Zach Koenig

This is the time of year when baseball is pretty dead. Other than Rob Manfred throwing out random suggestions, executives are shut down for the holidays, the NFL is full-bore, and fans are just trying to enjoy two Wednesday holidays (yuck). So, it seems as good a time as any for a “personal side quest” post.

We sure do seem to love our Minnesota Twins voices here at Twinkie Town! With Herb Carneal eternally employed on the radio airwaves and Dick Bremer similarly so on the visual spectrum, Bob Casey was the vocal steward of the MN live baseball experience. “Kirbyyyyyyyy Puckett!” (and other fun oddities) resonate through the ages.

Happy New Year Twinkie Town! Alas, I spent my New Year’s Eve wearing a path from bedroom to bathroom battling the worst norovirus I’ve had since, well, perhaps the start of this millennium.

Since its 2010 inaugural, Target Field has remained in the top third—if not significantly higher—of active MLB ballparks by fan popularity lists. Wedged into a site where no one thought it would fit and butted up against an incinerator, the Minnesota Twins ’ current home endured some initial skepticism. But once the gates opened? A beautiful place to enjoy MN’s sterling summer months under the blue skies and sunshine at a ballgame.

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There’s just something about your first home. It may not be the greatest plot or structure, but it is often where the heart resides. Such is the case with Metropolitan Stadium—home to the Minnesota Twins from 1961-1981. It’s where folks—like my father —caught their first glimpse of Tony, the Killer & Carew and fell in love with baseball under Minnesota’s glorious blue summer skies.

For most of the 1984 season, the Minnesota Twins looked like a team ready to compete for a division title. Alas, the malady which would come to be known as Ron Davis Syndrome ™ struck. As such, the subsequent year that brought us Back to the Future, Nintendo Entertainment System, Rocky IV, and yours truly was viewed with some optimism. Alas, it ended up more of a return to mediocrity.

Judge not, lest ye be judged (a huge baseball fan)

(Author’s Note: I pinky-promise this piece is not a direct response to Ben’s great top prospect outlook. As you’ll read, I’m fine with prospect excitement—so long as dreaming on the future doesn’t mean punting on the present)

Not many individuals have contributed to Minnesota baseball as much as Paul Molitor: Graduate of Cretin High School (St. Paul)—Golden Gopher hardball standout—Hall of Fame playing career (mostly with the Milwaukee Brewers )—three seasons with the Twins ( one where he collected 225 hits for a.341 BA at age 39!)— Twins manager (2015-2018)—every Twins coaching or instructional gig imaginable for hitting/baserunning. The Ignitor, indeed!