Hey, Rick...the "Hey look, there we are" photo, I'm guessing due to the majority of empty seats, that pic was taken in the Grandstand?

Or, and I know this is pretty complicated.......just make...the...foul...pole....longer! Same thing for the NFL uprights.

NY ties it up on a home run while FSN has Robbie talking tweeting. Reminds me of why I am driven crazy at the ballpark when everyone around me is tap tap tapping on their little hand held devices. Watch the game folks!

When expectations are factored in, is this the most disappointing year in Twins history?

From an old-timer, '64 was pretty bad, ditto '71. But in answer to your question, I have to say 2011 contains the biggest gap between expectation and reality that I can remember in fifty years of following this team.

Twitter is stupid. I was getting irate tonight, as people's stupid comments were scrolling across the bottom of my tv screen. /rage/

Well said Terry!

Target Field has "ridiculous" dimensions and the trees distract us and that is why we cannot hit home runs there and yet for two years we have watched visiting teams regularly bombard those poor fans in the outfield seats. Number 9 hitter for NY hits two of 'em tonight. Of course he didn't have to deal with the trees.

I have never insisted that the team win, although that is always a bonus. I have, however, always insisted that they play hard with pride and dignity - that they give a good account of themselves - and am sorely disappointed of late. Even taking injuries into account I can no longer see any signs of life or hope - or heart. The really sad part is that I do not believe anything of any consequence will be done unless and until the flood of $$$ towards the collective corporate coffers begins to wane - Firestone did not fix their tires when they knew they were killing people, only when sales began to drop. In buying the Twins a new palace we are getting what we paid for - in more ways than one.

HEY - Twitter is AWESOME, F_T_K. If the TV scroll bugs ya, put masking tape on the bottom of the screen. Problem solved.

Luke ---

The Grand Canyon is awesome. The birth of a child is awesome. Twitter - NOT awesome. Try another word, perhaps one that is not so overworked that it has ceased to have any meaning.

Put Twitter in the Shitter..

The other day I heard something (I forget what) described on TV as being "somewhat awesome" - I'm not making that up.

Twitter is an excellent way to garner information from a variety of sources in one forum in real time. You can choose who you follow. So if you want to only follow every major national MLB writer and every team's beat writer, you can do just that. Don't let some TV scroll put you off a great medium. If you're using Twitter and not getting at least something out of it, you're not using it correctly or at least not advantageously.

Well put Jorge.

Twitter is for twits.

Anyone else watching the Little League World Series on espn/abc?

They have shrubs in the batter's eye, and these kids are hitting the ball just fine.

BBtT

And I'll restate: Twitter is stupid, don't force me to watch it on my game broadcast!

I have seen what Luke has written here, I cannot imagine how it must be to read his Tweets.

tk: See @LukeRas. Lots of riveting blog links...

ahhhh yes. ben the ever present old curmudgeon and luke still posting away with the pace and thoughtfulness of an over-eager little puppy.

you can be away for several months and thankfully some things never change. rick's site just wouldn't be the same. stay golden pony boy......stay golden. ;-)

hope everyone is well.

Standing room only tickets on stub hub right now for $1.65 for today's game and Diamond Box tickets for $21???

Who would have thought for a Sunday game in August versus the New York Yankees....

Lots of STH's eating the extra cost this year and I don't see it getting any better next year.

interesting thing about putting a laser on a pole, one the FAA would NEVER allow it, and two it sounds like someone overheard a conversation. The infrared camera could be mounted up another 250 feet on another post that comes out of the side of the second level bleachers. It would need to point DOWNWARD. So we dont bring down a plane into Minneapolis on a game night. Lasers are illegal to point up into the sky for more than a second or two without permits. They can get you thrown in jail for not only idiocy, but terrorism, interfereing with a passenger flight, and its about 10 years in jail.

Speaking of inane drivel --- welcome back Beta!

WC seating in the Dugout Box for tomorrow night $49, lowest I have ever seen those tickets with more than 24 hours to go before game time. If that was a 4-pack, I would totally buy those right now :(

^^^ *Tuesday, not tomorrow

Max! Thank you! Free advertising is ALWAYS good! Keep it up.

Ben - just be happy I didn't say "Twitter is DA BOMB!" Be thankful I don't use grammar like a 13-year-old.

here is definitely a new look at Target Field. linked

Wow Jared! Next time, please place a disclaimer...I should have taken some Dramamine first!

This weeks games are going to look pretty bare in the seats if the tickets do not pick-up both on StubHub and the Twins website. I doubt anyone will be buying from the Twins when the inventory on StubHub is going to be dirt cheap.

I bet DSP is crying for the scalpers right now to come back as he is generating no revenue from inventory he has right now, as the online Twins available seat map looks as blue as the Metrodump seats...

Last dollar dog night you could still get a dog in the third inning. What does that tell you?

Jared, OMG that's a great pic. Maybe one of the players had a camera in his pocket and took that photo accidentally...lol.

I still dig the burger and fries, most other things can go.

I would have to think a lot of people eat lunch before a 1:10 game like we did, rather than eat at the ballpark during a 12:10 game. Certainly the schedulers will note something like that.

There have been a few new food offereing. This weekend, I noticed that they started selling nachos out of a batters helmet for $12. They have a new 44oz collectors cup (pop) for $7.75 and you can purchase a smaller version of the lemon chill at some of the consession stands for $3.75 instead of waiting for the vendors to come buy with their larger $4 variety.

I didn't check every game this weekend, but it looked like there were in excess of 2,000 tickets for sale each of the games this weekend even right up to the day of the game. The stadium was still full for all 4 games. Were people listing the tickets and then when they didn't sell, giving them to friends or going themsleves? Were a majority of these listings by scaplers that simply sold them on the streets after they didn't sell on Stubhub? Even with prices extremely low throughout the weekend on stubhub, the scaplers on the streets were still doing a brisk business on the sidewalks.

Rick - or people are saving up money with which to stuff their faces at the State Fair, which begins this week??

The key moment in yesterday's game - 5th inning, scoreless tie, the locals have runners at 2d and 3d with no one out. Who is coming up next? Three guys who by all rights should be in the minor leagues right now. Batting averages? .191, .210 and .166. The result was pretty predictable. Sorry, just venting. It seems like we've spent way too much time this season watching the Rochester Red Wings.

Title of most recent e-mail from our favorite spin-meisters: "Be there for the AL Central showdown with the Tigers Aug. 26-28"

Showdown? Bringing a dull stick to a gun fight is a showdown?

Let's put it this way. Target Field will be a ghost town after Labor Day. And rightfully so. I can't imagine Rick sold many tickets for tomorrow night. The Twins are stealing people's money with this club. Tremendous opportunities will be there to sit in the Champion's Club or excellent Dugout/Legends seats for pennies on the dollar.

While they are both in tonight's line-up, according to Ken, it may be one of the final times to cheer for Jimmy and Kubes. It kinda makes me feel like the neighbors are moving away. On another note... while driving to Saturday evening's game there was a guy in a red hard hat and a Yankees Suck T-shirt at the Southwest corner of the arena across from the ballpark selling tickets. Reminded me of Waldo. Anyone know if it is the real Waldo?

I dont know Max, I just checked StubHub...CC seats are still pretty pricey. Even the local (and the best) broker, TicketKing (OK, technically Hudson, WI) has CC seats priced pretty high. "Pennies on the dollar" for premium seats...seems a bit too much of a stretch. LC, maybe...but the CC - not so much.

I wonder if there is a threshhold below which CC ticket holders are somehow not allowed to go below? You would think they would be asking for whatever they could get when push comes to shove but such does not appear to be the case. Anyone know?

Ok, going tonight, didn't know it was dollar dog night. Which dog is a dollar and where do you get them? Just rooted around Twins website and couldn't find it.

Stay away from the dollar dogs. They're horrible.

Faber you can find them at most of the dog stands around. Look for the longer lines. Warning they are not very good. Last time I had them they almost looked under cooked kinda pink inside. Might try the Holiday dogs or brats as alternative? My next game looking for a 2nd win vs 9 losses tommorow night. Sounds like it will be a hot one tommorow night!

NotMendoza - If you are referring to the typically dirty "looking" gent (he always looked to me like he just got done rolling in a dirt pile) that was at nearly every metrodome twins game ballhawking in CF and was supposedly boycotting TF, then yes that would be the one they call "Waldo". I saw him too at the same location. Although, there is only one real waldo in my mind and I have yet to find him or his damn dog.

Read more carefully Luke. I said "after Labor Day".

Read more carefully Luke. I said "after Labor Day".

When I was at Sunday's game they announced it was the largest 4 game series attendance of Target Fields short history, something like 165,000. So if concessions were down it was not due to a lack of attendance. Sunday's attendance was little over 41,000 if I recall.

I did notice however there were a whole lot of Yankee fans at Sunday's game. I would guess 1/4 of the fans were cheering for the Yankee's.

Good question, Ben. It seems like those CC prices are always very high, no matter the bargains for Dugout Box, Legend Club.

Do you suppose the idiots who interfered with Mauer catching Hardy's pop foul (right before Hardy's HR) were just getting practiced up for "The Wave"?

That's what I checked there Max. A game in mid-September. Still pretty close to face value.

You just don't get it luke -- Max said AFTER LABOR DAY...last I checked Labor Day is still two weeks away...than check your stubhub prices

Ben Revere just made a heck of a catch against the wall in center field. Gonna be seeing that one on the 'top 10' list on sportscenter tonight.

Somewhere, I think Kirby is smiling. :-)

Luke, I think Max is telling you to wait until after Labor Day to look at the prices.

Anybody think we should offer Hoey back to the Orioles for Hardy? Just askin'?

Makes you wonder how many of those "3,000 and growing" members of the "On Deck" program would opt for their deposits back if the offer was made.

I know Winona. Sorry, my mind was all aloof yesterday...

As far as the On Deck folks, if a whole bunch of good seats open up due to current STH's pulling out, they might stay in, just for a shot at a good seat.

A buddy of mine upgraded from the 20-game to the 40-game pak for next season.

If you haven't seen Revere's catch, click the linky.

Revere led off the next inning, and I think the Oriole's catcher must have said something, because I think I read Ben's lips as saying "Thanks, man."

I saw. Last night. That was one hell of a catch.

Luke,

How could your buddy already upgrade for next season when the process hasn't started yet?

Sorry, meant to say "is going to upgrade".
Typed too fast I guess.

Hope all ya have fun at BPM night tonight. I'll look for ya'll (well, whomever's going) on the telly.

Hope you guys get to see a bit more offense than I did last night --- have fun.

CC tix for tonight $150 and declining.

CC $140

Perhaps this would make some of the Twins games (okay maybe more than some) a bit more enjoyable. linky

On a general ballpark note, I went to KC for 2 games. My take on Kauffman...
Pros: Fountains, Outfield Experience (great for kids, some good food options and deals), Royals Hall of Fame, Huge scoreboard, good bar areas/extra spots around park to watch the game, generally good sightlines throughout ballpark, ample parking (though we stayed right next door)
Cons: Upper deck top rows seem to be 5 miles from the field, ballpark is in the middle of nowhere (which minimizes view and sense of place), no cupholders in upper deck, food/beer choices/prices merely ok, concourse signage could be better.

Overall, I'd give it a solid grade. B+? I've been to many that were much worse, and only a few that were clearly better. I think TF is better in most respects, but KC is more kid-friendly.

Ya, I like the changes they made to Kauffman. It definitely is in the middle of nowhere. I don't know why there hasn't been any other development out there. It's right off I-70, you'd think that'd be prime real estate for hotels/retail or something.

Having said that, I wonder if there's going to be a lot of complaints to that effect next year for the ASG. I have no idea what hotels are near there, so players/media/fans seemingly are going to be a ways away from the stadium (downtown is what, 15-20 minutes from Kauffman?), which isn't good.

I think there will be complaints similar to complaints this year during Super Bowl XLV in Arlington (Dallas).

I like the fact that Kaufmann Stadium is out where it is. The view beyond the fence was always nice and green, with the Interstate going right by and all the trees behind it. It made for a beautiful view. I know that for many, the ideal ballpark is in an urban setting with a skyline to look at and plenty of gathering spots within easy walking distance. But part of the character of this stadium has always been its serving as an oasis of sorts in a semi-rural location smack dab in the center of greater metropolitan Kansas City. People drove or took the shuttle buses to the ballpark, just as they drove to the supermarket or the Country Club Plaza. They can drive to the night spot of their choosing after the game.

I lived in KC for a couple years back when the Royals were good. I enjoyed many a lovely summer night at the ballpark.

And, one very cold late September game where I was wearing my winter coat and was still cold!

"And one very cold late September game where I was wearing my winter coat and was still cold!"

Back when the Royals were good, eh? Must have been the last ice age.

It seems like the last Ice Age when the Twins were good!

Early 1980s, Mike. I was sitting in the last row of the upper deck, and the wind was coming from behind me at about 25knots. It was pretty miserable up there!

Too bad you weren't there telling me stories about it when I was there just a few years ago when it was 106.

So a last place team comes to town and makes the locals look even worse than they did against The Evil Empire.

You know, terry, its funny - my dad said the same thing tonight.
It is unbelievable what this squad has put us through this season. I suppose I should be lucky: both games I went to this year, the boys WON!

I wonder if anyone in Rick's little group had the presence of mind to bring along a checkerboard?

Interested to hear if the BPM group thought the life had been sucked out of the park, as it seemed it was in the LC tonight. It was like a morgue in there. It seemed worse than I've ever seen it.

The Twins have been sending out letters to certain accounts enforcing a limit of tickets (8) per account--forcing larger accounts to unload a portion of their seats for 2012. Do these guys know this team sucks?

Speaking of checkerboard, I wish the Twins would add some variety to their grass patterns...almost two full seasons now played at TF and we have only seen TWO designs....the checkerboard pattern less than two months and the boring current pattern for the other 10 months. (assuming they keep the current pattern until the end of the regular season)

That's your typical Twins suggesting that the current grass pattern "plays better"....If it played so well, than why don't other teams have the same patterns or why do the Twins not have that same pattern at Hammond Stadium in Spring Training?

The same Twins team that complained about the trees, glares, dimensions of the OF and so on...

Never seen a team complain so much as the Twins and I have never seen so many players go on the disabled list with such "minor" injuries such as soreness, weakness and so on.

Yes, there are injuries such as concussions and broken bones that are unavoidable, but all of these "soreness" and "muscle and elbow tenderness" and "weakness" injuries are ridiculous.

Anyone else hear Dick Bremer comparing Ben Revere to Kirby Puckett as they opened the telecast?

You can't make this stuff up...

And by the way...lots of empty seats tonight, I can't imagine what it will be like after Labor Day.