Back from my weekend off.

I have returned from my trip up to Minneapolis this weekend.

Got my shopping done. And outside of a false alarm about a trade of Milton Bradley...we've had about three thousand other rumors going around baseball with very little actually happening.

That is about to change, though.

Tomorrow in Indianapolis, the baseball winter meetings start. And I expect a lot of action. I'm not sure what kind of action, but I expect action, dammit!

So, I took a little time this afternoon to swing over to Target Field, which will officially open this coming April. I wasn't able to get around too much as there is still a lot of construction going on, but I did snap a few pictures.

Gate 3...left-center field.

A shot of the canopy hovering over the upper deck.

Sneaking a glance inside by left field corner.

The light rail in Minneapolis stops right next to the ballpark.

Behind the big-ass scoreboard.

Overall, it really does appear to be a nice stadium. They have crammed it into a very small area, though. It appears to be very vertical, if that makes any sense. Nice big score board. Big parking ramp right next door, and the light rail system has a station that goes right up to the ballpark. I94 runs almost underneath the stadium (actually it runs under the parking ramp), and it's really easy to get on (as I found out when I was trying to find a parking place and accidentally ended up on the expressway.) The neighborhood is bordering on a less desirable industrial area of the city, but there are some nice commercial areas nearby and what I believe is a strip club. (but my wife wouldn't let me find out) 

While many people questioned the architecture of the place, especially the stone facade and the Jetsons like glass areas, I actually think it works well. I love the canopy type of roof they have over the upper deck.

I look forward to seeing a game there at some point next summer so I can get a view from the inside (you ain't getting me to go there in April or May, that's for sure). From the outside, I have to give the place a thumbs up.

For the Twins, this is going to be a huge upgrade from the Metrodome, which, quite honestly, is one of the worst professional venues I have ever been in (even for football).

As for the rest of the weekend, it was spent shopping...

A couple of fun store signs I saw at Mall of America on Saturday...

First was this ripoff of the Wrigley Field marquis.

And second, I thought this was a store for rogue White Sox fans that lived in Minneapolis.

But they only sold socks.

Have a good evening.

Remember Winter Meetings start tomorrow, I'll suspend the Wrigley Field complaining for a week due to impending trade of Milton Bradley (we are going to trade him, right?) and to keep up with all other the rumors of the day.