What would you do to celebrate the opening of a new ballpark?

For the New York Yankees, it's a commemorative logo - and their 27th World Series championship. For the Mets, it's another commemorative logo - and unanswered questions.

However, the Minnesota Twins wanted to do more. By opening Target Field, this is not just a move across downtown Minneapolis. This is a reboot.

Today, inside IDS Tower's Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis, the Twins unveiled the deepest of their changes to their look. With TV play-by-play man Dick Bremer running the show, club President Dave St. Peter unveiled the new logos for the club: A new main mark with a revised "Twins" type, and two commemorative logo celebrating the opening of Target Field and their 50th season of MLB play in the Twin Cities.

Then, came the uniforms! The home uniform will not change as much (the "Twins" type is altered to match the new primary logo - along with commemorative logos on each sleeve), but the alternative home uniform will be a retro piece harkening back to 1961 with the original script across a pinstriped off-white ensemble. These uniforms will be worn on Saturday games at home.

The road uniforms will change substantially to a non-pinstripe grey with a "Minnesota" script across the chest. The "TC" cap will now be worn on the road with a blue crown and red bill instead of the 1982 throwback style of the reverse. Don't worry, the "M" from the late 1980s will be still worn, but as an alternative road cap.

You know, I like the retro home alternative, but was disappointed they did not unveil the changes to the home primary uniform in the event (The Twins did on their website, BTW). Hmmm...I think there's a new jersey to be bought before next season...

For now, here's some more photos...

Scott Baker and Denard Span

The Commemorative Logomarks

All photos by Randy Stern - under Creative Commons license. For a larger view - click on each photo to go to Randy's Flickr site.

The Hot Stove is on High. It's not about the rumors, but of the deals so far that have taken a few folks by surprise. You can imagine that the flames from this stove are high enough to melt the best pots and pans to a crisp.

Imagine the gas (or electric) bill on that thing!

Set aside the Minnesota Twins-Milwaukee Brewers swap of Carlos Gomez for J.J. Hardy for the moment. It's Awards Week! This is MLB's equivalent to the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys and the Tonys. We, as prognosticators, try to figure out who is the clear winner on these categories or who can upset. The voting is by the baseball writers - so, we obviously can't influence the votes! Nor do any BBWAA member gets DVDs of a player's highlights with the cover stamped "For your consideration."

Does anyone have any ideas on who will be MVP, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and Manager of the Year? No clues on my end - but, I can always give my opinions...

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: The only rookie that has caught my eye has been J.A. Happ of the Philadelphia Phillies. What will kill his chances at taking the NL ROY was his manager's shuffling of the starting rotation during the entire postseason - sending Happ to the bullpen in recovery mode. I'll stick with Happ based solely on the regular season he had through the arrival of Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez.

In the AL - I simply have no clue. In fact, I'd be happy for anyone here, despite my issues with the Tampa Bay Rays' Jeff Niemann (who was selected over David Price in the rotation at the onset of the season) and the Detroit Tigers' Rick Porcello (simply because he's a Tiger - and their lovely fans). So, that leaves the Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus and the Oakland A's Brett Anderson amongst the frontrunners for the AL ROY. Fine, Andrus is the guy!

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: These picks should be easy...right? Few only won for taking over in mid-season, but Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies should be considered for this year's NL nod. That turnaround was astounding!

And, if turnarounds are the benchmark for this award, my AL pick is Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees. Not only has he turned the Yanks around, he has given them a World Series championship in a new ballpark after a year away from the postseason.

CY YOUNG AWARD: Which St. Louis Cardinal should win this one? The NL award should be won on a coin flip between Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. My bet is on Wainwright calling heads. Heads it is!

As for the AL, it has to be between the Yanks' C.C. Sabathia and the Kansas City Royals' Zack Greinke. As I see, it is what you finish is how you win - not how you started. Ah, but what about the ERA? Face it, Greinke's the new Bret Saberhagen in KC - sorry, C.C.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: In the AL, the Twins' Joe Mauer is the one being called out as the guy. Others say Mark Teixeira of the Yankees. My pick? Mauer! Why? The evolution of the catcher has gone through Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez. Mauer is the latest evolution of the position: Game calling plus at-bat success and other attributes that changes games on the fly. Sorry, Yanks, but Joe's this year's model.

However, there could only be one NL MVP: Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. Overall, no one had a stronger season - period.

Apparently, the stove's still burning hot. After the major awards have been given away, I suppose we can sit down and the game of musical chairs for 150 players this season unfold. I, for one, would be happy with Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson out of the Motor City.

This was indeed a fantastic year for the game.

I already looked back at the games I attended - which turned out to be quite a year in the game. Overall, I was pleased with how everything held its own with the return of the New York Yankees to championship prominence to the amazing start of the season for Zach Greinke of the Kansas City Royals. It was also the year of Manny Ramirez's suspension due to a prescribed medication considered illegal by the Commissioner's Office and the growing groundswell to review the quality of umpiring as well as the oversight and governance of the game's officiating.

Well, I hope they can address the latter during the meetings over the off-season.

Is this the end for the Heirloom? There's the major awards coming up and who knows what the hot stove will serve up before March? I might go to TwinsFest, scheduled at the end of January at the Metrodome. It appears they will not sell single game tickets at this one as well - stinks, doesn't it?

I do want to share something that has come out of this second season as a MLBlogger: I was asked to become part of a book project. I can't divulge too much here at this time, but I always considered if a book would be in the offing on this subject. Well - my answer came.

In closing, I wanted to thank my fellow MLBloggers for raising the bar for me to try to accomplish a level of writing that is unique to the game. Mark (MLBlogosphere) has been encouraging and supportive these two years. Jane (Confessions of a She-Fan) is a fun writer that I support wholeheartedly! I just finished her book - and loved it! There's Julia (Julia's Rants), Red State/Blue State, Pittsburgh Peas, More Cowbell, Plunking Gomez, Tribe With Ted...you all provide excellent context to this game we all love whether we write on our favorite team or widen our scope to include even the lowest leagues in the game.

To the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Cloud River Bats, thank you for opening your doors to this fan and enjoy the game as intended. I look forward to waking through the gates of Target Field next year and adding a few more stops along the way.

To my friends who support the blog and my writing, a huge thank you. Whenever I doubt my abilities to write at the highest level or to justify writing about a subject not stereotypically acceptable in the culture I live in, you guys made it clear that I no longer need to apologize for my writing whatsoever! To Scott and Michael in Duluth, Chris in Chicago, Don in Toronto, Eric in Los Angeles, Fred and Jason in Madison, Bill in San Francisco and to pretty much everyone surrounding me in the Twin Cities, thank you very, very much!

Finally, to my brother Matthew. Thank you for your continued support of this blog and to show that our family still hasn't lost the love our mother gave us of the game. Between our paths was that little girl our grandfather gave a few coins to so she can see baseball down the street at Crosley Field in the late 1930's. That's the Heirloom at its genesis - she isn't done with us, yet!

Until next year!

One word: Domination.

Even if you rooted against them, you had that premonition that they would grab their 27th World Championship to christen the New Cathedral.

It was their time. It was also redemption for Joe Girardi years after his unceremonious departure form South Florida and the scrutiny he received in the Bronx through mid-season. It was a fitting first title for Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett - and others that have not experienced a Yankee World Championship before.

Having been inside the new building on 161st Street in the South Bronx, there was an air of destiny you felt as you walked through the Great Hall, staring at the legends and the biog video board above the steakhouse and clubhouse store. You knew they would be there in October.

Yet, I doubted they'd make it through November. Still, they were the strongest club going into postseason. They held their own through the Series. They showed strength against strength. In the end, they won on their new home turf. The flagship now christened properly.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Championship. What a year for you guys!

Also, congrats goes out to the Philadelphia Phillies for being the class of the National League. You proved how solidity can win through all the time.

Now, Jane can celebrate with a champagne shower in her bath out in California. Don't forget your husband's snorkeling goggles!

I'm downstairs in the "family room" with the HDTV on and my laundry going. A good excuse to sit down for Game Six of the Series. It's the most relaxed I've been today after I endured an all-day online press conference (that has nothing to do with baseball, BTW). Don't feel sorry for me...

Here we go: The Phillies needs to win or go home. Shane Victorino is healthy. Chase Utley could best history. Andy Pettitte could do his clinch/championship magic once again. A-Rod could finally claim his title of "Mr. November" with Mr. October watching.

Are going to have a Game Seven or a 27th World Championship tonight? I'm watching. Are you?

I was supposed to be in my final class meeting of an off-site grad school course. An hour before class was to begin, we were sent an E-mail informing us of the meetings cancellation due to the instructor falling ill. This was followed up with a phone call. In all - a free Monday evening for once!

Well, no class tonight - perhaps the only thing to do is to watch or follow Game 5 of the World Series!

GAME 5 - PHILADELPHIA 8, NEW YORK (AL) 6: A.J. Burnett on short rest or a well-rested Cliff Lee? Rather, the Yanks celebrating Championship Number 27 in South Philly or the Series goes back to the Bronx?

It began as A.J. was back to his old inconsistent self. He opened the door for the Phillies to avenge the last two evenings. Chase utley's homer was the straw that broke Burnett's back. Replacing A.J. with Phil Coke - bad move for the Yanks! For Utley's second roundtripper and Eddie Vedder's pal Raul Ibanez's own shot, it was no wonder why Coke was the weakest link on the Yanks' pitching staff.

Then, it became nervous time. The Yanks gnawed at the Phils lead by getting at Lee, then Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madsen. However, with scrutiny as the Brad Lidge's lack of closing power, Madsen wound up salvaging the victory for the Fightin' Phils earning a hard fought save in the process. These ain't the "Whiz Kids," folks! NEW YORK (AL) LEADS 3-2.

The series goes back to the New Cathedral on Wednesday night.

When your back's against the wall, what measures needs to be taken to reverse the tide?

Yeah, the Philadelphia Phillies were down a game and the momentum is over at the New York Yankees' dugout - but, does that mean anything? Even as Citizens Bank Park polishes up after the Eagles' victory across the way over the New York Giants, no one felt any pressure. No one knew who would take control of the Series.

Desperation? Ask the Green Bay Packers about that! They almost tripped up the Minnesota Vikings on Brett Favre's homecoming to Lambeau Field. Too bad they didn't! Or, rather, I'm glad they didn't. Boo Favre all they wanted - they simply blew it! The Vikings simply took control of the NFC Central Division.

Would it be the same situation in Game 4 of the World Series? If so, who will take control of the Series? I already recapped Games 1 and 2 from the New Cathedral and Game 3 from South Philly. Here's how tonight's festivities went down...

GAME 4 - NEW YORK (AL) 7, PHILADELPHIA 4: As Hallow's Eve/Samhain became All Saint's Day/Dia de los Muertos, with an extra hour to spare, a debate rages on. The Phillies decided to go with a four-man rotation with Joe Blanton on the mound as Numero Quattro, while the Yanks recycle C.C. Sabathia on a short rest situation. Certainly, Joe Girardi could've added Joba Chamberlain to match up against Blanton, but the stage was set to test of Charlie Manuel's solution to his pitching staff problem as they face a game behind the Yanks in the Series.

As Janet Jackson once said: "This is all about control." The Yankees proved once and again that control is the key to the game. How do you control the Phillies bats? C.C. Sabathia had to take the high road after giving up two runs early in the game. When the relievers took the mound, both teams simply traded runs until they were tied after eight. The Yankees finally took control off the Phillies' closer Brad Lidge. Three runs made the difference between a tied series and a Yankees advantage. Now, the Phillies will have to loom for answers on how to get the series back to the Bronx and save their lives at the same time. NEW YORK (AL) LEADS 3-1.

And, what answers will the Phils need to have for tomorrow night? With A.J. Burnett set to return to the mound, Charlie Manuel needs to make some decisions to stay in the Series. If not, the Yanks will raise their 27th World Championship flag on Phillies' turf. Not exactly a scene you'd want in Philadelphia.

If that happens - at least Mitch Williams have been exonerated for 1993. They'll have to find another scapegoat to burn in effigy at City Hall - or, carry D-cell batteries to toss onto the field when the Yanks win.

Yep, that's me (L)...moonlighting over at the NFL. Photo by Randy Stern

No, I'm not a Lambeau Field today. I'm watching the BIG GAME at home. Yet, I'm all caught up in the "Brett Favre Homecoming" hype with my team winning at halftime over Favre's old team.

The strange catharsis of the World Series and the overextension of the MLB Postseason is the rub against football season. Whether you're into the college game of the pro one, your allegiances become blurred. It was indeed tough being a Minnesota Vikings fan when the Minnesota Twins went for the AL Tiebreaker the evening after the first Green Bay Packers game inside the dome.

Sure, had the Twins not won on that amazing Tuesday night, I would give less credence to the Postseason. Well...not really. Baseball is baseball and one cannot ignore the drama of the Postseason even if your team's not in it. It makes the rest of us hungry for a shot next year...

In the meantime, about last night...

GAME 3 - NEW YORK (AL) 8, PHILADELPHIA 5: On Hallow's Eve/Samhain, the outcome would be clear: One team will have superheroes leading the charge while the other team will have nightmares. With a match-up between Andy Pettitte for the Yanks and Cole Hamels for the Phils, there was no clear indication which team will end as which. Delayed an hour and twenty minutes from the schedule first pitch, the rain subsided enough for this highly anticipated duel to get under way.

When it did, the Phillies rocketed into the lead off Pettitte with three runs, including Jayson Werth's homer. Then, Alex Rodriguez came up in his second at-bat. He run one off the right field corner camera. "After further review," A-Rod gets a two-run homer. I was looking for Brad Childress to throw the red flag...oops, wrong sport! With A-Rod awarded a homer, Nick Swisher decided to contribute to the party with a legitimate jack of his own. With these two out of their slumps, it was more than enough for a Yankees' win on the road. NEW YORK (AL) LEAD 2-1.

After Brett Favre handles his old team, we will soon find out whether Charlie Manuel's strategy of four starters works against Joe Girardi's call to C.C. Sabathia on short rest. Maybe FOX will move their cameras back a foot off the fences? Considering how the balls have been flying deep towards the fences, it would probably be a good idea.

Well, back to the Vikings-Packers game...

I wasn't planning to post for a while - probably after Game 4. But, the weather decided to throw a wrench into a very good match-up between the New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte and the Philadelphia Phillies' Cole Hamels. After two games, the Series is tied as it kicked off the New Cathedral's maiden World Series voyage. The stage has shifted down the New Jersey Turnpike (or Amtrak's Northeast Corridor) to Citizens Bank Park in South Philly.

I'll admit that I have not watched the Series on FOX, so as soon as I turn the TV on - my brain exploded.

- Did Joe Buck get a hair coloring? I don't remember being him that blonde?

- When did FOX hire Ozzie Guillen as a pre-game show host?

- "The Cleveland Show" sucks!

- Cut that damn fauxhawk, Nick Swisher!

Here's a recap of the Series so far...

GAME 1- PHILADELPHIA 6, NEW YORK (AL) 1: Which former Cy Young Award-winning Cleveland Indian would kick off this Fall Classic? It wasn't C.C. Sabathia. Chase Utley made sure to remind C.C. of their last meeting in last year's NLDS. All the hype of "Sabathia in Milwaukee" became a meltdown for the big ace last fall. This fall was no exception - and Utley took one deep to broadcast that message loud and clear.

This was Lee's game: A rare complete game in a time of 100-pitch strategies. He only gave up one Yankee run. Still, Charlie Manuel was confident in his Cy Young Award-winning ace. The Phils gave Lee plenty of defense, in case he couldn't nail them with his arm. Yet, it was all Lee - ten strikeouts and a full day's work. PHILADELPHIA LEADS 1-0.

GAME 2 - NEW YORK (AL) 3, PHILADELPHIA 1: Pedro Martinez could've found someone to shove over. He didn't have to be 72 years old and wearing a Yankee uniform. Instead, Pedro concentrated on the mound. He also found himself locked in a duel with A.J. Burnett, the former outcast of the Toronto Blue Jays. Considering how Pedro was quietly ushered out of Queens, the duel of outcasts had to break somehow.

Pedro was broken. It took homers from Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui and a RBI pinch-hit single by "Hip, Hip" Jorge Posada to break their biggest nemesis. A.J. cruised for seven innings striking out nine Phils with peerless relief by Mariano Rivera. Who knew it would end up this way with the season Pedro had since returning to play with the Phillies? SERIES TIED 1-1.

As for tonight...stay tuned!

In a world where political correctness and civil libertarians are starting to impede on the standards of life, I still need to tread carefully when discussing matters of Native/First Nations affairs. After all, I live on the crossroads of the Ojibwe and the Dakota.

Such as the Cleveland Indians - Or, the ex-Tribe pitchers now facing each other in Game One of the 2009 World Series.

Did anyone see this coming? Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia - the last two American League Cy Young Award winners. Both were members of Eric Wedge-led Cleveland teams. Both were disciples of Carl Willis. Both also shared lockers.

Sabathia was the first to leave Progressive Field. He went to Milwaukee in hopes of riding a postseason train further than the 2007 Tribe. At least the Tribe went to the ALCS the season before. When his Brewers dream was null, he looked for a better deal. With the Steinbrenner's family hands wide open, Sabathia snatched the ball and became a Yankee.

Then, Lee left. He had the Cy Young last year in part to resurrect his career. When Sabathia headed to Wisconsin, it was Lee's ballclub to ace. He arrived in 2009, the Tribe in shambles, Wedge's job on the line - he bolted to Philly. All of the sudden, Cliff Lee became Cliff Lee again. That Cy Young swagger and methodical delivery in tact.

How many starting pitching match-ups in World Series history have you had the pleasure of witnessing? I'm certain we have seen a match-up of two masters on the mound where a hit would ruin the fun for the fan - a home run would end all expectations on the game.

The true winner will not be either the Yankees or the Phillies. Rather, the Cleveland Indians. It is a tribute to an organization that crafted fine ballplayers through a winning farm system full of the finest teachers of the game.