Minnesota Twins Fan Arrested, Banned from Target Field for Anti-Pohlad Sign

Just when you think the Minnesota Twins can’t do anything else to further tarnish the organization’s reputation, more games were played at Target Field over the weekend. They’ve lost both, and they’ll probably lose the season finale on Sunday afternoon. The MLB Playoffs begin next week and the Twins will not be participating.

Justifiably, fans are mad. Some point their finger at Rocco Baldelli, others want Derek Falvey and Thad Levine out. But the real ones know. The Minnesota Twins’ No. 1 problem is at the ownership level. The Pohlad family cut $30 million from the payroll in the offseason, right after the Twins made the longest postseason run in 20 years .

Minnesota Twins fan arrested, banned from Target Field for anti-Pohlad sign

So (finally), instead of just “Fire Rocco” signs being raised at Target Field, something we have seen sporadically in recent days, one brave soul made an anti-Pohlad sign on Friday that read — “ Defund the PO…lahds ” on one side and “ Penny Pinching Pohlads = Mediocrity ” on the other — then proudly held it above his head, in protest of Twins’ ownership.

But unlike the anti-Baldelli signs, which were not forcibly taken down and did not come with any ramifications, Michael Bailey ( @bailbino on Twitter) was tracked down, arrested and banned from the his favorite team’s home stadium for all of next season. Watch the video underneath the signs. It’s insane.

This is not acceptable behavior. This dude didn’t cut the knees out from underneath the Minnesota Twins. That was the Pohlads. They cut payroll, they quit on this team. All Michael Bailey did was point it out on tagboard. Oh by the way, more cuts are probably coming.

WTF were the Twins/Pohlads thinking?

It was Joe Pohlad and his uptight family members that turned the Minnesota Twins starting rotation from its biggest strength to its most obvious weakness. They let Sonny Gray leave in free agency, then refused to replace him. And it was the Pohlads who cut off the money supply needed to make trades and pay free agents.

The Twins needed one of the most dramatic 2nd half collapses in its history, to miss the 2024 MLB Postseason. Had they been able to replace Gray in the offseason, add depth on offense and in the bullpen at the trade deadline, we’re getting our Homer Hankies out today.

Read More: Report: Minnesota Twins Could Cut Payroll Again

If those salary cuts never happen, no doubt the Minnesota Twins would have found a way into the playoffs. And had that been the case, Target Field would be packed with ecstatic fans this weekend. Fans who have forgotten what a ‘Pohlad Pocket Protector’ is.

Instead, the place is empty and those who do attend are lifting signs that get them unjustly arrested. It should be the Pohlads who are banned from Target Field and arrested. Destroying October for millions of Minnesota Twins fans is the real crime here.

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• Twins Unlikely to Fire Top Decisionmakers
• Report: Minnesota Twins Could Cut Payroll Again
• AJ Pierzynski Puts Minnesota Twins on Epic Blast