Twins, Blue Jays and More Donkey

So I'm a little behind in blog posts.  Let me finish up the baseball season before spring training gets underway.  On a Thursday night, we caught the beginning of the final homestand of the regular season against the Jays.  Bautista has been on fire this year and we aren't looking our best.  Despite another questionable outing by Baker, Valencia and Young, aka Donkey, pulled out an amazing performance.  Delmon hit his 20th homerun in the game and joined the ranks of Morneau, Puckett, Hunter and Cuddyer as the only Twins players to hit at least 20 homers, 40 doubles and 100 singles in a season.  Anybody missing from that list?  Clearly, Donkey is delivering.  You might wonder why the nickname Donkey?  That is a question only my husband can answer, but I guess it has paid off - this has been a memorable year, Delmon.

BC opens for SC

While in NYC celebrating Mike's Grandmother's upcoming milestone birthday, we decided to catch a show at Radio City Music Hall - Brandi Carlile opening for Sheryl Crow.  If you've been keeping up so far, no surprise Brandi might be involved, but this is my first time seeing Sheryl Crow.  I've been to some amazing theaters in the past.  In fact, just yesterday we were at the Gershwin, but the only way to describe RCMH is stunningly beautiful. 

We arrive just before Brandi starts and she begins with not a cello solo, but a piano solo.  It's a short and  unpredictable set since when I usually see her show, she is the main act.  She manages to get the entire theater on their feet with her Jackson/Folsom Prison staple, despite the crowd being a bit older than I imagine she is used to.  The women next to me who continue to talk very loudly throughout Brandi's show lean over at one point and ask if she is "big in the US."  They are from Canada.  My answer?  "Of course.  Huge."  Brandi can thank me later for that record sale.

The opening show ends with Brandi giving a shout-out to a friend who is turning 40 and playing the 80s hit "Forever Young" on the piano.  I actually love this song and like this rendition even more when she admits she forgets the words and just learned how to play it on the piano recently.  Someday I'll learn how to upload my recording of it.

Sheryl takes the stage in what seems to be record time between sets.  She starts out with a Jackson 5 cover and the 60s-esque vibe of her following songs from her new album don't disappoint.  Don't judge me too much, but we left the show early.  Not because Sheryl was bad, but because we were just downright exhausted and the alarm at 4am was going to be even more painful if we didn't get to bed.  Not sure how many shows Sheryl has left in her - she is nearly 50 years old - but I imagine if she has anything to say about it, this is far from her last.  I'll definitely be back, with or without Brandi.

The Most Historic Rivalry in All of Baseball

On the heals of the Twins clinching the AL Central, they have a real chance to gain home field advantage if they can gain a bit on the Yankees and Rays.  Tonight we land in NYC and head to our sixth ballpark of the year, the "new" Yankees Stadium, to witness the most historic rivalry in all of baseball:  The Yankees vs. Red Sox.  About three years ago, Mike and I were able to catch a game in the old Yankees Stadium.  Fitting that on that night the opponent was the Rays. 

It's a great night in New York for baseball and ends up being a great night for home runs.  Boston takes an early lead in the second with a 3 run homer from Lowrie.  C-Grand answers with a solo shot in the third.  In the forth, Boston hits a series of singles and doubles to send in another four runs to make it 7-1.  At this point, I'm pretty sure that the Twins will gain some ground on the Yankees in the home field advantage race.  Then, it gets even better when Bill Hall hits a three-run blast in the fifth to make it 10-1.  The Yankees seem down, but I know better than to consider them out.  In the bottom of the sixth, A-Rod and Teixeira hit back to back solo home runs and back it up with Swisher and A-Rod each hitting 2-run homers in the bottom of the seventh.  With the score 10-7, its probable that the Yankees could come back, but even with Teixeira hitting another solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, Yankees lose 8-10.  I leave just a little bit happier that I watched the biggest payroll in baseball lose in their own ballpark to their biggest rivals, but my happiness is only short lived; the Twins also lost to the Tigers 1-10.  Just another day in baseball.

Twins and the Three Amigos

Tonight it is the Twins vs. Indians and besides happy hour and hanging out with two of my gal pals, I definitely have baseball on the brain.  The Twins have a shot to clinch the AL Central Division Championship if they win tonight and the White Sox lose.  Magic number is 2.  If the stars align, they will be the first team in baseball to clinch this year.  This game starts out like many.  A few hits by Span, Punto is back in the lineup and actually hits a double and a Jim Thome home run. Scott Baker looks his usual self, giving up 4 hits and can only last 5 innings.  Our bullpen comes in and Mijares gives up another 4 hits and is pulled before the end of the 6th.  Rauch, Perkins and Capps finish out the night and the Twins score 4 in the 8th inning.  By the end of the game, the As are leading the Sox and it looks promising that tonight will be the night... and so it was.  I wasn't like many fans that stayed at the park to see if the title was ours, but had to watch it on TV before heading to bed.  Twins win 6-4 and our 6th ALC Championship in the last 9 years is ours.  Could this really be the year that the post season is more of a fairy tale and less of a nightmare?  In a few more weeks, we will find out.

Sort of San Francisco

I guess you can say I sort of lived in San Francisco.  Mike and I bought a house about 30 miles dead east of the city in a town called Tracy.  Living here was a short proposition; a little less than 2 years, but I still get nostalgic for this area and try to come back at least once a year.  There is lots to see and do here, but this is one of those places that tourist attractions are not on the agenda.  Moving to California was probably one of the hardest things I ever did.  In fact, it was definitely one of the worst times in my life.  But, I met some of the best people I have ever known, and spending a little time with them is truly my top priority. 

This week, I am here for work which affords me the opportunity to take a few extra days to enjoy myself.  I reconnected with a college roommate whom I haven't been in touch with in nearly 10 years.  Who knew you could really pick back up where you left off with someone as if really no time has passed?  Tomorrow I will see some former co-workers who I still consider to be some of my closest and dearest friends, even through I don't get to see them very often.  There won't be any extravagant restaurants or even a nice hotel - the place I am staying in is more closely aligned to the term motel - but I don't need that to truly love it here.  I love coming here to spend time with the people I know, my friends, and that can be done at a Chevy's on a Thursday night at 5:30 pm.  Believe me. 

Rain, Royals and Runs

Today is my birthday.  To celebrate, a few years ago, we started going to watch the Twins.  Because of this, I thought I might introduce you to my love of major league baseball... and especially the Twins.  I love rooting for the underdogs [however, who can say we are the underdogs this year?!]. 

Today we are playing the Royals, a team that has not been very good for awhile, but we tend to have a fair amount of trouble with from time to time.  We have great seats just behind home plate.  I've enjoyed a fair number of games at Target Field this year already, but this is the closest we have been able to get to the action. 

We are at the game just in time to catch the national anthem and to have it start raining on us.  This will continue multiple times throughout the game, but I am neither leaving my seat nor going to be put-off by a little rain.  Clearly, neither are the Twins.  Despite a disappointing outing by Slowey, the starter, the bullpen and the offense pulled through.  Jason Kubel hits a go-ahead home run and Jim Thome hits his 585th career home run just after....  a monster off the flag pole in right-center...  and that is about all we needed to enusre a win.  Thome is now one homer shy of the number 8th all time spot, and I still cannot believe we landed this guy on our roster. 

Twins win 5-4.  What a memorable day.