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Went to see the Portland (Red Sox AA) Harrisburg (Nationals AA) game tonight. I would say that Lars was definitely the most noteworthy player there (Joel Guzman was on Harrisburg, hit HR, hitting over .300 with 11 HRs).
So I have gotten past the age (19 now) where I would feel comfortable asking players for autographs before the game just to "reserve" a potential broken bat. I used to get a cheap ball and have them all sign and use this line while they were signing "Could I please have your bat if you break it?" They pretty much all said yes except for Brian Buscher (was with Giants then, Minnesota now) that I can remember. Oh, another was Mike Jacobs before he played in the Majors with New York at all.
Anyway I don't do that anymore but tonight I was sitting right next to Portland's dugout, and figured if someone cracked one I might as well ask for it after the game.
No one breaks one on Portland (Guzman did for Harrisburg but I am sure someone would be over there trying to get it) through 8 innings but sure enough Lars comes up and cracks one in the 9th. Game ends and he walks over to opposite end of dugout of where I am (even though locker is on my end). I think he had family there and was hugging and whatnot. So, I was waiting by the rail where he would have to walk by to get to the dugout, but there was like 4 other kids around my age that came over inevitably trying to get the bat. I had the best position but he had been over on the other side for awhile and I didn't feel like fighting for it with 4 other people.
I decided to go to the other side where he was and ask him...
"Lars, can I please have the bat you cracked?"
"No, sorry."
I then get out a new OMLB and figure I should at least get that signed. He takes someone elses pen (which always makes me nervous that it's some gel pen or something) and starts to sign it despite me holding out my pen. Luckily the one he had was a good black pen that works well.
"Could you sign it on the sweet spot please?"
"What's your name?"
"Jon" (I almost said don't personalize it but I didn't want him to think I was going to sell it-which im not-so I just said my name)
He wrote "To John" on the side panel and signed it perfectly on the sweet spot with his number. Actually looks really sharp, despite having spelled my name wrong (through no fault of his own).
I then said "Can I buy the bat from you?"
He thought for a second then smiled and said "Nah man"
I said "Do you know Billy Rowell (I pronounced it Roe ell)?"
He said "You mean Rowell (rau ell)?"
"Yea, he always offers to sell game bats"
Then he again said "I don't want to sell it."
In a last ditch effort I said "Alright, great, ill take it for free then."
He laughed and of course said no.
Before I am berated for my attempts, I have gotten many, many game bats and autographs by just being persistent, so I am not much worried about how you will reply with "Omg dude just leave him alone." If he wanted to be left alone he can make himself scarce. Hopefully this will cut down on the replies of the self-righteous that make up a large portion of this board.
So I have gotten past the age (19 now) where I would feel comfortable asking players for autographs before the game just to "reserve" a potential broken bat. I used to get a cheap ball and have them all sign and use this line while they were signing "Could I please have your bat if you break it?" They pretty much all said yes except for Brian Buscher (was with Giants then, Minnesota now) that I can remember. Oh, another was Mike Jacobs before he played in the Majors with New York at all.
Anyway I don't do that anymore but tonight I was sitting right next to Portland's dugout, and figured if someone cracked one I might as well ask for it after the game.
No one breaks one on Portland (Guzman did for Harrisburg but I am sure someone would be over there trying to get it) through 8 innings but sure enough Lars comes up and cracks one in the 9th. Game ends and he walks over to opposite end of dugout of where I am (even though locker is on my end). I think he had family there and was hugging and whatnot. So, I was waiting by the rail where he would have to walk by to get to the dugout, but there was like 4 other kids around my age that came over inevitably trying to get the bat. I had the best position but he had been over on the other side for awhile and I didn't feel like fighting for it with 4 other people.
I decided to go to the other side where he was and ask him...
"Lars, can I please have the bat you cracked?"
"No, sorry."
I then get out a new OMLB and figure I should at least get that signed. He takes someone elses pen (which always makes me nervous that it's some gel pen or something) and starts to sign it despite me holding out my pen. Luckily the one he had was a good black pen that works well.
"Could you sign it on the sweet spot please?"
"What's your name?"
"Jon" (I almost said don't personalize it but I didn't want him to think I was going to sell it-which im not-so I just said my name)
He wrote "To John" on the side panel and signed it perfectly on the sweet spot with his number. Actually looks really sharp, despite having spelled my name wrong (through no fault of his own).
I then said "Can I buy the bat from you?"
He thought for a second then smiled and said "Nah man"
I said "Do you know Billy Rowell (I pronounced it Roe ell)?"
He said "You mean Rowell (rau ell)?"
"Yea, he always offers to sell game bats"
Then he again said "I don't want to sell it."
In a last ditch effort I said "Alright, great, ill take it for free then."
He laughed and of course said no.
Before I am berated for my attempts, I have gotten many, many game bats and autographs by just being persistent, so I am not much worried about how you will reply with "Omg dude just leave him alone." If he wanted to be left alone he can make himself scarce. Hopefully this will cut down on the replies of the self-righteous that make up a large portion of this board.
