Thursday, July 16, 2009

Who's Up For Some Royals Baseball Saturday Night?

Enough drama. Who’s up for some baseball?

Thanks to the indefatigable efforts of my producer Blake Uhlenhake, and one particularly understanding employee in the Royals’ ticket office, we have managed to come up with a reasonably simple way to insure that a large group of people who have never met before can all be assured of sitting in the same section of the stadium on Saturday.

(This was a lot easier six years ago, when Rob Neyer and I just told anyone who wanted to watch a game with us to show up outside one of the gates an hour before gametime. With the renovations at the stadium, the risk of a sellout or near-sellout is considerably greater, and I don’t want to risk having 100 people show up at the stadium only to find they can’t all sit in the same section.)

So here’s the plan: if you want to attend a game with me THIS SATURDAY, July 18th, against Tampa Bay, do the following:

1) Call THIS PHONE NUMBER: (816) 504-4168. This is the direct line to Sarah Trowbridge, our contact in the Royals’ ticket office.

2) Tell Sarah that you are part of the group purchasing tickets in SECTION 246.

3) Purchase as many tickets as you need. The group pricing for this section is $23, and as we are buying as a group, I believe all additional surcharges are waived.

4) Pick up your tickets before game time at Will Call, located at the stadium between gates C and D.

That’s it.

Sarah will be answering the phone today until 5 PM CDT, and from 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday. After 5 PM tomorrow she will be unable to process tickets for this section, so if you don’t buy your tickets by tomorrow, you may 1) not be able to sit in our section and/or 2) be forced to pay surcharges. That doesn’t mean you can’t still join us – if you make a last-minute decision to come out to the game on Saturday, by all means, come to the ballpark and try to buy a ticket in Section 246, or as close to Section 246 as possible.

There are approximately 100 seats available in Section 246; if we somehow manage to sell over 100 seats, additional people can be seated next door in Sections 245 or 247.

If you get Sarah’s voicemail, leave a message and she will call you back. If you want to contact her by email, you can do so at sarah.trowbridge@royals.com. But it’s probably easiest to just call her directly.

I’ve already purchased my ticket, and am looking forward to meeting all of you there. Gametime on Saturday is 6:10 pm, but I’m hoping to get to the park a little early. So if you want to meet up with me before the game, plan to meet up outside Gate D between 4:45 and 5, and plan to enter the stadium right at 5 o’clock. If you can’t make it there by 5, no worries – just find your seat and you should find the rest of us there.

LATE UPDATE: I have just been informed that Zack Greinke is the scheduled starting pitcher on Saturday night. (I picked this date months ago for this very reason – I had a feeling that if Greinke went to the All-Star Game, he’d be starting the second game after the break.) So if you needed another reason to come to the game Saturday night…you just got it.

48 comments:

youshotthefood said...

I'm in. So is Yuniesky Betancourt, who will no doubt get 3 hits as baseball is a peculiar prankster like that.

Dave said...

As much as I'd love to go, I'm going tomorrow and Sunday so I doubt the wife is cool with me going to all 3 games this weekend. Despite the arguments back and forth about the Yuni trade, I think it's hard to argue that our team is not immediately better with Gordon's return and the demotions of TPJ and Maier today. I looking forward to a strong 2nd half finish.

Anonymous said...

I'm traveling 1,000 miles from Florida to be there ... Sunday. Why, Rany, WHY couldn't you have scheduled the Sunday game?

Brent said...

I wish I could go. Saw Grienke at PNC Park in Pittsburgh before the All-Star Break, and he did not disappoint. Hope y'all have a blast.

Anonymous said...

But, I thought you quit the Royals?

Or will you REALLY quit them after they make another move you disagree with?

Anonymous said...

Rany,

I too will be at the game with a big group too. Look for the Seeley/Gibbs Family reunion on the new screen. Thats us! Sadly though, we are clear over on the other side of the stadium. Have a great time out there and lets kick some Rays ass!

Unknown said...

Unfortunately, I live in SoCal and can't make it although I would love to. I met up with a friend who also does not live in KC for opening day last year and we spent a week at the stadium. We started off well so it was cool.

I hope all you guys have fun. Rany, if you make it out to SoCal and decide to see a game out here, don't hesitate to let me know, I'd do that even if it were a couple of teams I didn't care about.

Anonymous said...

or just follow the smell and look for the guy facing east

aerobica said...

So, Rany, if you are going and Zach is pitching... automatic L?

Anonymous said...

Up for Royals baseball, you said? Do the Royals still play baseball?

Eric said...

I've had my tickets for several weeks in 420. I also thought maybe
Greinke would be pitching and though I would have been okay with
Hochevar, it just got a whole lot
better. Great weather, the Hall of Fame building being open - can't wait!!!

royalfan said...

I have a feeling that a number of fans will take much of their anger and disappointment and direct it at Betancourt. I hope that is not the case. Of course if he goes out and f's it up let him have it, but I hope people give him a fair chance to turn things around in KC.

gsmith601 said...

Any chance everyone goes to the outfield experience before the game?

GReg

ItsThisOrTherapy said...

I got my ticket, and am looking forward to meeting everyone. I think the concerns about a rough reception for Yuni from 246 are a bit unwarranted. We're there because we like the Royals, even when we're irked. He's our shortstop now, so as much as I didn't want him, I hope he does well anyway. Players don't get grief from me for being what they are - they get it for not trying and/or quitting.

Having said that, I won't be first in line in the gift shop asking for a custom Yuni uni.

Anonymous said...

have fun! wish i could be there, hopefully zack will be lights out.

Anonymous said...

Kansas City is too classy to boo Betancourt immediately simply for not liking the acquisition. Now if he sucks for 2 weeks straight.....

Anonymous said...

Pena was not good for two straight years and I've only ever had one guy stand up and boo him every at bat.

DiggityDawg said...

Just snagged a ticket. 3rd game of the year for me, but my 1st Grienke start.

The other 2 games I went to were awful, so let's get a freakin' W!!!

Yuniesky Betancourt said...

Yes, you naysayers and nonbelievers of little faith in me. Watch me get four hits that night on my way to Cooperstown! Move over, George Brett, I am going to be the new K.C. legend, whether Rany likes it or not!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Anonymous,

You're pathetic, hateful and small minded.


Signed,

The World

Anonymous said...

"in all the years I’ve loved the Royals, they’ve never loved me back"

this is a great line. may not be yours but it applies to my feelings on these royals.

Shelby said...

Man, Alex Gordon is swinging at everything tonight, and he's way, way off.

chjohn said...

Wow, Betancourt looks awful

Sure wish Pena was still here

Idiots

Factory Cut said...

Hey Rany did you here my shout out to you, after I won the match game?

Anonymous said...

And the Royals start out the second half with a bang. Evan Longoria's bang but a bang none the less.

Tony Pena Jr. said...

First the Royals came for the big contracts, but I was not a big contract so I did not speak out. Then they came for Tony Muser and Allard Baird, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for my father, but I was not him so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

Anonymous said...

I was really looking forward to this, but will be attending a wake tonight. I think. Someone who was close to the person really didn't want to go by herself, so asked me. And now she is having second thoughts about whether she thinks she is up to going. Arrgh. She asked me this on Thursday morning, so I did NOT buy tickets for tonight's game and rany-fest. Am still waiting on hearing from her, but the time to change plans and try to get to the game is running out. Arrgh again.

Anonymous said...

Wow, great story.

Nobody gives a shit.

Jason y said...

So I called and ordered my tickets and Sarah didn't put through the transaction

Steve said...

"KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gil Meche went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, a move that is sure to rouse critics who say he's been poorly handled by Royals manager Trey Hillman.

The right-hander (4-9) has been bothered off and on by lower back problems much of the year. Some fans have criticized Hillman for letting him throw 114 or more pitches in several outings while his back problems keep flaring up.
Meche is winless in five starts since throwing 132 pitches in a complete-game shutout in June. About to turn 31, he's on pace for his fewest wins and most losses since signing a five-year, $55 million contract on Dec. 8, 2006.

Meche will be replaced in the rotation by Sidney Ponson, who was brought off the DL after compiling a 2.18 ERA in six rehab starts at Triple-A Omaha."

Rany is the "critic" referred to here?

Kyle D said...

lol. Meche to DL....

Unknown said...

..and Ponson back in the rotation. not-so-lol.

Steve said...

Typical Royals game again tonight. Where was Soria in the 8th inning?

aerobica said...

What happened to Juan Cruz? Seriously, you can say how big of a dissapointment/mistake getting Jacobs, Farnsworth, Betancourt was, but for my money, Cruz has been the biggest dissapointment in terms of new acquistions this year. His was the signing that was supposed to propel the Royals into contention, but he has been average at best (and far below average lately). There have to be some teams out there that are willing to give up something for him. This season is over. We can't get to Soria anyway, so we just as well get rid of what we have.

gbewing said...

well guys you saw our season in a nutshell- Greinke gets us deep into the game we somehow get a lead and Sabr Trey finds a way to blow it- Apparently Soria went back to Mexico because he's nowhere near the K- that Bale-Cruz 8thing combo is money and as you know real big league managers are too smart to bring a closer in before the 9th.

Anonymous said...

So who's waiting to hear from Trey that Soria is injured again? That better be his excuse again for bringing a real reliver in for the 8th.

Is it bad that I'm wanting Farnsworth to just come in so he can just get it over with and give up the towering blast? I'd rather see homers than back to back doubles.

Anonymous said...

Hey Cruz gave you a towering blast in the 8th last night to lose the game. Tonight he mixed it up a little.

Chris said...

If Trey doesn't want Soria to get five outs at least use him to stop the Rays in the 8th inning. Then bring in Cruz or someone else in the 9th. But to NOT use him either day is ridiculous. Can't wait to hear Rany's take on this night since he saw it in person.

Anonymous said...

Why would a major league manager, who just tried a relief combo when holding a big lead the night before (and that combo gave up said lead and the game), why oh why would he try that same combo AGAIN the next night with a close lead?? Fire Trey Hillman.

Anonymous said...

Well that's two nights in a row we could have brought in a well rested Mexicutioner in the 8th inning. Instead, he is now even more well rested. Someone please wipe the cobwebs off of our closer.....please?

Anonymous said...

Jason y, shoot me an email if you can.

uhlenhake@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I just read Hillman's post game comments in the KC Star online. Someone please explain why we have a PITCH count for starters and an OUT count for our closer! 5 or 6 outs is too many? What if those 5 or 6 outs take only 14 or 15 pitches? Would someone who interviews Hillman ask him what the Soria pitch count limit is set at? I was pissed when he didn't put Soria in Friday night with two outs. Pissed when he didn't put Soria in tonight with one out. And REALLY pissed when I read his comments. It makes no sense. Fine, you don't want to overwork him....what is the number? Twenty pitches? Twenty-two? Twenty-five? I'll tell you the number Trey...a big fat ZERO. That's the number of innings Soria threw the last two nights, the number of pitches he threw the last two nights and the number of wins the Royals got the last two nights! Ridiculous!

blairjjohnson said...

I'm really disappointed how so very few of y'all commenters appear to know about baseball. Cruz had a great April and May. He's struggled lately. Last night's two homers? It's gonna happen to every pitcher on occasion. Wipe out Alex Gordon's error and that game isn't over yet in the ninth.

As for tonight, scoring two runs doesn't win you anything. Ever. Trey's working with what he has.

Rany -- pleasure meeting you.

chjohn said...

Good idea. Lets use our closer, who has been battling arm problems, for 2 innings.

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