Florida and the Minnesota Twins

Published 9:40 pm Friday, March 19, 2010

Semi-tropical Florida was behaving naturally and during the first few days we had some nice weather and people gathered on the beaches. However, during the Twins versus Orioles game it started raining, coming down in sheets after eight innings. Now the next day as I sit on the chair my grandson provided, writing this column on the cabin back porch in Myakka River State Park, the rain continues to pound the palm trees. No Twins game today against the Mets, no beach either. Just rain. My two grandsons are considering building an ark. Even with the rain, it’s been a wonderful time at the park, especially after our son and his sons joined us.

I always wanted to see the Twins during spring training. I heard things were much more casual and players easier to approach, and to see them in the company with my wife, sons and grandchildren, well, it doesn’t get any better than that.

As with all worthwhile things it took preparation. I tried for a press pass in order to get on the field. After a number of e-mails back and forth the pass was secured. We drove to Fort Myers in hopes to catching the Twins working out on an off day to no avail. We decided to take a jaunt to Sanibel Island, Minnesotans’ home away from home. I had been to Sanibel 55 years ago and remembered it as a laid back, lazy scene with easy access to the beach where one could get up early in the morning, walk to the beach, smell the sea and look for shells pretty much in solitude. Sanibel has changed and not for the better. Crowded with large beach hotels one after another. In fact, we got caught in an hour-long traffic jam as we were trying leave the island. (I should have bought beach front property years ago.)

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Earlier we decided to see a Twins night game versus the Baltimore Orioles with fireworks afterward. The Twins very nicely agreed to trade some lawn tickets for reserved tickets. We got there early. I claimed my press pass and went looking for players. They were all working hard, some taking infield and the pitchers practicing covering first base on another field under the direction of pitching coach Rick Anderson and special assistant Tom Kelly. (The winning manager of the Twins’ two World Series titles) I showed my press pass and was able to get next to the field with Kelly. I asked him if he would say hello to my grandchildren from Alaska. He said it was all right with him if the Twins’ staffer didn’t mind. It was all right with him and I went on a grandchild search. Found them and hustled back. Saw Kelly talking to another coach and said, “Mr. Kelly?” He said, “Wait just a minute, I’m busy right now.” So we waited and after he had concluded his work he came through the inside gate and approached us. Now, Kelly is a bit of a curmudgeon and I wasn’t quite sure what kind of greeting he would give us. He was very nice to the boys. I mentioned that they were from Alaska and skied and snowboarded. After I mentioned the World Series victories, Kelly said that he was not responsible for the victories, that he was fortunate to have great players and they did it, not he. Like skiing and snowboarding it was a matter of timing. He shook the boys’ hands and wished them well on their vacation.

Our game with the Twins and Orioles was off to a good start. More about the Twins and their game next week.