Field of Dreams broadcast makes bizarre claim about Twins ownership

The Minnesota Twins finally got their chance to play at the Field of Dreams, and Major League Baseball did just about everything it could to make the night feel special. Unfortunately, the Twins forgot to bring much of anything to the actual game.

Minnesota fell 7-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night in Dyersville, Iowa, turning what was supposed to be one of the most memorable games of the season into a largely forgettable performance. The Twins struck out 12 times, went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners. They actually managed eight hits, but somehow turned all of that traffic into a single run. And that single run came on a homer.

For all the buildup surrounding the game, it was a remarkably uneventful night from the Twins' perspective.

Twins waste plenty of opportunities in Field of Dreams loss

It wasn't a completely lost night for everyone. Luke Keaschall was Minnesota's biggest bright spot, going 2-for-4 with a double and the Twins' only home run. Trevor Larnach and Ryan Jeffers also collected two hits apiece, meaning six of Minnesota's eight hits came from just three hitters. Eight hits should have been enough to generate more than one run, but the Twins repeatedly failed to turn baserunners into anything meaningful.

Keaschall was the only one who actually managed to put a run on the board, taking Aaron Nola deep for Minnesota's lone run of the night. He also found himself on the wrong side of one of the game's stranger moments. Kyle Schwarber's second home run of the night appeared to be within Keaschall's reach in left field, but the ball bounced off his glove and over the short Field of Dreams fence. Instead of a potential highlight-reel catch, Schwarber had his second homer of the game.

And, to be clear, that ball was going over the fence anyway.

Still, Keaschall deserves plenty of credit. On a night when the Twins repeatedly failed to turn baserunners into runs, he doubled, homered and looked entirely comfortable on one of baseball's biggest stages. The Twins also got Byron Buxton back just in time for the occasion. He was activated from the injured list before the game, giving Minnesota its biggest star back for one of MLB's showcase events. His return provided another reason for optimism heading into the night, but it wasn't enough to wake up the rest of the lineup.

Things weren't much better on the mound. Taj Bradley looked uncomfortable almost immediately, and the Phillies wasted little time taking advantage. Schwarber homered in the first inning, and Bradley issued three walks over the first two frames. He ultimately lasted only four innings.

It was a disappointing performance on a big stage for Bradley, who never seemed to settle into the game. A handful of pitches also looked like obvious candidates for an ABS challenge under normal circumstances, but the challenge system wasn't used for the Field of Dreams game. Would it have changed the outcome? Almost certainly not. The Twins lost by six runs, and the offense sputtered when it mattered. But on a night when Bradley was already fighting to find a rhythm, it certainly didn't help.

The Field of Dreams broadcast didn't exactly do its Twins homework

Perhaps the most surprising moment of the entire broadcast had nothing to do with anything that happened on the field.

At one point, the Twins' ownership group was referred to as "beloved" by Netflix announcer Matt Vasgersian. I actually had to ask my family, who was watching the game with me, if I'd heard that correctly. Apparently I had, and social media lit up in response to what many would consider an off-base, or even tone-deaf, comment.

Twins fans might have some questions about that particular description. The relationship between the fanbase and ownership has been strained for years, especially after payroll reductions and plenty of frustration over the direction of the franchise. Aaron Gleeman, formerly of The Athletic, immediately picked up on the comment as well, because calling Twins ownership "beloved" is certainly one way to describe the situation. It's just probably not the adjective most Twins fans would choose.

It wasn't the only moment that left Twins fans scratching their heads. The broadcast also stated that Byron Buxton never played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Not only did Buxton play there, but he hit .341 in 68 games for the Kernels in 2013 during his rapid rise through the Twins' farm system. It was also the same year he was named Minor League Player of the Year. Just saying.

Between getting a fairly significant part of Buxton's minor-league history wrong and describing the Twins' ownership group as "beloved," Twins fans could be forgiven for wondering exactly how much homework had been done before the broadcast.

MLB delivered the Field of Dreams experience, the Twins didn't.

If there was one saving grace Thursday night, it was everything surrounding the game. MLB leaned fully into what makes the Field of Dreams setting special. Twenty-six Hall of Famers participated in the pregame festivities, emerging from the corn in a terrific tribute to baseball history. Players had opportunities to meet some of the game's legends, play (or have a) catch with family members, and experience a setting unlike anything they'll encounter during the rest of the season.

There were some genuinely meaningful moments for the Twins, too. Derek Shelton got to play catch with his father before the game, (as did Kody Clemens) an especially fitting experience given the father-son relationship at the heart of Field of Dreams. That's understandable. The problem is that there was also a baseball game to play.

Minnesota is trying to stay in the postseason race, and instead of taking advantage of the national stage, the Twins struck out 12 times, couldn't produce a hit with runners in scoring position and watched Philadelphia cruise to a six-run victory. It wasn't that the Twins had no chances; they did. Minnesota simply failed to capitalize on almost every opportunity.

MLB gave the Twins a terrific stage. From the Hall of Famers emerging from the corn to the James Horner soundtrack echoing across the field, the entire production captured exactly what made the night in Iowa special. The Twins just sleepwalked through their part of it. The Field of Dreams game gave the Twins a night they'll probably remember for the rest of their lives. Twins fans might prefer to forget the part after the first pitch.

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