And so it ends...
OMG!! I had such a blast on Sunday!! Since Shauna (the girl I share my tickets with) wasn’t going to use the 4th ticket…I was able to bring my mom. My mom got to experience a day in my shoes, meaning we got there early (before the gates opened). As soon as we got in…we headed down toward the field to get “prime real estate” for autograph seeking (I was determined to get my mom her very own Adam Kennedy autograph).
Since it was Sunday, there was no batting practice scheduled. In the absence of BP, the pitchers came out and did some throwing. The first pair out was Mi Papi Chulo and the man who put Barry Bonds in a headlock. *lol* Slowly, most of the pitchers came out. After the guys finished “messing around” (I know they’re “working”, but it just looks like they’re having fun)…the majority of them came over to sign autographs. Greg was the first to sign…he personalized my picture and added “Best Wishes!”. Right behind him was Jeff Mathis…as he was passing by, I told my mom “there’s the Beave” (she had said she would say it to him)….so she said “oh, it’s the Beave!”…Jeff: “That’s me!”…me: “do all the guys call you that now?”…Jeff: “pretty much.” Poor Matty!
Next, came Jason...who was sweaty beyond belief…so much so that he had to go get a towel to wipe off before he could sign. There was a little boy near us whose birthday it was…his mom told Jason “It’s his 12th birthday today!” Jason said “oh yeah?...25th, huh?” The kid said “no…12th”. Jason said “No…the date, the 25th…not your 25th birthday!” I also got Ervin’s autograph…and he came by looking so serious that I made him show off his big, beautiful smile!
I had asked Joe Saunders to sign before he started throwing…he said he would. So once he finished he came over to sign…about halfway down the section from where I was…wth? I knew he'd come over and sign for me too…since he knows me…he knows that it would be in his best interest…LOL He came over (as I knew he would) and signed mine and Mayra's pictures…I told him that I hope he gets another start before the end of the season…and he said “Me too!” On Mayra’s picture ( a picture of them together from Spring Training), Joe signed under Mayra’s head…I laughed and Mayra made some comment, Joe said “I just signed on the shirt!”…me: “I know…I’ve just never seen a player sign on the other person in the picture…they always sign over themselves.” There was a little girl next to us getting autographs too…her mom (who was unbelievably annoying) was trying to get the girl to leave (so they could go check out the stadium)…the girl didn’t want to leave and said “but I like Joe. He’s the nicest player.” It was so cute!
Lackey was signing and I was hoping to get the picture of him with Scot and Kevin (that I have been carrying around for ages…the pic was taken at Spring Training) signed, but it was not to be as he stopped shortly before getting to me…a project for another day. As the players came out to begin warming up before the game, I got Adam’s attention and asked if he would sign…I received the “nod of approval”. As I was waiting, the crowds were getting really obnoxious…almost to the point that I wanted to leave, but I had already asked Adam and knew he would be coming over…and I wanted him to meet my mom. While we were still waiting, J.P., my favorite catcher, came by to sign for the mob…he was a little way down (making his way over), but the kids kept yelling “Paul! Paul!” repeatedly, until Josh finally looked over and said “I’m coming that way!”…I couldn’t help but thank him!!
FINALLY, Adam turned to come over (and the crowd went insane)…then he stopped to fix his brace…and I was getting smashed by everyone trying to get in. There we were, my mom and I, in the middle of the mass of screaming fans and Adam came straight over to me. As he signed my picture, I introduced him to my mom. He moved the Sharpie from his right hand to left and shook her hand!! It was so cute…he then said “Thanks for yesterday!” referring to his present…I told him “You’re welcome. I hope you like”. Adam replied “It’s my favorite!” Woohoo!! Finally, I thanked him again for everything and he reciprocated the sentiment…thanking me back! It was such a wonderful moment…I love him so much!!
The game itself was a little disappointing…okay, who am I kidding, it was a lot disappointing, but the pre-game activities of the day more than made up for the performances on the field. After the game ended, the players came onto the field (even though they lost) and waved to the fans as a final thank you for a wonderful season!!
After the game, we headed behind the stadium to the players lot for the final farewell!! Being more knowledgeable than most (okay, so I’m a stalker), I knew that the second bus was the players' bus…everyone else was waiting by the first bus. I scoped out a spot and waited for my friends…well, while we were waiting, Mayra got a call from Shauna and was informed that she had won an ATV!! We couldn’t believe it!! So off she went back inside to sign all the paperwork.
Luckily she made it out shortly after the boys started boarding the bus. Let me start by saying that several of the boys were looking exceptionally HOT!! The Beave was wearing this gorgeous suit with a dark green shirt and green tie…HOT!! Adam came out wearing a white shirt with burgundy, black and some other color stripes…and a black suit with his jacket over his arm…YOWZA!! Damn, he looked fine!!
The best part of the day was saved for last…see Joel Peralta joined the team late into September (he was called up September 11th)…so he missed rookie hazing day because he didn’t join the team until the 12th. Well, he was hazed!! There we were standing near the bus and I see him dressed as Chespirito (who is a Mexican comedy character that is intended to be a type of super hero, but think Greatest American Hero, he’s clumsy). I saw Bartolo pointing toward the entrance to the players lot (obviously telling him he had to go out there and sign autographs…which we all know is part of the hazing)…so I ran to my car, grabbed my camera and went to wait for him to come out!! Josh Paul (the team joker) walked him out and introduced him to the crowd…I clicked several pictures and will be sure to post them tomorrow…it was priceless!!
Since it was Sunday, there was no batting practice scheduled. In the absence of BP, the pitchers came out and did some throwing. The first pair out was Mi Papi Chulo and the man who put Barry Bonds in a headlock. *lol* Slowly, most of the pitchers came out. After the guys finished “messing around” (I know they’re “working”, but it just looks like they’re having fun)…the majority of them came over to sign autographs. Greg was the first to sign…he personalized my picture and added “Best Wishes!”. Right behind him was Jeff Mathis…as he was passing by, I told my mom “there’s the Beave” (she had said she would say it to him)….so she said “oh, it’s the Beave!”…Jeff: “That’s me!”…me: “do all the guys call you that now?”…Jeff: “pretty much.” Poor Matty!
Next, came Jason...who was sweaty beyond belief…so much so that he had to go get a towel to wipe off before he could sign. There was a little boy near us whose birthday it was…his mom told Jason “It’s his 12th birthday today!” Jason said “oh yeah?...25th, huh?” The kid said “no…12th”. Jason said “No…the date, the 25th…not your 25th birthday!” I also got Ervin’s autograph…and he came by looking so serious that I made him show off his big, beautiful smile!
I had asked Joe Saunders to sign before he started throwing…he said he would. So once he finished he came over to sign…about halfway down the section from where I was…wth? I knew he'd come over and sign for me too…since he knows me…he knows that it would be in his best interest…LOL He came over (as I knew he would) and signed mine and Mayra's pictures…I told him that I hope he gets another start before the end of the season…and he said “Me too!” On Mayra’s picture ( a picture of them together from Spring Training), Joe signed under Mayra’s head…I laughed and Mayra made some comment, Joe said “I just signed on the shirt!”…me: “I know…I’ve just never seen a player sign on the other person in the picture…they always sign over themselves.” There was a little girl next to us getting autographs too…her mom (who was unbelievably annoying) was trying to get the girl to leave (so they could go check out the stadium)…the girl didn’t want to leave and said “but I like Joe. He’s the nicest player.” It was so cute!
Lackey was signing and I was hoping to get the picture of him with Scot and Kevin (that I have been carrying around for ages…the pic was taken at Spring Training) signed, but it was not to be as he stopped shortly before getting to me…a project for another day. As the players came out to begin warming up before the game, I got Adam’s attention and asked if he would sign…I received the “nod of approval”. As I was waiting, the crowds were getting really obnoxious…almost to the point that I wanted to leave, but I had already asked Adam and knew he would be coming over…and I wanted him to meet my mom. While we were still waiting, J.P., my favorite catcher, came by to sign for the mob…he was a little way down (making his way over), but the kids kept yelling “Paul! Paul!” repeatedly, until Josh finally looked over and said “I’m coming that way!”…I couldn’t help but thank him!!
FINALLY, Adam turned to come over (and the crowd went insane)…then he stopped to fix his brace…and I was getting smashed by everyone trying to get in. There we were, my mom and I, in the middle of the mass of screaming fans and Adam came straight over to me. As he signed my picture, I introduced him to my mom. He moved the Sharpie from his right hand to left and shook her hand!! It was so cute…he then said “Thanks for yesterday!” referring to his present…I told him “You’re welcome. I hope you like”. Adam replied “It’s my favorite!” Woohoo!! Finally, I thanked him again for everything and he reciprocated the sentiment…thanking me back! It was such a wonderful moment…I love him so much!!
The game itself was a little disappointing…okay, who am I kidding, it was a lot disappointing, but the pre-game activities of the day more than made up for the performances on the field. After the game ended, the players came onto the field (even though they lost) and waved to the fans as a final thank you for a wonderful season!!
After the game, we headed behind the stadium to the players lot for the final farewell!! Being more knowledgeable than most (okay, so I’m a stalker), I knew that the second bus was the players' bus…everyone else was waiting by the first bus. I scoped out a spot and waited for my friends…well, while we were waiting, Mayra got a call from Shauna and was informed that she had won an ATV!! We couldn’t believe it!! So off she went back inside to sign all the paperwork.
Luckily she made it out shortly after the boys started boarding the bus. Let me start by saying that several of the boys were looking exceptionally HOT!! The Beave was wearing this gorgeous suit with a dark green shirt and green tie…HOT!! Adam came out wearing a white shirt with burgundy, black and some other color stripes…and a black suit with his jacket over his arm…YOWZA!! Damn, he looked fine!!
The best part of the day was saved for last…see Joel Peralta joined the team late into September (he was called up September 11th)…so he missed rookie hazing day because he didn’t join the team until the 12th. Well, he was hazed!! There we were standing near the bus and I see him dressed as Chespirito (who is a Mexican comedy character that is intended to be a type of super hero, but think Greatest American Hero, he’s clumsy). I saw Bartolo pointing toward the entrance to the players lot (obviously telling him he had to go out there and sign autographs…which we all know is part of the hazing)…so I ran to my car, grabbed my camera and went to wait for him to come out!! Josh Paul (the team joker) walked him out and introduced him to the crowd…I clicked several pictures and will be sure to post them tomorrow…it was priceless!!
