outdoors
• a great place to spend an afternoon with my daughter!

If I did nothing else as a father (and I hope I did!) raising a baseball fan is a great gift to pass on. Then, on top of is, to get the opportunity to go to several games a year with her- that's even better. Sitting up there on the top deck of Target Field, both of us snapping long-distance-zoom pictures with our Nikon cameras, talking about baseball, weather, Green Bay Packers (had to get them in here, too), work, retirement possibilities (for me) and generally anything that comes up.

It doesn't get much better than that on a beautiful August afternoon in Minnesota!

A Wow! Day

There were 100+ trumpets in the outfield.

No, that's not the start of a joke. It was the scene at Target Field for this afternoon's game.

It was a dream and an awe-filled moment.

To stand there with the incredible sound of all those trumpets (in 14 parts!) was heart-pounding and chill-producing.

More to come. I have to process the great "bucket-list" kind of experience!

And to prove I was there:

The white-haired guy in right center.

Annotated Baseball

Game two for the year as the Twins hosted the Seattle Mariners for a Saturday noon game at Target Field. The Mariners should have seemed right at home after all the rain we've been getting. But at game time it was a beauty of a day. The SUN was even out.

So here are some of the pictures with annotations for explanation and thought.

This was an interesting shot. The heavy bats and all the thing-a-ma-jigs that they use in the on-deck circle. Looked like pipes or other instruments of various uses.

But the clouds started to move back by the 4th inning and in the 5th we could feel the shift in the wind. First it changed direction then it got cooler.  Rain. The standard operating principle of weather around here this spring.

A couple of fun shots showed up. The shortstop tripped trying to get the ball and slid forward, over the ball as the batter was safe at second on an error.





But it's those pesky flies- to the outfield- that just seem to drop in for a hit. Nice for the Twins.

As I sat there at one point that wasn't all that exciting I composed these two shots.

They say baseball is played between the lines.

The way they cut the grass seems to prove it.

Then I used Paint Shop Pro to put them together.