Chicago White Sox 6 at Minnesota Twins 7 - July 18, 2010

The final game of the series was a Sunday afternoon affair. Minnesota had taken two out of the first three and the White Sox were looking to gain a split. But before I get to the game, a bit more on Target Field.

Eating at the Ballpark

There are so many options here that even three days is not enough to sample all the fare. As you walk around the stadium, you will be inundated with different food choices. Most of these are locally owned eateries who have been brought into the ballpark to provide fans with samples of their fare. The recommended option is Kramarczuk Sausages, which are made fresh daily and available from two carts on the concourse. Kramarczuk is a small company that has seen their business grow significantly since they started providing their Polish Sausages and Bratwursts at Target Field.

Other famous food that I didn't get a chance to try include Murray's Steak Sandwich, Schweigert Hot Dogs, the Vincent Burger, and J.D. Hoyt's Pork Chop On-a-Stick. Again, all of these are local restaurants that are selling their signature item at the ballpark.

If you want to sit down for your meal, try the Town Ball Tavern on the same level as the Legend's Club, just above right field. All of these menu items are available with wait service. But you have to get there early, it gets full by about 30 minutes after the ballpark opens. It's also a bit more expensive with tax and tip included, but it's more relaxing than eating at your seat. The Loon Cafe Chili which comes in a sourdough bread bowl was quite nice.

Overall Impression

Target Field is a great venue that does a lot to commemorate the history of the franchise. There are so many positives here: the location, accessibility by the LRT, the understated decor, the food choices, the scoreboards, the various ways that all-time greats are honoured, and friendly staff that let you walk around. There are also plenty of standing areas so you can buy a cheap ticket and then stand close to the action if you prefer.

The only problem I have with the place is that much of the history is not available to the average fan. For example, the two World Series trophies are only on display in the Champion's Club, where tickets start at $175. These trophies should be shown where all fans can see them, as they are in Arizona and Anaheim.

The size of the concourses does make it crowded, particularly when the game is over, but this is because of the limited area they had to build on. The stadium holds just over 40,000 including standing room. Every game is sold out this season, but tickets were easily available from scalpers outside the stadium, so practice your negotiating skills.

I highly recommend Target Field to any ballpark roadtripper. With the Twins challenging for the Central crown this year, it is definitely a good time to add this one to the list.

Roadtripper Convention

Sunday's game saw a convention of sports roadtrippers. Gary and the King from Royalty Tours, along with their friends Brian and Lloyd came in from New York. Andrew and Peter of the Ultimate Sports Road Trip were visiting from Buffalo, and Sharpy was down from Ottawa. The eight of us sat together and shared war stories about this or that ballpark. It was a lot of fun to see everybody in one place, but as they all had flights after the game, we didn't get a chance to relax. Thanks again to Twins VP of Marketing Patrick Klinger for arranging tickets for us, great seats for a great game.

The Game

The polar opposite of Saturday's speedy affair, this one saw lots of hits - both teams had 16 of them. The starters were Freddy Garcia for Chicago and Nick Blackburn for Minnesota. The Twins opened the scoring in the 2nd on a Delmon Young 2-run homer. Both teams plated singletons in the third, and the White Sox closed within one in the 5th when Juan Pierre grounded out to drive in Alexei Ramirez.

In the sixth, Carlos Quentin doubled home two runs to end Blackburn's night. Ramon Castro and Gordon Beckham followed with RBI singles off Brian Duensing to give the Chisox a 6-3 lead. Garcia was replaced after 6 innings himself and relievers Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz each pitched a scoreless frame to bring it to the ninth.

Omar Vizquel fouls one off

Bobby Jenks came in and walked Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer. Jason Kubel singled to score one run and then Michael Cuddyer singled to make it 6-5. Jenks was taken out and Sergio Santos was brought in to quell the uprising, but a walk to Jason Repko loaded the bases.

Young came to the plate and drove a pitch to right center. I thought it would be caught, but Alex Rios took a strange path to the ball and it fell in to tie the game. Rios then hurled the ball towards the infield, where it sailed over everybody. Cuddyer raced for home and scored the winning run! Twins Win!

A four-run outburst in the last inning gave Minnesota their third victory in a row and narrowed Chicago's lead to 1.5 games over both Detroit and the Twins. It was a fantastic finish to the weekend and certainly bodes well for a very exciting Central Division pennant race over the next couple of months.

Twingo

One interesting promotion was a version of baseball bingo that I've seen in the minor leagues but never in the majors. Called Twingo, you pick up a card at Guest Services. Like bingo, each card has 24 squares surrounding a freebie in the middle. Each square lists a baseball play and if it happens in the game, you circle it on your card. Five in a row in any direction gets you Twingo and a prize pack. Most plays are common, such as "BB" or "4-3", but others are quite rare such as "3-4" or "9-5". It is these rare ones you need to get Twingo. Only 25 winners are allowed per game, and I started well, getting a 1-6-3 double play in the first and a couple of fly outs. I had 4 in a row and just needed an unassisted putout by the third baseman, but it was not to be. In the middle of the 4th they announced that all Twingo prizes had been awarded. Oh well. It's still a fun way to add a bit of spice to the game, and a good way to learn how to score too. Try it if you can.

Next Up

I'm in Kansas City now after a doubleheader today that started in Clinton, IA. All the games and driving have left me a bit behind on posts, but check back tomorrow when I should be caught up.

Best,

Sean

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Take Two on Target Field - Chicago White Sox 2 at Minnesota Twins 3 - July 17, 2010

As mentioned in the previous post, I've separated the Target Field info into separate posts as there is so much to discuss.

Gates

The Twins began play in 1961 when the team moved from Washington, which makes this their 50th season. During that time, there have been five iconic players that are honoured throughout Target Field. Harmon Killebrew (3), Tony Oliva (6), Rod Carew (29), Kirby Puckett (34), and Kent Hrbek (14) each have a gate numbered in their honour. It took me a while to figure this out because I couldn't find gate 28 next to gate 29. But it's a brilliant touch that I have not seen before.

Target Plaza

As you approach Target Field from 7th street, you will happen upon Target Plaza. This is where the Twins honour their greats in more traditional ways. There are statues of Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, and Rod Carew (all below).

There are nine topiaries designed as baseball bats that light up whenever one inning is completed. Currently the vines are only partway up these structures (shown below), but by season's end, they should be near the top. There is also a Twins Tradition Wall which recognizes every Twins player since 1961.

There is a large Golden Glove sculpture that includes a tribute to every Gold Glove winner in the team's history.

When you enter via Gate 34, you will see the original flagpole from Metropolitan Stadium. During the national anthem before each game, a veteran or member of the armed forces raises the flag on this flagpole; another new tradition that will soon be replicated elsewhere. In the picture below, the flagpole is the darker pole to the right.

There is also a large piece of art called the Wind Veil which covers one of the parking garages. It consists of small metallic panels that move with the wind creating different patterns at all times. A very nice way to cover up what is normally an eyesore. In the overview shot of the plaza at the top of the section, the Wind Veil is the large silver rectangle that dominates the scene.

The Tour

Thanks to my friends Andrew and Peter from the Ultimate Sports Road Trip, we were able to get a personal tour of Target Field from Patrick Klinger, the VP of Marketing for the Twins. Mr. Klinger spent nearly an hour of his time taking us through all the areas of the stadium. There's no doubt an immense amount of thought went into the design of this structure and it was fascinating to hear about it from one of the people who was part of the process.

We went to all the special seating areas where you would normally need tickets. Most impressive was the Champions Club, where the two World Series trophies are on display. We also visited the Metropolitan Club (below) which has memorabilia from the Met, where the Twins played until they moved to the Metrodome in 1982. These places have food galore and it looked delicious. I resisted the temptation to try to sneak a plate or two but there's no doubt that those members are enjoying their stadium experience to the fullest.

Some other facts that were mentioned: the ballpark has the second-smallest footprint in the majors (behind only AT&T Park), the wood back seats on the club level are the first wooden seats to be installed at a major league park since WWII, and the limestone that covers the exterior of the building was mined entirely in Minnesota.

The Twins wanted people to know that Target Field is a Minnesota ballpark. On that level they have succeeded wonderfully; you'll never forget where you are as you walk around. A big thank-you to Patrick Klinger for taking the time to show us everything in this incredible place.

In the next post, I'll talk about the food options and my overall impressions.

The Game

It looked like we would be delayed as a storm moved through the city about two hours before first pitch, but things cleared up and the game started on time. Mark Buehrle was on the hill for the White Sox against Carl Pavano. Both pitchers have been on their game and we were hoping for a quick one as the rains were threatening to return.

Chicago notched a run in the first when Paul Konerko singled home Alex Rios who had doubled. But Konerko was thrown out trying to advance and the inning was suddenly over. The Twins replied with 3 in the second. Michael Cuddyer doubled, Delmon Young singled, Jason Kubel (playing right field below in the throwback uniform) tripled and Danny Valencia doubled. It was rapid-fire hitting and it looked like Buehrle was in serious trouble but he settled down, retiring the next 3 in a row. In fact, he faced just two over the minimum the rest of the way.

But Pavano was equal to the task tonight. After a Konerko solo shot in the fourth made it 3-2, he faced only the minimum plus 1 over the final five frames. I think batters were told to make it quick as the storm was approaching and so they were swinging at everything.

Mark Kotsay at the plate

In the ninth, Pavano gave up a leadoff double to Omar Vizquel but he got Rios, Konerko, and Carlos Quentin in order to preserve the win and send the crowd home happy.

The game time was a delightful 1:52 and both pitchers threw complete games, a rarity these days. It is one of the best games I have seen and certainly the highlight of the trip.

Once the last pitch was thrown, we immediately headed out of the stadium as the rain was beginning to fall. We stopped in Hubert's, a bar next to the ballpark, and watched as the storm lashed the city. Apparently there was a tornado and hail in the northern suburbs, but all we saw was torrential rain and high winds. The storm only lasted a couple of hours, enough time to relax and share stories with Andrew and Peter. With the tour, the short game tucked in between rainstorms, and a few beers to close things out, it was a perfect day.

Best,

Sean

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First Visit To Target Field - Chicago White Sox 4 at Minnesota Twins 7 - July 16, 2010

After using the Metrodome for 28 years, the Minnesota Twins finally joined the new stadium brigade by opening Target Field this season. As you know, whenever a new MLB park opens, I have to visit. I would have liked to see Toronto play, but they were only here at the end of the season, so I decided a mid-July series against Central Division rivals Chicago was a good time to revisit Minneapolis.

Target Field

Located just west of downtown, Target Field is easily accessible by the LRT system that runs from the airport all the way to the ballpark. Like all new stadiums, there's quite a bit to talk about here so I'm going to write 3 separate posts for each game this weekend and discuss a different part of the stadium each time.

Club Level

I found a single club-level seat online and was thus granted access. These seats are only sold as season tickets and require a separate members fee, so I was happy to have a chance to see the club, despite the relatively high price of the ticket.

The club area is spacious and filled with several concession stands that are not available to the general public. But what makes this area worth visiting are three displays dedicated to the greatest Twins ever: Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, and Kirby Puckett. Each has a restaurant section named after him and several cases of memorabilia. The most interesting display was Killebrew's Hall of Fame induction speech (below).

There's plenty of seating around and as the interior is air conditioned, it makes a great place to relax before the game. I noticed that one restaurant had a "one-pass" buffet for $19.95 which I thought was a bit unreasonable. Not the price, but limiting customers to just one shot to belly up. Buffets are about eating a lot over several trips, not trying to maximize plate coverage for a single attempt. Anyway, I didn't partake, choosing instead a calzone at Frankie V's. Nothing special there.

There's a few other notable areas in the club. Some signature calls of famous Twins' plays are on one wall, and several photos of long-retired players are scattered about. There's also a model of the stadium which looks pretty cool.

I've been told that this area is open to the public after the game but I haven't confirmed this yet. But it's worth visiting if you have a chance, just to see how the other half lives.

Seating Areas and Concourses

The first thing that surprised me was just how crowded the stadium became a full hour before game time. Most people are still making their first visit so it was a slow walk around the first level concourse as people oohed and aawed. Given the limited space available for building the stadium, the tightness of the concourse when full is understandable. The upper deck is a bit roomier and open and provides nice views from all areas.

Paul and Minnie shake hands across the Mississippi - this lights up during various situations during the game

There are 23 seating areas listed on the Seating and Pricing Chart for Target Field, and 3 different game types. Most seats are reasonably priced when compared to other new parks, and it seemed like the upper deck isn't that far away. I can't recommend a seating area at this point; I did try a few different spots and found all of them to provide good sightlines. There's also a lot of standing areas, so my advice would be to find the cheapest ticket and stand behind first base for some of the game. The ushers were not checking tickets later in the contest and allowed me to move down to sit next to friends, no questions asked. The picture below is the grandstand in right field.

The field itself is huge. Home runs here will be at a premium as it is 411 feet to the farthest spot in the ballpark. It's 339 down left field and 328 down right, so those might be better areas for dingers, but there wasn't anything even close in last night's game.

My first impression of Target Field is that it is a nice place to watch a game, but doesn't have anything new or unique to it. The view from the upper deck along third base (below) is nice and the scoreboard is excellent, but these are not unusual aspects of a new park. I've still got a couple of games to see here, so my opinion may change, but for now, I'd say it's a typical new stadium. That's not to say you shouldn't go visit - if you are in the area make time for a game.

In the next couple of posts, I'll talk about the various food options and Target Plaza, the area outside the park which contains a number of intriguing attractions.

The Game

The division leading Chicago White Sox were in town for a 4-game set that began Thursday night. The Sox won that game 8-7 to extend their winning streak to nine. For a mid-season contest, this one was pretty important for the Twins, who were 4.5 games back. With All-Star Justin Morneau on the DL with a concussion, things were not looking up for Minnesota, but they had Francisco Liriano on the hill facing Gavin Floyd.

Brent Lillibridge singles - this is from my club seat location

The story of this one was errors. Chicago made 4 miscues, 3 of them coming on ill-advised throws, while Minnesota added an error of their plus a wild pitch on a strikeout that allowed Alex Rios to reach (below).

The Twins scored 4 in the fourth (3 unearned) and then 3 more in the 8th (2 unearned) to take a 7-2 lead into the final frame. Jon Rauch came in and promptly gave up 2 runs on 3 walks and 2 singles before being removed with the bases loaded. Jesse Crain was brought in and got Rios to fly out and then struck out Paul Konerko to end the game. With Konerko representing the go-ahead run, it was pretty tense at the end which saved this one from being all-around ugly.

Liriano (above) pitched well to earn the win, going 7.2 innings with 8 strikeouts. J.J. Hardy was the offensive star going 3-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI.

Juan Pierre on first

The very detailed scoreboard

I'm back there today and tomorrow and will have more updates shortly.

Best,

Sean

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