Royals Authority

These have been strange days for all Royals fans, but I’ve had an extra ingredient or two poured into the intoxicating mix to make the last six weeks especially earth-shaking. I’ll start by reassuring you that there is a happy ending. But in mid-September I got quite a scare when a tumor was discovered in my wife’s head. We had one especially terrifying day after we saw MRI images of an obvious, large growth pushing on her brain before we were able to get a diagnosis that it was “just” an acoustic neuroma: a benign growth on one of the cranial nerves. Thankfully, it’s a pretty treatable thing, and surgery for removal was scheduled for September 30. Yes: Wild Card day. So as you can imagine, this baseball team that I’m usually obsessed with took a back seat right at the most exciting time for fans. But: They were also there for me as the perfect, fun distraction at times when I needed that more than ever. As I sat in waiting rooms for 14 hours on the day of surgery, articles, tweets, and thoughts on that night’s game were there to occupy some of that time. After the totally successful surgery, one of the first things my wife said was, “Has the game started yet?”

Safe with the belief that Laura was going to be okay, but still shaken and drained, I fired up the game on DVR at around 9:30 that night. I should have had enough perspective at that moment in time to not really care, but I was totally down and out when the A’s went up 7-3 in the fifth inning. Losing the Wild Card was not enough for me. I wanted a playoff series at the very least. I hit fast forward, dejected, ready to get it over with and collapse in bed. But then the eighth inning happened. And then the ninth. Then the 10th, 11th, 12th, and oh my god, of course on the day of my wife’s brain surgery the Royals play one of the most incredible and biggest games I’ve ever seen.

There was relief in the next few days as Laura recovered as expected with manageable pain and exhaustion, but still craziness with her at the hospital and two young kids to be running around. She wanted to listen to the ALDS games, so I loaded the MLB At Bat app on her phone and she drifted off to sleep listening to the first two games. She’s normally not a huge baseball fan, but later told me she could at least feel close to me with the games on. (She’s also gotten more and more excited about the Royals themselves as the run goes on.) I’m a little embarrassed to say I couldn’t stay awake for the ends of game one and two in Anaheim thanks to all the craziness going on in my real life, but I was on top of the world watching the conclusions the next mornings. Her ahead of schedule recovery rate had her back home before game three so we got to watch the beginning of that one together at least.

I could relax a bit thanks to her slowly feeling better, and as the Royals kept rolling, a familiar homesickness started to amplify. We left Kansas City for Laura’s native Minneapolis a year and a half ago, and I still miss it. A lot. I miss my favorite places, my friends, my family, and, yes, the Royals. I could feel the excitement and joy the Royals were building in KC all the way from here. It poured out of my computer and TV screens, slapped me in the face, and said, “Ha, ha, you’re not here to enjoy this with your hometown! You live far away!” Before Laura’s diagnosis, I had a realistic dream of being able to make it to KC for a playoff game, so long as they could make it. But by the time they clinched, I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave Laura and the kids as she recovered throughout the postseason. And that was OK. Small potatoes when you’re dealing with brain surgery. But it added a bittersweet twist to what should be a purely sweet run. Friends and family texted and Facebooked pictures of themselves at the K, my favorite place in the world, but now with an atmosphere I can only imagine. “Have a great time!” I replied. “And I hate you!”

But Laura just keeps getting better. And the Royals just keep winning. A friend told me, “If they make the World Series, you have to come down.” I just chuckled. “We’ll see.” But then they did make the World Series. And Laura started trying to think of ways to make it work for me to get to a game. She’s still not allowed to lift more than 10 lbs, so can’t put our two-year old in and out of bed. But she did get cleared to drive, and her wonderful mom suggested that Laura and the kids could stay with her for a couple of days if I go down. But then we saw what tickets are going for. Another roadblock. But after I called my dad to hear about his great day spent at the K watching the team win the pennant, I mentioned it might be possible for me to make it down for a game if the tickets weren’t so insane. The next morning, I got an early Christmas present. I’m going to game one with my dad and brother. I’m tempted to say it’s unbelievable, but my hero Buck O’Neil said, “Nothing is unbelievable.” So I’m going to believe it. Laura’s doing great. I believe it. And I’m going to Kansas City. To Kauffman Stadium. To watch the Royals in the World Series. I believe it.

Thank you, Dayton Moore. For never backing down and assembling a championship calibre team. There was plenty of doubt, but you remained true to your vision and The Process. This is a just reward.

Thank you, Ned Yost. Second chances kick ass because you get the opportunity not only for redemption, but to use lessons that were learned in the first chance. I hope that doesn’t come across as a back-handed compliment, because it’s not supposed to be one. You developed a game plan and executed it flawlessly throughout this postseason. Living right this October (and September, too.)

Thank you, Billy Butler. The longest tenured Royal. For your doubles, your embrace of this city and the fans, and for your BBQ sauce. And for your stolen base in Game Three of the ALDS.

Thank you, Alex Gordon. For your dedication and for reinventing yourself into a complete player. Watching you play the game is so much fun. In my opinion, you are the Royals. #A1 forever.

Thank you, Sal Perez. For your leadership, your never say die spirit, your walk-off hit in the Wild Card game and your Instagram videos.

Thank you, James Shields. For showing a young pitching staff the way. Your arrival in Kansas City couldn’t have been more controversial. You delivered exactly what was hoped for in the trade.

Thank you, Wade Davis. For anchoring a lock-down bullpen. The key to The Trade. I’ll always remember your smile after you underhanded the ball to Hosmer in Game Four of the ALCS. And for the Wade Davis Experience.

Thank you, Eric Hosmer. For the home runs in the ALDS and the bat flips.

Thank you, Mike Moustakas. For the play at the dugout suites in Game Three of the ALCS. Forever in the pantheon of great postseason plays.

Thank you, Lorenzo Cain. For covering more ground in the outfield that the giant American flag that’s brought out in pre game ceremonies. And for your enthusiasm and joy playing this wonderful game. ALCS MVP!

Thank you, Nori Aoki. For the bunts (really!) but especially for the GRAND SLAM in Arizona. Kanpai!

Thank you, Danny Duffy. For your recovery from Tommy John surgery to emerging as one of the top young left-handers in the game. I had my doubts, but you proved me wrong this year. So gnar.

Thank you, Alcides Escobar. For being the rock up the middle and forming, together with Sal and Lorenzo the backbone of the Royals stellar defense.

Thank you, Jarrod Dyson. Draft picks from the 50th round aren’t supposed to make this kind of impact. But I guess, “That’s what speed do.”

Thank you, Greg Holland. For your slider and for the ninth inning security.

Thank you, Kelvin Herrera. For the propane. For the gas.

Thank you, Omar Infante. For giving us the upgrade at second base we so desperately needed.

Thank you, Jason Vargas. For stepping into a role vacated by the departure of Ervin Santana and massively exceeding expectations. Your start in Game Four of the ALCS had me on the edge of my seat all afternoon, but it was damn near perfection.

Thank you, Raul Ibanez. For being the veteran leader down the stretch. Is it possible you were the final piece to this puzzle? And for your home run in the 1-0 win at Oakland on August 1.

Thank you, Brandon Finnegan. For stepping in to a bullpen role and pitching successfully in high leverage situations. From the college World Series to the MLB World Series in a just a few months. Amazing journey.

Thank you, Yordano Ventura. For throwing fire.

Thank you, Jason Frasor. For the sixth inning in Game Three of the ALCS. Such a scary inning for this team in the postseason. Helped by Moustakas Catch.

Thank you, Terrance Gore. For the wheels and the disruptive presence on the bases. And for the mad scamper from second base against the White Sox.

Thank you, Josh Willingham. For coming over in the trade and providing a bat with some power and some OBP.

Thank you, Jeremy Guthrie. For the win in the clincher in Chicago, kicking off a celebration that hasn’t stopped. And for grinding out your start in Game Three of the ALCS. Yes, there will be base runners, but you seemed to save your best starts for when they mattered the most.

Thank you, Erik Kratz. For the two home runs against the Twins in mid-August.

Thank you, Bruce Chen. For your class. Forever Royal.

Thank you, Our Readers. For sticking with us these last ten seasons.

Thank you, Royals. American League Champions.