So It Is That Time

TwinsFest 2010

Twinsfest is just around the corner. If any of you are like me, you are very anxious for Twinsfest weekend, because it means baseball season is getting closer. It's nice to get our Twins fix in during the off-season, so this is our way of doing it.

I figured I would post some stuff about Twinsfest for those who have never been to Twinsfest and are going this year, or are not going. First, if you haven't checked out this years' schedule, you may want to do so HERE. Second, if you plan on getting Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau's autographs, buy one of these and prepare to wait a LONG time for possibly nothing. Also be sure to bring $$ with, because autographs for all players (minus future players, which two years ago included Jeff Manship) cost at least $5 up to $25.

Here's what lines look like for popular players that are not Justin or Joe (ie. Liriano)

This year the Twins are also holding the auditions to sing the National Anthem. Please, if you are like the rejects on American Idol...do us all a favor and don't try out. It wastes the judges time and it also takes up an audition spot for someone else (who could sing as well as Carrie Underwood). Plus, when you are close enough to the audition area, it's painful to listen to.

Here are my great words of wisdom about TwinsFest.

1. The picture line is your best friend if your looking to not spend money, but still meet players.
2. Future player lines are also well worth your wait. They usually have some great/top up-n-comers that they feature, and like the photo line, they are free.
3. Kids Q&A is not just for kids! Feel free to go, sit and enjoy the question and answer session alongside the kids...and if the kids get low on questions to ask, jump in with your own question.
4. It's okay to bring thing with you to keep you nourished and hydrated. They also will have food and beverages for purchase around the dome.
5. Wear comfortable shoes. If you are planning on standing in any line, you will be standing for a while, so make sure your feet won't hate you by the end of the day. Collapsible chairs are also good to have since the turf is not comfortable to sit on!
6. Bring money. While it is pretty easy to get through TwinsFest without breaking the bank, it is still good to have money to burn when lines are short, or your stomach starts growling.
7. Make sure to check out the tables around the floor of the Dome. They aren't just baseball cards that are amongst the loot. There are tables for Pat Neshek's designed t-shirts, JustinMorneau.com shirts and much much more! You can find some excellent priced baseball cards there too, amongst other reasonably priced items! Who knows, you may just run into Mr. Morneau himself wandering around the tables.

We are planning on having a blogger meet up at TwinsFest on Saturday, so if you would like to meet other bloggers (ie. Katie from KC's Baseball Blog, Topper from Curve For A Strike, myself or other bloggers, possibly K-Bro from K-Bro's Baseball Blog), leave a comment or email me and I'll make sure you're not left out from our fun!

If anyone has any pre-TwinsFest questions that they are dying to know the answer to...leave those too, and I'll do my best to answer the questions or to find the answer for you!
As always, I'll put up pictures after TwinsFest for those who are unable to make it, so that you can enjoy the yummy-ness that is the Twins or just get your baseball fix in before April.

Here's the schedule for TwinsFest (note: Future Corner = free; Corner 1 = $5; Corner 2 = $10; Corner 3-6 = $20-25, these prices are based off of prices from two years ago, so I apologize if they are not correct this year.):

Player Autograph Schedule

Friday, January 29
Corner7 Future (Free)	Corner1 Current/Alumni	Corner2 Current	Corner3 Current	Corner4 Current	Corner5 Legend/HOF	Corner6 Legend/HOF
4:15-5:30 pm
Cole DeVries David Bromberg Trevor Plouffe Rene Tosoni Toby Gardenhire	Rick Anderson Brian Duensing Rick Stelmaszek Scott Ullger	Matt Guerrier Jesse Crain Scott Baker		Joe Mauer Kevin Slowey		Kent Hrbek Tony Oliva
5:45-7:00 pm
Alex Burnett Robert Delaney Aaron Hicks Derek McCallum Nate Hanson	Jeff Manship Alexi Casilla Jerry White	Nick Blackburn Jose Mijares J.J. Hardy	Justin Morneau Carl Pavano		Dan Gladden Jack Morris	Rod Carew
7:00-8:15 pm
Kyle Gibson Carlos Gutierrez Chris Parmelee B.J. Hermsen Mark Dolenc Drew Butera	Brendan Harris Corey Koskie Francisco Liriano	Nick Punto Denard Span		Ron Gardenhire Joe Nathan	Bert Blyleven Terry Steinbach	Jim Perry Mud Grant
8:15-9:30 pm
Danny Valencia Ben Revere Steve Tolleson Joe Benson Anthony Slama	Anthony Swarzak Jason Pridie Joe Vavra Matt Tolbert Brian Raabe	Pat Neshek Glen Perkins Jason Kubel Delmon Young	Michael Cuddyer John Rauch		Harmon Killebrew
Saturday, January 30
Corner7 Future (Free)	Corner1 Current/Alumni	Corner2 Current	Corner3 Current	Corner4 Current	Corner5 Legend/HOF	Corner6 Legend/HOF
9:15 - 10:45am
Joe Benson Anthony Slama B.J. Hermsen Chris Parmelee	Jason Pridie Rick Stlemaszek Greg Olson Brian Raabe	Nick Blackburn Denard Span Matt Tolbert	Joe Mauer		Harmon Killebrew
11:00am - 12:30pm
David Bromberg Carlos Gutierrez Danny Valencia Mark Dolenc	Rick Anderson Jose Mijares Brian Duensing Jesse Crain	Jason Kubel Alexi Casilla Matt Guerrier		Michael Cuddyer Scott Baker	Dan Gladden Roy Smalley	Rod Carew
12:45 - 2:15pm
Cole DeVries Alex Burnett Trevor Plouffe Robert Delaney Drew Butera	Tim Laudner Jeff Manship Jerry White	J.J. Hardy Glen Perkins Francisco Liriano	Justin Morneau Delmon Young		Bert Blyleven Jim Perry
2:30 - 4:00pm
Toby Gardenhire Ben Revere Kyle Gibson Steven Tolleson	Scott Leius Anthony Swarzak Scott Ullger	Brendan Harris Kevin Slowey		Ron Gardenhire Carl Pavano		Tony Oliva Jack Morris
4:15 - 5:45pm
Aaron Hicks Rene Tosoni Nate Hanson Derek McCallum	Dave Goltz Pat Neshek	Nick Punto Jon Rauch	Joe Nathan		Paul Molitor
Sunday, January 31
Corner7 Future (Free)	Corner1 Current/Alumni	Corner2 Current	Corner3 Current	Corner4 Current	Corner5 Legend/HOF	Corner6 Legend/HOF
9:15 - 10:45am
Danny Valencia Rene Tosoni Steve Tolleson Chris Parmelee B.J. Hermsen Drew Butera	Denard Span Jerry White Scott Ullger Dick Stigman	Scott Baker Matt Guerrier Rick Anderson		Ron Gardenhire Tom Kelly	Dan Gladden Rick Stelmaszek	Rod Carew
11:00am - 12:30pm
Joe Benson Ben Revere David Bromberg Alex Burnett Rob Delaney	Jesse Crain Nick Blackburn Tom Johnson Corey Koskie	Nick Punto Kevin Slowey	Justin Morneau		Harmon Killebrew
12:45 - 2:15pm
Aaron Hicks Trevor Plouffe Anthony Slama Derek McCallum Nate Hanson	Jon Rauch Jason Pridie Tom Quinlan	J.J. Hardy Delmon Young Jason Kubel		Joe Nathan Carl Pavano		Bert Blyleven
2:30 - 4:00pm
Cole DeVries Kyle Gibson Toby Gardenhire Carlos Gutierrez Mark Dolenc	Joe Vavra Jeff Manship Pat Neshek Anthony Swarzak	Glen Perkins Matt Tolbert Brian Duensing	Michael Cuddyer Brendan Harris		Tony Oliva

Please note that Legend/Hall of Fame autograph pricing varies within the range specified.

Player Photo Schedule

Friday, January 29		Saturday, January 30		Sunday, January 31
Time	Player	Time	Player	Time	Player
4:30- 5:00pm 5:15 - 5:45pm 6:00 - 6:30pm 6:45 - 7:15pm 7:30 - 8:00pm 8:15 - 8:45pm 9:00 - 9:30pm	Jeff Manship Francisco Liriano Kevin Slowey Kent Hrbek Delmon Young Denard Span Bert Blyleven	10:15 - 10:45 am 11:00 - 11:30 am 11:45 am - 12:15 pm 12:30 - 1:00 pm 1:15 - 1:45 pm 2:00 - 2:30 pm 2:45 - 3:15 pm 3:30 - 4:00 pm 4:15 - 4:45 pm	Michael Cuddyer Nick Blackburn J.J. Hardy Brendan Harris Matt Guerrier Nick Punto Jon Rauch Justin Morneau Carl Pavano	10:15 - 10:45 am 11:00 - 11:30 am 11:4 5am - 12:15 pm 12:30 - 1:00 pm 1:15 - 1:45 pm 2:00 - 2:30 pm 2:45 - 3:15 pm	Jesse Crain Jose Morales Jason Kubel Rod Carew H. Killebrew Matt Tolbert Rob Delaney & Jason Pridie

Kids Only Player Q&A

Friday, January 29		Saturday, January 30		Sunday, January 31
Time	Player	Time	Player	Time	Player
5:00 - 5:15 pm 6:00 - 6:15 pm 7:00 - 7:15 pm 8:00 - 8:15 pm 9:00 - 9:15 pm	Brendan Harris Matt Guerrier Kevin Slowey Brian Duensing Scott Baker	10:00 - 10:15 am 11:00 - 11:15 pm 12:00 - 12:15 pm 1:00 - 1:15 pm 2:00 - 2:15 pm 3:00 - 3:15 pm 4:00 - 4:15 pm 5:00 - 5:15 pm	Jason Kubel Denard Span Matt Tolbert Jesse Crain Joe Mauer Michael Cuddyer Jose Morales Carl Pavano	10:00 - 10:15 am 11:00 - 11:15 am 12:00 - 12:15 pm 1:00 - 1:15 pm 2:00 - 2:15 pm 3:00 - 3:15 pm	Nick Punto John Rauch J.J. Hardy Nick Blackburn Pat Neshek Joe Nathan