Minnesota Twins vs San Diego Padres at St. Cloud State Night

Shortly after the 2023 season started, Laura told me that she got us tickets for the Twins game on May 9th.

So I needed to get the night off work. 

Turns out it was St. Cloud State University Night, which is her alma mater. She graduated from there in the late 1990's, and wanted the free promotional St. Cloud State / Minnesota Twins co-branded hat. Well, I've got zero problem with going to a Twins game.

"And they're supposed to be really good seats!"

Cool, who are we playing?

The San Diego Padres.

Nice, I haven't seen the Padres since...

April 10, 2017.

The San Diego Padres were making one of their many appearances at Coors Field, to play the Rockies. These seats were part of the season ticket package that my former job bought each year. Upper Deck, first couple of rows directly behind home plate. The view was incredible from up here. 

I really miss Rockies games at Coors Field...

This particular game saw the Padres beat Colorado pretty convincingly. However, I got to watch Wil Myers of the Padres, hit for the cycle. The only time I've witnessed a cycle in person. I've also seen a Triple Play and Barry Bonds hit 3 home runs during games I've attended. No-Hitter is the ultimate space remaining on my bingo card. I came soooooooo close in 2018, thanks to current Twins reliever Jorge Lopez, when he was with the Royals. 

It occurred to me when I parked that I've never taken any pictures of the B Ramp, which lies just beyond the center field wall. This ramp has three separate exits, the dump you onto three different roads. 2nd Ave is the preferred exit, but 5th is okay as well. I need to avoid this spiral ramp.

That one sends you out to highway 394. Going in the opposite direction of home.

Do like this picture though.

We're on Level 4 tonight. Parked directly behind the elevators. Even though the game is just minutes from starting, the attendance is likely going to be low tonight. It's a Tuesday night, and the weather has been grey and rainy all day. 

So we rode the elevator down to the Target Plaza Level, walked out the doors next to the statue of Twins legend...

Kirby Puckett. 

Made to commemorate his walk-off game winning home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. I like the statue, but I've always thought it needed some sort of base underneath. Nothing drastic, just something that elevates it above the ground a little. 

The statue brings to life, the iconic photo of Puckett running between second and third. Pumping his fist and yelling because his home run means there will be a Game 7, tomorrow night. Which would ultimately be won by Minnesota, almost single handedly by Jack Morris. Still one of the greatest pitching performances I've ever seen. 

I'm pretty sure that photo has appeared on cards before. But looking through all the Puckett cards I have scanned, only this 2001 Star Tribune / Rainbow Foods team set card had that photo. 

Been meaning to write about the 2001 Star Tribune / Rainbow Foods 1991 World Champions Tenth Anniversary team set one of these days. But I get too tired after writing out the name of it...

A Target Plaza light, starring Sonny Gray.

(Who has pitched exceptionally this year, despite that 4 inning start against the Dodgers.)

And I still don't like the Twins 2023 re-branding. The logos and uniforms look cheap, and were rushed through the design process. Somehow managing to go through both too many and too few focus groups. How can this be Twins territory, when it's represented by the Marlins M?

Time to get inside the stadium.

The game is about to start, and Security is going to need me to walk through the metal detector a minimum of 13 times. 

I've already made it to three Twins games this season. Tonight against the Padres, the second game of the season, against the Astros, and another game with the Chicago Cubs, a few days after this one. With the new balanced schedule, it's fun to look through and pick out teams I'd like to see in person. 

The Twins will finish the 2023 season with a three game series in Denver, against the Rockies, at Coors Field. Unfortunately my schedule likely wont allow for a roadtrip. 

We could probably make a roadtrip to maybe... St. Cloud?

I'd kind of like to drive up there again one of these days...

Like I did on May 18, 2019, for a Card Show at the Fan Zone! Besides a bunch of cool new old Twins, Rockies and Expos cards, I had an awesome burrito at Bravo Burrito and drove around town photographing different abandoned buildings, holding varying degrees of personal history. Including a Perkins AND a Burger King! After getting home by 4pm, I wrote a story that I ended up really liking, about that day.

But tonight had St. Cloud in a completely different form.

Logos on the scoreboard!

And some apparent schmoozing between the Twins mascot, T.C. Bear, and the St. Cloud State Huskie...

Those condos behind left field are really growing. 

If you surround the stadium with buildings that tall, it will feel incredibly claustrophobic.

Before going to our seats, I had to go back outside the stadium to pick up our St. Cloud State Marlins hats. Then I had to go BACK through security another 7 times, because the damn metal detector kept going off.

You know, I get the need for security, but common sense needs to enter the picture as well. What do you think I did when I walked over to the St. Cloud State Marlins tent and back to the gate, in your sight the entire time? I wasn't out there long enough to load up a bunch of guns with Fentanyl laced shells.

Bet you wouldn't treat Ha-Seong Kim like this!

Our seats were in section 17 (Dugout Box) on the main level. The St. Cloud State Marlins tent was kind of behind us, by the Northstar Line station. Since these were wheelchair seats, in order for us to reach that section, an usher led us back outside the stadium and around to a side entrance. (With MORE multiple walk-throughs of another metal detector.) 

Looking at that seating chart, there's a whole lot of different price points going on there. 30 years ago, the 55,000 seat HHH Metrodome only had FOUR price points. The highest of which being $13. Which would be the price anywhere in the lower bowl, from front row, behind home plate, or last row, behind either foul pole. It wasn't fair, but it was easy to remember. 

With all the walking through areas of Target Field that I'd never seen before, I forgot to pick up a bag of Mini-Donuts.

I love that supa-sugary hot fried dough...

So good...

The usher took us to an elevator that dropped us below the main concourse.

I've definitely never seen this place before.

To our right was the Event Staff Clubhouse, behind the guy in the late 1980’s vintage San Diego Padres jersey.

Sure don’t see many of those around.

Directly in front of us was the Magic Moments Wall of Fame. From what I could tell, was a way for the Twins to recognize team employees who did something special. By placing their photos on a wall that not very many people will ever see.

To our left was a hallway that led to a different hallway, underneath the lower seating bowl. Our usher explained that he would come back and get us after the game, but if we needed to leave earlier, to contact one of the other team employees that were strategically placed along the route to our seats.

At one point, Laura asked him what she should do if she wanted to buy some food, or use the restroom. Would we need to go all the way back through the hallways and up to the main concourse? 

No, he explained. “You’ll have your own restrooms, bar and concession stand just down the hall from your seats.” He showed the the Target Field 3rd Base Lounge along the way, adorned with murals of past Twins third basemen. Well that’s pretty cool.

The game had already started once we got to our seats, with the top of the first just underway. 

Tonight’s starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres was former St. Louis Cardinal, Michael Wacha.

2014 Donruss - Michael Wacha

Later, I reminded Laura about how his name used to make her laugh when he was talked about on MLB Network, back in our Denver days. She hadn’t noticed who was pitching for San Diego until after the game.

Just a month into the 2023, the Twins starting rotation was starting to show some weaknesses. Days before, we lost Tyler Mahle for the year when he caught Tommy John Surgery. So much for trading three very good prospects to Cincinnati for what was possibly damaged goods. That point can be argued, and it was the right move to make last Summer, but it still stings.

A few days before we lost Mahle, number 5 starter Kenta Maeda (recovering from his own Tommy John Surgery) couldn’t pitch. Our starting five was supposed to be a strength for the 2023 Twins, but this threw a somewhat expected wrench into the process. Our top three (Sonny Gray, Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan) were very solid, but now we had to call the St. Paul Saints for reinforcements.

2022 Topps Heritage - Bailey Ober

Ober stepped right into the spot vacated by Maeda, and has pitched excellent over his handful of starts. Last year, injuries and our lack of depth absolutely destroyed this team. I believe the Twins did a great job of addressing those roster needs, and this is one of the best all around Twins teams I’ve seen us field in years.

2022 Bowman - Louie Varland - Auto

Tonight’s Twins starter was Louie Varland. Coming into the 2023 season, Varland would have ranked as our seventh starter on the depth chart. Varland took the rotation spot held by Mahle, and has also pitched very well for Minnesota. So as long as we don’t lose any more of our starting rotation for an extended period of time, we should still be good shape this year.

Before the bullpens got into the game and made kind of a mess of things, the first 6 innings was a nice pitchers dual between Varland and Wacha. And you know how I feel about those!

After we got home, I watched the replay on Bally Sports North (while I still can). I’ve decided that  Louie Varland looks kind of like a young Brock Lesnar. I tried to find a picture that demonstrated that, but nothing really matched up. Then I went and did something else.

These are really interesting seats!

Between the top and bottom of the first, a gaggle of Padres relief pitchers walked by on their way to the center field bullpen.

Looking over my shoulder, towards the left field corner. An angry looking Padres fan is glaring at me.

Padres left fielder, Juan Soto, after throwing a ball back into the infield. Soto is a young megastar the Padres sent 4 of their 5 top prospects to the Washington Nationals to acquire, last July. Soto helped lead the Nationals to their first (and only) World Championship, in 2019. But were already deep in a rebuild. Trading Soto would bring back a nice haul of prospects to try and bring them back there. 

2022 Boman's Best - CJ Abrams

Shortstop Abrams was San Diego’s number one prospect, and was immediately installed at short for Washington, even though he was only 21 years old. Not an instant superstar, Abrams has been perfectly acceptable with the Nationals, and should only get better as he grows into the role. 

2022 Bowman Platinum Emerald Ice - MacKenzie Gore

Left-handed starting pitcher Gore is just a step behind Abrams as a top prospect. After shaking both command and injury issues after being drafted out of high school in 2017, he’s well on his way to being an anchor for the Nationals starting rotation.

Both MacKenzie and Abrams are regulars with the 2023 Washington Nationals. Needing to sweeten the deal, the Padres also sent over a couple of toolsy outfield prospects. And salary relief (Luke Voit), but that's an afterthought in a transaction like this.

2022 Bowman Chrome Draft Refractor - Robert Hassell

Hassell is coming on fast, and could push for a roster spot with the Nationals, by the end of this year.

2022 Bowman Platinum Precious Elements - James Wood

Wood isn't far behind Hassell.

2022 Stadium Club Chrome Trophy Hunters - Juan Soto

Very stiff price to pay, but the Padres have decided that money will no longer be an obstacle to winning a World Series. San Diego is indeed trophy hunting, and they’ve built a hell of a team so far. Problem being, it hasn’t yet come together for them. 

There goes Juan Soto, running into the third base Padres dugout.

This sign was in front of Laura's seat:

Looks like it's seen better days, and must be original to Target Field's 2010 opening.

2023 Topps Big League - Joey Gallo

Our free agent left fielder, in his badly Photoshopped new Twins uniform (covering up an LA Dodgers one) has been a frequent reason to beware of objects leaving the playing field. Over the course of the season, Gallo's not going to post numbers that are overly pretty. But if he's the Gallo of the Texas Rangers, and not the Yankees/Dodgers version of Gallo, he will be plenty valuable to Minnesota. Even with a sub .200 batting average.

Yeah... I like these seats...

And I love having my own private concession stand and restrooms! (Sort of...) 

So a quick walk back down the hallway...

Open the 3rd Base Lounge door...

Walk past the murals of Josh Donaldson and Miguel Sano...

Those are some curious choices. Donaldson only played here for 2 seasons, and Sano is kind of known as one of the most disappointing players in team history. Maybe they're just focusing on the more recent players to suit up at the hot corner?

Laura didn't want anything to eat yet, but she wanted a Diet Mountain Dew.

Those are only $12 each, but they come with a free refill!

I'll take two!

It was also $1 Hot Dog night. 

They weren't worth $1...

2022 Topps Inception Auto Relic - Alex Kirilloff

With the overall lameness of the new Twins uniforms, you wont get great patches with colors and stitching like this on next year's "Player-Worn Memorabilia" cards. And I'll be less likely to drop decent money on cards like this.

Tonight's game was only the third of the season for Kirilloff, after starting the season of the injured list, and a slightly extended rehab stint with the St. Paul Saints. He started hot, and has jumpstarted an offense that really hasn't clicked on all levels. 

2022 Stadium Club Chrome was one of my favorite sets of 2023 (since it came out in March of 2023...), but it sold out at the LCS quickly. I only got 2 boxes before they were gone. Much to my annoyance, both boxes had the "Guaranteed Autograph" card of Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Roansey Contreras. He's not the worst pitcher on the planet. Too many walks, but he's only 23. I'm fine with owning one of his autographs, but I was kind of irritated to get a second in the only other box I bought.

No offense, Roansey.

2022 Stadium Club Chrome Red Refractor - Max Kepler

But the second box had this sweet Max Kepler Red Refractor, serial numbered 3/5!

Pulling a very rare parallel from your team, always makes a box better. This lessened the blow from the second Roansey. 

In the game tonight, Kepler made a really athletic catch. It was a different catch than the one on this card. This one being the leaping catch on the wall. His catch in tonight's game was more of a dive to his left. And now he's on the injured list. Again.

That too...

Middle of the 4th inning, Laura almost was eaten by a bear. She was completely unaware of the bear near her hair, standing behind her chair. Bear provided a scare over there, then they both joined D.A.R.E. 

No they didn't. While Laura fiddled with her camera, trying to get a selfie. I took 7 pictures of her with the bear during that time. Then the bear skipped away, down the rest of the section and back, fraternizing with the screaming children.

I quickly snapped this shot as the bear walked by. 

A quarter of a second sooner, and with the correct focus, this could have been a great picture. 

But wait a minute... ENHANCE!

Okay, this picture rules. 

San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning. Byron Buxton was leading off the bottom of the 4th, and he took a walk. Buxton has improved his plate discipline this season, and is taking more free passes. He would come around to score on a Jose Miranda double, tying the game, later in the inning.

2022 Bowman Heritage - Byron Buxton

1994 Bowman is one of my all time favorite sets. 2022 Bowman Heritage was made to honor that set, but it wasn't made available to Hobby or Retail outlets. You had to buy it off Topps website, which I didn't do, because it's not something I'd do. So while I'd heard about it, up to now, this is the only card I own from it. I wish Bowman Heritage had better distribution, since it's playing tribute to sets near and dear to my collecting heart. Swap it with Bowman Platinum. 

I was just lucky the LCS stocked 2020 Bowman Heritage, since that paid tribute to 1992 Bowman.

Buxton has been shockingly healthy to start the 2023 season. We're close to going two consecutive months of him playing every day, without missing any significant time to injury. Of course he hasn't spent even one inning on defense, but he hasn't been hurt! This has been fairly controversial in Minnesota. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli says the team plans on playing Buxton in center field this season. It hasn't happened yet, and there's no sign of Buxton playing as anything other than a Designated Hitter. 

But he is playing at least.

Minnesota was planning for this over the offseason. Losing Buxton for an extended period of time, hurts us every year. Causing us to give far too many innings to a rushed Gilberto Celestino. This year, we traded some expiring nothing to the Kansas City Royals, for a former Gold Glove center fielder. 

2015 Donruss Stat Line - Michael Taylor

Not nearly as good of a hitter as Buxton, Taylor isn't that far behind him in center. I loved this trade as soon as it was rumored. We needed someone to back up Buxton that isn't over his head. He doesn't need to hit that much, but so far he's exceeded my expectations.

2021 Topps Triple Threads Jersey - Trent Grisham

Patrolling center field for the Padres, was Trent Grisham. Nothing notable there, but it gave me a reason to finally show off this card that I got in a break at the LCS, a year or so back. A serial number of 6/18 is something you notice.

After the Twins tied it and the 4th inning ended, it was time for the Wacky Mascot Race! 

Representing the Twins was the Bear that startled Laura, just a few minutes earlier. He's not running tonight, but will hold the finish line ribbon for the runners to cross. 

Babe the Blue Ox and Louie the Loon.

I wish this would have focused on Babe, although Louie won the race. 

Spot the Target Dog, finished 3rd in tonight's race. But we don't need Target to get any more recognition in this part of town. They have a big enough presence without getting a cheap win here.

Louie the Loon and Wanda the Walleye. Wanda is a really strange looking costume.

They all are. I get that they represent Minnesota things, but wow, these are some mismatched mascots...

Apparently, Petey the Sexual Harassment Panda wasn't invited...

And that makes him a saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Panda.

Anyways...

Panoramic from my seat.

So glad it was a cloudy, grey night. Rain was always a possibility, but it never developed after several attempts. It was a really nice night to watch the game.

Now tied in the bottom of the 4th, Twins free agent signee, Christian Vazquez was up.

2021 Topps - Christian Vazquez

Signed over the offseason to solidify our catching tandem, to a decent 3 year, $30 million contract. Vazquez has been about what I expected. His offense hasn't been huge, but his defense ha been what we needed, probably the most over the offseason. I say this, but Vazquez committed two costly errors, directly leading to the loss. But I chalk that up to just a bad night. After all, when your starting staff has been this productive, their catcher deserves a lot of credit. 

Vazquez was the 2nd ranked catcher available in free agency, last offseason. Just as with re-signing Carlos Correa, with a GIANT asterisk, it was nice to see the Twins actually playing at the high levels of free agency. This offseason showed a real shift in philosophy. Not coincidentally, it was the first under the new Twins Executive Chair, after the retirement of Jim Pohlad. Jim took over for his father, Carl Pohlad, in 2009. Ownership of the team was still officially a part of the Pohlad family, with the Executive Chair having the final say in day to day operations.

Joe Pohlad, and his ridiculously tiny, fashionable sport coat, took control of the Twins in November 2022. Popular sentiment at the time was the newest Pohlad wouldn't make a drastic shift in spending, but his approach would be different than his predecessors. Which is just a given with the the age difference. Joe isn't Steve Cohen under a Pohlad mask, but at 41 years old, he would likely have fresher ideas than the 60-80 year-olds that have been calling the shots, since before the team moved to Minnesota, in 1961. 

I'd said for years this team was run in an outdated fashion. Which stood out like a sore thumb as soon as Target Field opened, and finally showed slow signs of improvement after Derek Falvey was hired as Team President in October, 2016. He hasn't been perfect, but a tremendous improvement over an organization that had refused to adapt it's thinking. Since it worked in 1987 and 1991... 

Nearly a different game completely, when compared to 2015. 

And 2022.

I'm sure Joe signed off on the $12 Pepsi products, to help on the contracts, huh!

I hate that argument. Are the concession prices really that out of line in comparison to those of movie theaters and sit down restaurants? I know I'm going to pay a lot to buy food at the game. But I don't care, because it's part of the experience. 

So yeah... $12 Pepsi. I just wont buy another one at that price for a while, and it'll all average out.

Anything so I don't have to hear a team official hard selling "The Twins Way".

Unless it's these terrible, lazy, cheap looking uniforms. 

I hate you, Nike.

Laura was trying to get a good shot of Dick Bremer and Justin Morneau, calling the game up in the broadcast booth. Jealous of her phone's camera. Mine is over 5 years old now. I need a new one with a much better camera. My zoom looks like this.

Yeah, I need a new phone. 

I couldn't even get a good picture of an odd Weird Al Yankovic appearance at Target Field.

When everybody knows you see Weird Al Yankovic at the Minnesota State Fair.

According to UCare, that fan looks like him. Maybe a little...

Before he cut his hair, Twins pitcher Joe Ryan's hair reminded me of Weird Al Yankovic.

2022 Topps Gold Label Auto - Joe Ryan

Whatever parallel this is, (Black?) it's numbered 14/75. A few days before I found this at the LCS, I saw someone on Reddit was selling a different parallel of this card, numbered out of 199. I wasn't going to buy it, but I decided I wanted it. This copy from the LCS, was actually $5 cheaper than what the guy wanted for the one of 199. And the black looks a lot nicer that the color of that guy's parallel.

Ryan has seemingly taken another step forward in 2023, after a similar progression in 2022. With the way he's going, health being the key, he could become one of the top pitchers in baseball, over the next few years. 

Things haven't been as rosey for our top shortstop, and big time payroll addition. Carlos Correa heard several boo's from the fans at tonight's game. When asked about it after the game, he commented that his numbers aren't where they should be, and "I'd boo me too." So at least he's aware of public perception. Especially after how his particular offseason free agency negotiations went. 

2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Chrome Mini Green Refractor - Carlos Correa

I bought a couple of boxes of 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Chrome this spring. While the normal 2022 Allen & Ginter didn't excite me all that much. However, something about the Chrome set clicked with me. Especially the Refractors. And the even cuter mini-Refractors. And the extra special cuter mini-Refractor colored parallels.

Like this green one, serial numbered 46/99.

Correa has been hitting better since his May 9th Target Field booing. He started slow last season, but by the end of the season, his numbers were back around where they always were.

As part of the 2023 Minnesota Twins re-branding, the "Minnie and Paul" sign above center field was changed from reading just "Twins", to the flashbackier "Win Twins". More in line with their traditional logo, dating back to the 1960's. 

I like to take pictures of people taking pictures.

This guy in the MN hat knows what I'm sayin!

There were a lot of Tony Gwynn jerseys at the park tonight. Likely more than any other Padres player I saw. There were quite a few Manny Machado backers, but those numbers paled in comparison to all of Tony Gwynn's fans. 

2008 Upper Deck Sweet Spot - Tony Gwynn

Sigh...

2022 Stadium Club Auto - Griffin Jax

Jax's autograph hasn't faded into nothing yet. Although his ability to miss bats kind of has. Jax has entered a rough patch in May of 2023. And took the loss for Minnesota tonight (you remember, it was the night I wrote that sentence!). Overall, he's been a solid bullpen piece for Minnesota, the last year or so. 

Time for a run to the men’s room for unfueling, then a little nutrition break!

The Third Base Lounge had a nice restroom, complete with new Twins logos on the tile. 

Alcohol sales had ended for the evening by this point.

Which is fine, it wasn't why I was here. 

No lines at the concession stand! Which is good because I need something a little better than the bland, waxy, dollar dogs. As I'd mentioned, the Third Base Lounge had murals of past Twins. They seemed to only go back as far the Metrodome era. They stuffed Gary Gaetti behind the ketchup and mustard pumps, napkins and condiment bins. John Castino was hidden behind Pepsi and Lays potato chips.

John Castino was the 1979 American League co-Rookie of the Year (the award was shared with Alfredo Griffin of the Toronto Blue Jays). Castino's career was ruined by a debilitating back injury, and he was out of the game by 1984.

Topps didn't include John Castino in their 1979 set, so his first Major League cards didn't show up until the 1980 set. However, in April 2014, the Cards That Never Were blog created a 1979 Topps John Castino rookie card. I don't know where they found this great action shot from Met Stadium, but I've never seen it before. 

Looking out the Third Base Lounge exit. The stairs in front take you up to the main seating level.

A left turn takes you out to our seats.

The Target Field Cheeseburger was surprisingly delicious. I had not eaten a burger at a Twins game in at least 30 years, when I last had a Metrodome Burger. And it was awful. But I saw someone carry one of these from the Lounge earlier, and it looked pretty good. This Cheeseburger Basket was priced at $15.49, which seems expensive. But you're not going to get the equivalent to this at pretty much any restaurant for a whole lot cheaper. And like I said, it was surprisingly good. 

I'd order one again.

2022 Stadium Club Chrome Trophy Hunters - Fernando Tatis Jr.

After missing more than one full season due to injury and PED suspension, young San Diego Padres superstar, Fernando Tatis Jr., was back playing, and doing well. No longer a shortstop, thanks to Xander Bogaerts, now a right fielder. In the 7th inning, Tatis reached first on a fielder's choice play. He runs to steal second, Twins catcher Christian Vazquez throws the ball into center field. Tatis sprints to third base and is safe on a play that wasn't close.

Hey! There's me!

Eating French Fries, live on Bally Sports Network... Great timing for a close play at third base. Burger basket wrapper obscuring any hint of my Montreal Expos jersey. I blew my chance at visibly supporting my long dead team, during a live Twins broadcast.

Very disappointing...

Bottom of the 8th inning, San Diego is now up 3-1, after Jax gave up 2 runs in the top of the 7th.  

We made attempts at a comeback in the 7th, but the 8th inning was when we kind of rolled over and played dead.

Miranda hit an RBI Double in the 4th inning to tie the game. That was sandwiched between two weak groundouts. His 8th inning plate appearance ended in a strikeout.

2022 Topps Silver Pack - Jose Miranda

After a very promising rookie season in 2022, Jose Miranda was all but handed the starting third base job for 2023. But he just didn’t hit, and wasn’t that good at third base. Not like he did in 2022. After the game, Miranda was optioned back to AAA St. Paul. In order to keep his job at the Major League level, Miranda has to hit. He’s not good enough in the field to carry a hitter who is underperforming to this level.

With Royce Lewis making his way back from his second torn ACL, he’s been spending a good percentage of his rehab assignment playing third base. He’s hitting well, and stealing bases, so Miranda may not get another shot at the third base job any time soon. Miranda won’t likely get much playing time at first base either, with Alex Kirilloff playing first.

2021 Panini Chronicles Black Auto - Jake Cronenworth

Which is what San Diego did with Jake Cronenworth. He couldn’t find a defensive home either, but the Padres were able to find room for Cronenworth at first. But the Padres didn’t have a first base prospect that was as good as Alex Kirilloff. 

Minnesota made it out of the 8th inning without scoring, so all we can hope for now is holding San Diego at 3 runs, during the top of the 9th. Hopefully we'll get a chance in the bottom half.

2021 Prizm Silver Wave Auto - Jorge Alcala

Jorge Alcala was tasked with keeping the Padres at bay, buuuuut... After a groundout from leadoff hitter Trent Grisham, there was a single to Austin Nola.  Alcala struck out Tatis, but walked Jake Cronenworth.

Bringing up Manny Machado, with 2 on and 2 out.

2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Chrome Refractor - Manny Machado

And this guy hits a three run homer. Making the score 6-1, San Diego.

Damat.

Laura was taking a picture of something, though I'm not sure what. I thought she was taking video of Machado running the bases, but he jogged right by us, and can be seen scoring in this picture. She never moved her phone to follow.

2021 Topps Archives - Slam Diego

No one hit a Grand Slam (which was kind of the Padres gimmick a while back), but the Padres definitely made a ninth inning statement. 

Juan Soto capped it off with his 4th base hit of the game. A single in the 2nd, double and a run scored in the 4th, walk in the 6th and another double in the 8th. 

2022 Bowman's Best Refractor - Juan Soto

Given a final plate appearance in the 9th, Soto lined a single to right center to complete his 4 for 4 night. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third base to end the inning, and bring the Twins up for a final shot, now down 6-1.

2022 Topps Heritage - Josh Hader

For most of the top of the 9th, Padres closer Josh Hader (with oranges growing in his hair) was warming up for the bottom of the inning. However with his team scoring an additional 3 runs, this was no longer a save opportunity. No need to burn his arm with a lead like this.

San Diego instead called on Tim Hill to lob under-handed sliders and sinkers from the left side. We did manage a walk and a double in our half of the 9th, but it didn't score a run. Carlos Correa grounded out weakly to end the game, with two runners on base.

More boos were heard.

The totals on the board are correct.

We simply left too many runners left on base, and three errors definitely hurt. It’s not often when you lose a game that you actually deserved to lose that game. Well, this was one of them.

And I was disappointed that San Diego didn't let former Twin, Nelson Cruz, get an at-bat in tonight’s game. 

Had to settle for seeing him shake hands after the fact, on the replay later that night.

The weather was a lot different the next night, we should have gone then. Although the experience may have been completely different. Our new Ace, Pablo Lopez, would be pitching. 

I’d like to be at one of his starts, I’ve really enjoyed watching him on TV this year. The Twins even placed him on the front cover of this month’s Twins Magazine. Shortly after the season started, news broke that Lopez had signed a 4 year, $72 million contract extension, keeping Lopez in those horrendous new Twins uniforms through the 2027 season. 

With much of our rotation either injured or up for free agency after this season, it’s nice to have a star pitcher we can depend on for a few more years.

He also received a 25% share of the 2023 Twins Media Guide front cover.

Obviously, the Twins have big plans for him!

I do love Media Guides. So much quality content jammed into 250 pages!

2023 Topps Big League - Luis Arraez

Luis Arraez had to be traded to the Miami Marlins in order to acquire Lopez. And it sucked losing him off the Twins. You have to give something to get something, and Arraez was a steep price to pay for the pitching staff leader that we sorely needed. Nearly 2 months into the 2023 season, Arraez is hitting in the high .370’s. Which would definitely look good on the Twins (or any other team), but having Pablo Lopez leading our rotation is a good look as well.

Sometimes both teams win a trade, and that’s definitely where we are now.

And where we are now is getting ready to leave our Target Field seating area, and another tour through the unseen underbelly of Target Field.

Look! It’s the emergency field rig, in the security golf cart parking! 

The next door on your left would be the San Diego Padres clubhouse.

We should’ve gone to say hi to Nelson Cruz.

There’s the Housekeepingmobiles! 

And here’s Bryan Acuna!

2022 Bowman Inception - Bryan Acuna

Ronald Jr.’s younger brother was signed by the Twins in January of 2022, and posted some impressive numbers in the rookie league. He’s many years away from making the Major Leagues, and hopefully Topps can get a new photograph of him. Topps has gotten a great deal of milage from the standing on a field, in a Photoshopped Twins uniform, with his “Skull Crushing Teal” hair.

This card was a recent singles purchase. I just had to show it off.

The Twins usher walking us through the loading dock and storage hallways of Target Field. Besides quietly laughing at a few things I said, Mr. Twins Usher didn’t have much personality to offer along our walk. Perhaps he needs some “Skull Crushing Teal” hair?

Just outside the elevator doors, looking out the way we just came in.

2022 Stadium Club Chrome Beam Team Wave Refractor - Hunter Greene

Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Hunter Greene, wasn’t waiting for us in the elevator. But this awesome Beam Team Wave Refractor was inside the first (of two) box of 2022 Stadium Club Chrome, that I opened this spring.

Those 2022 Stadium Club Chrome cards are beautiful.

For whatever elevator-related reason, we were led to the left field upper deck stands to get to another elevator down to street level. Not sure why that is the case, but I have zero problem with seeing more of Target Field than I had before. Even better with the stadium being at least 95% empty. 

That is soooooooooooo tacky...

Looks cool, but I prefer the other places I’ve sat compared to this.

Underside of the upper deck, left field edition.

This was the last picture I took on our way out of the stadium. So I have no documentation for how we got from the upper deck to street level. Use your imagination. 

So this pretty much ends this story. 

Kind of a let down!

I’ve gotten back to card sorting, and have all of my 2020-2022 boxed together for starting the third round of narrowing down.

While it’s a 2019 card, during the sorting, I found this card that I didn’t remember I owned...

2019 Panini Contenders Draft Picks School Colors - Bobby Witt Jr.

Serial numbered 1/15!

On the way home from work the other night, I had to stop by the WalMarts for a few necessities. There was a nice sized pyramid of 2023 Bowman Blasters, in the card aisle. I already bought my one hobby box this year (overpriced, but I enjoyed it for what it was, which is all you can ask...), and while I wouldn't buy another at anywhere near those prices, retail blasters don't seem to be all that bad of a deal. 72 cards for $35, isn't too out of line these days.

It's not 1990 anymore...

I didn't pull anything that has a bounty attached, I managed to pull 3 Twins cards that I would have (and may still) been willing to spend a few bucks on, if I found them in person. That Brooks Lee Scouts Top 100 card looks so much better than this quick digital picture. I was surprised that Eduard Julien didn't have a Bowman card before 2023. He's already spent time with the Twins, and made an impact during his brief run up here. The Byron Buxton Green Whatever parallel is numbered 136/399. Very happy to pull that. (What's with the bubbly font for the gold foil serial numbering? Looks tacky!)

Even though the Twins uniform is Photoshopped on Julien's card, it's a faithful enough job for comparison to the Buxton. Which jersey looks more professional? Great job Nike. You continue to find new and more irritating ways to make me hate your company.

Got so distracted there we missed everyone leaving the game.

There was literally no one left on the plaza, and it hadn't been that long since the game ended.

Goodnight Target Field. 

I'm sure I'll be back again fairly soon. 

Probably wont have as cool of seats...

******

Just in case you were concerned, interested or curious, I also picked up a Mega Box of 2023 Panini USA Baseball. Meaning that my semi-regular feature story of the MLB First Year Player Draft is being planned for July 2023. 

The Twins pick 5th overall, did I get that players card? 

Well, stay tuned!