Melissa Berman

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

Four tiny words mean last season's over 
Pitchers and catchers report
A tough year to watch, or remain sober
Pitchers and catchers report
A winter spent refreshing MLB rumors
Praying that Falvey makes a big move or
re-signs Correa? LOL! That’s good humor!
Pitchers and catchers report
A crowded rotation? No chance that’s true.
Pitchers and catchers report
No bad backs or elbows or bubonic flu?
Pitchers and catchers report
We’ll finally see pitching, for which we’ve waited
Mahle & Lopez, Sonny, Maeda,
Ryan & Ober (though he could get Sainted)
Pitchers and catchers report
Pico de Gallo adds power that pleases 
Pitchers and catchers report
Plus K-rriffic swings that add cooling breezes
Pitchers and catchers report
We added a Farmer who fields everywhere 
Also a Taylor (for when Buxton’s not there)
A new framing Christian will answer our prayers. 
Pitchers and catchers report. 
Finally you take your turn as poet
Pitchers and catchers report
Channel your winter frustration and show it
Pitchers and catchers report
The comments below are a great place to bleat
Two tens and three ‘levens provide you the beat
(But add words wherever, if like me you cheat).
Pitchers and catchers report

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

All player images are courtesy of ESPN.com

The Twins are also running what might be their best Target Field-era ticket deal yet: fans can purchase $4 no fees Ballpark Access tickets (standing room) for all regular season home games (excluding the Home Opener) between noon on January 19 and 11:59 PM on January 22. There are no fees on any other tickets bought during these four days either. The Twins looked to capitalize on what I have been calling “Correamania” by announcing these deals shortly after the Twins signed Carlos Correa to a 6-year deal. 
Last year the Twins ran a similar deal in April called the “Superstars Superdeal” which allowed fans to buy $4 upper-level tickets and $25 lower-level tickets to any Monday-Thursday game in 2022. However, with that sale, there were fees on the tickets bought online; I remember being at a Twins vs. Dodgers game while my friends bought tickets for 20 games at the in-stadium box office down the first baseline to avoid the fees. This year's deal is even better. While this week's sale is for a standing-room ticket and not an actual seat, just being able to get in the door for $4 for weekend games is unbeatable and well worth taking advantage of, especially if you are planning on getting to a large number of games. Though the Twins will probably run some other deals throughout the season, no deals could be any cheaper than this- a MLB game for $4 with no fees? You simply can't beat that,
I would recommend looking ahead on the schedule, picking out some games you know you for sure want to get to, and buy some tickets in this window. This year, Target Field will be hosting high-demand teams like the Cubs, Giants, and Padres, all of whom the Twins would have been less likely to host before the 2023's new balanced schedule format.  
The Twins are also bringing back several other perennial ticket specials: Dollar hotdog day is back once again on Tuesdays, $5 student discount day is available every Monday through Thursday, Seniors “55-and-better” can get $5 tickets to every Monday-Thursday day game, and Fireworks Friday will light up the Minneapolis skyline after every Friday night game from June through August. 
Back again are the team's special "Theme Nights" such as Prince Night and Star Wars Night, where fans can purchase a special ticket package to receive a promotional item. According to the Twins, the Theme Night schedule will be available at a later date. Last year, it was unveiled in March.
Running these bargain ticket deals to get as many fans in the doors as possible is the wise thing for the Twins to do. Last year, the Twins finished 20th in MLB attendance with an average of 22,514 fans per game. This season, the Twins play 16 home games in April, the most of any month, so with the often-cold-and-wet temperatures, the Twins will likely already be playing from behind attendance-wise.
Giveaways 
From hats to bobbleheads to the return of bat day, the Twins are handing out a host of unique collector’s items this year. Here are a few of the best ones I will be targeting; complete list here: 
Opening weekend hat day- No apparel with the new TC logo yet? No problem- the Twins are handing out hats with the new “TC” logo to the first 20,000 fans at the Home Opener on April 6 and at the Saturday, April 8 game. “Kids Opening Day” is on April 9, and the first 5,000 fans 12-and-under will receive the Twins’ new “M and North Star” hat. Magnet schedule days are April 10 and 11 vs. the White Sox. Bat day is back! The first 5,000 fans in attendance on April 23 vs. Washington will receive a 28-inch wood bat commemorating 2022 American League batting champion Luis Arraez, You’ll need to get there extra early for this one.  Two bobblehead days: Joe Ryan bobblehead day is June 3 vs. Cleveland (first 10,000 fans), and July 7 is Carlos Correa (first 10,000 fans)  Byron Buxton replica jersey (April 22 vs. Washington; first 10,000 fans) and a “Los Twins” jersey (September 9 vs. the Mets; first 10,000 fans). The baby blue replica jersey the Twins handed out in 2021 is the favorite giveaway item I've ever gotten, so these two jerseys are on the very top of my "must-snag" list. More hats! Twins Bomber Cap day is April 30 vs. Kansas City (first 5,000 fans), the Twins will be handing out a Twins Trucker Hat on May 27 vs. Toronto (first 10,000 fans), and June 17 is Twins Bucket Hay day vs. Detroit (first 5,000 fans). These days, it doesn’t seem like the demand for collector's items is quite as intense as in the past: I remember being in line for Torii Hunter bobblehead day when I was a kid, and there were almost fights breaking out between fans. On giveaway days we would get down to the Metrodome hours beforehand, and the lines would snake around the whole stadium and onto the surrounding sidewalks. Nowadays, getting promotional items is not as difficult, though you will still have to plan ahead and arrive early, especially if they only hand out 5,000 of the coveted item. For 20,000 fan giveaways, my general rule of thumb is to arrive about an hour before the game to receive a promotional item comfortably. I usually put a reminder on my phone calendar for the days that have an item I definitely want to get. I have found the giveaway items, especially clothing items, to be of impressive quality and worth arriving early for.
Are you going to Target any of these giveaways or take advantage of the $4 ticket sale? What's the coolest thing you've got at a Twins game? Let us know in a COMMENT below. 

The Twins are also running what might be their best Target Field-era ticket deal yet: fans can purchase $4 no fees Ballpark Access tickets (standing room) for all regular season home games (excluding the Home Opener) between noon on January 19 and 11:59 PM on January 22. There are no fees on any other tickets bought during these four days either. The Twins looked to capitalize on what I have been calling “Correamania” by announcing these deals shortly after the Twins signed Carlos Correa to a 6-year deal. 
Last year the Twins ran a similar deal in April called the “Superstars Superdeal” which allowed fans to buy $4 upper-level tickets and $25 lower-level tickets to any Monday-Thursday game in 2022. However, with that sale, there were fees on the tickets bought online; I remember being at a Twins vs. Dodgers game while my friends bought tickets for 20 games at the in-stadium box office down the first baseline to avoid the fees. This year's deal is even better. While this week's sale is for a standing-room ticket and not an actual seat, just being able to get in the door for $4 for weekend games is unbeatable and well worth taking advantage of, especially if you are planning on getting to a large number of games. Though the Twins will probably run some other deals throughout the season, no deals could be any cheaper than this- a MLB game for $4 with no fees? You simply can't beat that,
I would recommend looking ahead on the schedule, picking out some games you know you for sure want to get to, and buy some tickets in this window. This year, Target Field will be hosting high-demand teams like the Cubs, Giants, and Padres, all of whom the Twins would have been less likely to host before the 2023's new balanced schedule format.  
The Twins are also bringing back several other perennial ticket specials: Dollar hotdog day is back once again on Tuesdays, $5 student discount day is available every Monday through Thursday, Seniors “55-and-better” can get $5 tickets to every Monday-Thursday day game, and Fireworks Friday will light up the Minneapolis skyline after every Friday night game from June through August. 
Back again are the team's special "Theme Nights" such as Prince Night and Star Wars Night, where fans can purchase a special ticket package to receive a promotional item. According to the Twins, the Theme Night schedule will be available at a later date. Last year, it was unveiled in March.
Running these bargain ticket deals to get as many fans in the doors as possible is the wise thing for the Twins to do. Last year, the Twins finished 20th in MLB attendance with an average of 22,514 fans per game. This season, the Twins play 16 home games in April, the most of any month, so with the often-cold-and-wet temperatures, the Twins will likely already be playing from behind attendance-wise.
Giveaways 
From hats to bobbleheads to the return of bat day, the Twins are handing out a host of unique collector’s items this year. Here are a few of the best ones I will be targeting; complete list here: 
Opening weekend hat day- No apparel with the new TC logo yet? No problem- the Twins are handing out hats with the new “TC” logo to the first 20,000 fans at the Home Opener on April 6 and at the Saturday, April 8 game. “Kids Opening Day” is on April 9, and the first 5,000 fans 12-and-under will receive the Twins’ new “M and North Star” hat. Magnet schedule days are April 10 and 11 vs. the White Sox. Bat day is back! The first 5,000 fans in attendance on April 23 vs. Washington will receive a 28-inch wood bat commemorating 2022 American League batting champion Luis Arraez, You’ll need to get there extra early for this one.  Two bobblehead days: Joe Ryan bobblehead day is June 3 vs. Cleveland (first 10,000 fans), and July 7 is Carlos Correa (first 10,000 fans)  Byron Buxton replica jersey (April 22 vs. Washington; first 10,000 fans) and a “Los Twins” jersey (September 9 vs. the Mets; first 10,000 fans). The baby blue replica jersey the Twins handed out in 2021 is the favorite giveaway item I've ever gotten, so these two jerseys are on the very top of my "must-snag" list. More hats! Twins Bomber Cap day is April 30 vs. Kansas City (first 5,000 fans), the Twins will be handing out a Twins Trucker Hat on May 27 vs. Toronto (first 10,000 fans), and June 17 is Twins Bucket Hay day vs. Detroit (first 5,000 fans). These days, it doesn’t seem like the demand for collector's items is quite as intense as in the past: I remember being in line for Torii Hunter bobblehead day when I was a kid, and there were almost fights breaking out between fans. On giveaway days we would get down to the Metrodome hours beforehand, and the lines would snake around the whole stadium and onto the surrounding sidewalks. Nowadays, getting promotional items is not as difficult, though you will still have to plan ahead and arrive early, especially if they only hand out 5,000 of the coveted item. For 20,000 fan giveaways, my general rule of thumb is to arrive about an hour before the game to receive a promotional item comfortably. I usually put a reminder on my phone calendar for the days that have an item I definitely want to get. I have found the giveaway items, especially clothing items, to be of impressive quality and worth arriving early for.
Are you going to Target any of these giveaways or take advantage of the $4 ticket sale? What's the coolest thing you've got at a Twins game? Let us know in a COMMENT below. 

With Correa back in Minnesota, the Twins have three shortstops on the 40-man rosters with an additional three in their top 20 prospect rankings across many publications. Some fans (if they know little about baseball) may argue the Twins have more shortstops than they know what to do with. 
Fortunately for Twins president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, the surplus of shortstops is not a problem to be had. 
“I will take having more shortstops than we have spots for every day of the week,” said Falvey in an interview following Correa’s press conference. “That tends to lead to good outcomes over time in different spots on the team. If you can play shortstop, you can move around on the dirt. And you're probably going to be pretty good at that.”
Kyle Farmer 
For some time this off-season, Kyle Farmer was looking to be the Twins primary shortstop, but when the Twins acquired him from the Reds via trade, they knew they were getting him for more than just one position. 
“We really did feel that when we traded for Kyle. He’s a good player, a good shortstop. [We had] a unique situation. So we think Kyle can play in multiple slots. We actually still think he fits our current team, even in a slightly more hybrid role than what he plays, because he deepens our team [defensively],” Falvey said.
While Farmer has only played four games in the outfield his entire professional career (all in left field), Falvey feels confident Farmer can extend his utility infield role into the corner outfield positions. Especially as a way to balance the heavy amount of left-handed hitters in the outfield. Though the team has yet to officially announced this, Farmer is anticipated to be the "emergency catcher" given his previous time at the position during his call up with the Dodgers in 2017.
Royce Lewis
With Royce Lewis, the situation is not entirely a downside with Correa’s return. Yes, his main position is blocked, but that is not the only position that Lewis feels comfortable playing on the infield. 
“Third base. I played three years in high school and that was my first position,” Lewis said in an interview with Twins Daily in May 2022. “That move is actually very easy for me. It's the same side of the infield and the ground balls are very similar and it's usually just more topspin [of the ball] over at third base.”
Prior to his season-ending injury on May 29, 2022, Lewis played only nine games at positions that weren’t shortstop with two of those games at third for the St. Paul Saints. 
Jose Miranda is still set up to be the team’s everyday third baseman and while the Twins may not put Lewis back in centerfield, considering that is where he re-injured his knee, for his return. He has the ability and arm strength for third base as well as corner outfield positions. 
Brooks Lee
The last primary shortstop that some people expect to break onto the Twins roster sometime in 2023 is Brooks Lee. Since being drafted last July by the Twins, Lee has only played games at short or as the designated hitter at Cedar Rapids and Wichita. 
Lee played a handful of games between second and third base in college at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Falvey acknowledged that there are conversations in the organization on how the Twins handle his primary defensive position based on his overall progression as a player in the minors this season. 
By signing Correa, Lee’s progression has no need to be rushed to the big leagues, and Lee and the organization can figure out what his next best position is. And to go a step further, Lee has received the invitation as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, which will give him plenty of time for tutelage under Correa himself. 
Other Shortstop Prospects
There are three other notable shortstop prospects that the Twins have to work with at other positions with Correa’s return; Austin Martin, Noah Miller, and Tanner Schobel. 
Martin has transitioned more into an outfielder throughout the 2022 season and there are those who see him as an ideal backup to Byron Buxton in center field when the time comes for his call-up. Martin had his value plummet with a down year in Wichita for 2022. He went to the Arizona Fall League and regained his value and played 95% of his games at shortstop, but with Correa back, the Twins can expect his move to the outfield to be full-time.
Miller is an interesting case as he is the only one of the Twins top five picks from the 2021 Amateur Draft that remains in the organization. A high school pick from eastern Wisconsin, Miller spent the full 2022 season in Fort Myers. He still has not played a position other than shortstop but his defense is not the problem on the diamond, more so the results of his hitting. Given he is only 20, there is time to figure out what other positions he can play.
Finally, Schobel, who was the third pick out of this last year’s draft, has already been shifted to second base. Schobel played only a handful of games at short after he was drafted, and will likely start his 2023 season on the other side of Miller in Ft. Myers or Cedar Rapids. 
 

This year, two versions of an Automatic Balls and Strikes system (ABS), otherwise known as "robot umpires" or "robo umps," will be used in all 30 Triple-A ballparks, according to a report from ESPN. If this expanded experiment is deemed successful, the next stop could be its use at the major-league level. 
Half of the Triple-A games will be played with all the calls determined by an electronic strike zone (with each team receiving three challenges), and the other half will be played with an ABS challenge system. 
The ABS has continued to expand over the years, and 2023 will be its most widespread use yet.
In 2019, the independent Atlantic League used the electronic strike zone in an all-star game, and that same year, the Arizona Fall League played with the ABS. In 2021, some Class A parks used ABS. Last season, the full ABS was used for some Class AAA games, including some games in the Pacific Coast League and all International League games played in Charlotte. The St. Paul Saints did not play in any games using the ABS in 2022, but that will change in 2023. The Saints acknowledged the change by posting a link to the ESPN report on its Twitter account.  
MLB tried out the ABS challenge system last year at the Low-A Southeast level during designated “Challenge Games.” During these games, human umpires still made balls and strike calls, but the pitcher, catcher, and batter could appeal the umpire’s call to the ABS. Each team received three appeals in Challenge Games, with successful appeals retained for future use. ESPN reports that this challenge system seemed to create an entire new “layer of in-game strategy” with managers “guiding players on the best manner to use the challenges -- avoiding frivolous challenges and protecting the team from egregious ball-strike call mistakes in pivotal moments.”
The expanded ABS comes at a time when MLB is making a host of sweeping changes to make the game safer and stimulate offense. On September 9, 2022, MLB's Joint Competition Committee, which evaluates and ratifies proposed rule changes, officially approved a pitch clock, shift ban, and larger bases for use in the majors beginning in 2023. All of these changes were tested out in Triple-A in 2022. However, a formal rule change proposal related to the robot umpires was not made to the committee at the time, so there will be no use of the ABS in the majors in 2023. Though MLB robo umps are not a sure thing yet, if these changes are any indication, robo umps might not be too far away. 
My Take
I am looking forward to seeing which form of ABS MLB uses at CHS Field, and if the change is even noticeable to fans (an article by the Athletic featured a player quote stating that it appeared the umpire in an ABS game was relaying the calls as quickly as if he were making them himself). I am a bit of a baseball purist, so I gravitate more toward the ABS challenge system, which, to me, seems to be the best of both worlds: umpires will still be used to call balls and strikes, but we can challenge, review, and possibly overturn questionable and egregious calls, just like in the NFL, NBA, and NHL. I am ok with there being some variation in strike zone from umpire to umpire, within reason. I think completely eliminating umpires calling balls and strikes is unnecessary and takes away one of the human elements that makes baseball unique, but we can and should use the technology we have at our disposal to make it more accurate. 
It is evident MLB needs to keep up with the times and do something to eliminate egregious, high-profile missed ball and strike calls, some of which can have substantial impacts on game outcomes, even in the postseason. Baseball is America's favorite pastime, but complaining about bad calls is a close second- just look at the myriad of Youtube video compilations of missed ball and strike calls. With both systems of ABS, these calls would likely be eliminated 
The need for change is also evidenced by the continued growth of @UmpScorecards. Umpire Scorecards is a popular Twitter account that provides an accuracy percentage, consistency percentage, and a list of the top 3 most impactful calls for every umpire after every MLB game. After umpire performances that users consider to be poor, they flood the replies imploring MLB to bring on the robots. 
My gut feeling is that some type of ABS will be introduced at the major league level sometime soon: the Triple-A, as we have seen, is the last stop on the bus for rule changes, a final testing ground, before arriving at MLB. If ABS gets positive reviews this year, like that of Kris Bryant, who played using ABS while on a Rockies minor league rehab assignment last year, I have no doubt MLB will be next. 

Last season, the lockout forced MLB to allow teams to begin the year with 28-man rosters. The lockout forced a shortened spring training, and baseball was worried about an increased chance of player injuries. For 2023, teams must narrow their final roster to 26 players. Players listed below with the ** are on the bubble for the final roster spots. 

Catchers (2): Christian Vazquez, Ryan Jeffers
Entering the offseason, Ryan Jeffers was the lone catcher on the team's 40-man roster. Adding Christian Vazquez helps bolster the organization's catching depth. Last winter, the Twins traded Mitch Garver to allow Ryan Jeffers to become the primary catcher. However, many teams utilize a multi-catcher approach to keep players healthy and help their offensive production. Minnesota also signed veteran catcher Tony Wolters to a minor league deal, but he likely won't make the Opening Day roster. The Twins will need Walters during the season, and he has caught over 2800 innings at the big-league level. 

Infielders (6): Luis Arraez, Carlos Correa, Kyle Farmer, Alex Kirilloff**, Jose Miranda, Jorge Polanco 
Adding Correa to this group changes the entire look of the infield. Farmer can now shift to a utility role and play all over the diamond. He was penciled in as the team's starting shortstop until Royce Lewis returned from his ACL injury. Minnesota is handing Miranda the starting third base job after the team traded Gio Urshela to the Angels. All the projected infielders can be used at multiple defensive positions, which will help Rocco Baldelli create the best line-ups on any given day. Minnesota was in the driver's seat for the AL Central last season before injuries ravaged the roster. Correa's return puts the Twins back in the conversation as a playoff team in 2023 and beyond. 

The depth here comes from the likes of Royce Lewis, when he returns (hopefully in June or July), who can play all over the diamond. Austin Martin can get whatever time he needs in St. Paul. The team can be patient with Brooks Lee rather than push him up too quickly. 

Outfielders (5): Byron Buxton, Gilberto Celestino, Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon**, Max Kepler
Correa's signing also pushes other players off the 26-man roster. In my initial roster projection, Trevor Larnach was on the bubble, and now he will be in St. Paul's outfield with Matt Wallner. Both players will get playing time in 2023, but there needs to be room to keep them on the Opening Day roster. Kyle Garlick is also an interesting player because there might be other right-handed free-agent upgrades. Joey Gallo and Max Kepler fill similar roles for the Twins, so the Twins will likely trade Kepler, allowing them to carry a right-handed bench bat. Nick Gordon is out of minor-league options so the Twins will keep him based on his breakout performance in 2022. 

Rotation (5): Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, Kenta Maeda, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober
On paper, this starting five is a group that can win the AL Central, but there are health concerns with multiple pitchers on the roster. Mahle struggled with shoulder issues after the Twins acquired him, Maeda is returning from Tommy John surgery, and Ober dealt with various injuries last season. The Twins have starting pitching depth on the 40-man roster, with Louie Varland and Simeon Woods Richardson ready to contribute at the big-league level. Jordan Balazovic is also an interesting name to consider if he is healthy to start the year. Minnesota has also been rumored to be interested in some of the remaining veteran free agents, but the club may want to rely on its pitching pipeline. 

Bullpen (8): Jhoan Duran, Jorge Lopez, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, Emilio Pagan, Jorge Alcala**, Jovani Moran**, Trevor Megill**
Minnesota hopes Lopez can return to his previous form and combine with Duran to be a dominant back-end duo. ZiPS projects feel like the Twins' bullpen is top-heavy, which makes sense considering the recent track record of players expected to be on the roster. Jax could be a breakout reliever and fill a fireman role that Tyler Duffey had previously occupied. Pagan continues to be a question mark, but the Twins offered him arbitration, so they hope his performance improves in 2023. The Twins have also shown a tendency to move relievers up and down from Triple-A, a trend likely to continue next year. Minnesota will have some decisions at the bullpen's backend with other 40-man roster options like Ronny Henriquez and Cole Sands.      

What changes will happen to the team's roster before Opening Day? Where do the Twins rank compared to other AL Central squads? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

At the end of May, Carlos leads us deep into the heart of his old home, the World Series Champions’ stompin’ grounds:  Houston, Texas.  It’s time to put the squeeze on the Astros!  Minute Maid Park.  Let’s begin…
Minute Maid Park - 2022 attendance was 2,688,998 (ranked 2nd out of 15 AL teams, 7th overall MLB)
In the season’s first one-city road trip of the 2023 season, we head to the ballpark that has hosted four of the last six World Series.  Yes…you heard that right…four of six.  Minute Maid Park carries history, scandal, success, and futility all in one amazingly crafted and retro-fitted setting. 
I think what’s probably most important for Twins fans to appreciate about baseball in Houston can be traced back to the O.G. stadium: the Astrodome.  The sporting world’s first fully enclosed and air-conditioned stadium, the Astrodome changed the game and almost all other games around the world.  The Astrodome gave us the first synthetic turf playing surface (hence why we call all the new stuff Astroturf even if it isn’t!), the ability to play ball in any type of weather or geography, and the introduction of year-round civic and sports arenas within a city.  
The current ballpark was constructed around a former Union Station railway concourse, and harkens to the culture and community that it serves.  Oil, agriculture, trains, Bar-B-Q, Mexican food, boom/bust economics, and espionage/waste disposal (couldn’t resist). The retractable roof might come into play in May, with an opportunity for outdoor baseball early and late in the season.  This element allows for a natural grass playing surface.
Originally named Enron Field in 2000, my kids’ third favorite orange juice stepped up to the plate for naming rights once Enron imploded.  Hopefully the Minute Maid Train will fail to leave the station due to a lack of Astros homers, but recent history would argue to bet the “over.”  The Twins are a mere 4-16 at Houston since 2015 after being swept there in 2022.
While our recent Twins connections with the Astros have more to do with Carlos Correa (who went 1-11 w/ 1 RBI in 2022 in his first return trip to Houston) than any real rivalry, there is a personal connection for me.  My first game at Target Field was a Sunday afternoon, August 4, 2013…against a ratty Astros team that boasted such young players as Jose Altuve, Jason Castro, Chris Carter, and Robbie Grossman. 
The Astros were clearly tanking.  The Twins were unclearly tanking.  While the Twins won the battle that day 3-2, they’ve lost the war quite decisively over the past decade.  If this year’s squad has any hope of reaching postseason success, it might hinge on a three-day road trip in May where they are going to be tested by the best in the business.
I didn’t get to Minute Maid Park in time to see the legendary and questionable "Tal’s Hill” in centerfield.  The berm & flagpole served for quite a few highlights and lowlights for fielders, and it stretched the dimensions out to 436ft.  The hill left the building after the 2016 season, replaced by a restaurant, standing room seating, and a lower medical liability deductible. 
The dimensions also came in with it to a reasonable 406ft.  Interestingly, berms or mounds in the field of play used to be a way to give a better view to standing room overflow fans ON THE FIELD!!!  Can you imagine?  Showing up to a game, discovering that it was sold out, but being told to “Worry not!  Centerfield has some room for you!”  It sounds like an alternate reality.
I look forward to many things on the Houston trip.  Connecting with co-workers at one of our partner schools there, checking out the Space Center, and enjoying some beach and fishing time out at the Gulf of Mexico are potential highlights.  Mainly I’m just excited to watch high quality baseball, in a crazy cool stadium, alongside a fan-base that has doubled-down on their team.  I’m sure there will be many stops on my tour-de-baseball this year where the hometown fans could care less.  Houston ain’t one of those stops.
With no connecting series, and Houston’s hub and wheel road layout, making the drive might be the best option.  At 1058 miles and 16 hrs from Mitchell,SD, it’s a trek.  The next road trip is a solo, globe-trotting mess of airports and logistics, so on a day when the FAA system crashes for several hours, the comfort of having my own wheels and family along for this ride ranks high on my planning priority list. 
Now it's your turn to plan!
And yes...if this is the first time you’ve seen one of my road trip pieces, I’m going to all of these away games.   Please join me in person or with some insider info! If you have been to Minute Maid Park, please post your list of "best seats" and "must sees."  Anyone else planning on going to this series?
Grace and peace Twins Territory!  Thanks for the help!
Previous Road Trip stories:
Road Trip #1 (Kansas City and Miami) Road Trip #2 (New York and Boston) Road Trip #3 (Chicago and Cleveland) Road Trip #4 (Los Angeles and Los Angeles)

“The whole process was crazy but the end game was great,” said Correa on his return. “I'm happy where I'm at right now and I'm excited that I finally get back to work. I know where I'm gonna be for a long time and I can help lead this group of young men to where we want to get from here.”
“We knew this could take some time,” added Derek Falvey, Twins President of Baseball Operations. “Carlos is one of the best players in the game and he was going to have a lot of choices. We never lost touch, And Scott was great about keeping in touch with us ultimately, as things changed.”
Correa’s reintroduction with the organization came the same day his 6-year, $200 million contract with the team was announced. The deal also includes four years of vesting/team options as well as a full no-trade clause. Correa will be on the Twins through least until 2028, with his final year set to be 2031 if vesting and team options are exercised. 
“Carlos and Daniella, they gave me a narrow list and Minnesota was always on it,” said Scott Boras, Correa’s agent. “I will say this: that Derek did not let notice go. He was constantly in communication, constantly calling, because I think they knew they're the organization that truly knew the leadership value in addition to the skill and what he [Correa] could mean to a franchise.”
New executive chair of the Twins, Joe Pohlad, discussed the addition of Correa and his value to the franchise. “I think it's great for the organization, great for the fans. And hopefully what it reiterates to the fan base is that our commitment to winning, which is always kind of central to how we think about each move, it's gonna make us better.”
Correa reiterated this point saying, “The main goal is to win, and by winning I don't mean making the playoffs, I mean winning championships. And I think with the core group that we have, the right guidance, the right work ethic, and the right just atmosphere in the clubhouse, we can we can accomplish those things.”
The questions of Correa’s health that held up his deals with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets were addressed by all parties. 
“Going into those physicals, there was no concerns on my part. My body feels great. I played throughout the whole season and never felt better. So it was surprising, but that led me here, back to the Twins and I couldn't be more happier,” said Correa.
Derek Falvey also addressed the elephant in the room from the Twins side. “As Scott articulated, we feel really good about Carlos is right now. I think the structure of our contract allows you to see how we think about short term, long term with respect to that.” 
Falvey continued. “I would say that Carlos is ready to go. Chris walked out of the exam yesterday. He said he feels as good as he's ever felt about where he's at with the hands-on physical and otherwise. We've built the structure in a way that manages a little bit of the long-term risk associated with this. But we feel excellent about how he's rolling into 2023.”
The bottom line: it was a celebratory atmosphere, from the owner of the Twins, through management, and definitely including Correa himself. Despite the circuitous journey that landed him with Minnesota, he gushed about his return. “Like you said, last year, when I came in, I felt welcomed right away from the get-go. I felt like I was part of a family.
So throughout the whole process, to be able to communicate with you guys, talk to all my teammates, communicate through the whole process, talking to [Byron] Buxton almost every day, talking to [Jose] Miranda and all the guys, definitely like you said, my heart was here. So I’m happy we got this done and I want to thank you guys for that.”
 

When Correa turned down a 13-year contract with the Twins and subsequently signed deals with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets (which both fell through), retailers slashed Correa Twins apparel prices for t-shirts, jerseys, and merchandise. But suddenly, when the news broke at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday that Correa was a Twin again, all that heavily-discounted Correa apparel became relevant again. Within minutes, Twitter was abuzz with this realization. 
I was at work when the news broke. Not to be deterred from a good deal, I commanded my brother, Matthew Berman, to run out to Eden Prairie Scheels to scour the sales racks during his lunch break and report back on his findings. 
Matthew, the only Twins fan crazy enough to get to even more games than I, hightailed it out to Scheels in search of some C4 bargains. He was in luck- Matthew found a Correa shirt emblazoned with “Land of 10,000 Rakes.” The tag displayed a list price of $22.99 with “was $31.99” right below it. He bought the last two shirts- one for me and one for him. The listed online price is back up to $31.99. 

While Matthew was there, he ran into several other fans who had also sprinted to Scheels with the same goal in mind, and he overheard a store employee say that she saw a fan leaving with four Correa jerseys earlier. Upon searching a little more, in all its Kasota Gold glory, he found the holy grail: an authentic red Correa jersey exactly in his size. The last one, too. There was no price tag on the jersey, and when Matthew asked for a price check, it rang up as $60. Jackpot. Too good to pass up, he bought it. Twins replica jerseys with the now-outdated branding are going for $135 on Scheel’s website and in-store. I got a screenshot shortly after the signing that shows a Kasota Gold navy Correa jersey going for $69.99, and now it's back to $135 like the others. Stores floors did not get the immediate memo for this price change, as evidenced by my brother's experience, 

While stuck at work, I checked online and found a Nike Women’s Navy Correa Jersey Shirt on clearance on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website for $8.97, down from $35. There was also a red youth Correa jersey shirt for $7.97, down from $30. On the MLB Shop website, I only found a white Correa “Big & Tall” replica jersey on sale for $47.99. When I went back and looked at the same jersey later in the day, it was back up to its full price of $119.99. 
After I left the office, I descended upon the Richfield Dicks Sporting Goods’ clearance racks like a vulture on Black Friday. I found a rack inside the main doors with around 30 navy Correa t-shirt jerseys on sale for $8.97, with an additional $25% off that. I bought one for myself, one for Matthew, one for a friend, and an extra one or two for good measure, all for the bargain price of $6.73 each after the discount. I saw a couple of other fans scouring the racks too, and one guy was calling his friends to get their sizes for t-shirt orders.

 
“You better grab these fast- they’re going to start pulling these from the shelves! They’re back to full price online,” one man hugging an arm full of shirts warned me. The staff at the store, busy helping other customers, gave no indication that they were about to do such a thing. The same shirt on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website is sold out, and other navy shirts of current players with the Kasota Gold branding, now-retired by the Twins, are going for full price. 
However, not everyone waited until the news broke to scoop up discounted Correa apparel: one Twins fan went viral on social media for having beaten everyone else to the punch. 
On December 14, the news broke that Correa had signed a 13-year contract with the Giants. Shayla, a Twins season ticket holder, ordered a white Correa jersey and a Correa t-shirt jersey in the new uniform branding style online from the MLB Shop on December 19. The jersey was around $45, and the t-shirt jersey was $15. Even though it seemed like Correa’s time in Minnesota was over, she bought the jerseys because she had such fond memories of the 2022 season and could not “believe we got to have him in our jersey.” And a little bit "just in case."
After the news broke Tuesday, Shayla tweeted about the Correa jersey she had bought, and Talkin Baseball, a baseball podcast by Jomboy Media, posted her tweet on its Instagram account.
As it turns out, Shayla will have a lot more use for her Correa jerseys from now on than just reliving happy former memories, and Correa will be in that Twins jersey for a long time. 
“I am so happy. Happy for us. Happy for the players. Happy that in addition to his on-the-field work, we get a great baseball mind and a wonderful leader.” Shayla said. “I had a hunch from the beginning that this wasn’t gonna be a one-year deal.”

When Correa turned down a 13-year contract with the Twins and subsequently signed deals with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets (which both fell through), retailers slashed Correa Twins apparel prices for t-shirts, jerseys, and merchandise. But suddenly, when the news broke at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday that Correa was a Twin again, all that heavily-discounted Correa apparel became relevant again. Within minutes, Twitter was abuzz with this realization. 
I was at work when the news broke. Not to be deterred from a good deal, I commanded my brother, Matthew Berman, to run out to Eden Prairie Scheels to scour the sales racks during his lunch break and report back on his findings. 
Matthew, the only Twins fan crazy enough to get to even more games than I, hightailed it out to Scheels in search of some C4 bargains. He was in luck- Matthew found a Correa shirt emblazoned with “Land of 10,000 Rakes.” The tag displayed a list price of $22.99 with “was $31.99” right below it. He bought the last two shirts- one for me and one for him. The listed online price is back up to $31.99. 

While Matthew was there, he ran into several other fans who had also sprinted to Scheels with the same goal in mind, and he overheard a store employee say that she saw a fan leaving with four Correa jerseys earlier. Upon searching a little more, in all its Kasota Gold glory, he found the holy grail: an authentic red Correa jersey exactly in his size. The last one, too. There was no price tag on the jersey, and when Matthew asked for a price check, it rang up as $60. Jackpot. Too good to pass up, he bought it. Twins replica jerseys with the now-outdated branding are going for $135 on Scheel’s website and in-store. I got a screenshot shortly after the signing that shows a Kasota Gold navy Correa jersey going for $69.99, and now it's back to $135 like the others. Stores floors did not get the immediate memo for this price change, as evidenced by my brother's experience, 

While stuck at work, I checked online and found a Nike Women’s Navy Correa Jersey Shirt on clearance on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website for $8.97, down from $35. There was also a red youth Correa jersey shirt for $7.97, down from $30. On the MLB Shop website, I only found a white Correa “Big & Tall” replica jersey on sale for $47.99. When I went back and looked at the same jersey later in the day, it was back up to its full price of $119.99. 
After I left the office, I descended upon the Richfield Dicks Sporting Goods’ clearance racks like a vulture on Black Friday. I found a rack inside the main doors with around 30 navy Correa t-shirt jerseys on sale for $8.97, with an additional $25% off that. I bought one for myself, one for Matthew, one for a friend, and an extra one or two for good measure, all for the bargain price of $6.73 each after the discount. I saw a couple of other fans scouring the racks too, and one guy was calling his friends to get their sizes for t-shirt orders.

 
“You better grab these fast- they’re going to start pulling these from the shelves! They’re back to full price online,” one man hugging an arm full of shirts warned me. The staff at the store, busy helping other customers, gave no indication that they were about to do such a thing. The same shirt on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website is sold out, and other navy shirts of current players with the Kasota Gold branding, now-retired by the Twins, are going for full price. 
However, not everyone waited until the news broke to scoop up discounted Correa apparel: one Twins fan went viral on social media for having beaten everyone else to the punch. 
On December 14, the news broke that Correa had signed a 13-year contract with the Giants. Shayla, a Twins season ticket holder, ordered a white Correa jersey and a Correa t-shirt jersey in the new uniform branding style online from the MLB Shop on December 19. The jersey was around $45, and the t-shirt jersey was $15. Even though it seemed like Correa’s time in Minnesota was over, she bought the jerseys because she had such fond memories of the 2022 season and could not “believe we got to have him in our jersey.” And a little bit "just in case."
After the news broke Tuesday, Shayla tweeted about the Correa jersey she had bought, and Talkin Baseball, a baseball podcast by Jomboy Media, posted her tweet on its Instagram account.
As it turns out, Shayla will have a lot more use for her Correa jerseys from now on than just reliving happy former memories, and Correa will be in that Twins jersey for a long time. 
“I am so happy. Happy for us. Happy for the players. Happy that in addition to his on-the-field work, we get a great baseball mind and a wonderful leader.” Shayla said. “I had a hunch from the beginning that this wasn’t gonna be a one-year deal.”

When Correa turned down a 13-year contract with the Twins and subsequently signed deals with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets (which both fell through), retailers slashed Correa Twins apparel prices for t-shirts, jerseys, and merchandise. But suddenly, when the news broke at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday that Correa was a Twin again, all that heavily-discounted Correa apparel became relevant again. Within minutes, Twitter was abuzz with this realization. 
I was at work when the news broke. Not to be deterred from a good deal, I commanded my brother, Matthew Berman, to run out to Eden Prairie Scheels to scour the sales racks during his lunch break and report back on his findings. 
Matthew, the only Twins fan crazy enough to get to even more games than I, hightailed it out to Scheels in search of some C4 bargains. He was in luck- Matthew found a Correa shirt emblazoned with “Land of 10,000 Rakes.” The tag displayed a list price of $22.99 with “was $31.99” right below it. He bought the last two shirts- one for me and one for him. The listed online price is back up to $31.99. 

While Matthew was there, he ran into several other fans who had also sprinted to Scheels with the same goal in mind, and he overheard a store employee say that she saw a fan leaving with four Correa jerseys earlier. Upon searching a little more, in all its Kasota Gold glory, he found the holy grail: an authentic red Correa jersey exactly in his size. The last one, too. There was no price tag on the jersey, and when Matthew asked for a price check, it rang up as $60. Jackpot. Too good to pass up, he bought it. Twins replica jerseys with the now-outdated branding are going for $135 on Scheel’s website and in-store. I got a screenshot shortly after the signing that shows a Kasota Gold navy Correa jersey going for $69.99, and now it's back to $135 like the others. Stores floors did not get the immediate memo for this price change, as evidenced by my brother's experience, 

While stuck at work, I checked online and found a Nike Women’s Navy Correa Jersey Shirt on clearance on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website for $8.97, down from $35. There was also a red youth Correa jersey shirt for $7.97, down from $30. On the MLB Shop website, I only found a white Correa “Big & Tall” replica jersey on sale for $47.99. When I went back and looked at the same jersey later in the day, it was back up to its full price of $119.99. 
After I left the office, I descended upon the Richfield Dicks Sporting Goods’ clearance racks like a vulture on Black Friday. I found a rack inside the main doors with around 30 navy Correa t-shirt jerseys on sale for $8.97, with an additional $25% off that. I bought one for myself, one for Matthew, one for a friend, and an extra one or two for good measure, all for the bargain price of $6.73 each after the discount. I saw a couple of other fans scouring the racks too, and one guy was calling his friends to get their sizes for t-shirt orders.

 
“You better grab these fast- they’re going to start pulling these from the shelves! They’re back to full price online,” one man hugging an arm full of shirts warned me. The staff at the store, busy helping other customers, gave no indication that they were about to do such a thing. The same shirt on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website is sold out, and other navy shirts of current players with the Kasota Gold branding, now-retired by the Twins, are going for full price. 
However, not everyone waited until the news broke to scoop up discounted Correa apparel: one Twins fan went viral on social media for having beaten everyone else to the punch. 
On December 14, the news broke that Correa had signed a 13-year contract with the Giants. Shayla, a Twins season ticket holder, ordered a white Correa jersey and a Correa t-shirt jersey in the new uniform branding style online from the MLB Shop on December 19. The jersey was around $45, and the t-shirt jersey was $15. Even though it seemed like Correa’s time in Minnesota was over, she bought the jerseys because she had such fond memories of the 2022 season and could not “believe we got to have him in our jersey.” And a little bit "just in case."
After the news broke Tuesday, Shayla tweeted about the Correa jersey she had bought, and Talkin Baseball, a baseball podcast by Jomboy Media, posted her tweet on its Instagram account.
As it turns out, Shayla will have a lot more use for her Correa jerseys from now on than just reliving happy former memories, and Correa will be in that Twins jersey for a long time. 
“I am so happy. Happy for us. Happy for the players. Happy that in addition to his on-the-field work, we get a great baseball mind and a wonderful leader.” Shayla said. “I had a hunch from the beginning that this wasn’t gonna be a one-year deal.”