Twins 11, Indians 0
1. That big white marshmallowly thing is the Metrodome. Not quite as pretty as Miller Park but just as recognizable, the Metrodome is easily spotted from blocks away. All you need to do is look for the round, white puffy thing and you’ll know you’re close.
2. Irony. As I was walking towards that marshmallow in the sky, heading into the entrance with the large sign that said “Minnesota Twins World Series Champions 1987 & 1991” I got a text message from my brother. It said - as I was staring at this sign – “ESPN Classic is playing Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.” For those not familiar with the 1991 World Series, that would have been the one where the Braves and Twins squared off in what some consider one of the best ever, game 7 highlighting this fact. Of course the irony of this would be that I am a huge Braves fan and I am walking into the Metrodome where the banner does say Twins 1991 World Series Champions. My brother later texted me “Well they didn’t revise history, so the Braves lost.” I wish they would have.
3. There’s no team store. As if the large white exterior isn’t a big enough reminder that this thing was built before I was born, the lack of modern amenities you’ve grown accustomed to like a team store do. Don’t get me wrong, there are booths set up around the concourse that have various t-shirts, pins, pens, baseballs and hats, but there isn’t a large central store to kill a few minutes in between batting practice and the start of the game.
4. They do, however, have Famous Dave’s. Famous Dave’s is a barbeque chain (for those not in the know) that actually serves up pretty decent chow. So if you head over to the Metrodome to catch a game, you may want to skip the hot dog or brat and go straight for the pulled pork sandwich. Although, I did enjoy the turkey brat with my imported (read: smuggled in) spicy deli mustard.
5. Vampire seats. The Metrodome has a bunch of distinct characteristics when there is baseball being played none more famous than the vampire seats in the outfield. The seats, which are used when the Vikings are in town, are flipped upside down in sections, hence the moniker vampire seats. The Dome also has fantastic garbage bag outfield walls in center and a tent like ceiling which bear mentioning as well.
6. Only 22 games left until farmer-tanned vendors. The Twins will be saying goodbye to the Metrodome at the end of the season and from the billboards around the Stadium, that is a welcomed thing. Apparently people just can’t wait for mustard flavored lip balm, ch-ch-chhhhhh, skyline sunsets, real grass and starry nights.
7. Of course the move to an outdoor facility has puzzled some fans. Take the woman seated next to me who asked her husband what happens when it rains. He told her they have a rain delay to which she responded I don’t get it. I guess some people aren’t ready for change.
8. It is hard to keep your eye on the ball. In a pre-taped video, players warned fans to keep their eye on the ball as to avoid getting beaned ala Hiroki Kuroda. But it’s hard to keep your eye on the ball when it blends so perfectly with the ceiling.
9. They really like Carlos Gomez. There were a ton of Carlos Gomez jerseys and t-shirts in attendance. Now this made me wonder if this was a Daniel Murphy thing (see: Citi Field) where the Twins ordered too many Gomez items and are forcing them on fans, or if the fans have truly embraced this one time Met.
10. It is really loud. Even more so than when you attend a concert, basketball or hockey game at an arena the simple noise stemming from a single clap made it sound like a JV cheerleading squad was seated behind you. It got to the point where I wanted to find the woman who was doing the in game announcing and rip the microphone away from her. There’s no need to shout, that’s what the microphone is for.
11. If ever there was a place where crowd control was needed this would be it. When you attend a Broadway play and you get there late, an usher will hold you at the door until which time said usher allows you to find your seat without disrupting the actors or theater goers. This concept should be added to the Metrodome. Because of the angle of seats, when someone stands up in front of you or walks up and down the aisle, it’s nearly impossible to see homeplate which is why fans should be limited to using the aisle in between innings and in emergencies only. Same goes for the vendors.
12. The top of the fifth is a great time to leave during a blow out game. There were a ton of kids in the crowd which is great (when they are well behaved). But since the game was basically wrapped up by the fifth a lot of fans decided to head for the exits. This would have been fine, if not for the fact that the pile up for the exit caused fans to stand in the aisle’s thus blocking the view of homeplate.
13. Sometimes arguing works…and sometimes it gets you thrown out. In the sixth inning, Justin Morneau was at bat and appeared to swing through a pitch causing him to strike out. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire ran onto the field and firmly requested umpire Bob Davidson change his mind, claiming Morneau had actually fouled the ball. A quick look at the ball proved Gardenhire’s point and Morneau returned to the plate. A livid Eric Wedge (Indians manager) ran out of the visitor’s dugout and started arguing that Morneau was out. At first it seemed the two sides would work things out, but then Wedge got loud and in Davidson’s face and wouldn’t you know it, Wedge was tossed from the game. Morneau, for the record, grounded into a fielder’s choice which advanced Joe Mauer to second.
14. Jason Kubel can hit it really far. Like all the way into the upper deck.
15. Section 134 is a great place to catch a foul ball. While I was seated in section 134, the closest a ball came was about 10 seats away. But it wasn’t for lack of opportunity; it felt like at least 10 foul balls found their way into section 134 and a few more into section 133.
Check back tomorrow for Things I Learned from Miller Park (Game 2)
1. That big white marshmallowly thing is the Metrodome. Not quite as pretty as Miller Park but just as recognizable, the Metrodome is easily spotted from blocks away. All you need to do is look for the round, white puffy thing and you’ll know you’re close.
2. Irony. As I was walking towards that marshmallow in the sky, heading into the entrance with the large sign that said “Minnesota Twins World Series Champions 1987 & 1991” I got a text message from my brother. It said - as I was staring at this sign – “ESPN Classic is playing Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.” For those not familiar with the 1991 World Series, that would have been the one where the Braves and Twins squared off in what some consider one of the best ever, game 7 highlighting this fact. Of course the irony of this would be that I am a huge Braves fan and I am walking into the Metrodome where the banner does say Twins 1991 World Series Champions. My brother later texted me “Well they didn’t revise history, so the Braves lost.” I wish they would have.
3. There’s no team store. As if the large white exterior isn’t a big enough reminder that this thing was built before I was born, the lack of modern amenities you’ve grown accustomed to like a team store do. Don’t get me wrong, there are booths set up around the concourse that have various t-shirts, pins, pens, baseballs and hats, but there isn’t a large central store to kill a few minutes in between batting practice and the start of the game.
4. They do, however, have Famous Dave’s. Famous Dave’s is a barbeque chain (for those not in the know) that actually serves up pretty decent chow. So if you head over to the Metrodome to catch a game, you may want to skip the hot dog or brat and go straight for the pulled pork sandwich. Although, I did enjoy the turkey brat with my imported (read: smuggled in) spicy deli mustard.
5. Vampire seats. The Metrodome has a bunch of distinct characteristics when there is baseball being played none more famous than the vampire seats in the outfield. The seats, which are used when the Vikings are in town, are flipped upside down in sections, hence the moniker vampire seats. The Dome also has fantastic garbage bag outfield walls in center and a tent like ceiling which bear mentioning as well.
6. Only 22 games left until farmer-tanned vendors. The Twins will be saying goodbye to the Metrodome at the end of the season and from the billboards around the Stadium, that is a welcomed thing. Apparently people just can’t wait for mustard flavored lip balm, ch-ch-chhhhhh, skyline sunsets, real grass and starry nights.
7. Of course the move to an outdoor facility has puzzled some fans. Take the woman seated next to me who asked her husband what happens when it rains. He told her they have a rain delay to which she responded I don’t get it. I guess some people aren’t ready for change.
8. It is hard to keep your eye on the ball. In a pre-taped video, players warned fans to keep their eye on the ball as to avoid getting beaned ala Hiroki Kuroda. But it’s hard to keep your eye on the ball when it blends so perfectly with the ceiling.
9. They really like Carlos Gomez. There were a ton of Carlos Gomez jerseys and t-shirts in attendance. Now this made me wonder if this was a Daniel Murphy thing (see: Citi Field) where the Twins ordered too many Gomez items and are forcing them on fans, or if the fans have truly embraced this one time Met.
10. It is really loud. Even more so than when you attend a concert, basketball or hockey game at an arena the simple noise stemming from a single clap made it sound like a JV cheerleading squad was seated behind you. It got to the point where I wanted to find the woman who was doing the in game announcing and rip the microphone away from her. There’s no need to shout, that’s what the microphone is for.
11. If ever there was a place where crowd control was needed this would be it. When you attend a Broadway play and you get there late, an usher will hold you at the door until which time said usher allows you to find your seat without disrupting the actors or theater goers. This concept should be added to the Metrodome. Because of the angle of seats, when someone stands up in front of you or walks up and down the aisle, it’s nearly impossible to see homeplate which is why fans should be limited to using the aisle in between innings and in emergencies only. Same goes for the vendors.
12. The top of the fifth is a great time to leave during a blow out game. There were a ton of kids in the crowd which is great (when they are well behaved). But since the game was basically wrapped up by the fifth a lot of fans decided to head for the exits. This would have been fine, if not for the fact that the pile up for the exit caused fans to stand in the aisle’s thus blocking the view of homeplate.
13. Sometimes arguing works…and sometimes it gets you thrown out. In the sixth inning, Justin Morneau was at bat and appeared to swing through a pitch causing him to strike out. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire ran onto the field and firmly requested umpire Bob Davidson change his mind, claiming Morneau had actually fouled the ball. A quick look at the ball proved Gardenhire’s point and Morneau returned to the plate. A livid Eric Wedge (Indians manager) ran out of the visitor’s dugout and started arguing that Morneau was out. At first it seemed the two sides would work things out, but then Wedge got loud and in Davidson’s face and wouldn’t you know it, Wedge was tossed from the game. Morneau, for the record, grounded into a fielder’s choice which advanced Joe Mauer to second.
14. Jason Kubel can hit it really far. Like all the way into the upper deck.
15. Section 134 is a great place to catch a foul ball. While I was seated in section 134, the closest a ball came was about 10 seats away. But it wasn’t for lack of opportunity; it felt like at least 10 foul balls found their way into section 134 and a few more into section 133.
Check back tomorrow for Things I Learned from Miller Park (Game 2)
(Photos: PIMC)
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