Baseball fans, it's Game 33 and the Minnesota Twins are back at Target Field to host the Toronto Blue Jays. First pitch is set for 7:10 Central, with partly cloudy skies and a crisp 52°—perfect sweater weather for a night at the ballpark. If you're tuning in on the radio, get ready because the volume goes up after 8 PM.
On the mound for Toronto is veteran lefty Patrick Corbin. Remember when he signed that massive six-year, $140 million deal with Washington back in 2018? Let's just say the Nationals didn't get their money's worth—a 5.11 ERA and 2.8 WAR will do that. He found a bit more success in Texas last season and has started 2025 decently with the Blue Jays. Corbin relies heavily on his sinker and slider, mixing in an occasional curveball and changeup, but that slider remains his go-to weapon.
Opposing him is Simeon Woods Richardson—yes, the full name is a mouthful—who wouldn't even be getting this start if the Twins' rotation weren't absolutely decimated by injuries. It's a tough spot, but every pitcher's story starts somewhere.
Now, let's take a brief detour from baseball stats and dive into a cautionary tale about sports ownership. Because if there's one thing every fan should know, it's that things can always get worse.
I spent most of my first 30 years in Oregon and was a diehard Portland Trail Blazers fan for about 25 of them. I walked away from that fandom in 2015, partly because my baseball heart had already shifted to the Twins, but mostly because I knew I'd never experience a higher high than watching them finally win a playoff series after 14 long, drought-filled years. That first-round victory was pure magic—the kind of moment you just know will never be topped. The Blazers weren't going to win a championship in my lifetime (they did when I was four, but that doesn't count), so I took the joy and moved on.
They actually made a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals in 2019, only to get swept. The last four seasons have been rough, though they snuck into the playoffs this year with a 42-40 record—proof that the NBA has way too many playoff teams. They got bounced in five games, but it was still better than most expected.
The real twist came after former owner Paul Allen passed away in 2018. Allen, the Microsoft co-founder, was never exactly beloved in Portland, but he wasn't hated either. He was just your typical harmless rich weirdo who'd pay the Rolling Stones to party on his yacht so he could jam with them. (I'm guessing that didn't come cheap.) After his death, the family kept running the team, and that's when the real trouble began.
It's a reminder that in sports, ownership matters more than we often realize. Whether you're a Twins fan hoping for stability or just love the game, tonight's matchup is a great chance to enjoy baseball—while remembering that your team's future is never guaranteed. Grab your favorite jersey, settle in, and enjoy the game.