I headed up to Frederick last night to see my first minor league baseball game in about 7 or 8 years, having not been to one since I lived in Montana. So I saw the Keys play last night. I even shelled out the extra $1 to sit in the box seats, so I sat 4 rows behind the visitors' dugout and wound up making lots of eye contact with the players from Lynchburg.
The game was a good one, with the Keys winning 6-4. It was odd watching it after growing so used to major league baseball. The Keys are single A, meaning there are 2 levels between them and the majors. And it's obvious. These kids (and they were virtually all younger than me) were not the best of players, but it was great to watch, even as they made tons of mistakes (dropping routine grounders, not making plays in the outfield, etc.).
The crowd seemed oddly subdued. There were a number of times when I was the only person clapping in a crowd of (officially) over 2,000. Literally the only person clapping. I had forgotten the joys of the little games between every inning and the announcers wandering the crowd. It was a good time.
Part of my motivation to go to the game was to see Reserve Oriole Boyfriend Larry Bigbie, who was on rehab assignment (he heads back to the O's today). He hit two home runs (good job, Larry!). He was the only player the crowd was even vaguely enthusiastic about (i.e., people applauded when he came up to bat). After the game he followed the other players as they made their way up to the locker room, which happens to be actually just off the concourse, meaning the players need to go through the crowd to get there. Anyway, I sloooowly made my way around the stadium (actually exiting the stadium and heading around, passing Larry's shiny silver Hummer--I know, he's killing the environment) so by the time I got over to the locker room area, the crowd around Larry, who had barely made it to the concourse, had thinned.
He was chatting with a guy and signing autographs, so I got another autograph from him and followed him as he made his way toward the locker room. As he got closer and finished his conversation, I asked if I could get a picture with him. He smiled (he smiled a lot, actually) and said sure and then he put his arm around me. SQUEE!!! (Hi, I'm a 12-year-old fangirl!) A guy was fiddling with the camera and people kept passing in front of us, so I apologized and Larry's all, "No problem" and he still has his arm around me. And he still all sweaty in a very sexy way and it was awesome. So the picture was taken and I thanked Larry. He said, "Sure," and headed into the locker room. Overall he was very very nice and very smiley and very cute. And tall.
As I headed out, I heard the guys behind me say, "Well, she can just crop us out of the picture." I turned to them and said, "You bet I will!" with a big smile. They just laughed. You can look forward to that picture as soon as I get this roll of film finished and developed.
Current song in my head:
"Meet Virginia" by Train
Hey, I was at that game also. From the description of where you were sitting I was most likely in the row right in front of you. I love your picture by the way. That is how I stumbled across your site. Larry Bigbie is my favorite Oriole. I read some of your other entries, and it seems like we have a lot in common. Maybe we could go to a game together sometime. I am not a psycho or anything. I am just a Baltimore girl who loves the Orioles whose friends don't like baseball much. Drop me a line if you would like too. You can never have too many friends especially ones who love the Orioles. Marie
Posted by: Marie at March 6, 2005 07:42 PM