Scrapbook

Jeremy and Andy in the A's Dugout

The clubhouse tour is always a fun tour, taking you through the bowels of the Coliseum, past the weight room where Billy Beane passes time during the games (complete with a stack of folding chairs he can throw at the wall when the A’s don’t score with a runner on third). The tour winds through the office of the visiting clubhouse manager, a window with A’s memorabilia that you’d have to be older than 30 to appreciate, and the A’s locker room, which is always a blast. You can see what kind of stuff players collect or what kinds of practical jokes they play on each other. Finally, the tour ends at the A’s dugout, where you can sit on the bench, spit out sunflower seeds and imagine your waiting to pinch hit for Frank Thomas.

Jeremy Dreams of Player Autographs

Have you ever seen a kid more excited about meeting baseball players? Too bad it’s all an act for the camera…

Jeremy with Joe Blanton

After signing up for the Kid’s Club, we got in line to get some autographs with the coupons that came with the Club packs. Last year, the stocked the Kid’s Club area with mainly minor league or bench players. This year, they brought out much more well known players, and in pairs rather than as individuals. First up, Joe ‘Cupcakes’ Blanton, who lost so much weight in the off season, we’re going to have to quit calling him ‘Cupcakes’.

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The balloon man made Jeremy a hat that looked suspiciously like a giant snail. Only a little boy wants to wear a snail on his head.

Jeremy with Dan Haren

Dan Haren doesn’t look like he’s changed a bit over the off-season, and let’s just hope he picks up his pitching where he left off last year too. For the record, Dan was the most friendly player with Jeremy. He greeted Jeremy and reached over the table to shake his hand. Great guy, that Danny Haren.

Jeremy with Bobby Kielty

It’s Syndrome, no…Ronald MacDonald, no…it’s semi-switch hitting Bobby Kielty. Sporting a haircut this year, he looks nothing like the clown or supervillian of last year. If it helps his left handed swing, more power to him.

Jeremy with Stomper

No visit to the Mac is ever complete without a picture with Stomper. Stomper autographed his hat, then flipped it around for the picture.

Jeremy with Matt Watson

Technically, Watson is a minor league player, but we all know he’s going to be in the Bigs soon, although, perhaps not with the A’s. In any case, Watson is a cool player and obviously likes kids, which is probably how he ended up with this gig.

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The Kielty/Syndrome comparison photos pasted about Kielty’s locker.

Kotsay's Locker

Mark Kotsay has some great pictures of his family and especially his baby daughter. I thought it was a nice touch for him to leave those photos up for the fans to see. It’s great to see a man so proud of his family.