Today was the first ever game at Target Field. The Gophers got dominated by Louisiana Tech, 9-1. I was there, and for a expensive $2 a seat, I got to sit in my first ever (and last ever) padded seats behind home plate.

I really like the new stadium. Where else in the world can you go to a baseball game and shiver while ordering walleye?

But in anycase, the second largest attendance in a college game is all over. It was fun, but what about the residents of the new park? The Twins did win 8-4 over the Phillies.

I can tell you that Cliff Ewing had the first homer at the Field (Tech) and TJ Oaks had the first pitch. That pitch will forever be ingrained in my mind. It was a great moment to be a Minnesotan, and to be a baseball fan.

After the game, we helped our selves to a tour of the first 2 decks, which included the Legends Club, the Metropolitan Club, and regular Suites. We also took a look around all the art and commerative plaques strung in and outside the stadium. The scoreboard, (which was partly made in the town that I currently live in) is huge, but had a LOT of problems today. It actually isnt all that thick, I estimated it to be about 60 ft tall, but only 8-12 inches thick. The sightline of the place is beautiful. Everywhere you walk on the lower deck you can see the field. Not so much the upper deck, because of all the rooms. There is a lot of standing room, which was a great addition. There is a deck about 6-9 stories up in the air from the field, that I saw a bunch of people watching the game from. We entered from gate 34 right onto the plaza.

What is interesting though is that a ton of the plaques and things are outside of the plaza. There was a cool little glass piece showing the professional ball parks dating back to the 1880′s with Athletic Park (which I believe is the home of the Millers, which I need to do more reasearch on) then went to Nicollet Park (Millers) to Met Stadium (Millers-Twins) then the Dome, and Target Field. There were plaques commemerating every roster since 1961. I took a look at 2002′s, because that was my first Twins game against the Rangers. Micheal Cuddyer (who turned 31 today) was the only one that still plays on the ML roster.

One thing is for sure, that stadium was built not for baseball, but for Minnesota. That is why the people on the news reports that I am watching, say they love it.

But yet, we want to be nice to our “Ugly-Duckling,” the HHH Metrodome. That is a football stadium, but has more baseball history than anything. I was there a couple weeks ago for the Gopher Baseball Classic, and it was weird looking up to see a MOA flag instead of the usual Canadian flag posted there for the Expos and Jays. It will always be the center of Twins Territory, no matter how many more stadiums we go through, and how much happens at them.

Also what was interesting, was they were capping attendance at 25,000 for today’s game. The actual attendance hit 36,052 (either that or 54, I can’t remember, maybe 56). This tops the Gopher record (considering regular games are about 500, and the Classic was 1,100). This also gains the silver medal in the history books for being the second highest attendance ever at a college game.They even brought in their marching band for today’s game.

In any case, good job Gophers, and good luck Twins

I was sitting down from working on my car to watch some golf, and my NBC station (KARE11) cut from programming and said “Breaking News.” I am sitting here thinking oh great… what did Obama do or who died? To my amazement, they said Joe Mauer reached an agreement with the Twins for 8 years and $184 Million dollars… $184 Million Dollars… Wow. That is the price of greatness. Now he HASN’T signed YET, he will tomorrow. I once told one of my friends about a month ago, if Mauer leaves, I am done being a baseball fan. I have seen Hunter, Santana, Gomez, and many other greats and fan favorites go, but to have the best player in the AL, the best catcher ever, and our hometown hero leave, that would all be too much. He is locked up for 8 years… I also heard there is a no-trade clause but I was bouncing off the walls when I heard that so I may have heard wrong. But one thing is for sure, Joe Mauer ain’t leavin.

I also want to talk about Joe Nathan and the closing spot. It was announced today that he will have Tommy John surgery, but I think that is the best thing for him. I think Jon Rauch will get the closing spot, and Liriano is going to stay a starter. Neshek was a toss in, but I know he won’t get it, leaving Crain, Gurrier, and Rauch. Best of luck to the 4 guys up for consideration. Also get better soon Nathan.

Thanks for reading guys. I hope you enjoyed it

Those three words have came to mind alot lately. I watch as another childhood favorite exits the stage. I remember why I even liked Normar. It was a simple game called Backyard Baseball 2002. Once and a while, I still sit and enjoy it. I was always upset when Normar came to the plate, because he would take so long to get into his stance. Ever since he left the Sox, I have only heard his name once or twice. Yesterday, in a half empty classroom after school, I read that Nomar Garciaparra, had left the game. I love the fashion in which he did it. He signed a 1-day contract with the Boston Red Sox, then announced his retirement. Just like Duece McAllister did this year, only he gave up a Super Bowl ring. He should have signed with the Saints for a few more days.

Baseball is here, Strasberg has finally hit the mound, and Nathan has been hurting, literally. My gym teacher is a big Tigers fan, and he was gloating about the fact that without Nathan, the Twins are no-bodies. That gave me a good laugh. We have the best catcher in the game, the best clean, DH in the game, and not to mention many players in there strongly such as Hudson, Hardy, Cuddyer, and Kevin Slowey.

Now I had the chance to go to the Metrodome last weekend for the DQ Gopher Baseball Classic. I witnessed 4 teams go at it. Layola Marrymount defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 2-0. Thomas Keeling pitched and the scouts were on him tightly. He was drafted in the 20th round by the Yankees last year. Then it was the Gophers and Northwestern Wildcats. We won (of course) 8-3, with a stupendious play at the plate to end it all. But it renewed something in me. It was the feeling of good clean baseball. These guys don’t get payed. These guys are out here trying to prove themselves, just trying to get noticed by someone. No, they are not WBC champions, or nor do they hoist the World Series trophy… This is baseball. No endorsements, or money. Baseball. I don’t know how many kids I saw go get foul balls. It was fun. I wish that the Pros would play like this too, but they have money at stake.

Snow still covers the Minnesotan land. Our fields can’t be played on, but especially in this small southern-MN town, baseball is in the air. It is finally here. Nothing do I enjoy better then the great American Pastime.