Rounding Third and Headed for Home

I’m sad to report that we’ve received no more letters or emails in pursuit of finding a new baseball team to call our own, so we will soon be making our final decision, packing up this blog and moving on.

I had hoped for a little more interaction, and am quite frankly a little perturbed that so few made an effort to connect with my sons. But we aren’t going to beg for responses. We shouldn’t have to, anyway.

I plan just three more blogs. One on our experience at Fan Fest; the next on what to see in Kansas City if you are going to the All-Star game and the last on our actual decision.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of Colin’s latest baseball practice.

 

With Malice Toward None – 10 things we like about the current Royals

I am tardy with this post, but we are in the height of summer here; cub scout camps, acting camps, happy hour events, movies, trips to pool, etc. I’m squeezing this post in after finishing work but before picking up the boys and their respective camps. The first five on this list are my own; the last five are from the boys. Without further ado:

1. Alex Gordon – I’ll admit it. I’m biased. Alex Gordon and I share the same hometown. We went to the same high school (although Alex attended years after I did). We both are graduates of the University of Nebraska. But, you can’t argue with Alex’s gold glove. Or last year’s Royals MVP season.
2. Billy Butler – Billy Butler can hit, that much is for sure. Some argue he’s the best right handed hitter in baseball today. I wouldn’t go that far, but I would argue he’s the most consistent Royal. Day in and day out, Butler delivers. If he had any speed on the base pads at all, he’d probably be hitting over .350. (I actually like the fact that I’m 44 and could still outrun a major league ballplayer). Lastly, Butler looks like Larry the Cable Guys’ little brother.
3. Frenchy’s Corner – Jeff Francoeur plays baseball the way it was meant to be played. With a smile on his face, and a spring in his step. How can you not love a guy who threw a baseball with an attached $100 bill into this section and told them the beers and dogs were on him?
4. Kauffman Stadium – Yes, I know it is not hallowed ground like Wrigley Field or Fenway. And yes, they should have built it downtown. But, I would argue, once inside the stadium, you won’t find a lovelier place in all of baseball. My favorite part? The fountains out in the outfield. (Kansas City is known as the city of fountains).
5. The promise of youth – Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Alcidis Escobar comprise three of the four infield positions for the Royals. None is over 26 years old. Hosmer and Moustakas have real pop in their bats. Escobar has tremendous range at shortstop. All of them are fun to watch.
6. Sluggerrr –One of the greatest signs of unadulterated joy on Will’s face came the time Sluggerrr faux-choked him when he accidently cut in line to get his picture taken. Both kids spend a large majority of games looking for Sluggerrr. Plus, Sluggerrr has street-cred. He beat the rap after being sued for shooting a hotdog in a fans’ eye.
7. Buck Night – NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg might be trying to fight corpulence in the Big Apple, but we here in Kansas City have Buck Night –where hotdogs, Pepsi (Sigh – no Coke, damn you Pepsico!) is only a dollar. The boys love this night and at their age, aren’t too concerned by their caloric intake (shhh! – don’t tell Bloomberg about the Royals’ All You Can Eat Seats! It might kill him!)
8. Fireworks Friday – This is self-explanatory. Fireworks. Small boys. Winning!
9. 
   1. Live-action hotdog race – Sure, it’s a demeaning job for the poor schleps who work for the Royals who have to do it. But if you are 10 and 7 years old, it is awesome!

1. The Sunday Fun Run around the bases – Obviously, you have to wait until the end of the game (which is torturous to a small boy. I have told them the secret of life is learning how to deal with lines. They don’t listen), but once they are out on the field they love this!

So, there you have it, ten totally positive things about the Royals!

The Postman Rang Twice

The dearth of responses to Will’s letters has gone on for so long, that quite frankly, I had given up on seeing any more. Imagine the boys’ surprise when they got home yesterday from spending a day with their Grandpa fishing and had two letters waiting for them. The most gratifying aspect? These responses came from Will’s handwritten letters.

First, the Cardinals: My wife has told us several times that the Cardinals were verboten because of her antipathy of Missouri’s other major city. (She is serious.) A Kansas City native, she takes the rivalry with St. Louis to heart. Me? This might scandalous in these parts, but I actually like St. Louis. I like Kansas City more, but St. Louis is a nice town. Plus, my Grandaddy was a Cardinals fan. Born and raised in Texas, the Cardinals were the default team because at the time, they were the only team west of the Mississippi River. And, I love Bob Gibson and Stan Musial. Two of my favorite all-time players.

The Cardinals response was only perfunctory in nature; a sticker, a temporary tattoo, a couple of cards and an application (for $25) to join their kids’ club. The boys liked it; but weren’t overwhelmed by it. (I can’t really blame the Cardinals, they sellout their games all the time, are the defending World Series champion, and don’t seem to be lacking in any fans.)

Now for The San Diego Padres:

Do you have a “lottery” city? As in, “If I ever won the lottery, I would move to __________.” Our lottery city has always been San Diego. Perfect weather. Gorgeous beaches. We spent our honeymoon there. The kids have only been once, but they loved it. For years, we have fantasized about buying an old home on Coronado (Here’s a definite candidate. I’m buying a lottery ticket today!) We have often dreamt of spending our days walking on the beach, reading great books, maybe taking a couple of classes just for fun, all while living on Coronado. So, we all have a soft spot for San Diego.

Will addressed all his handwritten notes to a specific individual. For the Padres, he wrote to John Moores, the principal owner and chairman. A large package arrived from the Padres yesterday; the most surprising piece was this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never in a million years did I think Will would get a letter back from an owner of a team, not to mention a handwritten one. How cool is that? Kudos Mr. Moores!

Yes I know, the Padres are awful this year. And, Mr. Moores is trying to sell the team. But, the fact the man took time out of his busy schedule to write a 10 year old boy from Kansas City a nice note is great. Oh, and all the bling he sent too didn’t hurt: