Do you believe in miracles?

Yeah, that is a hokey play off the World’s Greatest Sporting Moment EVER! Hey, I am from Minnesota: Land of Herb Brooks, breeder of 1980’s Team USA Hockey, red carpet event for the Disney Miracle movie. I can get away with it.

And onto baseball…
Twins 5, Yankees 1
Last night was a great game, not just because we won but because we actually played! Ortiz is keeping strong and on the fast track to be Minnesota’s Darling. I used my mad-remote control skills last night in order to flip between The Game and Criminal Minds/CSI: NY. I believe I was successful.

On a personal girly note: I was much bummed to see that Bartlett wasn’t playing last night. Dick & Bert said it was because he had a sore leg but other articles said it was because of his stats. Man, can you give the guy a break? Hello? We leave Hi Ho Silva in for six ugly innings and Ponson in for 5 2/3? Huh!

Segueing from Pitch Bitching onto our Cy Young…

Reading in a CNN Sports Illustrated article that highlights Terry Ryan's decision of signing three Journeymen onto our rotation:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/04/11/baseball0416/index.html

Despite the recent setback in negotiations, the Twins aren't abandoning hope that they can get a deal done with their ace (Santana).
And why not? Surprising results are their trademark.

I am not sure if they mean that in a positive way or not. Hmm…

In other Sporting News:
The Wild lost the first playoff game in Anaheim last night.

I am trying to hang on and watch the game!

Twins 1, Yankees 7 – Bottom of the 8th

Why don’t ya’ll just kick me while I am down!?!?

I missed the first two innings of the game but Amy called me at the end of the 1st to tell me that we were already down 2 – 0. At the time I was stuck in the carwash, marveling over the Tri-Color Foam (which wasn’t the brilliant jewel tones as advertised). I was impressed by the fact that the Tri-Color Foam smelled just like a Dairy Queen Cherry Artic Blast Mr. Misty Freeze. Mmm…I want one now!

Positive notes:
I really like when we (the Twins) wear the dark blue uniforms. They look snazzy, especially Bartlett. *sigh* I “heart” him.

Even though I don’t like the Yankees I do really love Jorge Posada. He is such a classy guy.

We are one step closer to our new ballpark!
Board Ruling Favors Twins in Park Bid:
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070410&content_id=1890964&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

Alternative Sporting Note:
GO WILD!!! They will start the first round of playoffs against the Ducks!

Twins 2, Yankees 8 - Ouch!

Twins 2, Yankees 8 - Ouch!

Here is my limerick
I will not rant
I will not whine
I will not complain
About wasted time
Yes, it hurt
Yes, I cried
I will not sigh
Over wasted time

I thought I would share some snippets from the phone conversations between Amy and myself during the game last night:

After the commercial for Spotlight on Joe Mauer Night (Baby Jesus is being honored all through the night plus a post-game show. You know, just in case you didn’t know everything about him.)
J: Did you just see that commercial and hear Baby Jesus’ (Joe Mauer’s) new theme song?
A: Yeah *insert singing*
J: *Insert singing along*

After Kubel’s missed catch
J: And that is why we don’t particularly like him!
A: True that, sistah!

Jeeter’s walk after being “hit” by a pitch
J: Did Ponson just hit Jeeter in the crotch? I think he purposely walked into that!

A: *Insert laughter*
J: *Insert inappropriate comment*
A: *Insert a return inappropriate comment*

A-Rod: Love vs. Hate
No one runs more hot and cold than the Yankee fans regarding A-Rod. I find the articles and debates regarding him (especially since last year) very interesting. I guess now that he has five home-runs under his gilded belt he is loved. Well, except that one time when he missed a catch and was booed, then he was hated. But, he did hit two homeruns that game so the fans forgave him. Oh, except he missed a foul fly and they booed him again. Man, it would be really hard to be A-Rod. Good thing he has piles of money to keep him warm.

A Random Trip Around Baseball:
I saw a photo of C.J. Wilson, pitcher for Texas Rangers. His “stance” looks like an inverted Karate Kid crane pose.

Twins 3, Orioles 2, Soapbox and 160 games to go!

To quote our noble FSN sports announcers Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven “The Boof is on fire!” Insert *groan*

Twins 3, Oh-ri-Oh-ri-Oles 2
Standard line heard throughout game and this morning’s articles: The Piranha’s are back!

Please note: I am a girl and the following comment may only be understood by fellow “girls” who get goosebumps during video montages and says “What a nice guy!” when a player on the opposing team helps up a fallen player. This all leads into a quote I found in an article this morning regarding our team last night:

''They're a great little team,'' Orioles designated hitter Kevin Millar said. ''They're very fundamentally sound. They pitch, they pitch and they pitch, and they've got enough offensively that they match up well.''

Doesn’t that give you a warm, fuzzy feeling with a side of “Duh, it is about time!”? This segues into my topic irrational rant today…

Are the Twins invisible?

It seems our press coverage and prediction votes get pushed aside for glamorous Japanese pitchers and NY tiffs. When we do win we get an almost surprised respect from other teams, sports writers and news guys. “What a great little team?” Little team? Did we just start? Last time I checked we weren’t new to winning? I know we have had some down times but I think the pennants speak for themselves. “They are scrappy?” Come on! Scrappy? What are we? Boney kneed twelve year olds? Yes, I like when they refer to us in a positive light but let’s not be surprised by the Twins. We may not have the street-cred like the Yankees, Whitesox and Tigers but we do deliver.
Okay, I am getting of my soapbox now.

Since this is all about Baseball but my version of being a fan, I would like to chat about wardrobe options at a game:
No maintenance fans: T-shirt/jersey, ball cap (optional), jeans, comfortable shoes
Low maintenance fans: Twins t-shirt/jersey, combed hair, matching jewelry, cute shoes
High maintenance: Club-wear. Why would you come to a game wear strappy high heeled sandals, skirt/gaucho pants (gaucho’s have to be worn with high heeled knee-high boots), fancy top, lots of make-up and big hoop earrings? *sigh*

Forecast: We get to see our new pitcher Ortiz in action and Andy Pettitte opens for the Yanks.

2 games down, 160 to go!

Home Opener: Minnesota Twins, 7 vs. Baltimore Orioles, 4

TWINS WIN 7-4!!!
There were threats of cold weather and rain but I knew the baseball Gods wouldn’t let it rain on Home Opener!!! Although our game is hosted under the World’s Ugliest Dome (Metrodome) and the dome is covered, who wants it to rain on baseball’s greatest day? Peeks of sun and mild temperatures confirmed that the baseball Gods had my back!

Here is my recap:
· My Home Opener posse: Gregg “Al Franken”, Geoff, Patrick, Amy and Foley.
· Pre-game happy hour was at Matty B’s bar (owned by MN Viking, Matt Birk). We got to see Matt Birk live and in person. He is actually kind of hunky! I was going to wave him over for a photo with the guys but they totally freaked out on me. I wish I captured the look of utter embarrassment on their faces. You would think they were teenage girls and I was the mom waving over a Backstreet Boy and embarrassing them. Sheesh!
· I consumed two beers, one Mike’s Hard Lemonade, one Brat, and one Giant Pretzel.
· Our seats were kind of crappy due to the fact people were walking up and down during the entire game, instead of observing standard baseball etiquette. See below for rant.
· Back to back homeruns by Morneausey and Torii Hunter. Lots of screaming and High-Fiving!
· Gregg hates: signs, the wave, fans that throw back the opposing team’s homerun ball (which I kind of agree with but I wouldn’t want to get beat up so I would follow the tradition) and fans running on the field.
· I like: to make fun of Gregg, doing the wave to piss Gregg off and when the stupid fan streaks the field and gets tackled by security. Yeah!!!

Noteworthy:
· I am going to miss most of the game tonight due to my volunteer job! Damn me for being a “giver”! I will try to catch the end of the game on the car radio.
· Wednesday night you will find me at the Park Tavern watching the game, eating chicken wings, drinking beer and cheering the Twins with Amy. Stop on by!
· I wore my Santana t-shirt with a black cardigan, jeans and black shoes. I neglected to bring my Giant Foam Finger but I will remember it next time! Hey, my blog is called Lipgloss & Baseball!
· I will post photos once I load them on my computer.

Pitching Preview:
· Monday, April 2 (HOME OPENER) vs. Baltimore Orioles – Johan “2x Cy Young" Santana
· Tuesday, April 3 vs. Baltimore Orioles – Boof Bonser
· Wednesday, April 4 vs. Baltimore Orioles – Ramon Ortiz
· Friday, April 3 at Chicago Whitesox – Carlos Silva pitching – eek!
· Saturday, April 7 at Chicago Whitesox – Sidney Ponson

What happened around the leagues on Opening Day?
AL
MIN, 7 vs. BAL, 4
NYY, 9 vs. TB, 5
TOR, 5 vs. DET, 3
CLE, 12 vs. CWS, 5
KC, 7, vs. BOS, 1
SEA, 4 vs. OAK, 0
LAA, 4 vs. TEX, 1

NL
ATL, 5 vs. PHI, 3
FLA, 9 vs. WSH, 2
MIL, 7 vs. LAD, 1
CIN, 5 vs. CHC, 1
ARI, 8 vs. COL, 6
PIT, 4 vs. HOU, 2

Hello, I Have a Question for the Baseball Gods. Oh, by the way...it is almost GAME DAY!

We are asking the baseball Gods why. Why Silva? Why keep the Chief up? Amy and I were discussing via the phone tonight the latest updated on our pitching line-up. (Amy had to pause Season 1, disc 1 of Supernatural.) Gardy and T-Ball (Terry Ryan) sent Garza down to minors and kept Hi Ho Silva in the fifth spot of the pitching, our pitching, rotation. Why?

In all reality, I have no say in the matter. Yadda yadda yadda.

It is getting closer and closer to GAME DAY!!! Just about four days until Home Opener. My crew is ready for some baseball. Here is the game day plan:

6:00 a.m.: Breakfast on the Plaza. The organization hands out donuts, milk, juice, dome dogs (hot dogs) and free stuff to anyway who passes by the Metrodome. Last year I went through and got my milk and dome dog and ate it while walking in to work. Gross, but tradition. Hopefully this year Amy and I can carpool…hint, hint.
7:30 A.M.: Proudly show off my baseball uniform. This year I will be sporting jeans, Nick Punto t-shirt and grey Twins hoodie.
11:00 a.m.: Mill about in the IDS Crystal Court to wait for the MN Twins rally to begin. I am a lucky gal because the rally is held in my office building. I wonder who will be there! I have shamelessly blocked two hours in the middle of the day in order to make sure I can make it to the rally.
3:30 p.m.: The crew will start getting restless and happy hour will be necessary. It is a toss-up between the standard Kieran’s and the newest edition Matty B’s (which is owned my MN Vikings Matt Birk).
5:30: Head to Da’ Dome for the game.
6:05 p.m.: I will probably be crying at this point due to the 2006 montage. I ALWAYS cry at the montage.
6:15: I plan on cheering my ass off whilst announcing our team. Sorry O-ri-orioles.
6:20: Turn on your ESPN channel it is time to PLAY BALL!

Tie, Loss, Loss, Loss and Amy

Man, I am ready for baseball and summer. I am remembering back to when I wore sandals and had cute toes at the game.

I wish I had exciting and glamorous news to report but alas I only have the results of the first four games of the preseason including the article headlines.

2/28 TIE 4-4 vs. Boston RedSox
Notes: Garza sets competition bar high
Baker relies too much on cutter; Harvey, Hunter banged up

3/1 LOSS 1-6 vs. NY Yankees
Silva roughed up in spring opener
Starter gives up five over two innings; Slowey solid in relief

3/2/ LOSS 2-5 vs. CIN

3/3 LOSS 1-14 vs. CIN
Bonser, Twins roughed up by Reds
Minnesota gives up 25 hits to Cincinnati hitters

Good news: My fellow baseball-aholic is back in town tonight and tomorrow is the first televised game. Don’t try calling me at noon, I will be drinking a beer and watching the game.