NOTES: Delay of Game

Checking out the growing season
By Beth Sass / hereforthesass.blogspot.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- Umpires were frustrated in Thursday’s game with the Sass. While most games move along slowly based on pitchers who take a long time, the Sass just took a long time getting their outfield ready. Three outfielders were sent to the field, Melky Cabrera, Lastings Milledge, and Marco Scutaro. However, as pitchers Jake Peavy and Fausto Carmona took the their final warm-up pitches (they threw every other pitch throughout the game), they noticed their outfielders stopped playing catch, and were gathered in right center field.

“There was a huge patch of clover!” explained Melky later. “We knew there had to be a four-leaf clover in there somewhere, and we wanted luck on our side.”

It was reported that Marco found two four-leaf clovers. While his story was confirmed by Melky and Lastings, there was no proof.

The Groundscrew Chief, Kyle Lohse, was told to find some better weed-killer to use while the Sass are on the road next week.

Flowers.. In an attempt to beautiful the Sass clubhouse, catcher Joe Mauer, bullpen pitcher Jeremy Accardo, and Clubhouse Manager Rachel all worked together to get vases of flowers strategic placed. Jeremy enjoys growing flowers, and constantly has them in pots around Sass Stadium, including a small flower garden around the vegetable garden started by bullpen pitcher Joe Borowski. Joe enjoys flower-arranging, so Rachel rounded up some vases and some small tables, and Joe got to work.

Joe has been working on flower-arranging and taking classes since he was in junior high, and has received many awards at botany shows throughout the nation. He also teaches classes for the local community education program during the winter.

“There are many great flower artists that simply need to be encouraged,” Joe said. “The key is picking good flowers in the first place.”

Groceries in the bullpen With Joe at the Sass Rehabilitation Facility in Nice, the bullpen is trying to keep his vegetable garden growing.

“We’re not botanists out here,” said reliever Matt Guerrier. “But we do try our best. I think all the plants should still be alive and healthy when Joe comes back--not perfect or as lush as he keeps them, but they’ll be alive.”

Each member of the bullpen has picked a particular section of the garden for their own to care for.

“I picked the green beans and zucchini,” said closer Jonathan Papelbon. “Those are my favorites.”