<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Baseball Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As the Twins opened their 2018 home season, Minnesota fans were (like Rogers Hornby) still waiting for spring (weather), but they no longer were waiting for baseball.\u00a0 It was \u201cGame On\u201d versus the visiting Seattle Mariners.<\/p>\n

<\/a>

Despite the wintry conditions (the photo is of my backyard on Twins’ Home Opening Day), it was – indeed – a beautiful day for a ball game. As is every day.<\/p><\/div>\n

As I departed for the\u00a0 game – with about 8-inches of snow on my front lawn and my snow blower seemingly still warm from the most recent major snow storm (about 48 hours ago) \u2013 I was appropriately suited up for Minnesota baseball (Long Johns under jeans; a flannel shirt under both a hoodie AND a leather jacket; one pair of socks under another; plus snow boots, ear muffs and ski gloves).<\/p>\n

Once in the ballpark, as I made my way to my seat in 35-degree weather, the \u201cmagic\u201d started to happen.\u00a0 The grass was a bright emerald green (good work, grounds crew); the ball the starkest of whites; and, perhaps miraculously, the sun was shining out of a deep blue, relatively cloudless (and snowless) sky.\u00a0 The crowd \u2013 bundled in an array of colorful winter outerwear, huddled under blankets (many baseball-themed) and even, in some cases, snuggled in sleeping bags \u2013 buzzed happily in anticipation.\u00a0 There were also the other sounds of the game: the slap of ball against glove as players warmed up; the shouts of vendors (for everything from hot dogs and beer to hot chocolate and wild rice soup); upbeat music, interrupted by frequent welcoming announcements on the PA system; and, most important, fans talking BASEBALL.\u00a0 And let\u2019s not forget the sweet and savory smells as you passed by the many food stands (for more on Twins newest food and beverage offerings, click here<\/a>.) We were ready.\u00a0 Note:\u00a0 Since this is Minnesota, I need to add that there were – as always in wintry weather – a scattered few of Minnesota’s boldest (and coldest) fans – outfitted in shorts, tennis shoes and T-shirts.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>The Home Opener is a special day, particularly in Minnesota.\u00a0 It\u2019s a sign that we have survived the long, cold winter (even in years when it still seems to be hanging on). And, it\u2019s a symbol of hope for a grand and sunny summer. Home Openers represent a day for optimism across the hardball landscape.\u00a0 As the season opens, every team can aspire to be a contender, every rookie is a potential \u201cphenom,\u201d every fading veteran can be viewed as a potential \u201cComeback Player of the Year,\u201d and every new face in the lineup or on the bench a welcome addition to YOUR team.<\/p>\n

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Okay, enough sentiment.\u00a0 How about the events of the day.\u00a0 I\u2019ve often written on these pages that one of the greatest things about baseball is that, once in the ballpark, you can almost always see something you\u2019ve never seen before.\u00a0 Well, that axiom was proven true even before yesterday\u2019s game began.<\/p>\n