One of the perks of being RD is the chance to go places, every now and again, that other people can only dream about.
The other night, for example, it was the finals of an online poker tournament at ultimatebet.net, in which your faithful member of the Batgirl bullpen competed for a trip to LA to play poker on TV. Alas, he fell short, taking a bad beat with his three-of-a-kind against a full house.
Friday afternoon, it was the Twins media luncheon at the Holiday Inn-Metrodome. RD shook hands with Harmon Killebrew, who looks younger every year, and soaked in the optimism and potential of the 2006 baseball season that runs amok when your team (any team) still has a mathematical chance to go 162-0.
By RD's reckoning, the main reason for optimism at the luncheon was the failure of the DVD player that was supposed to play the 2005 highlight video, which was shown during the recent Twins caravan. The blank screen reminded RD of the bases loaded/one out/Morneau at the plate/double play/inning over sequence that was the Boone, er, bane of last year's disappointment. A few other people, include some who get paid for their work by the Twins, said similar things.
There was a speech by Jerry Bell, the team president, who said there's no stadium issue this year at the Legislature because the Twins can't come up with a deal that costs the state any less than nothing -- a reference to the Hennepin County-tax that died during Session '05.
There was chat from TR, who said the changes made after Season '05 will be better for Gardy's heart -- a new third-base coach, infield coach, second baseman, third baseman, DH, right fielder and lefty reliever. TR's presentation was sober, acknowledging that the Bitch Sox had a championship season and a stellar off season, and that Cleveland had surpassed his nine on the field last season.
There was playful banter between Torii Hunter, who walked just fine, and Strib beat writer Lavelle E. Neal III. The short version: LENIII was interviewed by a TV type at a Fort Myers bar last year during the Aacdemy Awards.
Someone saw this going on and reported back to the Twins clubhouse, and to LENIII's writing peers throughout the country, all of whom were instructed to tell the scribe how good he looked when "I saw you on CNN."
LaVelle, it seems, has been soaking up the props over his TV time for almost a year now.
Today, he got busted.
"LaVelle," Torii told him, "you never were on CNN. It was a Fort Myers cable channel."
"You waited 11 months to tell me this?" LENIII asked.
LENIII good-naturedly threatened retribution, which seemed to come immediately when Torii, Rondell White and Gardy were asked the model the home PIXIE VESTS.
They stood on stage and did a Project Runway-style 180-degree turn. Torii added a little hand-on-hip, looking-over-his-shoulder action, looking a bit like Nick's model on the most recent Project Runway. (Gardy walked a bit like Nick's model, but that's another story.)
Gardy didn't give anyone a chance to praise the PIXIE VESTS.
"You will never see me in this again!" he announced.
More from Gardy, who should be asked about the PIXIE VESTS at every turn during TwinsFest this weekend:
**He liked when Torii took a swing at JustIncredible because he returned some passion to the clubhouse.
**He didn't like the passion that Lyle Lohse showed when he dented Gardy's office door.
**He thinks the three new guys -- Rondell, Castillo and TonyB -- will add clubhouse presence that was lacking last year.
**He missed Torii when he was at home recuperating from the broken ankle.
**He made it clear that grown men shouldn't wear PIXIE VESTS.
Enjoy TwinsFest!
RD, out.
Posted by Ron Davis at January 27, 2006 02:52 PMVery cool. I hope I never have to see Grady in a pixie vest ever. *shudders*
Posted by: Twinsboy at January 27, 2006 04:38 PMfriends don't let friends wear pixie vests.
will the marketing department force the team to wear the vest at least once? and if so will it fall on a start of the poor mr. scott baker?
Posted by: caluofmn at January 27, 2006 06:04 PMYou guys think the pixie vests suck now.... just wait til they release the pink ones for Mother's Day.
Posted by: public enemy mike at January 27, 2006 06:37 PMDear Mr. Mike,
I have my eye on you.
Sincerely,
Batgirl
I have been unable to look myself in the mirror with the shame of my secret. I say to myself "I don't know any of these people, what do I care? Then I say to myself but someone who calls himself or herself tall drink o water or ka fumbly or she ra must be pretty cool. So I keep my secret.
But there comes a time when you gotta stand up and say hey! I like what I like and I believe what I believe. And I like pixie vests! I like them so there hate me chastise me send me for a remedial course of queer eye! But I'll still like them. I even like the ones the Royals wear.
Yours Tony B
PS Eric - do not buy the home blue jersey. It looks inexpensively made.
Posted by: tony boliva at January 27, 2006 09:20 PM
Tony,
No worries. I liked the Pittsburgh Pirates unis from the late 1970s.
RD
Posted by: RonDavis at January 27, 2006 09:48 PMI do admit that my HS baseball uniform included the pixie vest and I did, indeed, wear said uniform for 3 years.
But that was the 1970s. And we also wore liesure suits.
Some fashion designs should die permanent deaths.
Posted by: JimCrikket at January 27, 2006 10:02 PMOk- just saw Gardy and friends on the news wearing the pixie vest - no- no pixie vest!
I bet Carlos is the first to wear them - he seems to be the pitcher that likes to mix up the wardrobe.
Torii is on the news - saying that he thinks he might like them - oh dear!!! He wants to show off his 'guns'- =) AND DAMN!!Does Torii get hotter as he gets older - he was looking quite yummy!!!
DJ Cuddles was also on the news - looking cuddly - I think we need to get him a new barber not liking the hair so much - but still he's got those dimples!!
Much love
WW
Ok - the Royals have dumped their version of the Pixie vest and have gone back to a 'traditional' look
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060127&content_id=1302088&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Posted by: Wonder Woman at January 27, 2006 10:39 PMugh...pink pixie vests. That's an ugly image Mr. PE Mike. Those would be even worse than the green unis they wear on St. Patty's day. Pink, green and pixie are not words that should be in the same sentance as Twins uniform.
Too bad the Royals dumped theirs though, it would have been fun to hear Douglas Andrew's comment when donning his. Perhaps they dropped them BECAUSE of Dougie - probably couldn't fit Mientkiewicz on a pixie.
I miss Doug.
Posted by: SDave at January 27, 2006 11:44 PMI have previously derided the pixie vest (especially the terrible Twins version...home whites sans sleevs). However, the Gopher baseball team a couple years ago wore a pixie vest with a classic script-Minnesota across the front. For the script lettering alone, I'd be willing to overlook the pixieness of it. (Otherwise their uniforms have the same arched Minnesota script that the Twins' do.)
A slippery slope of pixieness lies out there I'm afraid.
Posted by: fiesta at January 28, 2006 10:15 AMSo outfield prospects for the Twins shouldn't be allowed to move durring the offseason because Kevin West has to sit out the first two months of the season with a knee injury.
Posted by: paul at January 28, 2006 11:57 AMToday I got a ball signed by Torii Hunter and a book signed by one of my favorite authors. It's been a pretty good day!
Posted by: Kurtis at January 28, 2006 02:36 PMI just read that the Good Doctor has switched numbers - he will now wear #33 - I assume that's because Patrick Roy wore it when he played
Time for a new jerseys =)
Much Love
WW
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
My tribute to the doc's i asked him to sing it with me but sadly he declines here's to a season without getting hit in the head
Blasted JRo! So this is why the Doctor couldn't cure himself all season. It's because JRo already had Jusin's number. This explains everything!
Posted by: Twinsboy at January 29, 2006 04:49 PMWhen getting Morneau's autograph, I asked him if JRo knows he took his number now, and he said not yet. That'll be interesting, lol.
Posted by: Megan at January 29, 2006 05:58 PMI was at the WCCO fan forum on Friday night and Justin and Jason Bartlett were modeling the new jerseys. Granted, I wasn't paying much attention because I was too busy observing his fashion sense...Kenneth Cole's--very impressive, Justin.
Anyways, Terry Ryan said that the second JRo got traded, he got a call from Justin asking for his number. Justin of course just laughed and put his head down, but Jason was hamming it up with the modeling gig.
It was a great night. JD Durbin even called me an idiot. Gotta love Twinsfest!!
Posted by: Meghan at January 29, 2006 07:57 PMWhat the real deal did that yeah you got to earn that nickname JD
Posted by: paul at January 29, 2006 11:52 PMI told Bradke that we'd prefer he didn't choose to wear the "sleeveless jerseys". He said, "We'll see." Alas, we'll have to wait and see. Bradke starts opening day--I have a feeling we'll get a debut of pixie vests there. *sigh*
Posted by: JustBeth at January 30, 2006 07:59 AMThanks for keeping the spotlight on the Pixie Vest issue, RD. Raising awareness is the first step in overcoming this issue.
Posted by: Jeb at January 30, 2006 09:46 AMHow will the Twins accessorize the Pixie Vests?
Posted by: LeftWingCracker at January 30, 2006 02:52 PM