Squirrel

Low season you won't have as many issues with the airport or car rentals. But there likely won't be as many flights in and out at that time, either, so do your usual research. And traffic won't be as bad then. And costs of hotels and other options will be less. But watch out for hurricanes!

Don't the Twins players have some kind of charity golf thing on their off day? Or maybe they do that earlier before games start. Can't remember. One thing to note about seating ... if you buy seats in the 2nd level (sections 203-206) on the 1st base side, about half way up and higher ... you stay in the shade for most/all of the game. Nothing in that stadium is that far away so it's not that 'nosebleedy.' After years of going to games there, that has become my 'preferred' area for day games. While the average temps might be around 80, towards the latter part of March I'd up that. Combined with sitting for a couple hours in the sun, surrounded by other bodies, it can feel even warmer. But if it's your first time there, get seats anywhere; you'll likely want to wander around anyway. Night games, of course I prefer the lower section. Do they still sell standing room tickets? I don't see that option, maybe they do that only after a game is officially sold out. But if they do offer that, you can get into the stadium, find a place, and 'scavenge' someone's seats when they leave the game early, or don't show up. Also, getting to the park on game day ... plan ahead and leave early! Parking fills up fast and you don't want to be one of those cars in line out on Six Mile Cypress into the early innings trying to get into the game. I can't stress it enough how bad traffic is that time of year. I've said it many times already and likely will again.

As for finding a place to stay, try also to find a weekly condo rental. When you figure out the 'daily' rate it's not really that much more than a hotel, is more comfortable and saves a ton on eating out. As I have a place there, I really don't know what agencies to go through, but it is often a nicer alternative to a hotel, especially if you are a family or a group of friends. And they do have a public transportation system in Fort Myers (Lee County | Southwest Florida Government). However, it's not all that convenient to rely on a bus, and they don't run as consistently as they do in larger metro areas. A car is your best bet. If you are an avid bicyclist you can get around well enough that way if you aren't far out, but you would still want a car in the evening or if it rains. And I wouldn't recommend staying in Naples. There is plenty to do in and around Ft. Myers, imo and depending on what you are looking to 'do.' Way more expensive to stay in Naples and a pain coming back and forth to the stadium. Traffic that time of year is PAINFUL. RSW is a growing airport (they built a new terminal a few years ago and are working on another runway) and serves international flights as well. I agree that leaving there in Spring you need to allow extra time to get through TSA. They've reworked it quite a bit so it's organized well enough, but is slow. I'd recommend getting there 2 hrs before departure. Again, high season is very congested everywhere. If you can find a better deal both in flights and car rentals elsewhere, I'd do that. I fly in/out of RSW frequently because I have a place there.

200 level seats are great, imo. As the above poster said, nothing is really all that far from the field. And if you go to the first base side, and sit about half way up or higher (row 10 or above), you stay in the shade. The only time I go for lower level seating any more is for night games. Lawn seating seems to be popular and not that bad, but pay attention to the game. I've seen people get pelted by line drive fouls there ... as I've looked on from drink rail seats. Bring towels or blankets to sit on for lawn seats. The 200 seats are bleacher seats ... I always bring a cushion of some sort to sit on; even a folded up beach towel is helpful. And it can also get tight if there are lots of large people in your row. If I'm on the end, by the height of the game, if I don't 'hold my ground' I can get somewhat 'half-cheeked' on the bench. But my experience is by inning 6-7 enough people leave that there's always somewhere to move to if that happens. Also, if he wants to hold out until game day to buy tickets, there is always someone selling tickets; although I wouldn't recommend this on Yankee day. The other thing I've done is go early and wait until an hour before the game. That's when they release any unsold handicap seating. They are the last row behind the lower section, and are comfortable, padded, high-quality folding type seats; more comfortable than the lower section seats, imo. You will be in the sun for the whole game, but being as no one is directly behind you, more air circulates there so it's very tolerable. I've done this even on technically 'sold out' games but I guess I would be remiss not to say this is not a guarantee. But sitting in the 204-207 sections, about row 10 or above ... really not bad and is my preference over all. One thing about parking ... it fills up fast. Go early! I can't stress this enough. I've seen cars in line waiting to get into an already full lot and being directed to an adjacent lot into the early part of the game. Even handicap parking fills up fast and can make it very difficult. (My dad requires handicap parking.) And there is enough to see and do that going early is not really a hardship. And the traffic around there that time of year is thick. Even if you think you are allowing enough time, allow for more. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to message me. I've been to lots of ST games there.

As I have my tickets for the week I will be there, I was wondering if anyone else would be going to Spring Training. I know many of you probably think, 'Why? The Twins won't be great this year, why bother?' To me it doesn't matter. I love Spring Training for so many reasons. It breaks the drought and brings on a new seasons of games, and hope, for one. Another, it's a unique baseball experience. Three, it's a chance to see former, current, and soon-to-be players working out. Whether or not the Twins are predicted to have a good or bad year, it's a chance to get 'up close and personal' while scoping out who will make the cut as well as the future team. If you go early in training, before the games start, you can wander from field to field watching different workouts. I once saw Rod Carew lay down bunt after bunt after bunt in, well, I guess, bunting practice; watched Gardy and TK do infield drills. And of course various people in batting practice. Just wandering around at that time is a great time to see everyone who came to Spring Training with hopes of making the cut. When games start up, in the first games of the month you'll see a lot of players and pitchers on the field. Pitchers will go 1, 2 or 3 innings in the beginning, while players will be rotated in throughout the game after a certain number of innings played. Towards the end of the month, most of the decisions will be made, you'll see pitchers going longer, and players staying deeper in the games, but there will always be the the final cut and players working to make it. It's just a great baseball experience, imo. So, I will be at the games on Mar. 18, 20, 22. If any of you are new to ST, and have questions, I'd be happy to help if I can, although I'm sure there are likely a few more here who are 'in the know' better than me. This will be my 13th ST in a row (I said 12 in another thread but it's 13), and 15-20 over all. My family started coming down when the Twins made the move to Ft. Myers in 1991. Anyway ... just eager for things to get underway!

Do you mean Saturday the 12th? And where was this posted?

My parents have a place here. No hotel/transportation needed. I have been to spring training 15-20 times ... this will be my 12th year in a row ... so I kind of know my way around at this point. But thanks for the added advice. I like tickets in a certain area, so don't always like to just show up, although I have done that, too. And I try to bring my parents to a game or two which requires handicapped seating. So ... if anyone knows ... let me know.

Anyone know when they go on sale? I can't find anything on the Twins site.

The first step to a solution is to address the means, now, and then work on the whys. This is what happens ... people talk and talk and talk, debate and argue, and nothing happens, nothing changes.

Agreed. But the thing is, we don't even know if he had this. Someone in the media was quick to throw it out there as a possibility, then wham, he has it and it was a cause or contributing factor when it just isn't/wasn't, even if he had it. In our thirst to have answers, the media responds very irresponsibly and now have created more problems where there were none before.

Then the classification is wrong. It's a neurological disorder. Perhaps it's 'classified' that way because of special needs those of autism may required, but it is not a mental illness. I have three good friends with kids with autism, to varying degrees, and they are livid with the media throwing that out there. And a colleauge of mine with Aspbergers.

Aspergers is NOT a mental illness and would NOT cause someone to do this. He may or may not have had it, but that is not a factor. Now anyone with autism will have yet another stigma to face.

People will rant about his for a while, then forget about it, except for those directly affected. And nothing will change, and nothing will get done, and nothing will improve because no one will agree on how to prevent it next time or want to spend tax dollars to implement anything that might help.

I wouldn't bet on that. Not saying I want Punto back, but I'm not certain he'd be worse than what we have.

Game 7, 1965 World Series

Just based on numbers, those claiming Christian denominations whose creeds declare the Bible as the "inspired Word of God" outnumbers those whose creeds declare the Bible as "unaltered (or some other form of direct/unchanged/etc.) Word of God" by nearly 3-1 in this country, and it's drastically more if you go worldwide. However, just like with guns, the loud talkers can persuade those who don't believe the Bible as literal to assume people are promoting evolution in ways that they simply are not doing. There are many in my area of South Dakota (essentially pheasant hunting mecca) who are easily persuaded that liberals are out to end hunting because some extreme talker said they are, and the possibility of such would so drastically impact their income that it is a huge issue. There are many out there who believe Christ was born December 25th as well and that he stayed out in a barn outside of town after being rejected for a room at a Best Western-esque hotel. None of that is true, but because their translation of the Bible says it, they don't believe anything else is even possible. It's always fun to ask fundamentalists to tell you about where the Old Testament came from -- who wrote it down and where did they get it from, and when. They base much of their lives on something that they don't know much about. Of course they are just trusting their leaders, who often have a pretty lucrative gig. Some would call that faith. I wouldn't, but some would.

Trading Mauer would be nothing but a lose-lose for the Twins. Not only would it be a PR nightmare, but the Twins would never get back enough to make it worth it. No way it happens.

Who will be next? Bruno? (And don't everyone say Molitor, I think that ship has sailed.) I have to think they already have a plan given the replacement of coaches, no extension, a team that won't be majorly improved next season.

As the saying goes ... it's 5 o' clock somewhere.

Speak for yourself ... some of us can get along with any animal.

I personally like how's it's evolved into science chat. (Okay, yes, bad pun intended.)

It's a predominantly male site and 'pissing contests' will happen; often. I just tend to avoid the threads that start smelling like the alleys of Chicago. Well, and sometimes I brave them for the sheer entertainment factor and don't take it too seriously.

I'm suddenly excited for Spring Training.

To me this just smacks of east coast arrogance. They won't offer enough and they'll think the Twins will still do it because they are the Red Sox. Yeah, I know ... there is no logical thought in that reasoning, but still. East coast arrogance.

This is great ... thanks ... never know what to get my nephews ... girls are so much easier to shop for! (Although there are some there I'd get for my nieces, too!)