MLB Insider: Thielbar's success story proof that Twins, Saints can co-exist

It's about 200 feet from the bullpen to the pitching mound in Atlanta, or less than 1 percent of the 5 miles between Target Field and Midway Stadium. Yet Caleb Thielbar seemed to cover both distances on Monday as he jogged in to make his major league debut for the Twins.

Practically, the 26-year-old lefthander proceeded to retire six of the seven hitters he faced, giving his new team two shutout innings of relief. Symbolically, Thielbar represented the new partnership, or at least cooperation, between the Twin Cities' major league behemoth and independent league upstarts. Thielbar, out of minor league baseball and looking for a way to get back in, spent most of the 2011 season with the Saints, then became the first St. Paul player ever signed by the Twins.

"There's a player we both can claim — across the aisle, as it were. We're thrilled about Caleb," said Mike Veeck, founder and minority owner of the St. Paul Saints, which has operated in the shadow of the Twins since 1993. "Saints fans have been Twins fans, and maybe more Twins fans will be Saints fans now."

That wasn't always the case. When the independent Northern League was formed in 1993 and a team placed in Midway Stadium, Andy MacPhail, Twins president at the time, publicly ridiculed the newcomers, Veeck said, calling it a "beer league" and predicting that the team would go out of business within 45 days.

That attitude eventually trickled down to team employees — on both sides, Veeck admits.

Veeck fought back the only way he knew how: with even more silliness. He dreamed up promotions to tweak the Saints' crosstown rivals, and advertisements trumpeting outdoor baseball, as opposed to the Twins' indoor home at the Metrodome. "I'm not going to deny that I had some fun at their expense. There were no innocents on either side" of the rivalry, he said. When the Twins staged a nightly animated "tire race" on Dome scoreboards, Veeck held a live one, for instance.

But things changed about a decade ago, Veeck said, "and really, it's all a tribute to Dave St. Peter."

More than ever now. St. Peter helped lobby for funding for the Saints' new Lowertown Ballpark, scheduled to open in 2015. The Saints, who moved to the independent American Association in 2005, are a part of TwinsFest each January. Kris Atteberry, the Saints' radio play-by-play announcer for five seasons, now hosts pregame and postgame shows for the Twins.

And Saints players — Thielbar first, and Rochester reliever Dan Sattler last summer — are being signed by Twins scouts.

"I had a lot of fun playing there. I'm really grateful the Saints gave me the opportunity to get picked up by a major league organization," Thielbar said. "There are a lot of loyal Saints fans. It's great to be part of both teams."

Central Intelligence

The Indians may be first in the AL Central standings, but they are last in the majors in attendance, the only team drawing fewer fans than baseball's anemic Florida franchises. A franchise that sold out 455 straight home games in the late 1990s is averaging just 16,166 per game this year, despite an 18-6 surge.
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Could the White Sox be for sale?

The former Cy Young and MVP winner has lost two of his past three games, hasn't lasted more than five innings in a start since May 5, gave up a seven-run inning to the Rangers, and owns an ERA (3.66) that's more than a run higher than last year (2.64).
You're never too old

Chris Colabello last week became the fifth-oldest rookie in Twins history, and he has to be hoping he has a longer career than the four older than him. Here's the list (age is on day of debut):

1. Minnie Mendoza, 36 years, 144 days: The Cuban utility infielder surprised the Twins in 1970 by earning a roster spot in spring training, but once the season began, he didn't hit. After going 2-for-16 in 16 games as a pinch-hitter, third baseman and second baseman, he was gone by early June.

2. Hank Izquierdo, 36 years, 142 days: Summoned when the Twins needed a third catcher down the stretch of the 1967 pennant race, Izquierdo, another Cuban, got into 16 games in August and September, batting .269 with two doubles. But he never played in the majors again.

3. Chris Heintz, 31 years, 35 days: Another spare catcher, he spent part of three years in the Twins bullpen, appearing in a total of 34 games from 2005-07. Heintz batted .232, and while he had batting-practice power, he never homered in a game.

5. Chris Colabello, 29 years, 210 days: He spent seven seasons in the independent Can-Am League before signing with the Twins in 2012. After playing well for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Colabello bashed 12 home runs in six weeks at Class AAA, earning a call-up. He made his debut in right field on Wednesday.