Minnesota Twins: 12 Must-See Games on the 2012 Schedule

It seems like just yesterday the Minnesota Twins opened up spring training, and now the Grapefruit League is wrapping up. So we start to take our eyes off of Ft. Myers and start putting them on that pocket schedule in our hand.

That little schedule will tell us so much—what games we want to go to, when the team might hit a rough patch, when will we have to listen to the radio instead of listening to Dick and Bert. Whatever way you use that schedule, these following games are ones you don’t want to miss.

All games in Central time.

April 6th at Baltimore Orioles, 2:05 PM

It’s Opening Day at Camden Yards. This is what baseball is all about. We've been waiting all winter for baseball, and it comes on April 6.

Look out Twins fans, maybe J.J. Hardy can be reminded why we traded him.

April 9th vs. Los Angeles Angels, 3:10 PM

The home opener is always a big deal. No different this year, even after coming off of a 99-loss season. A 3:10 p.m. start time is tough, but skip work and hit the field, the couch or the garage with the radio blaring the play-by-play.

This will also be the first regular-season game for the Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols at Target Field. Pujols played exhibition games with the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field in the inaugural season.

April 13th vs. Texas Rangers, 7:10 PM

Many players deserve a warm "homecoming," and Joe Nathan is definitely one of those players. Nathan gave his blood, sweat and tears to the Twins organization, and I expect a very warm welcoming on April 13.

April 16th at New York Yankees, 6:05 PM

The Twins season last year went off track before it even started, due to a rough opening stretch including a trip to New York. This year the Twins draw their trip to the Bronx as the fourth series of the year, a place the Twins never seem to win.

At least Tsuyoshi Nishioka won’t break his leg this year.

May 16th at Detroit Tigers, 6:05 PM

First impressions are a big thing. May 16 is the first meeting between the Twins and the Detroit Tigers this year. This will be the first look for the Twins at Prince Fielder in a Tigers uniform.

Plus, it’s always nice to pick up a division game early in the season. 

June 8th vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:10 PM

Really any game of this series would be cool to see. All of baseball’s long history comes to town when the Cubbies show up. It’s the North Siders' first trip to Target Field, and it should be a special weekend in Twins Territory.

June 12-14th vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 7:10 PM

I cheated a little bit here. I picked a whole series, but you can’t go wrong. Any game against the Phillies and you’ll probably see some great pitching at least for one team.

Another small reason to show up would be to see Jim Thome once again, who is already doing a homecoming to Philadelphia the whole year.

June 15th vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7:10 PM

The famed Brewers/Twins weekend series, and this date is the Target Field version. Minneapolis will be a party city all weekend, but Friday night is the night to go.

Catch a game and then go stroll through the Warehouse District.

July 8th at Texas Rangers, 6:00 PM

I’m a believer in finishing strong. That being said, the Twins need to finish the first half strong by winning the game before the Twins' four-game All-Star break. There are only six off-days after the All-Star game.

The Twins need to find the right combination of rest and perseverance, and win this one game.

August 13-15th vs. Detroit Tigers, 7:10 PM (13-14) and 12:10 PM (15)

I cheated again by picking another series, but this one could be important. If the Tigers don’t completely run away with the division, this series could be crucial.

If the Tigers do run away with it and the Twins aren't even close to contention, this series has little-to-no significance at all.

September 30th vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:10 PM

The final regular-season home game of the year. It could be bittersweet, dependent upon how the rest of the year goes for the Twins.

It could always be a send-off for a playoff run. Who knows?

October 3rd at Toronto Blue Jays, 6:07 PM

It’s the final game of the regular season. It’s always fun to watch the last game of the year and end it on a high note. It might be ending in a different country, but at least Morneau won’t have far to go home.

There could always be playoffs, eh?