TWINS STILL PLAYING

A nation of fans breaks out its homer hankies

I'm a Twins fan who lives in Portland, Ore. On Saturday, when the Twins were facing the Royals and Zach Greinke, I was attending the Portland State football game, wearing my Twins cap.

Before the game, I wandered down to the sidelines to watch the teams warm up. A member of the PSU coaching staff, whom I did not know, gave me the "TC" sign and walked over. Not only did he tell me he grew up in Iowa and once worked for the Iowa Oaks, he also pulled out his iPhone and looked up the Twins score -- 0-0 in the fifth inning.

Later, while I was sitting in my aisle seat, a gentleman, dressed in full PSU regalia, walked by and stopped when he saw me. He shook my hand and told me he had attended the seventh game of the 1965 World Series and still lamented Sandy Koufax striking out Bobby Allison in the bottom of the ninth.

Later still, in the beer garden, the grill guy shouted "Go, Twins" to me as I walked by.

And finally, as I was leaving the stadium, an usher shook his head as I approached and said, "I hope they can do it."

Now, I've accumulated plenty of baseball caps -- Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Mariners, White Sox, Orioles and Royals -- and nobody ever says anything when I wear them. But when I'm in my Twins cap, strangers inevitably come over and talk to me. It is a wonderful brotherhood.

So, whether the Twins make the playoffs or not, advance far or not, win it all or not, I'd like the people of Minnesota to know that there are plenty of us in the rest of country rooting for the team. And that it's great to be a Twins fan.

STEVE ARMBRUST, PORTLAND, ORE.

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Shame on Fox! I've had to watch Major League Baseball postseason promos for close to two weeks now, talking about the upcoming playoff series between Detroit facing New York. The last time I checked, the Twins, in the midst of a power surge, had tied for the lead in the AL Central race and are now set to play a one-game playoff. Yet they were counted out.

Go, Twins! Make history!

ERIK SELDEN, MINNEAPOLIS

BASEBALL LEAVES THE DOME

It was a great ballpark -- for those who live outstate

So the Metrodome "never felt like home" to Adam Platt (Opinion Exchange, Oct. 4).

His viewpoint is obviously influenced by his proximity to the ballpark. Living some 360 miles from the Metrodome, I thought it always felt like home.

I never had to fret about the weather. I knew that my assigned seat would always be dry and climate-controlled. I'm sure baseball will be fun to play and watch in the great Minnesota outdoors. But until the clothing designers create an insulated coverall that is stylish, warm and waterproof, I'll remain cautious and purchase tickets only for the games to be played in July and August.

DANIEL LANGEHAUG, LAKE BRONSON, MINN.