The picture above is from today at Target Field. Gone is the snow and tarp, and here to stay is the grass which will require cutting throughout 2010. Outdoor baseball is drawing extremely close, and regular season tickets will go on sale to the public this Saturday.

** Joe Nathan has returned to Minneapolis for a tests on his right elbow. After getting one out and walking two this past Saturday, Nathan left with discomfort in his throwing arm. The move was described as precautionary, and the hope is that the discomfort is a normal part of Nathan’s minor off-season surgery.

** Nick Blackburn will be in Minnesota for the next four years after signing an extension Sunday morning. The righty agreed to terms on a 4-year, $14 million contract with a team option for another season at $8 million.

Gone are the Hormel hot dogs, but leaving with them will not be Dollar-A-Dog Night. The Minnesota Twins have announced that Schweigert’s will be the hot dog provider at Target Field this upcoming season, and that Dollar-A-Dog Night will remain but move to Monday nights. 

There will be five total Dollar-A-Dog Nights, and the schedule is as follows:

May 3rd – Detroit 

June 28th – Detroit 

July 19th – Cleveland 

September 6th – Kansas City 

September 20th – Cleveland