Author Archives: Lindsay Guentzel

About Lindsay Guentzel

I like sports.

April in the MLB Fan Cave

Posted on by

I’ve watched 353 games since arriving in New York City on March 24th and by the end of today, I’ll have added another 14 to the total. Really, the MLB Fan Cave has barely scratched the surface. But in the 36 days since we watched the Mariners and the Athletics open the season in Japan, a lot has happened here at 4th & Broadway. We got to ring the NASDAQ bell with Tim Brosnan and Harold Reynolds. Mike and Mike came and broadcasted their show from the Fan Cave. We joined Kevin Millar, Al Leiter and Sean Casey as they helped light up the Empire State Building in honor of Opening Day. Aaron Lewis, the frontman from Staind, performed some of his solo stuff for us during the first MLBFanCave.com Concert Series show. We cheered on the Marlins as they opened their spanking new stadium while Far East Movement performed in our living room. Millar and Chris Rose broadcasted Intentional Talk from our couch. Three of the Nationals’ starting pitchers — Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson & Ross Detwiler — were the first players to visit the Cave during the 2012 season. Bernie Williams came and hung out. The Fray performed. The Angels stopped by, bringing Peter Bourjos, LaTroy Hawkins, Howie Kendrick & Mark Trumbo along. On Jackie Robinson Day, the Cave Dwellers spent the afternoon with Sharon Robinson, a moment I’ll never forget. UFC Fighter Jon ‘Bones’ Jones came by the Cave, just days before defending the light heavyweight UFC Championship. We celebrated 100 years at Fenway Park with Jim Rice & Wally the Green Monster (AND the Red Sox World Championship trophies). The Minnesota Twins took over the Cave with visits from Joe Mauer, Matt Capps, Brian Duensing & Liam Hendriks (with post-game visits from Glen Perkins & Jeff Gray). Bonnie Raitt stopped by. Eddie Mata and I were on FOX’s Player Poll with Greg Amsinger, our segment currently being replayed at ballparks across the country. The Giants took over Manhattan and made Ashley Chavez the happiest girl in the world with visits from Sergio Romo & Pablo Sandoval. Red Sox fans from across New York City took over the Cave to celebrate the 100 year anniversary at Fenway, although Eddie Mata’s Yankees didn’t leave them with a win. Omar Miller from CSI: Miami randomly found himself at the corner of 4th & Broadway and came in to check out his fantasy team on the Cave Monster. We watched Phil Humber pitch a perfect game for the White Sox. Penn Jillette stopped by and all of us realized our futures in magic are limited. Logan Morrison of the Miami Marlins came back and took us on what has to be most uninformative tour in New York City history. Our fourth MLBFanCave.com Concert Series featured Daughtry with a surprise visit from Yankees relief pitcher Cody Eppley. The Tigers brought in Miguel Cabrera and Collin Balester, who wouldn’t agree to go easy on my Twins regardless of how many times I asked. The next day, we got to help surprise Justin Verlander’s biggest fan – 11 year-old Shayna Hersh – with a visit from the MVP/Cy Young winner, a day that left most of the Fan Cave in tears.

Yes, the month of April has been ridiculous and life here in New York City doesn’t appear to be slowly down anytime soon. Some days I feel the need to pinch myself because I can’t believe this is my life. I’m truly a blessed baseball fan.

Check out some of my favorite photos — most from my time with the Minnesota Twins — and keep checking in at MLBFanCave.com as the season continues. You can also follow along on Twitter with @MLBFanCave & @Lindsay Guentzel.

Let’s Go Twins!

Hanging out with Kevin Millar, Al Leiter & Sean Casey at the top of the Empire State Building.

Sharon Robinson spent the afternoon at the Fan Cave to help us honor her father on Jackie Robinson Day.

Joe Mauer, Brian Duensing, Liam Hendriks and Matt Capps came by the Cave to hang out for the morning.

After telling the guys that my dad would be so jealous over my day, Matt Capps encouraged me to call him. While on speaker phone, my dad openly told all four of them that he was disappointed in them right before acknowledging how good the Dodgers are this year. Thanks Dad!

Joe stopped by to shoot a promotion for Head & Shoulders where we surprised a fan with a makeover in the Fan Cave.

After beating the Yankees, Capps & Duensing came back to the Cave for a pizza party celebration and they brought Glen Perkins & Jeff Gray with them. This was taken right after I signed Matt up for Twitter — you can follow him at @MattCapps55!

Every week, two of the Cave Dwellers participate in FOX’s Player Poll. Eddie Mata and I were on to talk about the best defensive outfielders and were surprised when we started receiving photos of us on jumbo-trons across the country. Here is on during the pre-game festivities at Target Field.

Official #LindsInNYC VOTING PARTY

Posted on by

VOTE HERE!

OFFICIAL #LindsInNYC VOTING PARTY

The race to the 2012 MLB Fan Cave is heating up & you can get in on the action! Join me at Smalley’s 87 Club in downtown Minneapolis this Friday, February 17th at 7pm for my official #LindsInNYC VOTING PARTY! We’ll talk all things Twins baseball, raise money for some amazing organizations & kick off the weekend with a bang! Throw on your favorite Twins gear, gather up your friends & join in on the fun! Oh & did I mention I’ll be giving away prizes, including a pair of MINNESOTA TWINS tickets! This is quite possible the perfect way to get ready for the 2012 season, don’t miss out!

When: Friday, February 17th at 7pm

Where: Smalley’s 87 Club

Roy Oswalt vs. Yu Darvish & What That Means for the Teams in Waiting.

Posted on by

Right now, the Rangers & Yu Darvish are trying to come to terms after Texas won his bidding rights back in December. He wants five years, Texas wants him locked in for six.

The only problem with this stalemate? Roy Oswalt, who is waiting to see what the Rangers do with Darvish in the upcoming days.

Talks out of the Rangers’ camp is that it’s possible they sign both Darvish & Oswalt. They are also in talks with Fielder so money will be a deciding factor when it comes down to who signs & who looks for a new team.

If Darvish & the Rangers come to terms, it does open the door for the Twins, Red Sox & even the Cardinals, who have emerged as the sleeper team in Oswalt talks.

The downside for Twins/Red Sox/Cardinals fans is Oswalt’s desire to return to Texas. He wants to pitch at ‘home’, to play for a true contender & there is talk that he would consider taking less money in a one-year deal to do so.

Here’s a timeline of what I’ve reported over the last few days via Twitter.

Update: Friday, January 13th at 7pm

Update: Saturday, January 14th at 9:30pm

Update: Sunday, January 15th at 3pm

Update: Sunday at 5:45pm

Who would I invite to the MLB Fan Cave? You’ll be surprised.

Posted on by

One of my favorite baseball guys, even if he did play for the Yankees

It’s going to be a good season in the MLB Fan Cave: 17 baseball stars are already scheduled for a visit & there’s still over two months until the season starts. I had to choose which MLB star I’d like to invite to the Fan Cave this year & I think you’ll be surprised by my selection.

Directly from the MLB Fan Cave application: Tell us which MLB star you want to meet most, why, and describe the video idea you would to film with this player.

On my last day interning in the sports department, our producer told me she had a surprise for me. Take a look at tonight’s guest, she said as she handed me the line-up for our weekly show. I scanned, unsure of what I was supposed to be looking for. Then I saw it in big bold letters right after the commercial break. Harmon Killebrew. I had grown up on stories about The Killer and on that Memorial Day weekend, trading sports trivia with him during TV breaks, my baseball dreams had come true. It’s because of that encounter that I can’t tell you the MLB star I want to meet. I’m lucky enough to say I already have. So unless you have a Field of Dreams scenario planned for April, I’m going to take some creative freedom on this topic.

The athlete I would most like to spend time with in the MLB Fan Cave is Barry Zito. There’s no denying the veteran is coming off a less than desirable year. After surviving 12 seasons in the majors without any time on the disabled list, the 2002 Cy Young winner found himself there twice last season nursing a strained right foot.

Tom Kelly & The Killer catching up at spring training in March

The main reason I want to spend time with Barry? I’m curious to find out more about his dedication to yoga. The veteran regularly demonstrates his moves in the outfield and it’s widely known that he meditates before hitting the mound. It was even a major part of his routine on the DL, highlighted The Franchise. But Barry isn’t the only one acknowledging the power of yoga for baseball players. The Brewers, Cubs & Royals have also jumped on the bandwagon, instigating regular practices within their minor league affiliates. Retired ball players Carlos Delgado, Reggie Sanders & Mike Lieberthal are also active on the mat.

In honor of the original Yogi (Berra), I’d like to organize a day of yoga at the MLB Fan Cave. Alan Jaeger, Barry’s instructor, works with players on all levels & could help run the course, explaining the importance of yoga and how it benefits not only baseball players but us regular folk too. The Cave could also be opened up to yoga-dedicated baseball fans, a way to bring together America’s favorite pastime with an up-and-coming contender. It’s estimated that over 16 millions Americans & 3 million Canadians regularly practice yoga, which is coincidently just shy of how many people watched Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. With that many people rolling out their mats during the seventh inning stretch, what else is there to do but light a few candles and say ‘Namaste’?

The MLB asked… I answered…

Posted on by

The MLB Fan Cave wanted to know what three stories I thought would be making baseball headlines heading into the 2012 season. Here they are, in no particular order.

The Marlins' 1993 season ended about as well as my tee-ball team's did.

The Miami Marlins: Tighten your seatbelts & pray for a safe landing Marlins fans because it’s about to get real down in Little Havana. No, Will Smith is not having a comeback tour. It’s better. Ozzie Guillen’s in town & someone decided to give him keys to the whole caboodle. Yes, a revamped baseball brand with a fresh logo, a new ballpark & a roster chuck full of some of the most promising names in baseball is in the hands of the one of the most outspoken, fiery – not to mention, a little nuts – managers in baseball history. But while Ozzie might be the headliner of this crazy train, the roster is just as tantalizing. The addition of Jose Reyes gives Hanley Ramirez an opportunity for resurgence at third while the pitching staff has upped the ante with Heath Bell, Mark Buerhle & Carlos Zambrano. Throw in Mike Stanton & the Twitter banter of @LoMoMarlins & you’ve got yourself a team with enough talent & personality to entertain fans both on & off the field.

Joe Mauer: While wedding bells may be in his near future, the biggest question surrounding the former MVP is what noise he can make for the Twins this year. It’s the $184 million question: what happened to Joe Mauer circa 2009 & what do the Twins have to do to get him back? Mauer played in just 82 games last year, missing two months for bilateral leg weakness – a condition that had every baseball fan pulling up Google. When he did play, he notched just 38 runs, 30 RBIs & 3 homeruns, statistics made even more disappointing by the fact that utility Trevor Plouffe had 47 runs, 31 RBIs & 8 homeruns in less at bats for the Twins. While Joe may try to avoid every question surrounding his future, he solidified his place within the organization when he signed that epic 8-year, $184 million contract. And with that commitment comes responsibility. No amount of free Kemp’s Ice Cream will keep fans from having high expectations in 2012.

Theo Epstein: When the 2003 season started, Theo Epstein was 29 years old & had been the general manager of the Red Sox for six months. It was a productive time in the front office for the Yale graduate, who left his fingerprints on deals that brought in Big Papi & Kevin Millar. A year later, he helped land Curt Schilling & a World Championship – securing his place in history as a man who helped break the Curse of the Bambino. After nine seasons at the helm of the Red Sox, he’s ready for his next challenge: the Chicago Cubs. Finishing the 2011 season 20 games under .500, the Boys in Blue need a good shake up and Epstein could be just the man for the job. As the president of baseball operations, Epstein joins recently hired Jed Hoyer in what seems to be an effort by the Ricketts family to clean house. With payroll concerns & off-season behavior high on the list of concerns, no one can expect an immediate change. But with Theo Epstein’s nameplate in the front office, they’ll no doubt garner major attention this season.

The MLB Fan Cave

Posted on by

Many of you know I’m applying to take over the MLB Fan Cave this April because, let’s face it — it could use a female’s touch.  Below are a couple of videos I shot for my application: the first touches on one of my favorite moments in baseball, Game 163 – Tigers vs. Twins.  The second lists very important reasons — both funny & serious — why MLB should choose me to be the Cave’s next occupant.

Take a look, show your friends, and please support me in the upcoming weeks as I try to add a little femininity to the MLB Fan Cave.

The MLB Fan Cave: One of my favorite moments in baseball history

The MLB Fan Cave: Why I should be chosen to take over in April

Here is the link to another video, looking back at the Twins in 2011.  Also be sure to follow me on Twitter for updates on the contest and other random ramblings!

A huge thanks to my very talented friend Dustin Wasserman of Wass Productions for all this help!

My Resolutions from 2011

Posted on by

Before I spend any time making resolutions for 2012, I figured it would be beneficial to look back at 2011 and see how I did.  These are the resolutions I set for myself on January 2, 2011.  And here’s my response after reading them nearly a year later.

1. Go on vacation by myself.

I sort of did this.  I traveled out to Ann Arbor for the Minnesota – Michigan football game in October alone, although the trip was a complete disaster.  If you watched any of the game, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

2.  Spend less time on Facebook and more time working on things that will lead me somewhere.

Working for FOX Sports North as a social media correspondent/intern made this a little difficult, as did my time at KFAN.  But this is something I genuinely try to watch.  Now if I can just cut back my time on Twitter.

3.  Listen to ‘happier’ music.

Fail. I’m a sucker for a good love song.  I welcome any and all music recommendations from you guys & you’ll get extra points if you make me a mixed tape.

4.  Take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.

I’d like to think that, yes I did this.

5.  Surround myself by people who love me and support me & do a better job of reciprocating those feelings.

This past year was very hard personally.  It was very weird to be having such success professionally but to have my personal life fall apart.  Luckily for me, I have the best friends, family & co-workers in the world who helped me get through everything.  So I’d like to think this was accomplished as well.

6.  Run a marathon.

Definitely failed this one. I kinda fell out of love with running & started cheating on it with yoga.  However, I still want to run a marathon — perhaps this year.  Any recommendations?

So after looking over the list, I wasn’t that successful at accomplishing my resolutions for 2011.  But I had a great year and I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2012… even if it means I’ll have to a better job of choosing my resolutions.

100 Days until the 2012 Twins Season Starts

Posted on by

So in 100 days, the Minnesota Twins will open the 2012 season out east against the Orioles.  While 2011 wasn’t a season most fans want to remember, I felt it only appropriate to take a look back at some of the biggest highlights from April to September.

A huge shout-out to everyone who sent me ideas today on Twitter, including JackJohnRoger, dknygap4, jeffshelman, cdelzer & dillonheins. And a special shout-out to TC Bear, the best mascot in MLB.

And yes, I know I’m rather fond of saying the words really & definitely…

Catch my application video for the MLB Fan Cave here.