There were no berms, no outfield seating of any kind. The infield was one of the worst in Florida.
Instead of an array of office buildings behind the wall, there were cows grazing on undeveloped land. Gators hung out in the pond behind the right field fence.
Paul Molitor was in uniform - as a player.
Fort Myers was a semi-sleepy town in 1998, my first year on the Twins beat. And Hammond Stadium reflected it.
I've seen things change dramatically. After taking a big hit during the down housing market period, the town is thriving. There's plenty to do, especially if you like golf. Hammond Stadium has been extensively renovated. A dorm has been built. There's a bar beyond the right field wall. The Twins' facilities aren't just solid anymore, they're among the better ones in the league.
George Toma was hired to overhaul the infield, and it's one of the best. I'm watching George pick pebbles off the dirt and launch them into foul territory as I write this. A large Samsung HD television - something that had no shot of being here five years ago - is showing the Michigan-Maryland game while I write.
This team stunk when I arrived. Mike Morgan, Bob Tewksbury, Otis Nixon, Frankie Rodriguez, Greg Swindell, Terry Steinbach, Brad Radke and others were great to cover, but the team went 70-92 that year. The Purge took place after that, when Torii Hunter and friends were called up, and the Twins eventually became the best team in the AL Central.
That run ended in 2010. Then came four years of losing, which led to the firing of Ron Gardenhire - then the hiring of Molitor.
This is my 19th year on the beat, and I'm wondering if the Twins are at the beginning of another cycle of relevancy. They surprised nearly everyone by going 83-79 last season. This despite Phil Hughes and Glen Perkins having back problems, Ervin Santana serving an 80-game suspension for using a PED and the bullpen looking overmatched at times.
Kyle Gibson is walking around here like it's mid season. Perkins and Hughes are in good shape after offseason core work. Several position players are already in camp.
They all know that making the playoffs is a realistic goal in 2016. Well, every team thinks the playoffs are realistic. But it's one thing to be realistic and another to be realistic and be wrong. The Twins have valid reasons to think they can be a playoff team. But, man, the AL Central might be a bloodbath this season.
The first pitchers and catchers workout is tomorrow, as the Twins begin preparations for the 2016 season. Can Hughes bounce back after a poor 2015? Can Perkins hold up the entire season? How much time will John Ryan Murphy take from Kurt Suzuki? Can Alex Meyer step up and become a factor in the bullpen? Can Ricky Nolasco embrace a relief role if he can't break into the rotation?
Position players report later in the week. Lots of intrigue there. Can Miguel Sano transition to the outfield? Will Joe Mauer find his old stroke? What kind of hitter will Byung Ho Park be?
I'm curious to see how year 19 will turn out
A few notes from Sunday:
Position players don't have to report until the end of the week, but several are already in Fort Myers. Have seen Sano, Eddie Rosario, Adam Brett Walker, Eduardo Escobar, Danny Santana, Joe Benson, Darin Mastroianni and Oswaldo Arcia in recent days. Haven't seen Park, but he has been seen here working out.
Casey Fien will probably leave camp for a couple days this week. His wife, Joann, is ready to give birth to their second child. ``Any day," he said. ``Any minute."
Chatted with Alex Meyer on Saturday. He spent part of the offseason (when he wasn't getting married) working on his mechanics. He said he was pretty much sidearming the ball by the end of last season, so he's spent trying to get used to throwing out of a three-quarters slot, which should give him more movement. He could be a huge factor for the Twins if his can harness his 95-plus heater and win a bullpen spot. Jim Souhan will weigh in on this one in tomorrow's editions.
Phil Hughes feels great after working on strengthening core muscles during the offseason. His back really caused him problems last season, and he hopes to gain some life and velocity on his fastball now that he's healthy.
Twins manager Paul Molitor plans to enter the season with Kurt Suzuki as the No. 1 catcher, with the right to give John Ryan Murphy more starts if merited. I'll have more on this in the middle of the week.
A couple things to keep in mind: I'm taking suggestions for the food guide. And start scouting players for Picks to Click. Should be interesting.
