The words "Play Ball" have once again resounded through Major League ballfieds across the country as players and owners reached a deal on a contract between the owners and the player's union.

The agreement not only prevented MLB players from striking, but it likely saved the Twins from extinction.

The most important aspect of the settlement is that owners agreed not to eliminate teams through the 2006 season.

Right after the World Series last year, the Twins, along with the Montreal Expos, were on Baseball Commissioner's Bud Selig's chopping block because they didn't earn enough money. They can't afford star players and they draw an average of just 22,000 fans per game compared to 27,800 across the majors.

Then a group of rag-tag, no-names wanted to prove to the world that they could play. And if they won games the fans would come no matter where they played.

Over the season, the Twins not only have done that but are true contenders for the title this year. And as expected, fans have responded by nearly filling the Metrodome for the last several months.