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Pitcher's DualJune 16, 2007 1:49 PM
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For some reason, whenever I go to a Twins game at the Metrodome, something amazing happens.
This past Wednesday, I went to my first Minnesota Twins game of the season. I should be a bit ashamed as this year I'm a season ticket holder. Anyhoo, it was the first return of the Atlanta Braves to the Metrodome since the 1991 World Series, which was likely one of the best game six/game seven finishes of any World Series.
Carlos Silva was pitching Wednesday, and the Twins started out strong. They have been notorious this year for getting behind early, but that wouldn't be a problem in this game. They jumped out to an early lead, but Silva was the highlight of the game. He gave up only a few hits in throwing a complete game shutout. As a former pitcher myself, I can really appreciate the accomplishment.
The first really amazing play I saw at the Metrodome was during the Minnesota Twins vs. the Oakland A's back in 1991 or so. Ricky Henderson was on third and I can't remember who was pitching or at the plate. Henderson holds the record for most stolen bases in the Majors, and the base I saw him steal was the hardest of them all. Right as the pitcher began his windup, Henderson took off down the third base line. He successfully stole home.
Wow.
Years later I was sitting just above first base in the lower level as the Twins took on the Toronto Blue Jays. Roger Clemens was pitching for the Jays at the time. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the game until I realized in the last few innings about how many strikeouts Clemens was throwing. He would end the game striking out more than 20 batters.
Wow.
Probably the most impressive was one that wouldn't make any highlight reel on Sportscenter, but if you really understand baseball, you'd know what a gem it was.
It was at a Twins vs. Yankees game and was the first in the series where Chuck Knoblauch made his return with the Yanks out in left field because he was having problems throwing to first from second base. Most people would remember this series because of the absolute hell the Twins fans put him through. The second game of the series was actually stopped because so much booze and water and debris was thrown at him out in left field.
The first game was somewhat tame, but did include an entire row of fans in white shirts, letter by letter across the front reading "HEY CHUCK YOU SUCK" and another old man holding a sign that read "Suck my Knoblauch". It's a real shame that people were captured up in that, because they missed a flat out gem of a game.
Andy Pettite was pitching for the Yankees and Brad Radke was throwing for the Twins. I'm not sure how often it has happened, but both pitchers threw complete games. Only three or four hits were given up in the entire game. The only score was a homerun by Doug Mankiewicz. Final score: Twins over Yankees, 1-0. A two or three hit shutout by Radke, and a two or three hit complete game by Pettite.
Wow.
I wonder what's in store for the next Twins game I attend. If anybody wants to see something amazing happen, you might want to make sure you have me in tow.
Summer FunJune 13, 2007 1:33 PM
Wow. So I haven't updated the blog in a LONG time. I've been so freaking busy I just haven't even had time to think about it. But holy cow, has this been an AWESOME month so far.
I'll go over the big three:
Kickball
My kickball team, Panama Red, continues to steamroll through the season. Last night we were down the entire game. In the second-to-last inning with two outs, I managed to drive in the tying run, then MVP (self-given nickname) blasted a homerun for a 5-4 victory. I'm batting 1.000 the last two games going 8-for-8 with five singles and three doubles. A few weeks before I was a triple away from kicking the cycle. Not bad, huh?
The Designer is also playing on the team and has become our shut-down second basewoman. She played volleyball through high school and is pretty freaking coordinated when it comes to kickball. She's also been tearing it up at the plate too, getting on base a lot and scoring us some runs.
Big Red Machine stands at 5-1-1, in second place for the city championship.
Memorial Day
The trip up to Bay Lake outside of Brainerd was a spectacular weekend! It was the first time in a few years I've spent more than a day with my sister and family, and the first time in several years that I've spent more than a day with my mom.
The weather was only really bad one day, but we managed just fine. I played 9 holes of monsoon golf then got killed in every board game imaginable by my niece. Otherwise we cruised around the lake on the boat, played golf, ate, drank, and most importantly just relaxed.
My "moment" up North came in the form of an unatainable bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. As everybody was huddled around a campfire down by the beach listening to a guitar player and eating S'mores, I went back to the cabin that The Designer and I were staying in to retrieve the bottle that I managed to keep hidden from her. I pulled her aside, briefly explained how I was saving that bottle until somebody meant enough to me to share it.
If any of you have seen the movie Sideways, the next thing was very much like the end. Sitting next to the lake and the fire, listening to music and enjoying eachother's company, we proceeded to drink that entire bottle out of styrafoam cups. It was the best bottle of wine I've ever had.
Memorial Day was one of the best weekends I've had in a very long time.
Man Weekend On The Iron Range
Last weekend might rival Memorial Day weekend. Four of us, two friends and my father, went up to the Iron Range to play golf on three of the best golf courses in the country. We played the Giant's Ridge courses on Friday and Saturday, then hit up Fortune Bay on Sunday.
A find for anybody who goes up to the Iron Range: Eat at a small carribean restaurant called the Whistling Bird in Gilbert, MN. The food is phenomenal. John and I had both been before, and our recommendation went over very well with the other two.
Rob brought his sailboat with him as well and we hit the waters of Lake Vermilion on Saturday afternoon. Right when we put the sail up, the wind that was blowing hard the entire day came to a dead stop. Oh well. We lit up the BBQ and sat out in the middle of Big Bay grilling up our dinner.
After some food, we motored around the East end of the lake, including a brief fly-by of the Lion's Den.
Golf, booze, sailing, Vermilion, hot tubbing, great food...Yeah, not a heck of a lot to complain about, huh?
...
So that's been the past few weekends in a nutshell. There's been a lot of other stuff going on as well, but it's all a blur. This coming Father's Day weekend is actually my only weekend for some rest. The weekend after I get to head to Lake City, home of The Designer, and prove to her family that I am in fact a real person.
The fun continues!
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This is the word barf of a guy named Bob (Ethics major turned Software Engineer) who lives in Minneapolis.
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