Still Preheating.

September 1st, 2007.

Driving home from a night class at St. Mary's, I turned on the Twins game. Gordo was hinting at something big happening for the guy on the mound. I listened to the game and drove home in a daze. I parked my car and did my best to walk to my back door without running or skipping. Once inside, I turned on the baseball game and called my wife into the living room.

"I can't say what's going on, but look at the numbers on the scoreboard when Scott Baker gets to the mound," I told her.

It was the ninth inning, and Baker lost the no-no walking John Buck. Then, he got the first out. I sat on the edge of the couch and clapped my hands, but it was over after that. Mike Sweeney singled at an opportunity for immortality had to settle for simply being a great. Everyone in the stadium clapped.

"He's going to be good," I told my wife. "He's going to be really good. Just wait."

It's 2012 now. Why am I still waiting?

I was at that game with Nick Nelson, which I think is the first time we had ever really hung out. We were in the right field bleachers and started drinking Red Bull & vodka in the early inning, which I never do. And as the game went on, we felt we needed to continue, because we didn't want to jinx it. So that might be your answer - more Red Bull & vodka for Nick & I.

Where do I have the drinks delivered, on nights when Baker is starting? I'm a desperate man.