"Take Me Out to The Ball Game" on Opening Day !

Yep, it's that time !! Time to PLAY BALL !! It's been a long and cold winter that has been hard to give up here in Kansas but move over cold, it's time for the game of Summer.

I can't be at the ballpark today in person, so I will be listening to the radio all day, then watching TV. I will be there in my mind, too bad my paying job comes first. I just might have to see what I can do about that and soon.

The first pitch is scheduled for 3:10 pm. An unlikely opening day starter Luke Hochevar will get the honors this year. For his sake I hope he makes the best of it because it's doubtful he will get the top honors next season. Not impossible, but not likely.

Opening day is magical. Just being at the ballpark is special on this day. The kids, who obviously should be in school but nobody gets in trouble. Employees who are always looking  around hoping to NOT see somebody who knows they called in sick. Fans of all ages and dedication levels. A sellout! Usually a flyover from our great military machines ( if we're lucky again, it might even be a Stealth! ). A great version of our National Anthem and honored guest throwing out the first pitch. This year if you have not heard, it will be Mike Sweeney.

Fans will celebrate, laugh and have fun at the old ballpark.

Take me out to the Ballgame..... Go Royals !!

Play Ba..... uh wait, SNOW ?

Perhaps it's fitting that the weather here in Kansas is supposed to break, on Thursday! I would think the "Big Fan" upstairs, is aware that Thursday is the unofficial national holiday known as "Opening Day". Nothing like it. The one day of the season where it's nice to win, but the W means much less than just knowing that baseball is being played.

With that thought comes the reminder that warm days and sunshine are within sight. You can leave after an opening day win and be on cloud nine. But with me, even after an opening day loss I still leave the ballpark with a smile. It's baseball again, and no more snow.

As winter hangs on and drops some fresh snow out of the sky as a reminder that it won't be long until it comes back after October, and after baseball. As I write this, it is 3 days before the first pitch. I woke this morning to a light blanket of snow. Not much, but yes Old Man Winter you are still here although not for long.

Kind of like this season will be for Royals fans, the Royals will lose often but the future is bright. This little bit more of losing will be like a March snow reminder and will make the outlook even better. There is an excitement, you can feel it. The talk is there, the blogs are heating up and the fans are ready. Ready for sunshine, warmth and winning.

Maybe winning on opening day 2012, we WILL need to see a win and please for Thursday, no more snow!

Spring Training vs World Champs

Friday March 25 and today Mike Sweeney signed a one day contract so he could retire as a Kansas City Royal. Nice move, by a nice man. Sweeney spent many days giving 100% all of the time. And something that set him apart from many was his faith. He wore it on his sleeve with pride. Thank you Mike and best wishes for your next adventure.

First pitch from Vin Mazzaro, strike. Nice strikeout on 5 pitches. A failed double play ball, led to a run and too many pitches in the 1st. Hopefully that will be limited as the season starts as the pitchers are not good enough to keep overcoming a poor defense.

1-0 Giants Middle of the 1st

3 up and 3 down for KC in the bottom of the first. The Giants load the bases in the 2nd. Now two nice strikeouts by Mazzaro later and then a one hopper to first and lots of pitches but no damage.

1-0 Giants Middle of the 2nd

Mazzaro has nice movement on his pitches but is struggling a little. He has shown the ability to get out of jams with strikeouts and ground balls. From what I have seen this far, it's too bad we could not have gotten a little more in the trade for David DeJesus. A few well placed hits and the Giants put 2 more up on the board.

3-0 Giants Middle of the 3rd

A nice hustle triple by Bryan Pena. Here is as good test for the team to get the runner in from 3rd with less than 2 out. Ground ball to short from Escobar, not getting it done there. Chris Getz has a chance with 2 outs but this team did what it can't do. Failed to score an easy run. I am anxious to see live baseball, to get the sounds of a game and playing games that count.

Gordon and Kila pound some hard drives to the gaps and  the Royals score 2. And with a 2 run bomb from Frenchy, the Royals take the lead. While the Royals were driving the ball all around the ballpark, Frank and Ryan interviewed Mike Sweeney. He told a great story of how Ryan Howard treated him during the playoffs last year in Philadelphia. Howard remembered how Sweeney treated him when he came up, and returned the favor by letting Mike pop the first bottle of champagne in celebration.


8-3 Royals Top of the 6th

It was funny when Ryan was talking about the Giants bringing two number 85's and two number 83's... and how bad it is for you when you have a number like that, no name on your jersey and there is another guy in the dugout, with the same number as you. Pretty funny... but like Frank said, they can at least say they got in the game. Isn't that something a lot of us can say? One way or another, we got in the game.

First impression of Lorenzo Cain... looks good at the plate. Showing a good eye and has worked a 3-1 count. Ball four, he took some close pitches. Too short of a look but I hope to see more this year of Lorenzo. 4 walks and a few hits and when you look up, the Royals are ahead by 10.

13-3 Royals top of the 7th

Overall I like what I have seen in the game. Good pitching, good defense , good at bats and great attitude. A confident relaxed young team that appears to be ready to kick off what should be an interesting and good season.

15-3 Royals top of the 9th

Soria in, game over.

Denny Matthews in March

Ahhh... Denny Matthews. What a perfect voice to hear on the radio in March. The Royals are playing the Reds under the lights in Arizona. Mostly regulars in the lineups for both teams and it's a perfect 84 degrees in the desert. When Denny decides to retire, listening to a game on an AM radio ( or in this day and age, my iPhone ) will never be the same. Still baseball but not Denny. He truly IS the voice of the Royals.

Butler slams a singles and the next up Kila Ka'aihue belts a bomb and right away it's 2-0 Royals. Inning over after an easy pop up. But a great start against a top pitcher in Bronson Arroyo.

Middle of the 1st 2-0 Royals

It's going to be a fun summer for sure! So many interesting story lines both in Kansas City and as well as Omaha and NW Arkansas. So many prospects, so much to be excited about. Youngster Mike Montgomery is throwing strikes in the bottom of the 1st. Seven pitches and six strikes and an out. If the Royals are to make any noise in the AL Central, it will require a few surprises from the starting pitching as that is easily the weakest part of the team for 2011. I am not hoping for a lot of noise from the team this season, mostly because they are taking a good approach to the prospects and not rushing anyone up. Double play, Aviles to Getz to Ka'aihue.

End of the 1st 2-0 Royals

Red hot Alex Gordon hits one of the wall for a lead off double. How many times can we say, maybe Gordon will "find it" this year. He just might, hate to give up on a player like him with the team building as it is. Gordon scores on a single by newcomer Alcides Escobar. Close play at home but the Royals are forcing the running game which is well over due. This team is being built for speed, defense and pitching. Power may be on it's way in 2012 and 2013.

Middle of the 2nd 3-0 Royals

Gotta cut this one short.... early day tomorrow and hey, it's my Spring Training too !

End of the 2nd 3-0 Royals

Go Royals !!