Dust in the Rain...

Those people who have never interacted with me in my life STILL might know that I lived in Los Angeles for ten years. As a child I wanted to live in LA and so I did. I wanted to live in Hollywood and become a Jedi Knight, and so I did. My son was born there and if you ever get my cell number you'll pause and say, "two one three?" and I'll respond, "Yes, I'll never give up my LA number."

And so, of course, I was going to see the boys in blue visit Target Field. (Even if I didn't have season tickets).

I like when the Dodgers play anyone but the Twins. The Twins are the only team I will root for over them. My time in Chavez Ravine has always been fond. I remember many times sprinting across the cavernous parking lot alone down to my parking spot on the other side of Echo Park where likely there were more than one drug deals going down as I passed. Ah... LA.

Their lineup has almost completely changed over from anyone I know, even after I rooted for them in the world series a few years ago. Gone even are Trea Turner and Corey Seaver. Clayton Kershaw is on the DL.

Patrick and I walked into Target Field right at first pitch. I had a long day at work and so we shaved it a bit close. Bailey Ober walked Mookie Betts on maybe four pitches and by the time we took our seats there was already a man on. Then Shohei Ohtani hit a double and there were runners at Second and third. Freddie Freeman hit a sac fly and the Dodgers were up one already. But only one run for three straight MVP's isn't a bad start. It was the new Moneyball, with Magic and the rest of the Dodger brass outbidding everyone for top talent while the Twins are looking only to their farm system in 2024.

After the bottom of 1 I told Patrick I'd get him a pastrami sandwich. Wouldn't you know it was, yet again, the only time the Twins would score? By the time the meat was done being sliced, Manny Margot had already hit his 2 run blast and the Dodgers were back to the plate. I swear my clarivoant skills must be a little cloudy today because I would not have predicted two games in a row for me to miss the only runs of one of the teams. Must be the eclipse.

The pair of people sitting next to us this game were in Dodger gear. So I though a little gentle ribbing was in order, just by way of small talk. "OH, dodgers fans, huh?" I joked at the top of it all. The man seemed to think I was angry. "My son was born in LA, it's okay..." I tried to recover, again as a joke. It must be because Patrick and I had just watched a few episodes of 'Curb your Enthusiasm' but after that this guy just seemed put off by everything that I did. Root for the home team and he leaned the other way. Try to ask him where he is from (thinking California) only to hear that he is from St. Paul. You'd think I had, as the kids of gen x said in 5th grade "cooties"...

Well, I didn't have cooties. But Rocco Baldelli did take Ober out of the game after 5 innings. Dumbest decision of the night. Ober was pitching aces. Besides his first inning walk, he had struck out 7 and we were up 2-1. The first reliever, Okert, gave up a run on a few hits. Tie Game. The next reliever, Jackson, gave up two solo home runs. Suddenly we're down. The Dodgers fans next to me stood at the go ahead solo shot. I was beyond annoyed. As I said to Patrick later, "to root against your home team, when you're FROM there, is one things, but to stand up surrounded by Twins fans... that's just gauche. It's like eating with your hands at Easter dinner, it's not morally wrong but it's just rude." After that I didn't talk to them. I'm an insane baseball fan but I stand by that it's rude to stand up like a standing ovation and cheer when the opposing team takes the lead and you're FROM MINNESOTA. Like, what are you trying to prove?

Anyway, the Twins lost. It is 100% on the bullpen, which is on Baldelli. There was a misty rain that started about the 6th inning that cast downtown in a sort of shadow and fog. It was the opposite of an eclipse but it was no less magical.

Buxton and Correa played great, which is what this team needed even if they didn't get the 'W'. And Bailey Ober showed that he can be an ace against the best team in the league. This is also good news. We get some of the kinks out, and Farmer, Jeffers and Kepler start hitting even a LITTLE and we get Lewis out and I'd put us against any team in the league...

But that's a long list.

Always a fun night at the ball park with my son. Watching a full game when you know all the players takes me back to being a child, which was the whole point of me getting season tickets. I knew every stat of every player and could mimic their batting stances. I could still show you the difference between Kirby Puckett and Steve Lombardozzi and Kent Hrbek.

I was chatting with someone tonight that playing is better than watching, and I agree. Watching is like watching the show 'Queens Gambit'. If you know chess, you'll get lost inside of it. Thats baseball.

My son asked me some questions tonight. I wish I did all this when he was younger but I didn't have the means. I'm so beyond grateful that I do now. So I'll forgive the guy who did the equivalent of eating with his fingers- he was there with his son. For whatever reason the boy loved the Dodgers and dad was just supporting him. We do crazy things for our kids. Many people call it 'love'. It's a fine line between love and crazy, and that's where baseball sits.

Until next time friends!

Game Stats:

Twins Lose 4-2 to LAD

Manny Margot 2 run HR

Baily Ober 5IP, 1ER, 7K

Byron Buxton a highlight reel catch in the 5th

Next game for the Twins: Tomorrow 4/9 vs LAD at Target Field.

Next game for me: Wednesday 4/10 noon. LAD.

An almost perfect ballpark.

(Patrick said I took an awkward picture, and I'm clearly staring somewhere else... ;) )