In a lost season, TD "selected" my "contract" and brought up a scrub!  I'm a longtime Game Thread participant, but have never dared to dip my toes in the Introduction waters...UNTIL TODAY!  Please, no applause, please! 

Games against the White Sox have always been among my favorite games to attend.  I enjoy the rivalry.  I enjoy the interaction between the fan bases (when it's good natured).  I enjoy the great games that have been played, particularly late season games with playoff implications.  I enjoy the atmosphere that all of those things bring to the game. 

Which brings me to the topic of today's intro: Game day experiences at the ballpark.  With the pandemic closing arenas and stadium venues across the world, even when sports started to come back, there was always something missing - going to the game.  Now that restrictions have relaxed or disappeared completely, we the fans are able to get back into the ballparks and stadiums to watch games in person.  While the simple act of doing something that used to be normal is sometimes enough, there are small and sometimes subtle things that people always enjoy about being at the ballpark.  For me, it's the sounds.  TV can amplify whatever it wants, it's just not the same.  Sure, there are things they catch on TV that I'll never hear, but its still not like being there.  I enjoy the purity of the sound of the crack of a bat.  The pop of the catcher's mitt.  The umpire calling a strike.  The anticipation of the fans on a seeing eye single or a dying quail in a key spot.  The obliteration of a baseball that sails into the outfield seats.  Kids in the front few rows calling for a player to toss them a ball.  That's all part of the experience for me, and I've missed that considerably.  It's great to have it back!

Whether it be Target Field or any other major league ballpark, or even a minor league or local town ball ballfield, what are some of the things that you've missed about attending a game?  Have you discovered something that you never noticed before?  Or, have you put a hot tub and TV in the backyard like @Brock Beauchamp and decided that that's more to your liking?  I'd be interested to hear about what brings you to the ballpark besides the game itself.

 

Today's Lineups:

Visiting Twins

RHP Pineda

1: Kepler RF ( L )

2: Polanco 2B ( S )

3: Cruz DH ( R )

4: Donaldson 3B ( R )

5: Larnach LF ( L )

6: Sano 1B ( R )

7: Gordon CF ( L )

8: Jeffers C ( R )

9: Simmons SS ( R )

 

Hosting White Sox

RHP Cease

1: Anderson SS ( R )

2: Engel RF ( R )

3: Abreu 1B ( R )

4: Moncada 3B ( S )  

5: Vaughn LF ( R )

6: Garcia 2B ( S )

7: Burger DH ( R )

8: Collins C ( L )

9: Hamilton CF ( S ) 

No hot tub here, only a pool.

Wish I had a hot tub. 

11 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

No hot tub here, only a pool.

Wish I had a hot tub. 

I stand corrected!

Nice debut, rook! Nothing better than the crack of a wood bat. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to go to a game and not get a hot dog. 

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Nice debut, rook! Nothing better than the crack of a wood bat. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to go to a game and not get a hot dog. 

Thank you, good sir!

I've switched over to brats, but that's a loop hole in the law I'm told!

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

No hot tub here, only a pool.

Wish I had a hot tub. 

next summer's goal? or maybe this winter?

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

No hot tub here, only a pool.

Wish I had a hot tub. 

 

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

next summer's goal? or maybe this winter?

As a Minnesotan, he should be well aware that you can never have enough bodies of water!

18 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

next summer's goal? or maybe this winter?

We've thought about it quite a bit but hot tubs are finicky and one would really cramp our pool deck space. I don't see it happening, unfortunately.

Haven't been to a game in years but used to go for the sounds; the crack of the bat, the smack of a fastball hitting the catcher's mitt, Wally the Beer Man...

Had a hot tub on the deck for a dozen years, but hot tubs are more oriented toward Viking games than Twins games. Hard to sit in a hot tube when it's 90 degrees but a real joy on a Sunday afternoon in November and December with the game on. But we used it most often to give Old Man Winter the finger; -10 degrees, crisp, clear night, a million stars in the sky, a floating table holding a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers if no one rocked the boat. Had to give it up though when the Little Woman developed breathing difficulties and the chemical fumes started to get to her.

Miss it, but don't miss screwing around trying to keep the water properly treated. Or finding some guy to drive 20 miles out in the country to replace a circuit board.

Owning a hot tub is sort of like being a Twins fan; sometimes it's all bubbly, other times it don't bubble at all.

Standard Batting

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
2021	22	SDP	NL	78	332	289	73	84	18	0	28	64	22	2	39	91	.291	.370	.644	1.014	179	186	3	0	0	4	5	*6/HD	AS
3 Yrs				221	961	847	184	252	42	8	67	162	49	11	96	262	.298	.373	.603	.976	163	511	13	10	0	8	7
162 Game Avg.				162	704	621	135	185	31	6	49	119	36	8	70	192	.298	.373	.603	.976	163	375	10	7	0	6	5

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/21/2021.

3 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Standard Batting

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
3 Yrs				221	961	847	184	252	42	8	67	162	49	11	96	262	.298	.373	.603	.976	163	511	13	10	0	8	7
162 Game Avg.				162	704	621	135	185	31	6	49	119	36	8	70	192	.298	.373	.603	.976	163	375	10	7	0	6	5
2021	22	SDP	NL	78	332	289	73	84	18	0	28	64	22	2	39	91	.291	.370	.644	1.014	179	186	3	0	0	4	5	*6/HD	AS

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/21/2021.

He's done alright for himself so far, I think.

5 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Haven't been to a game in years but used to go for the sounds; the crack of the bat, the smack of a fastball hitting the catcher's mitt, Wally the Beer Man...

Had a hot tub on the deck for a dozen years, but hot tubs are more oriented toward Viking games than Twins games. Hard to sit in a hot tube when it's 90 degrees but a real joy on a Sunday afternoon in November and December with the game on. But we used it most often to give Old Man Winter the finger; -10 degrees, crisp, clear night, a million stars in the sky, a floating table holding a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers if no one rocked the boat. Had to give it up though when the Little Woman developed breathing difficulties and the chemical fumes started to get to her.

Miss it, but don't miss screwing around trying to keep the water properly treated. Or finding some guy to drive 20 miles out in the country to replace a circuit board.

Owning a hot tub is sort of like being a Twins fan; sometimes it's all bubbly, other times it don't bubble at all.

I don't usually get much from the beer guys, but it is kinda weird not having them walk up and down the aisle yet.  

10 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Standard Batting

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
3 Yrs				221	961	847	184	252	42	8	67	162	49	11	96	262	.298	.373	.603	.976	163	511	13	10	0	8	7
162 Game Avg.				162	704	621	135	185	31	6	49	119	36	8	70	192	.298	.373	.603	.976	163	375	10	7	0	6	5
2021	22	SDP	NL	78	332	289	73	84	18	0	28	64	22	2	39	91	.291	.370	.644	1.014	179	186	3	0	0	4	5	*6/HD	AS

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/21/2021.

Is this a reminder that if the White Sox hadn't foolishly traded for James Shields (who promptly became literally replacement level), their lineup would also feature Tatis?

11 minutes ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

Is this a reminder that if the White Sox hadn't foolishly traded for James Shields (who promptly became literally replacement level), their lineup would also feature Tatis?

Yep. The guy, if he stays healthy this season, will end 2021 with 14-15 career rWAR as a 22 year old. It’s bonkers. 

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

Yep. The guy, if he stays healthy this season, will end 2021 with 14-15 rWAR as a 22 year old. It’s bonkers. 

Oh, is that all?!? 

The dreaded RISP...

Be nice to score this inning, although if the Twins don’t have at least a 5 run lead by the 8th inning they’re probably gonna lose.

3 minutes ago, LVTwinsfan said:

Be nice to score this inning, although if the Twins don’t have at least a 5 run lead by the 8th inning they’re probably gonna lose.

Unsurprisingly, no dice.

Nice clutch hitting.  I guess if we don't get a homerun, we have to rely on a passed ball or wild pitch to score.

Kirilloff won't play again, this season

 

Looks like Yogi Bear, playing first.

5 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Nice clutch hitting.  I guess if we don't get a homerun, we have to rely on a passed ball or wild pitch to score.

Don't forget the random balk.

All are a staple of this offense.

Hopefully the Yankees were watching that.

"Sustained Excellence" requires excellent evaluation and some luck.

There goes the no hitter. ?

Pending wild pitch now, you just know it.

Billy Hamilton, I don’t even know what to say when you let a hitter like that own you every game 

So many stolen bases...

Some of our pitchers are just excruciating to watch

Simmons just decided to not bother throwing to first