We’re only 52 days (that’s less than eight weeks!)
from the 2004 season opener in Beloit, and only 73
days away from the opening of our beautiful new
stadium! Make sure to mark that date, Thursday, April
29, on your calendar as the Swing of the Quad Cities
opens the ballpark against the Burlington Bees.

Here’s what’s going on in the world of the Swing of
the Quad Cities:

MINI PLANS ARE NOW ON SALE!

The only way to guarantee your spot at the historic
2004 home opener is by purchasing a Swing of the Quad
Cities Mini Plan! The Swing have made a special effort
to pack mini plans with only the most exciting
promotional games, including fireworks nights,
bobblehead giveaways, and entertainment acts. The
Boogie Woogie Weekender, a 35-game plan, features
almost every weekend date on the 2004 schedule, while
the 17-game Promotional Package is loaded with events
like the ZOOperstars! and a stadium replica giveaway.
The Swing Sampler, an eight-game plan, features only
the best of the Swing games in 2004, spread generously
throughout the season.

For more on Swing of the Quad Cities mini plans, head
here:

http://www.swingbaseball.com/tickets/mini/

Mini plans are available for purchase NOW by calling
the Swing at (563) 324-3000, by stopping by our winter
offices located at 617 Brady Street, or by ordering
online here:

http://www.swingbaseball.com/shopping/1

TWO OF THE TWINS’ TOP PROSPECTS COULD BE JOINING THE
SWING

Although the 2004 Swing of the Quad Cities roster is
far from finalized, it looks like a pair of the best
prospects in the Minnesota Twins system, outfielder
Denard Span and third baseman Matt Moses, could be
making their full-season debuts with the Swing in
April. Span, the Twins’ first-round pick in 2002, is a
leadoff-type hitter who has been compared to Kenny
Lofton, while Moses, the Twins’ top selection in 2003,
is a power hitter who profiles as a
middle-of-the-order masher. Baseball America ranked
Moses as the third-best prospect in the Twins system,
while Span is ranked seventh.

A total of seven players who spent time in the Quad
Cities are on Baseball America’s top ten list for the
Twins, including Joe Mauer (#1), Justin Morneau (#3),
J.D. Durbin (#4) and Michael Restovich (#10).

You can read all about the prospect rankings right
here:

http://www.swingbaseball.com/?entry=604

SPEAKING OF JOE MAUER…

Joe Mauer, the top prospect in the Minnesota Twins’
system (and, many think, all of minor league
baseball), spent the 2002 season at John O’Donnell
Stadium, batting .302 for the River Bandits and
getting named the Midwest League prospect of the year.
After an incredible 2003 season in which he batted
.335 at Class A-Advanced Fort Myers and then .341 for
Double-A New Britain, Mauer was named minor league
player of the year by variety of news services,
including Baseball America and Sportsticker. This
offseason, the Twins traded All-Star catcher A.J.
Pierzynski to San Francisco, opening the door for
Mauer to step in to the catcher’s role in 2004.

Swing of the Quad Cities radio broadcaster Andrew
Rudnik caught up with Mauer during TwinsFest 2004 at
the Metrodome, and Mauer spoke about his prospects for
2004, the pressure that comes with being a homegrown
star in Minnesota, and his time in the Quad Cities.
Read the transcript here:

http://www.swingbaseball.com/?entry=600

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT NEXT WEEK!

Is it the greatest day of the year? (Check out the
survey at www.swingbaseball.com. We at the Swing think
it is.) On Sunday, February 22, Minnesota Twins
pitchers and catchers report to spring training in
Fort Myers, as they prepare to win a third straight
American League Central title. A host of former Quad
Cities players have earned a place at big league camp,
including recent 40-man roster inclusions J.D. Durbin,
Jason Kubel, Colby Miller, Terry Tiffee, and Brian
Wolfe. In addition, Joe Mauer, Jake Mauer, and Jesse
Crain are among those that have earned non-roster
invitations, and current major leaguers and former
QC’ers like Justin Morneau, Michael Restovich, Juan
Rincon and Johan Santana will also be in Fort Myers.
Minnesota’s minor league prospects are due to report
to spring training on March 12.

ROAD TRIP 2004

Thanks to all of our fans who stopped by and said
hello at the Swing of the Quad Cities booth at
TwinsFest and at the Iowa Cubs Fan Fest last month.
We’ve got a few shots from our experience at the ‘Dome
right here:
http://www.swingbaseball.com/news/index.php?entry=595,
and you can check out a picture of our time in Des
Moines by clicking here:
http://www.swingbaseball.com/community/

SNOW PROBLEMS? NO PROBLEM!

The last few weeks have seen quite a bit of snow come
to the Quad Cities, but stadium construction has gone
off without a hitch. The entire first floor is
drywalled (and beginning to be painted), the second
floor is taking shape as the concourse that it will
be, and the steel for the third floor press box and
suites is up. The ballpark will look even more
stadium-like by the end of the month, as we’re
expecting the delivery of seats in the very near
future.

Don’t forget to keep checking www.swingbaseball.com
for twice-weekly photo installments, including our
most recent entry here:
http://www.swingbaseball.com/?entry=612

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE SWING

If you’re a local elementary school student, chances
are you’ll be getting to know Rookie the Raccoon a
little bit better in the coming month, as the Swing
heads from school to school to tell students (nearly
7,000 of them, in all) about our Swing into Reading
Program! We’ve posted a photo on the Community page of
our website, and will try to get a few more up as the
month goes on.

Also, as we get closer to the 2004 season, expect to
see even more information about the 2004 Swing of the
Quad Cities roster, and expect to hear from Kevin
Boles, the 28-year-old who will be making his
full-season managerial debut in the Quad Cities. And,
of course, we’ll unveil the all-important Swing of the
Quad Cities uniforms and, if you’re lucky, introduce
Rookie to a new friend who will make 2004 Swing games
even more exciting than they already are!

THE SWING OF THE QUAD CITIES HAVE MOVED!

With construction happening at a furious pace at our
former home at the stadium, the Swing have moved into
new winter offices, located at 617 N. Brady St., just
north of downtown Davenport. We’ve got all the latest
Swing merchandise on hand so, if you’re in the area,
feel free to stop by and say hello!

Any mail can still be sent to: P.O. Box 3496,
Davenport, IA 52808

February 16, 2004


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