It's tough being a fan, especially one with vertigo. All the ups and downs make me nauseous. But, for better or worse, the Twins are still on top in the AL Central. Okay, so that doesn't say a whole, heckuvalot when their winning percentage puts them 2nd, 3rd or 4th in every other division in baseball. The good news? It's May 15 and we're running a marathon. Standings really mean very little to me at this point in the season, so yeah, doesn't really say a whole heckuvalot when the finish line is still distant. Perspective is everything.

So, let's focus on today. As of this writing, still waiting for lineups (they will be posted when available) and still waiting to see what transactions are being made today, if any.  When your team has 11! players on the IL, wow, players are in flux and each day brings a new announcement. (For a little perspective, we knew that Dobnak and Maeda would be out for most if not all of this season, so, really, it's only 9. Eh, that's still a lot. And then 4 of those 9 are on the 60-day. So, really, we are waiting on and hoping for the remaining 5 to get healthy and rejoin the active roster.)

So, what do we know today, right now, for certain? Yesterday's loss was yesterday, it's over and done, can't take it back, let's move on to today. It's a fresh day where anything can happen. Joe Ryan is pitching. His last outing wasn't so stellar but I'm hoping that he's learned some things and has made some adjustments. Even though Joe has certainly been fun to watch and has been a great story early in the season, he's still just a rookie. He's going to take his lumps from time to time in this process of becoming 'seasoned' so some expectation managing is probably called for. But I'm hoping he's made the adjustments from his last outing and we have the good Joe for today.

And, back to no lineups yet, no transactions yet, what's left? Food and drink. You're heading to a game, you're there, vendors and concessions are everywhere, it's a beautiful day - what to you get? Do you go standard, or do you go 'exotic'? In 'researching' this topic, I found a couple of lists of 'the best' in each stadium, and then a list of 'most popular standards.' I didn't know what to do with all that information, so ... created a poll. (If while at a game, you eat or drink nothing, then you can skip the polls and go right to commenting.) The poll is 'standard fare' so if you have some kind of 'exotica' you like, have tried, do tell! EDIT: I edited the poll so you can actually choose more than one thing, as I said you could.

Next thread I do, maybe I'll make lists of 'the best' in all the stadiums with all the non-standard choices ... from lobstah rolls in Fenway to the Dilly Dog in Texas (think turducken ... a hollowed out large dill pickle with a hot dog in it, then battered and fried like a corn dog) to Oakland, who has limited concessions so food trucks are the answer, but they do manage to have alcohol popsicles that looked interesting.

And I started this thread claiming nausea and then went on to talk about food? Ups and downs.

Okay ... with dog and beer in hand (it's brunch, not breakfast, anything goes!) ... batter up!

LINEUPS:

Guardians

1. Myles Straw (R) CF

2. Steven Kwan (L) RF

3. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B

4. Owen Miller (R) 1B

5. Amed Rosario (R) SS

6. Franmil Reyes (R) DH

7. Andres Gimenez (L) 2B

8. Richie Palacios (L) LF

9. Luke Maile (R) C

Triston McKenzie (R) P

Twins

1. Byron Buxton (R) CF

2. Luis Arraez (L) 1B

3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

4. Max Kepler (L) RF

5. Gary Sanchez (R) DH

6. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

7. Nick Gordon (L) LF

8. Ryan Jeffers (R) C

9. Royce Lewis (R) SS
Joe Ryan (R) P

 

I lived in Seattle for a couple of years and still miss the garlic fries at Safeco. (It's still Safeco to me. Jr and Ichiro never played for other teams)

I realized my poll above had the wrong settings so you could only choose one thing ... it's now set so you can choose multiple items. All if you want ... 

I'm very partial to Tony Os cuban sandwich, but it's hard to beat a good brat at the ballpark.  I'm not a beer drinker, so it's usually pop for me.

The headline says 4-15. Thought you may want to fix.  The lineups will be interesting.  Hope Buxton is back.

2 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I realized my poll above had the wrong settings so you could only choose one thing ... it's now set so you can choose multiple items. All if you want ... 

I only needed one answer, so there!

2 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I'm very partial to Tony Os cuban sandwich, but it's hard to beat a good brat at the ballpark.  I'm not a beer drinker, so it's usually pop for me.

I'm sure you could find a scotch somewhere in the park ...  

Typically I'm a pop or water person ... depends on if I"m with a group, by myself, driving or on public transportation.

3 minutes ago, Otwins said:

The headline says 4-15. Thought you may want to fix.  The lineups will be interesting.  Hope Buxton is back.

I thought that looked odd ... and no, I don't really want to go back in time ... thanks, I'll fix it

5 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I'm very partial to Tony Os cuban sandwich, but it's hard to beat a good brat at the ballpark.  I'm not a beer drinker, so it's usually pop for me.

In my 'research', which got too convoluted and complicated, reading 3 different lists at a time, all choosing 'the best' in all the stadiums, and all 'the bests' being different depending on the writer ... the one thing I found interesting ... the 3 lists I was looking at all chose the Cuban at Tropicana as the best. Thankfully so few fans turn out there so the line to get one is probably manageable.  

24 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

I lived in Seattle for a couple of years and still miss the garlic fries at Safeco. (It's still Safeco to me. Jr and Ichiro never played for other teams)

I thought for sure you'd have chosen the ice cream in a helmet option because I think you've mentioned it more than a few times in these threads  

I voted when I only had one option. ? 

Tony O's Cuban Sandwich for me. In fact that's what I'm getting today. And Diet Pepsi to drink since the doc says I can't have regular pop due to diabetes. Also because I saw what drinking did to my dad so i really don't drink alcohol much anymore.

Unfortunately, due to some health issues, I'm on a pretty restrictive diet. When I go to a game, I bring my own food from home, and nothing but water for me. I play it real safe these days. Getting old isn't all it's cracked up to be for some of us. I know...no fun in that, but those are the cards I've been dealt. Back when I could...I used to go for a few dogs and a beer. 

A ballpark is really a meagre place for a vegetarian. (Unless you are at a Forest Green Rovers' match! England's (world's?) only vegan football club.) Pretzels and nachos and not much else since I'm not supposed to eat a lot of ice cream.

Now that lineups are in ... gonna try and run an errand before game time ... catch up with y'all later

Go Twins!

2 hours ago, Squirrel said:

I'm sure you could find a scotch somewhere in the park ...  

Typically I'm a pop or water person ... depends on if I"m with a group, by myself, driving or on public transportation.

I've tried...and have been unsuccessful thus far.

58 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

In my 'research', which got too convoluted and complicated, reading 3 different lists at a time, all choosing 'the best' in all the stadiums, and all 'the bests' being different depending on the writer ... the one thing I found interesting ... the 3 lists I was looking at all chose the Cuban at Tropicana as the best. Thankfully so few fans turn out there so the line to get one is probably manageable.  

I've had that one too.  It's fantastic.

7 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I've had that one too.  It's fantastic.

Must be if it made 3 lists as 'the best' when every other stadium all had different choices for 'the best'. One of the lists mentioned the Indian food at Target Field ... guess that would be a 'no' for me ... for one, not a big fan of Indian food, and for two ... I just cannot get into that as baseball food ... same with I'd have issues with sushi at a ballpark, I guess and I like sushi.

Speaking of which, @PDX Twin, likely a vegetarian option there, but then, you aren't in MN, so ... 

1 hour ago, wsnydes said:

I'm very partial to Tony Os cuban sandwich, but it's hard to beat a good brat at the ballpark.  I'm not a beer drinker, so it's usually pop for me.

I love the Cubano at Tony O’s! Mmmm

The beverage I like with it is Tonic with a slice of Lime from Minne and Paul’s. I don’t drink, I’m always the DD

28 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Must be if it made 3 lists as 'the best' when every other stadium all had different choices for 'the best'. One of the lists mentioned the Indian food at Target Field ... guess that would be a 'no' for me ... for one, not a big fan of Indian food, and for two ... I just cannot get into that as baseball food ... same with I'd have issues with sushi at a ballpark, I guess and I like sushi.

Speaking of which, @PDX Twin, likely a vegetarian option there, but then, you aren't in MN, so ... 

in the “before times” the Hot India food truck used to come to my office… so good! I believe it’s now only at MOA and TF, but the Indian burrito thing was amazeballs 

confirmed, vegetarian options are available @PDX Twin

10 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

confirmed, vegetarian options are available @PDX Twin

Thanks! If/when I get back to TF, I'll be sure to look for it.

I'll chime in with a thumbs up for Tony O's. If you are a brats type Kramarczuk's is a must. Ask for as much sauerkraut as they are allowed to give. And be sure to get a fork. I also like the bacon cheeseburgers down the left field line; I forget who makes them. Regarding beverages, I'm a craft beer guy and I buy only local products. I especially like IPA's.

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I love the Cubano at Tony O’s! Mmmm

The beverage I like with it is Tonic with a slice of Lime from Minne and Paul’s. I don’t drink, I’m always the DD

It's an important role!  Always good to have one "built in"!

Tonic and lime sounds refreshing on a nice hot day at TF.

Ryan’s FB @ 95 mph. 

30 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

I'll chime in with a thumbs up for Tony O's. If you are a brats type Kramarczuk's is a must. Ask for as much sauerkraut as they are allowed to give. And be sure to get a fork. I also like the bacon cheeseburgers down the left field line; I forget who makes them. Regarding beverages, I'm a craft beer guy and I buy only local products. I especially like IPA's.

Cant beat IPA's

I don't think I've ever mentioned that I am so tired of the Kinetico commericals.

1 minute ago, Nine of twelve said:

I don't think I've ever mentioned that I am so tired of the Kinetico commericals.

Kinetico commercials...yes. Laura Schara...no. 

Why is Buxton leading off all the time? Yes, once in a while he gives us one run with an early homer, but he is a free swinger (he and his teammates saw one pitch in that at-bat), doesn't walk a lot, never tries to steal when he gets on base, and his approach at the plate is all about slugging percentage rather than OBP. Middle-of-order hitter, not lead-off hitter,

Rare SB for Arraez.,. A better throw definitely gets him.

1 minute ago, PDX Twin said:

Why is Buxton leading off all the time? Yes, once in a while he gives us one run with an early homer, but he is a free swinger (he and his teammates saw one pitch in that at-bat), doesn't walk a lot, never tries to steal when he gets on base, and his approach at the plate is all about slugging percentage rather than OBP. Middle-of-order hitter, not lead-off hitter,

I don't disagree. If he were more of a singles/doubles hitter I'd put him #1 every game. I wish Arraez had better wheels, and I'd bat him first and Buck #2.