Midwest AN Recap/Recollection/Diary

Sorry but I don't have anything creative nor witty to say in this diary - I'll let the others who were actually there do that.

Needless to say I love when our boys come to town because it is usually a cure for whatever ailment we have (even Loaiza).  12 straight and 25-4 since 2000 here in KC --- wow!

I had 2 goals for the series - get all 3 games in (and have a nice big W next to them) and also get Huston and Croz's signatures on the Opening Day program I got in Oakland.

On Friday night Lake and I had front row tickets on the 3B line and Nebraska was able to sit right next to us since well it is the Royals and their 12 fans didn't mind.  There was no way the crowd was 12K that night.  We had some great Royals fans sitting all around us including 2 little boys.  The beer urge hit again so we left and when we came back the older boy had gotten a ball because Emil Brown tossed it to the guys sitting next to us.  You could tell the other boy wanted one as well.  Well I had a few beers in me so I was bold enough to guarantee that I'd get a ball for the younger boy.  I yelled at Swish every time I had a chance even if he didn't get a ball hit to him.  Finally a fly ball to Swish for the 3rd out and he runs directly over to give me the ball and I told him to give it to the little kid.  He did and gave me a huge high five - mission accomplished.  After the win we decided to go have a few beers - well that turned into a lot of beers and shots.

We had a great tailgate for Saturday - same people from last year showed up.  Really thought there might be more but we all had a blast.  Lake and I had our tickets behind the dugout (and what do you know Nebraska was able to sit right behind us) so we went in early to try to get the program signed so we missed most of the tailgate.  I wore the orange fro even though Kielty was down on the farm.  Nobody was signing much because of the crappy weather but I was able to get Crosby's sig.  After Loaiza pitched, well not really pitched more like served on a platter, the A's to a most likely loss Mother Nature stepped in.  You just had to feel for the Royals fans since their elusive win was slipping out of their grasps - nah I'm kidding, never felt bad at all.  I was just happy Loaiza's start never happened.  After we waited until they actually called the game we went to exchange our tickets in for the August series.  We also got to meet Jennifer who was sitting about 10ft away from us - she does exist.  After this game we made the decision not to drink since we had to get home and make our signs and sleep in since the Sunday game was 1:10.  Ask sprtsnwyn how his night went after the game, lol.  Here are pics from our seats...

I was thinking so hard of what sign to make when it hit me - MMMM Cupcakes.  The only concern was if Joe knew of his nickname and if he would be upset.  Lake and Nebraska said I had to do it.  Lake started on the letters while we looked for pictures of cupcakes on the internet - yeah that was pathetic.  We made it out to K around 11 and decided we wouldn't go in early for this game since we wanted to get our drink on.  After awhile we noticed we were getting out done by a guy who was drinking beer and eating pears out of a can.  We asked him to take a picture of us right before we went into the game.  

Lake and I sat front row in LF and we were lucky enough to sit by 2 other A's fans who had driven almost 8hrs.  We had our sign over the railing so all the A's pitchers could see the sign and Huston was the 1st to notice it.  He was just absolutely cheesing when he saw the sign and even pointed it out to Kennedy and Capt Kirk who couldn't stop laughing - even Curt Young was laughing.  Once I was able to get Huston's attention I asked him to sign the program and he said he would but later.  Now if that was any other player I wouldn't have believed him.  So during the stomping I made my way down to the front row of the 3rd base line.  Huston was running in when I yelled at him and he nodded and said "A promise is a promise".  He was only going to sign my program but the guys were able to get their mini bats signed as well.  I also managed to get Halsey's autograph on my hat and chatted with him briefly.  I asked him who was going into the rotation to pitch in Harden's spot and he said he was on Tuesday.

We all had decided that we were going to run the bases after the game - Lake bailed on us right as she hit the field.  In line we talked a HS kid into stopping traffic behind him at 2B and take our picture with the signs.  

At that point everybody realized the fun was over and most had a long trip back to either Wichita or Lincoln.  But as a last hoorah we went to the boats to eat some grub - seriously it was for food not to gamble.  

Nebraska, Myself, Ohtobe21likehuston