BY BRIAN HALVORSEN
Average Joe columnist finalist

Will the honeymoon ever end? Logically speaking, the bandwagon at
1771 Energy Park Drive should have already departed the capital city.
Applying reason where the St. Paul Saints are concerned, however, is
akin to rationalizing Packer-mania. Seven seasons removed from their
most recent championship season, the Saints have not given any
indication they are eager to rid themselves of their title drought.

"Fun is Good", a slogan the clever marketing minions in the Saints'
front office spent countless minutes developing, has lobotomized
their loyal rubes into believing in something called "the ballpark
experience". In essence, this faithful horde has come to the grand
conclusion that it is okay to stand six-deep in the port-o-john line
while acne scarred, former JV stars hustle their way to another post-
season failure. The bar has not been merely lowered, it has been
buried.

This was not always the case, however. When Rochester's Steve Dailey
flailed helplessly at Damon Pollard's final pitch on a crisp
September evening in 1993, it ignited a run of three Northern League
championships in four seasons for P.T. Veeck and his "Circus by the
Tracks". Shrewd player acquisitions, buoyed by the high profile free-
agent signings of veterans Leon Durham, Darryl Strawberry, Jack
Morris, and Glenn Davis, had upper Midwest baseball enthusiasts
tossing around the "dynasty" label.

Unfortunately, this dynasty-on-the-rise crumbled prior to completion
due to the front office's inability to retain its young talent. Among
the questions Mr. Goldklang, Mr. Veeck, and their partners must ask
themselves are: How many pennants would be flying at Midway Stadium
with Mike Mimbs and Eddie Oropesa anchoring the rotation for the past
decade? Wouldn't Rey Ordonez have solidified the Saints' middle
infield much the way he did for so many years with the New York Mets?
Would Northern League rivals have rather pitched around J.D. Drew in
the third spot or Kevin Millar at clean-up?

An apathetic ownership group, coupled with a fan base requiring no
management accountability, is a formula for perpetual playoff
disappointment. Sadly, no one seems to mind.

Apr. 29, 2004