Anthing Better?

My wife and I have tickets to tonight's Royals game. Their hosting the Seattle Mariners, so they ought to have a good chance of pulling out a win. It would be kind of embarrassing if we lost to the worst team in the American League, even if we are the Royals.

Tonight is another promotional night. I guess this weekend they're giving away hats at the games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tonight it's straw cowboy hats. Tomorrow it's "Christmas in July" for some reason, and they're giving out Santa hats (just what I always wanted - a furry, red Santa hat in Kansas City in the dead-heat of summer). But because the cowboy hats aren't too bad, and because we'll be going to the Days of '47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City in less than two weeks, we're making our way out to Kauffman Stadium early tonight.

Is there anything better than being in your seats 90 minutes prior to the first pitch? I love it when I'm able to watch the visitors take batting practice. I usually have no idea who's hitting, but I don't really care. For me it's not about watching a Major League slugger like Manny Ramirez hit lazers off the wall during bp. It more like an insight to the game. A backstage pass to be able to seen the inner-workings of a professional baseball team. The next time you're at a ball game early enough to see batting practice, pay close attention and you'll notice all sorts of things going on, not just the starting nine getting their swings in before the game.

You might notice a couple of coaches hitting ground balls to some infielders between pitches, who then throw the ball back across the field to another player at first base, who is protected by a large square screen. The screen at first base is usually one of three screens out on the field. There is another square screen that is just behind second base in shallow centerfield that protects the man with the bucket. When the other players in the field shag the balls being hit by the man at the plate, they throw them in to the player with the bucket. Eventually, the coach who is throwing batting practice (pitching), who is protected by the third screen, the "L-screen," will run out of baseballs, and the bucket is called for to replenish the supply.

Besides batting practice I love to see the starting pitchers go through their routines before the game. It usually starts after batting practice, but you might see them stretching before the visiting team is done. Every pitcher is different, but usually they'll start with a little jog to get the blood going, followed by some stretching, then some throwing. They'll often start close, but by the time they're ready to go to the mound they've usually stretched their throws nearly the entire way from the foul line to the center field fence. After they bring it back in, it's time to head to the bullpen with the starting catcher. Seeing a pitcher throw in the bullpen makes it look so effortless and easy. He might just be throwing 75-80%, saving the good stuff for the game, but some pitchers might cut it loose a few times just to see how the old arm feels that night. This entire ritual can take as long as 45 minutes, so check the clock to see how early the starting pitchers are loosening up for the game the next time you're at the ballpark early.

Another reason to get there early is to watch the magic of the grounds crew. This is an entire post in itself, one that I'm going to do soon, so I'll only say this: the field looks good when you get there, but by the time the crew is done marking the foul lines and the batters box, raking the mound and the infield, and replacing the bases with glowing white "gamers," the field transforms into a place of dreams.

No, there's not much better than being in your seats early at the ballpark. Especially if there's a promotional t-shirt, bobblehead, or cowboy hat involved, on top of everything else.