Ah, Twins Fest is growing near, and the Twins are gathering, gathering, coming closer and closer to Batgirl. The air at the Batquarters crackles with excitment, and the Batkitties have major static issues. Reports come in of Twins sightings from hither and thither--yes, yes! They are in Minnesota, now, the wagons are circling now, bringing our boys home.
Carlos Silva, for instance, has been recently seen in Albert Lea getting his español on with some immigrant and exchange students in Albert Lea.
Minutes later, the Twins bus pulled up in front of the school. Out stepped Silva, accompanied by Twins catcher Joe Mauer, former Twins outfielder Tony Oliva and TC, the team's mascot. Wearing his No. 52 jersey over his street clothes, Silva greeted the students, then stood back as Oliva, the old pro, delivered a speech in Spanish.When Oliva finished, he repeated the message in English for the benefit of Kyung-a Lim, 15, a foreign exchange student from South Korea.
"Here in America, if you don't have a high school diploma, it's very hard for you to get a job," Oliva said. "You finish high school, you'll feel a lot better. Nobody can take it away from you. Learn something. This is a good opportunity for you."
When Oliva finished, he introduced Silva, who was greeted with applause.
"Not everybody gets the opportunity to study in the United States," Silva told the students. "Take advantage of those opportunities. If you let them go, it's going to be harder."
Then the players fielded questions. Mauer, who grew up in St. Paul, confessed to being better at math than Spanish, "but I learn a lot from Carlos and Johan," he said.
"Don't worry about it," Oliva chuckled. "Two years from now you're going to be perfect."
New father Matthew LeCory (Can't type his name right, might as well go with it.) has been recently seen charming the audience in Fergus Falls at a Twins Caravan stop with poopy diaper stories:
LeCroy told the crowd at Tuesday's Winter Caravan stop in Fergus Falls that he's learned to change diapers -- "even the nasty ones" -- and he's got a special trick for dealing with them. "They have this invention called wipes," he deadpanned, "and I'll use a whole box of 'em if I have to."He'll get to repeat the fun -- times two -- next fall, as the LeCroys are scheduled to adopt a second child in October. But by that time, he'll be an old pro at the daddy thing.
"It's funny, because now I'm real comfortable with raising a child, but early on I had no idea what I was doing," LeCroy said. "Now that I do, it's a lot easier. It's just fun now to see them smile, and they're so innocent -- I love it."
I have heard from my Batsources that the caravan stops have been just mob scenes, though Batgirl can only assume most people were there to check on the status of Joe Mauer's knee. Can anyone report in? Was there actual walking? What about bending, did anyone see any bending?
Posted by Batgirl at January 27, 2005 12:00 AMWhat day are most of the Batlings planning on being at Twinsfest? I would like to go when folks are there!
Gotta pick up my annual birthday present (Twins Home Opener tickets!)
Win Twins!
Posted by: talldrinkowater at January 27, 2005 04:02 AMMiraclegal can assure you that the knee bends, walks and squats as she has seen this last month with her own eyes.
Posted by: fmmiraclegal at January 27, 2005 06:59 AMwe saw Mauer down here in Rochester on Monday night, and there was actual walking and, therefore, bending of the knee. when Dick Bremer introduced Mauer he jokingly offered him a hand up the 2 small steps to his seat. Joe later admitted he didn't need the assistance (followed by rounds of applause, standing ovations, hoots, catcalls, and a delightful celebratory parade through the middle of the city with Joe on our shoulders, and lasted well into the night). and i think i was less worried about his knee than i was about his wrist. he looked like he was in a little bit of pain from signing so many autographs, and he was only halfway through our line on Monday night! i'm thinking we should get Mike Redmond to go on the Caravan to stand in as Mauer for the autograph part. that way we won't have to have Redmond stand in for Mauer for the catching stuff during the season.
Posted by: TwinkieJunkie at January 27, 2005 07:41 AMHOORAY BENDING!!!!! It's nice to have a flexible chairman-it definately helps get things accomplished.
Posted by: TBird41 at January 27, 2005 09:51 AMKare11 had a little news piece on Jo-Jo and his "Quick Swing" thingy. He was at Cretin Derham and he was swinging the bat, which usually calls for some bending of the knees. Hooray. And he looked wonderful. Wish I would have been able to see him in person...
Posted by: ForMorneau at January 27, 2005 09:59 AMSkorch--
Thanks for the tip from the other day:
"I've spent the money I would have used on Twins games to sign on as a founding member of KCMP 89.3FM. Those of you in the Twin Cities area that miss Rev 105 should give it a listen."
Programmed it into my car radio yesterday and it's great.
Posted by: TwinsGoddess at January 27, 2005 10:33 AMRE: TwinsFest. I'll be there Sunday. I think TwinsGoddess said Sunday as well.
I'm having a little trouble getting into 89.3 The Current. (or is that Currant? it's a berry good station?) It's been a little ... slow ... when I've tuned in.
Posted by: mmmarkiep at January 27, 2005 10:39 AMSomeone made a comment yesterday about any comments that Doug made would make backpage news with the NY papers...
Well, Dougie's trade was backpage news in the S'Trib today. I thought it was kinda funny...
Batgirl, will you have a booth at TwinsFest?
Posted by: Haplo at January 27, 2005 11:47 AMI hope Matty Ruxpin's been hitting the gym and running some wind sprints this off-season - we need some pop out of the DH/C/1b position.
Pinch-hit homeruns are great, but consistency wins championships.
Posted by: Haplo at January 27, 2005 11:51 AMDoug wouldn't give the ball back, so the Red Sox trade him for a bag of balls...interesting.
Posted by: St. Paul Saint at January 27, 2005 11:59 AMDoug has decided to lend the ball to the evil red sox for a year according to the quickie on ESPN
Posted by: mike at January 27, 2005 12:43 PMTwinsGoddess - Happy to be of service. I've been listening to it every free moment I can be near a radio (with the exception of a little while last night when I was listening to a CD I bought because I really liked something I'd heard earlier in the day).
Mmmarkiep - Have you tried adjusting the velocity knob on your radio? After fiddling with mine Ani DiFranco turned into Slayer, which was pretty awesome. But seriously, when are you tuning in? If it's between 5-9AM you're running into The Morning Show with Dale Connelly and Jim Ed Poole who, although I love their show, don't easily mesh with what the station plays the other 20 hours. I've heard quite an eclectic range of genres with a focus on alternative. I've yet to hear anything unapologetically \m/ METAL!!! \m/ but there's been plenty of other interesting picks by the DJs. That's always a nice touch, having the DJs pick the music and not a computer.
As an aside, my condolences to those who were fans of the previous 89.3FM occupants, WCAL, as I understand they also had knowledgeable DJs that picked their own programs.
Posted by: Skorch at January 27, 2005 12:59 PMI am meeting Mauer tonight...SO excited!!
Posted by: Stacy at January 27, 2005 01:49 PMTo share a moment of classic (2002) Twins Caravan:
It was during my senior year at Carleton College. The group we got consisted of Torii, Bert, and Dougie-Poo. The impression I had gotten was that they had been at elementary schools for weeks, so I think they were glad to have a moment away from screaming children. Bert took advantage of his opportunity to talk to college age kids by responding to just about every question with some anecdote involving beer.
Afterwords, I was able to get each of them to sign a ball I caught during BP the previous season. Bert's signature was nice, but normal. Torii's signature was pristine and perhaps the nicest signature I've ever seen. As for Doug, well, it looks like it starts with a "D", after that it was mostly scribbles. Poor Doug, it must be hard to write that many letters over and over.
Posted by: Greek House at January 27, 2005 04:18 PMEXCITING news from meeting Mauer, Silva, Oliva, Dick, TR---MAUER said he liked my mom's Santana/Nathan '04 pin...so she gave it to him since we have a ton.
So...Mauer is an official Batling! WOO HOO!
Posted by: Stacy at January 27, 2005 08:25 PMStacy - WOOT! That is freakin awesome!
Posted by: Sam at January 27, 2005 09:09 PMI have to delurk and agree with Sam. That is FLIPPING awesome Stacy!!! Yay for Bat-verting players.
Posted by: Christy at January 27, 2005 09:54 PMThat blows my mind that Mauer has a campaign button. Does that mean that he and Batgirl are "pinned"?
Posted by: Goober at January 27, 2005 11:16 PMDearest Ms. Stacy,
You are magnificent. Did you find Joe as marriage-worthy in person? Inquiring Batgirl's want to know!
Love,
BG
Bending, stretching, squatting... What I want to know is... does the knee predict the weather? Can it call the next blizzard?
Posted by: Mimiru at January 28, 2005 01:26 AMStacy,
Did you get him to sign the adoption papers I faxed to you? Seriously though, congrats on your fantastic experience...frankly I am shocked you are able to type!
YankeeFan
Posted by: YankeeFan at January 28, 2005 08:13 AMDearest Batgirl and Batlings,
Yes, Joe is just as marry- worthy in person, lol. He seems to have gotten better looking even since I met him for the first time last June. He was a HUGE fan of the Santana/Nathan pin, seriously. Dick said that the 2 most common questions he is asked are 1. "How is your knee?" Answer=great. 2. "Do you have a girlfriend?" Answer=no- SCORE, haha.
YankeeFan- I was too excited and forgot to take the adoption papers with, sorry- lol.
I have finally gotten myself a little together and am able to breathe again, thanks. :)
Hello
Anyone else distrubed to read in PPress today that Grady plans to have Lyle pitch the HO???
Please give me the Pres or Rad.
mas-
Maybe we'll be lucky and Lyle has left the Twins in shame, and Kyle will pitch this year. I'm holding out for that. Because, as much as I like to complain about Lyle, I do still remember Kyle fondly. And he did show up to a few games last year.
Here's to KYLE in 2005!
Beth
(I'd rather have Bradke or the President, though.)
"Friends, Romans, Woodburians, lend me your ear. For it is time for loyal and faithful Twins fans to band together and stop the spread of Red Soxism ... You must latch onto our boys like milfoil on a boat prop ... For this is your state. This is your team. And this is Twins Territory."
-- From a forthcoming Twins radio commercial
Batgirl, have they been hiring you to write their commercials? Brilliant!
Posted by: cowdisciple at January 28, 2005 10:28 AM