Ok well here we are again - AN Midwest Day(s).  Wasn't even going to put this up because the schedule makers didn't do us any favors having the only visit during the week -- guess the last 3 years (all weekend series) make up for it.

I just hope it isn't deja vu like last year with all of the crappy weather --- http://www.weather.com/outlook/trave...  Then again the Loaiza start never happened - can't figure out if that was because of the mass quantities of beer consumed or the rain out.  Somebody help me out.

Right now I know it will be myself, Ohtobe, Sportswyn, Greg and Nebraska who will be there.  Anybody else is more than welcome to join us.  Any of the regulars have a mini grill they can bring?

Tomorrow will be a great day because I find out if my first child is a boy (please please please) and I get to see the A's.  

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

I've heard of a few people that are planning on tailgating before the game but can't remember who they were.  I didn't know if any unofficial tailgate is being planned like we did last year here in Kansas City and will be doing again this year.  

I'm flying in tomorrow morning and would love to meet some other members that might be enjoying some pregame festivities before the gates open.

So this is a little late but I've been sick and lazy.  

We had a nice little get together here in the midwest for the sweep of KC.  It was awesome putting the faces to the screen names of the crazy AN members - I'm not even going to start naming the peeps that I met - hopefully you won't get mad since I was eating apple sauce and drinking water while you were grilling and drinking beers....

Tonight we were at Buffalo Wild Wings watching our team when I told me girl (Lake) that Ronnie Mac was going to go yard when guess what - he traded in the green and gold for the scrubs of the local nursery and was tending to the daffordils.

On that note - this is me and my boy in KC on HIS b-day, not only did I get the majority of the team (DJ, Z, Harden, Swish, Cupcakes, Ronnie Mac and best of all Huston on HIS jersery) to sign my ball/jersey, this is the most memorable moment other than Ronnie Mac sliding an autographed bat on the dugout to me on the final game of KC series...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/smith1051/RonnieMacBDay.jpg

There is an auction on Ebay for one of the Luxury Suites on the 3B side.

It has all 20 suite tickets and 4 VIP parking passes. Suite contains 12 theater style seats, 2 extra chairs, a sofa, television with DirecTV, phone, ice machine and refrigerator.

We are planning on coming out to Oakland from KC for that game and the last 4 games against the Angels.

I think it would be a cool idea to have 20 of us AN'ers in a suite for that game.  What do people think?

I think we are going to bid on them and hope we get some people who want to go in on them.

E-mail me @ timothy.smith@gateway.com or reply to the thread if you interested.

Just said he thinks the A's will make the playoffs.

He loves what the A's are doing.  Not only are we young but we are young AND talented.  Being only 6.5 (actually we are 7.5 out) in the West and 5.5 (actually we are 4.5 out) he sees us getting into the post season.

For once we are getting some love!

With all the talk of Austin Kearns I thought this would be very interesting to AN.

I live in Kansas City and get the KC Star - it appears the Reds were asking for Greinke and Affeldt in exchange for Kearns.  The Royals rejected it....

From the article...

The Royals' top priority remains a young, power-hitting corner outfielder, but they continue to reject any proposal that requires them to surrender struggling right-hander Zack Greinke in return.

Cincinnati, at one point, sought Greinke and Affeldt in return for outfielder Austin Kearns even after demoting Kearns to the minors.
-------------------------

The question posed to AN --- I think we would have a very good chance at getting Kearns if that is what Cincinnati was asking from KC.

Which players would we offer in place of Greinke/Affeldt if we were serious about Kearns?

Hey all AN'ers I've been lurking on the board for the last week trying to get my feel for the people here - gotta say AWESOME board and people

Carney thoughts on Jared getting drafted: ecstatic that his son was drafted by the A's.  His wife called him in tears at a charity event.

Most important thing Carney taught Jared: Baseball is a humbling game - never get too high on the game, never too low.

Jared always wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps.

Other advice to Jared: Work ethic, be 1st at the park and do whatever it takes to improve.  He did mention "pitching" will be his main work focus!

So it doesn't look like Carney wants him to play the field.