Cudd-iary: No place like home
MINNEAPOLIS -- From the heat in Arizona to the stars in L.A., we have just completed our first trip to the National League parks for Interleague Play.
With the trip to look back on and a lot of questions from you fans, I've decided to devote this entry on what you guys want to know about off-days and road trips. Everyone knows how the season is going for us and how the divisions are shaping out, so I thought it would be nice to talk about other things that are "behind the scenes."
I'll start out by giving you a rundown on how a road trip works using our last trip to Arizona and Los Angeles as an example. It started with a Monday day off here in Minnesota. It's quite rare to have a day off on a travel day, but that does make it nice. We boarded a charter plane around 8 p.m. CT and arrived in Arizona around 9:30 p.m. PT. A three-hour trip, but with the time change, it was not that bad. On the plane, we have an assortment of snacks and soft drinks, water or sport drinks offered. There's also the main meal, which usually is something like a chicken dish or some other type of meat like steak or some type of brisket, and a dessert.
As you can imagine, being on planes and traveling all the time, it can get old and pretty routine. To break up the time, guys do many different things. For instance, I usually watch a movie or read. I used to play cards with some of the guys, but it ended up that my card tricks didn't help me too much when it comes to actually playing cards. So I popped in a couple of DVDs and just passed the time. Some guys sleep and others just kind of relax.
Once we arrived in Phoenix, two buses met us right on the runway, and took us to the team hotel. We call for our luggage to come to our rooms, watch some TV and then get to bed. The next day, I usually end up getting up around 10 a.m. When it's the first day in a city, we have early hitting at the ballpark so, at around noon or so, I usually find a place to pick up some lunch and head to the field. In Arizona, our hitting was at 1 p.m., so obviously, there is a lot of time from the end of our hitting session until actual batting practice starts at 5 p.m. Like on the airplane, most clubhouses have movies that get put in or guys can watch some television or play cards. Whatever you can think that passes the time away, believe me, we have done it.
After the game is over, dinner is prepared in the clubhouse and we usually eat at the stadium. Then board the bus and do the same thing again the next day. After three games in Arizona, we boarded the plane and headed to L.A., where all of the days were the same except for Saturday. On Saturday, they had a "Hollywood Stars" softball game on the field, so all of the on-field pregame activities were canceled.
Instead of taking batting practice, we got to watch Molly Simms try to hit a softball and Jon Lovitz try to catch it. On days like that, basically all we do is hit a little bit in the cage prior to game time and do what it takes to get as ready as we can for the game. After our game Sunday, we got on the plane and headed back to Minnesota, which is where we were greeted with a day off on Monday.
After playing in a couple of stadiums I haven't had the chance to play at before, this brings me to my first question from the fans:
How does playing in the Metrodome rate to playing in other stadiums? Because you are considered to be the everyday third baseman, do you enjoy getting a "night off" (not off-days, but days when you aren't in the lineup)? -- Casey Brensnahan
Well, Casey, I have grown to really enjoy playing in the Metrodome. Obviously, it is not as glamorous as a Safeco Field in Seattle, but it is our home and I've gotten to be very comfortable playing there. As for the other question, it is nice to get a night off every once in a while. But at the same time, I love playing the game and I remember what it was like not being an everyday player and not knowing when I was going to play again. So it is nice to get a blow every once in a while, but I would much rather be playing.
I always wondered which ballclub had the best visiting clubhouse, and what is your favorite thing to do in the clubhouse before a game? -- Nick
In my opinion, the best visiting clubhouse in the American League by far is in Tampa Bay. The clubhouse manager, Guy Gallagher, is exceptional. The food is great and the clubhouse itself is spacious and has lots of things to offer. There is even a stylist that comes in on one of the days that we're there to do guys' hair if they opt to get a cut while in town.
I heard that in the offseason you play golf with David Wright, B.J. Upton and some old guys. The rumor has it that the old men beat you on a routine basis. Can this be true? How can you athletes let old men beat you in a game requiring athleticism? -- Bill Kilpatrick
Bill, I am very fortunate to be from a city that is very rich in talent when it comes to the baseball field. But more important than that, my parents and the people in my community raised me the right way and taught us how to be respectful to our elders. And if letting them beat us in golf is what satisfies them and makes them happy, then so be it. David, B.J. and I can swallow our pride for the better of somebody else. Thank you for the comment. (Ha ha.)
In the next installment, I will update everyone on how the division battle is shaping up as the All-Star break approaches. I will also give my picks for the Midsummer Classic and respond to more questions from you, so keep them coming. Until next time, Go Twins!
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
With the trip to look back on and a lot of questions from you fans, I've decided to devote this entry on what you guys want to know about off-days and road trips. Everyone knows how the season is going for us and how the divisions are shaping out, so I thought it would be nice to talk about other things that are "behind the scenes."
I'll start out by giving you a rundown on how a road trip works using our last trip to Arizona and Los Angeles as an example. It started with a Monday day off here in Minnesota. It's quite rare to have a day off on a travel day, but that does make it nice. We boarded a charter plane around 8 p.m. CT and arrived in Arizona around 9:30 p.m. PT. A three-hour trip, but with the time change, it was not that bad. On the plane, we have an assortment of snacks and soft drinks, water or sport drinks offered. There's also the main meal, which usually is something like a chicken dish or some other type of meat like steak or some type of brisket, and a dessert.
As you can imagine, being on planes and traveling all the time, it can get old and pretty routine. To break up the time, guys do many different things. For instance, I usually watch a movie or read. I used to play cards with some of the guys, but it ended up that my card tricks didn't help me too much when it comes to actually playing cards. So I popped in a couple of DVDs and just passed the time. Some guys sleep and others just kind of relax.
Once we arrived in Phoenix, two buses met us right on the runway, and took us to the team hotel. We call for our luggage to come to our rooms, watch some TV and then get to bed. The next day, I usually end up getting up around 10 a.m. When it's the first day in a city, we have early hitting at the ballpark so, at around noon or so, I usually find a place to pick up some lunch and head to the field. In Arizona, our hitting was at 1 p.m., so obviously, there is a lot of time from the end of our hitting session until actual batting practice starts at 5 p.m. Like on the airplane, most clubhouses have movies that get put in or guys can watch some television or play cards. Whatever you can think that passes the time away, believe me, we have done it.
After the game is over, dinner is prepared in the clubhouse and we usually eat at the stadium. Then board the bus and do the same thing again the next day. After three games in Arizona, we boarded the plane and headed to L.A., where all of the days were the same except for Saturday. On Saturday, they had a "Hollywood Stars" softball game on the field, so all of the on-field pregame activities were canceled.
Instead of taking batting practice, we got to watch Molly Simms try to hit a softball and Jon Lovitz try to catch it. On days like that, basically all we do is hit a little bit in the cage prior to game time and do what it takes to get as ready as we can for the game. After our game Sunday, we got on the plane and headed back to Minnesota, which is where we were greeted with a day off on Monday.
After playing in a couple of stadiums I haven't had the chance to play at before, this brings me to my first question from the fans:
How does playing in the Metrodome rate to playing in other stadiums? Because you are considered to be the everyday third baseman, do you enjoy getting a "night off" (not off-days, but days when you aren't in the lineup)? -- Casey Brensnahan
Well, Casey, I have grown to really enjoy playing in the Metrodome. Obviously, it is not as glamorous as a Safeco Field in Seattle, but it is our home and I've gotten to be very comfortable playing there. As for the other question, it is nice to get a night off every once in a while. But at the same time, I love playing the game and I remember what it was like not being an everyday player and not knowing when I was going to play again. So it is nice to get a blow every once in a while, but I would much rather be playing.
I always wondered which ballclub had the best visiting clubhouse, and what is your favorite thing to do in the clubhouse before a game? -- Nick
In my opinion, the best visiting clubhouse in the American League by far is in Tampa Bay. The clubhouse manager, Guy Gallagher, is exceptional. The food is great and the clubhouse itself is spacious and has lots of things to offer. There is even a stylist that comes in on one of the days that we're there to do guys' hair if they opt to get a cut while in town.
I heard that in the offseason you play golf with David Wright, B.J. Upton and some old guys. The rumor has it that the old men beat you on a routine basis. Can this be true? How can you athletes let old men beat you in a game requiring athleticism? -- Bill Kilpatrick
Bill, I am very fortunate to be from a city that is very rich in talent when it comes to the baseball field. But more important than that, my parents and the people in my community raised me the right way and taught us how to be respectful to our elders. And if letting them beat us in golf is what satisfies them and makes them happy, then so be it. David, B.J. and I can swallow our pride for the better of somebody else. Thank you for the comment. (Ha ha.)
In the next installment, I will update everyone on how the division battle is shaping up as the All-Star break approaches. I will also give my picks for the Midsummer Classic and respond to more questions from you, so keep them coming. Until next time, Go Twins!
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
