We were in Chicago over the weekend to see the Twin-Cubs play in the friendly confines on Sunday. Even though we are less than a year away from seeing outdoor baseball here in Minneapolis we didn't want to pass up an opportunity to see baseball played how it was meant to be played: In a outdoor, urban ballpark dedicated to the game and not squeezing every last dollar out of fat cat sometime fans.
Most have seen the coverage of the weekend with Twins fans coming out in force for the three-game series. Reading some coverage of the series, Cubs fans were saying that it was one of the biggest visiting team invasions they can remember in a long time. Apparently Wrigley was 1/3 Twins fans on Saturday. Sunday probably didn't have as many Twins supporters but there were definitely a lot of us.
Sunday was one of those great days to watch a game: 75 degrees with some clouds, and a bit of a breeze blowing in. We got down to the ballpark early (someone on the EL saw us and said "Piranhas on the Train!") walked around the ballpark and had a hearty omelet and hash browns at a cool little diner on Clark Street. The scene around the ballpark was electric with people hawking tickets and t-shirts, bars open to the streets, and lots of people watching. Some of the unofficial t-shirt sellers were the best and I had to explain to my 13 year old that Fukudome was a Japanese outfielder for the Cubs and not some sort of pejorative against the Metrodome.
We had awesome seats about 15 rows behind the Twins dugout and had a few foul balls hit in our general direction. We had full view of the game and the ivy-strewn wall and after about an hour we were bathed in sun for the rest of the game. Fans were passionate but were not obnoxious to Twins fans like they would be at Comiskey Park.
The game was close and well played and in the top of the 9th all tied up at two, the Twins had 2 guys on with one out and Mauer and Morneau due up. The Twins fans were really rocking the joint but neither came through. The bottom of the 9th was a Crain-wreck for the Twins and the Cubs prevailed. No problems though, Twins took 2 of three from the Cubs, we had a wonderful time and got to take in one of the ultimate baseball experiences: A game at Wrigley on a glorious summer afternoon.
Very cool, Wrigley was great fun with all the Twins fans this weekend.
I saw that image over at Bleed Cubbie Blue and scoured the big version for unusual Twins jerseys, the best I could do was the guy on the bottom left wearing a #11 Jacque Jones jersey with the 'J' in Jones gone missing. Not sure if that's a Twins or Cubs jersey, I thought Twins road greys but I could be wrong.
You threw me with the new look. I like it though.
Nice new look to the blog, Free!
That game at Wrigley certainly must have given you a taste for what Target Field will be iike next year.
My kids were pretty fired up when I announced that Snyder came through with tickets for all of us next year!
I see what you've done here. Me likey.
Big Mak, I swapped out the photo with a personal one. Interesting that in the new pic someone has a Tolbert jersey. I am hoping it is a sister/girlfriend/cousin, otherwise why plunk down the $$$ for a Matt Tolbert jersey?
Is Tolbert more random than Jacque Jones?
I say yes, but the more I think about it, it seems pretty close between those two.
nice new, clean look free. i still feel as though wrigley had lost its charm for me. gut it and replace with mall park, rip out the ivy and replace with mega advertising, and take down the manual scoreboard and replace with jumbo tron/fireworks. now, that's baseball.
Oh Timmy B, you're a sad pitiful man. I feel sorry for you :o)
Thanks again for the hospitality, glad we were able to spend time with you and Carolyn. Glad you got to see Wrigley one last time before the Cubs make your stadium dreams come true.
Baseball ain't just a sport! Baseball is passion! I am right or am i right ?