BASEBALL SEASON OPENER!!!!

Hard to believe this isn't something I mention more often but I'm a baseball nut.... I gotta tell ya, the combination of being a photography addict and a baseball fan makes for a LOOOOOOT of baseball pictures sitting on my harddrive.

In honor of the MLB Season Opener (WIN TWINS!), I have decided to post some of my favorite pictures from games over the last few years. First note: I had to sort through literally THOUSANDS of pictures (and took the time to delete similar shots and organize them) to figure out what to post. Second note: amongst it's many other failings, the HHH Metrodome is actually a VERY difficult place to get good action shots due to the lighting. I have spent a lot of time playing with different settings on various days to get them as good as I can. That is something I will continue to learn about but I bet it's a ton easier to get spectacular shots when we are outdoors in Target Field!

To start things off, here are a couple of my favorite "action shots":
1) Brendan Harris, MI, getting hit by a pitch.


2) Alexi Casilla, 2B, doing what he does best - seemingly running without ever touching the ground.


3) Nick Blackburn, P, warming up in the bullpen - can't wait to see him start tomorrow's game!


Here's a slideshow of a collection of more of my favorite pictures in general:


4) Jason Kubel, DH, in a moment of bat meeting ball action.


here's another slideshow of my best "ball at the plate" moments, including contact, strikes, and fouls:


I would also like to take a moment to thank a couple friends for providing me with a few shots that I love and would like to share with you.

This is my first baseball love, Doug Mientkiewicz. Picture by Kristie Strum


This is one of my current loves - yes, there is more than one - Joe Nathan. Picture by Corey Sauer


Well - it took me too long to raid friends pictures for a Spring Training picture of Crede in a Twins uniform because I just didn't have it in me to post one of him batting in a Chicago jersey. (and I couldn't find my Liriano pictures *sob) That being said, the lineup I was predicting is VERY near what has been posted at the Strib except that I had the order a tiny bit differently - not that you would know but you might have to trust me on this one. Anyway, here is the 2009 Twins Starting Lineup in photos!



And lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERT!!