NEW YORK – Twins catcher Joe Mauer ran into David Wright on Tuesday during brunch, and the Mets' All-Star third baseman had a message for him.
"Have fun next year,'' Wright told Mauer, who will be the key player for the team that will be host to the next All-Star Game.
"I have to make it first,'' Mauer replied.
"I said the exact same thing [last year],'' Wright said.
The countdown to the next All-Star Game can officially begin — the game will be July 15, 2014 — and the Twins will get to show off Target Field. The stadium is broken-in after four seasons, but the baseball world will get an up-close look at the facility next year. Mauer already is imagining what it will be like to have an All-Star Game at Target Field, the first in Minneapolis since 1985.
"I think it will be a great venue, right downtown,'' Mauer said. "Downtown and First Av. will be buzzing. It will be a lot of fun. Minnesotans, I know, they will come out. It will be a great atmosphere.''
Twins officials followed Mets officials around Citi Field this week to get a feel for what it takes to organize such a massive event.
Closer Glen Perkins is seeing Citi Field for the first time and said over and over how, "cool'' All-Star week is. But he can't wait to see how everything looks in Target Field next year.