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What is your level of devotion to the cult hero of the 2019 Minnesota Twins? To start with, it's probably not enough, but please gauge your fandom with this exclusive Twins Daily guide.The Stages of Willians Astudillo Fandom: Stage 1: Enjoy the sight of a stouter-than-average athlete who never strikes out, never walks, and rumbles home from second barely ahead of Byron Buxton. You smile when you think of him. Stage 2: Pore over his stats from 2018, revel in his blistering start to 2019, and do a little shimmy in public. In front of people. Shame is for the weak. Stage 3: Buy Astudillo shirsey. Stage 4: Get legitimately, hands-start-shaking angry at anyone who even mildly questions Astudillo’s ability to maintain this level of performance or, God forbid, doubts his status as an everyday player. Call into sports radio like your Uncle Pete even though you swore you’d never be like Uncle Pete. You never get on the air, but you know they know you’re onto them. Stage 5: Become editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus. Stage 6: Buy Astudillo jersey. Stage 7: Look up what Astudillo’s favorite food is. Quit your job, enroll in Le Cordon Bleu to become an expert in the meal. Make the dish. Leave it at the front door of Target Field in an insulated, airtight container with a note attached reading, “KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, WILLIANS! BIG FAN!” Stage 8: Co-host a weekly podcast with the editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus. Stage 9: Buy game-worn Astudillo jersey, hat, pants, sanitary socks. Wear them around the office. Demand your co-workers call you “Willians Jr.” They will respect you. Stage 10: Attend home game. Observe if fellow fans are properly excited about every Astudillo at-bat. Gently correct bad behavior. Do not take phones away from people if they’re not paying attention, the usher will blame you despite how correct you are. Stage 11: Attend road game. Repeat. Be prepared to defend yourself. Turn yourself into a tiny ball to limit the target area for potential assailants, ushers. Stage 12: Buy turtle costume. Paint “64” on the shellback. Use it as an everyday outfit, only washing on off-days. Demand your co-workers call you “La Tortuga of the Pines.” They will respect you this time. Click here to view the article

Aaron tells me tickets are almost gone for this event and sales are cutting off soon! Join the TD and BP gang at a Twins game AND hear live from Twins GM Thad Levine right after the trade deadline! Baseball Prospectus is coming to Minneapolis! You're invited to join them and members of the Twins Daily community for a pregame Q&A with Twins GM Thad Levine, a meet-and-greet with Baseball Prospectus writers and then watch a Twins game with the whole gang. And tickets are on sale right now! Here are the details and everything that is included: The event is Saturday, August 5th. The game is at 6:05 but everyone will gather at 3:00 inside Target Field for the meet-and-greet and Q&A sessions.The Q&A session will be with members of the Minnesota Twins front office, including General Manager Thad Levine, followed by one with BP staff members, including editor (and Gleeman and the Geek host) Aaron Gleeman.Twins Daily members Parker Hageman and John Bonnes will also be part of the panel, and we hope we can get the whole gang there to chat Twins before and during the game.The "during the game" part means you also get a ticket to the Twins game that night in the right field grandstand.You'll also get a special coupon for $15 to be used toward a new Baseball Prospectus Premium or Super Premium subscription or your next Premium or Super Premium renewal.Finally, bring your kids because they qualify for a free back-to-school themed giveaway.The cost for everything - the ticket to the game, the $15 coupon plus the special event beforehand - is just $45. They went on sale at BP a week or so ago, so they're starting to run short, but they still have some available for the Twins Daily community, so I suggest you go grab them this week. The event is likely to sell out, and sales will need to be cut off soon regardless. There is no way to get these at the door, so this is your chance! Grab them here! Two of your favorite sites are coming together to celebrate the Twins at Target Field. How could you not be there? Click here to view the article