Now THAT is how they pack the fans into the Dome. A very heads-up move by the Twins marketing folks. I will most certainly get to the Dome on Tuesday, by any means nessicary.

Bat-girl, shouldn't the Twins pay you some kind of fee or some royalties or something? At least some form of credit or recognition? After all, the "Santana for President" idea was yours a long time ago and it seems like the Twins' publicity people stole your idea and made it their own. Just a thought.

It's a great promotion, and I hope BatGirl takes it as a huge compliment, but is that really the best the Twins in-house marketing folks can come up with? It's just a bad, bad design. The flaws number almost too many to list, but highlights would include:

1. Basic design resembles the logos of the Montreal Expos and the Texas Rangers. Which would be great if the Twins played in Montreal or Texas.

2. "Santana" and "for" are exactly the same size, which is silly, since "for" is a much less important word in this setting. But it also means that the white type in the red part reaches only halfway to the button's edge, creating an empty arc of negative space. If that's how big the letters are going to be, then Johan's photo should be bigger.

3. Why is it "Santana for President" in the first place? Are there really THAT many folks wearing Santana/Nathan merchandise that the average fan will get the joke of the crossed-out "president"? I doubt it, and the election-year tie-in is pretty tenuous. Instead, it should just say "Santana for Cy Young." Or "Justice for Johan: Cy Young 2004" or something.

4. Five words, three fonts, one typographical disaster.

5. The stars manage to be both too large and too small to balance the various bits of text.

And while we're at it, how about making a special Johan Santana cap with the T in TC replaced with a Y, to make it a CY hat? That would be something. The button, sadly, is not.

Yeah I saw that in the Strib yesterday too and my thoughts were that Batgirl's Santana/Nathan logo is much better. I am not sure if they were trying to get a 50's feel for the design or what, but it is waaaaaaay too busy.

Props to the Twins for knowing a good idea when they see it, then stealing it. I have to agree that the execution, however, is sorely lacking. Whatever Twins employee prowls this site and brought the idea back to his or her corporate masters, deliver them this message: You can steal Batgirl's ideas, but you will never replace her! You aren't clever enough!

What a monumental rip off!!

My Santana/Nathan '04 jersey and bumper sticker are due to arrive on Friday (finally!), which will be two days too late to sport them during Wednesday night's game, which I already have tickets for. Oh, well.

What is the story for the next campaign rally? Is it still on Sunday?

It's not the prettiest button I have seen - but give them an 'A' for effort to get butts in the stands - even if they did pilfer the idea from Batgirl!

I will be there on Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday (with my fellow crime fighter She-Ra) and Sunday(right She-Ra???) - Have to get in as many games we only have 9 left at home before the playoffs!Hope to run into some batlings along the way!

peace -
Wonder Woman

Do we want bring any of the Twins marketing people or other officials here? This has been at the back of my mind since the inception and maybe I shouldn't ask this but... What do Batgirl's lawyers say about the Santana/Nathan merchandise and it's legality? I'm just curious if there's some sort of legal loophole that allows using the names of major league players on unlicensed merchandise? I've been scared. I have. We live in a litigious society, we do.

Dearest Mr. P,

On Cafe Press, you are not allowed to use the images of public figures, but there is no problem with names. Batgirl saw other baseball sites using names of MLB players for merchandise.

Sincerely,
Batgirl

Wonder Woman-I'm for sure going to tomorrow, Friday, and to Sunday's games (Sunday's being the next campaign outing). I don't know where you're sitting, but if it's lower general keep an eye out for me Tuesday in section 141. Otherwise, I'll be sure to run into you and everyone else Sunday.

Question about Santana/Nathan merchandise:
How long did it take others to get theirs? My credit card has already been charged and I got an email saying that my merchandise was sent on August 26th, yet I haven't gotten it yet. Granted, Friday would have been 10 business days (with Labor Day in the mix), but I'm curious how long it took everyone else to get their stuff. Who do I contact if I don't get it soon?

Hopefully, MY official BOD will be back in the lineup tonight! Not like it matters, Monday night classes suck!

Dear Skorch -

My bum will be firmly planted in my season ticket seats for tomorrow - in 117 - my mom and I will be engrossed in a game of Twingo - she can't get enough of it!
Well then most likely we shall meet on Sunday since She-Ra and I plan on attending this campaign rally! Unless of course we are kidnapped by aliens!
See you then or maybe sooner!

Much peace -
Wonder Woman

I got mine surprisingly quickly. It only took about 4-5 days after I got the confirmation e-mail. I don't know why I lucked out, but I did.

Dear ForMorneau -

My stuff took forever and a day - then I had many problems with one item!
But eventually I got everything I ordered!
Hopefully you will get your items on time!

much peace -
Wonder Woman

Dear Ms. Morneau,

Batgirl's stuff did too, alas. You can track your packages on the Cafepress site, perhaps that will help?

Love,
BG

Heh Bat-Girl,
There's some honor in being first in the hearts of your postermates. Being second in the button race leaves the Twins looking a little sheepish. To those of us in the know we'll remember who first buttered our bread. tWINs.

Dear Batgirl,

I received my campaign merchandise in the mail today too.

Silly me, I was under the impression that the auto stickers would be window clings, so I could apply them on the inside of the car windows, allowing all to see which candidates I support, without the fear of having them stolen.

Though these are very nice, they really aren't what I expected them to be, and I don't think they'll stick on the outside of the car very well in this hot, humid weather, nor closer to the election in the cold/snowy weather.

I'll find a way to make them work with the Twins window clings I have, but I thought I would mention it if you design other merchandise in the future. Perhaps we could request true window cling type things that can be displayed on the inside of the car windows.

But the buttons and magnets are wonderful too, and I intend to share them with all my friends as we watch those Bitch Sox be forced to sit down over the course of the next few days!!

I can hardly wait to see if they decide to retaliate against Torii for the infamous slide...

Though some of their fans want to see him beaten to a pulp in a bench clearing brawl, somehow I doubt the team even has the desire to bother.

Because truly, there really isn't any point anymore, is there?

bubblemint

The bumperstickers stick just fine - mine has not been stolen - nor does it show signs of falling off and the weather has been varied since I have had it- and my car sits outside all night and all day

Pohlad's giving to Bush!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=11&u=/ap/20040913/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_bush_baseball_owners_1

I'm fine - at this point in my life - with Carl being so tight-pursed that we have to keep Lohse in the starting 5, I really am, but when he starts throwing his money around willy-nilly I get angry!

I'm getting the Batgirl version. It's just more patriotic!

Dear Wonder Woman,

I didn't order the bumper sticker.
What I chose were the small blue oval shaped stickers, and the small white rectangular stickers. They really don't have an adhesive, as they are meant to be placed on glass, and are easily peeled off.

They'd be perfect if the sticky side was on the printed side, so they'd be window clings.

I will find a way to make do...I just thought Batgirl should know for future reference.

But, now I may decide to order a bumper sticker after all, so it's good to know that it will stick well.

Thanks,

bubblemint

I'll be at the game! Yeah! Not sure where we're sitting as I just made plans a few minutes ago, but I will be in my campaign shirt. Wheeeeee!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I don't know if the VP will be asked to pitch. He's been working hard lately!

Oh hey, Batgirl, looks like Santana has all the recognition he needs!

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/sports/baseball/12chass.html?pagewanted=1

TR is still peddling the "our team was better with him in the bullpen" line, I see. He'd sound a lot smarter if he'd start saying, "We knew he could be brilliant, but we were trying to protect his arm."

Good to see Santana getting his props in the New York Times, though.

I see well I bought the white rectangular sticker and it sits on my bumper just fine - they have adhesive - I think it if they were meant to be window clings - it would have said so in the description.

Dearest Batgirl,

Thank you for putting my mind at ease. I will remove this file from the devil's food batter immediately. Also, I must remember to cancel the helicopter.

love always,

mmmarkiep

Dear Wonder Woman,

The small white sticker, 5 x 3 inches, is the one I have. It does not have adhesive, as it is made of vinyl, and pulls cleanly off of windows without leaving any residue behind. Perhaps the larger rectangular one measuring 10 x 3 has adhesive. I didn't order that one, though, as I said before, thanks to your recommendation I may decide to do so.

If you do have the smaller white one, perhaps it sticks better to golden chariots of female superheroes than it does to plastic bumpers of vehicles driven by mere mortals like myself.

My goal here was to ask Batgirl to consider the option for window clings on any future merchandise. I hope she will consider my request.

bubblemint

I have the small 5x3 sticker - it has adhesive - perhaps I was fortunate - because it has been stuck to my bumper for a while now -

Have a pleasant day -

Perhaps the merchandise changed between the time you ordered and the time I did, for mine is woefully lacking in adhesive...

You have a pleasant day as well... ;-)

My dearest Ms. Mint,

If the product is not satisfactory, please do return it to Cafe Press. There is no call for them to get away with inferior Santana/Nathan merchandise.

Sincerely,
BG

Dear Batgirl,

The products are not unsatisfactory at all. They are very nice. I will find a use for them, but would like to see window cling options in the future.

Perhaps when Boo Rincon runs for Senate against Norm Coleman next time around.

Yours,

bubblemint

I saw that, too, and immediately thought:

RIP OFF.

I'm glad I thought of it first! ;)

E