Opening Day Hope Still Unites in Twins Territory

You’re reading this, and are here at Twins Daily, because of baseball. This day matters because you invested time and emotion into a 2019 Bomba Squad that put up arguably the most legendary regular season performance in franchise history. Target Field would have been filled to the brim with fans because of what was, and the expectation of what is to come.

Today we won’t have the opportunity of hitting up a local watering hole, and then grabbing that first roller grilled hot dog. There will be no pyrotechnics, and TC Bear will need to wait a while for his photo opportunities. All those things are saddening, and maybe even maddening, but the celebration can go on.

It is because of what we are doing right now that has baseball on track to return. By joining together for the greater good, we are mitigating future disaster, improving the pace in which normal can return, and ultimately providing the quickest roadmap for the National Pastime to once again deliver a first pitch. While we do that there’s still no reason not to celebrate what was, and the expectation of what is to come.

As I said before, think back on that 2019 squad, we may never see something like that again. A regular season home run record that could take substantial time to break. A win total that was outdone by just one other campaign in franchise history. A rookie manager that made his mark en route to a rookie Manager of the Year designation. Those are just some of the highlights, but the reel sharing all of them could’ve ran forever.

You can bet that prior to first pitch from a Minnesota arm today, there would have been plenty of recaps involving that special 2019 team. Sure, the club would’ve played a road trip and had a few wins under their belt at this point, but one last hoorah to the groundwork that was laid for the year ahead seems more than fair.

Then the jets fly over, fireworks pop, and the first pitch is delivered. In what was scheduled to be the first of 81 home games the journey towards what was to come begins. This Twins team was set up in a way we haven’t seen for over a decade. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine supplemented an already talented squad with some legit pitching additions and the largest free agent contract in team history. Already viewed as the AL Central division favorite, Minnesota had a legitimate shot to represent the American League in the World Series.

We don’t know what the schedule will look like when play resumes. There could be significant changes to who is on the roster, or where the Twins ultimately find themselves. None of that takes away what was though, and the uncertainty of what is to come remains driven by a very strong and successful front office that has repeatedly shown a capability to win.

Today we don’t get the home opener as desired. I go without a beer and bowl of potato soup from O’Donovans before entering Target Field. There are no free giveaways to all fans in attendance, and that first lap around the concourse will have to wait. None of us are alone in those realities though, and as much celebration at Twins Territory enjoys together, this too is a uniting moment and one that will ultimately lead to a glorious reunion when those first grass stains are brought back to us.

Share your traditions for what the home opener day generally looks like. Talk through the disappointment of the void we are currently experiencing. Creating further anticipation for the story yet to unfold will only lead to thunderous roars when it is again inevitably upon us.

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