Game 9: Rays at Twins

A cyclist rides past Hogan's Hangout, a restaurant owned by Terry Bollea, best known as Hulk Hogan, who died in Clearwater, Florida, on July, 24, 2025. Hulk Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess i

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What is the story about?

First Chuck: 1:10 PM CDT (click here each week for a new anthem!)

The Tube: Twins.TV

The Dial: Treasure Island Baseball Network

Spies ‘R Us: DRAYSBAY

In seeing the 21 MLB ballparks I’ve been to thus far, I’ve traversed a lot of territory. Besides ranking the yards, it has given me an opportunity to think about whether I could live in different parts of these United States.

There are some locales I could never tolerate. Houston’s humidity would melt me, as would the dryer heat of Arlington. Even St. Louis would be too soggy.

I wouldn’t last a week in NYC—too many people too close together. I’d give a little more rope to LA because I love movies—but

the constant crush of citizens would be too much.

Of course, some spots I’ve really enjoyed. Colorado is a veritable paradise for someone who hates humidity, likes outdoor activities, and doesn’t mind prolonged stretches of bad baseball. Seattle’s intriguing mix of extremely fun stadium experience, coastal locale, and every eatery serving biscuits and gravy (my favorite breakfast fare) would perhaps satiate me.

But of all the places I’ve baseball-tripped to, the one (at least so far) that I’d choose to live in if wanting a change from the Land of 10,000 Lakes: St. Petersburg, home of today’s MN Twins opponent Tampa Bay Rays.

Three reasons for this seemingly odd choice (considering I might choose literal purgatory over the Orlando area):

St. Pete isn’t nearly as hot or humid as central Florida. It gets a constant cool breeze from the ocean. In the dead of summer a few years ago, my Mom and I walked for hours along the bay and it was wonderful!
I love Clearwater Beach. A more chill vibe than other FL beaches, plus it contains Hulk Hogan’s restaurant (pictured in header). I’d have a lot of burgers at the late WWF champion’s Hangout.
Tropicana Field isn’t that bad! Yes, it is a dome and yes it is utilitarian. But the people are friendly, the team somehow finds a way to be competitive despite spending no money, and it has a “mid-2000s Metrodome” feel where everyone is there to watch the ballgame instead of schmooze on a roof deck.

Granted, the problem with Rays Baseball is that while the location would be perfect for me, it is terrible for everyone else. St. Pete got the ballpark, but all the people are in Tampa Bay Proper across the bay and don’t want to drive across the long bridge to go to games. To be honest, I was somewhat surprised that the Trop got fixed up and will host further ballgames at all.

If my growing weariness of MN winters continues, perhaps someday I’ll turn into a beach bum and retire to Clearwater/St. Pete. But not today. For now, my home remains the site of today’s Twins/Rays clash.

Lineups

(I’m often out walking or busy right up ‘til first pitch and last-minute lineup inputs stress me out—so, a clickety-click above will give you the pecking orders provided to the ~~robots~~ ~~cyborgs~~ Men in Blue)