Article: That's The Ticket: Battle For Fourth Place

[John Bonnes]

Five words: weekend baseball at Target Field. I've been waiting six months for those words and they're finally here. Now to scientifically determine which game to attend:

 

Best Pitching Matchup

Sometimes things just line up right - and then there is this series. Everything is off by a day, and it's the schedule makers fault. For some reason, the Indian's last series was just two games, so the rotations don't match up.For instance, if the baseball gods were smiling on us, we would get to see our ace, Phil Hughes, face the Indians ace (and 2015 Cy Young winner) Corey Kluber. But Kluber pitches Friday versus Mike Pelfrey and Hughes doesn't pitch until Saturday.

 

The day after each of them take the mound, both teams will be starting 25-year-old prospects(1) whose questionable control(2) led to them being last minute demotions in spring training(3) but who have been recalled quickly due to other pitcher's injuries(4). Wouldn't that have been fun? But the Twins version, Trevor May, pitches on Sunday while his karmic Twin, Danny Salazar, pitches on Saturday.

 

Winner: Saturday, I suppose, since it means I don't need to watch Mike Pelfrey on Friday or TJ House on Sunday. But mostly I want to just pout.

 

Which Game Will Have The Best Weather?

There is a 100% chance of rain for Sunday, so let's toss that one out. I'll take a Minnesota Summer Night over a Minnesota Summer Afternoon - but it's not summer.

 

Winner: Saturday Afternoon

 

Game With The Highest Percentage Of Hard Core Baseball People

Saturday afternoon's game starts at 1:00 and the Wild playoff game starts at 2:00. I suspect that Hrbeks' and Town Hall Tap are going to be ROCKING.

 

Winner: Tie between Friday and Sunday

 

Game With Best Giveaway

All three days the first 15,000 fans get a Twins magnet schedule. Anyone else need a bigger fridge for all of the magnet schedules they're accumulated over the years, or is that just me? It is. OK then.

 

Winner: 3 way tie.

 

Game With Most Fun Crowd

If you haven't heard, there is a new bar at Target Field: Barrion on the lower level near the left field foul pole where a Twins Pro Shop used to be. (Don't remember that place? That's why it's now a bar.)

 

Anyway, they have a couple of levels of standing room for watching the game, signature "Trinity" margaritas and a happy hour on Fridays if you get there between 4:30 and 5:30.

 

Winner: Friday night

 

Game With The Best Seats

Sunday has the most availability and the best prices across the board, including SIX Champions Club tickets. Love those.

 

Winner: Sunday.

 

Game Most Likely To Feature High Stirrup Socks

In case you missed it, new Twins reliever J.D. Graham wears his stirrups high to help his legally blind mom see him on the field. Now don't you feel bad about booing him at the home opener? Don't be too hard on yourself. You're just a bad person.

 

Winner: Friday. Mike Pelfrey is starting that game, which would seem to suggest we're most likely to see the backend of the bullpen that game.

 

Game Twins Are Most Likely To Win

It's possible the Twins could be favored in two of the three games this weekend. How often can you say that? Hughes vs. Salazar on Saturday seems to be in the Twins favor, especially if Salazar struggles with his command like he did in spring training (but not in his last AAA start).

 

But if the weather holds up, I'll go with Sunday, because TJ House had a truly miserable outing in his last start, giving up six runs in just 1.1 innings vs. Detroit, which was also a Sunday afternoon game. On the other hand, he's left-handed and posted a 3.35 ERA last year.

 

Winner: Me, for being so optimistic.

 

Most Likely To See A Twins Team Not In Last Place

If the Twins win on Friday night, they pass the Indians for fourth place in the AL Central. Doesn't that sound like a round of bad idea Friday night shots just waiting to be downed?

 

Winner: Friday

 

The winner is: Friday night. Also, us, for having this option this early in the spring. We’ll see you at the ballpark.

 

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[blairpaul715]

I see I could get Legend section seats, with access to the Legends Club Lounge , has anyone tried this, I am looking to take my elderly father, and I think he might like this, but is there anything to know before going into the Legends Club, so I or we wont feel out of place??? Thanks

[USAFChief]

I love the Legends Club. Do it, you can't go wrong.

[Rosterman]

Yeah, that old lower level pro shop was almost a walkway, and was often overshadowed by the Fox29 undercover sports anchor desk. It's a good piece of real estate. The Twins probably see a need for more food and beverage sales at a game than any of this other stuff that can be purchased at the much bigger Pro Shop, although this Pro Shop WAS by the exit leading to the light rail. I think they have also discovered that sit down places AND rails to watch the game are extremely popular as the fans do wander Target Field.

 

[Mike Sixel]

I love the juxtaposition of these thoughts:

 

Don't be too hard on yourself. You're just a bad person.

Winner: Friday. Mike Pelfrey is starting that game, which would seem to suggest we're most likely to see the backend of the bullpen that game.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I see I could get Legend section seats, with access to the Legends Club Lounge , has anyone tried this, I am looking to take my elderly father, and I think he might like this, but is there anything to know before going into the Legends Club, so I or we wont feel out of place??? Thanks

I haven't done Legends Club yet, but I took my parents to a game in the Dugout Box seats.  Padded seats just like the Legends Club, a smaller club/lounge, but much closer to field and the players.  Similar ticket prices as the Legends Club too (above the opposing team dugout, 3rd base side, can drop as low as $30-40 if you are patient).  (Just be sure to find a service level elevator so you can skip the long walk up and down the stairs to these seats!)

 

Otherwise, I've heard good things about the Legends Club too.

[James]

Legends club is pretty fun.  All the seats are pretty good.  The legends club itself is pretty spacious and is by far less crowded than the rest of the concourses.