Indications are that the Twins are "bracing to lose 3,000 to 5,000 season-ticket holders for next season, which would lower that base to between 9,000 and 11,000," according to La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The Twins normally "require the first payment on season tickets in early October." However, this year it has been "pushed back to the end of that month." So the Twins are trying to "soften the blow as they head into an offseason of change." On Friday, Twins players wore T-shirts with the phrase, "'Fans of Our Fans,' circling the Twins logo on the front." On the back was the number of that particular player, but instead of his name, "there was the last name of a season-ticket holder." The season-ticket holders with their names on the backs of T-shirts were "scheduled to be on the field for batting practice, so many were surprised" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/11).
SEARCH PARTY: The STAR TRIBUNE's Neal wrote the Twins remain in the initial phase of their search for a new GM and "several candidates have been interviewed," but "no one has been brought in for a second interview." The ongoing search coincides with the release of Twins Owner Jim Pohlad's letter to season-ticket holders last week in which he "promised to address the problems on the field." Twins President Dave St. Peter is "confident the club will name someone to lead the baseball department" by the end of October. Neal noted one person "out of the running" for the Twins vacant position is current Dodgers VP/Baseball Operations and former Blue Jays Senior VP/Baseball Operations & GM Alex Anthopoulos (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/11). In St. Paul, Mike Beradino noted Anthopoulos has told associates that the "timing isn't right for him to jump back into the GM pool" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/10).
