not all it's cracked up to be

saturday's game was my first official (non-exhibition) in-person game of the season. i decided to do something a little different, and show off my nuttier side. as in, mixed nuts. with emeril's recipe for spiced nuts on my computer screen, i proceeded to toast and coat marcona almonds, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, cashews, and walnuts. and after letting them sit overnight, i tossed them with dark chocolate chips and unsweetened coconut slivers (both helped to balance out the spiciness of the paprika), and boxed and labeled the mix "Let's Go Nuts for the A's! Mix." not too original, but it works, right?

that afternoon, the a's took batting practice first, so handing off the box then just wouldn't work as they rarely linger once the opposing team takes the field. miguel, the guest services guy, came by and said hello. as always, i offered him some of the day's offerings (i brought a ziploc bag of the stuff to tide any cravings for concession snacks), but as usual, he declined. the game started, and in the past, you know, the good ol' days, the pitchers would stand up between innings, stretch, and chat with the fans. in fact, the a's personable side was partly what got me interested in baseball in the first place... but saturday appeared to be a new day, one where pitchers sat in the box, not standing or spitting or yawning or tossing balls or anything, and by the third inning, the most action we'd seen was huston running to the dugout (probably for that yellow energy vitamin water he enjoys so much or to play a quick round of chess with andrew brown).

by the fourth, i was antsy, and so i finally got up with my little box in hand and trotted down towards the bullpen, where i found out that without brandon buckley or coach fischer, the bullpen has become a much quieter and "peaceful" place. think a zen garden minus the polished rocks, soft sand, or little wooden rake.

seems there's new policy that 1) the guys should talk less to the fans and 2) unless the player actively reaches for something (word has it they like a good garlic fry or two every now and then), i need to hand the box to the security guard (yeah, shawn!!!) via guest services (whoo-hoo miguel!!!). or perhaps this was policy before but not so strictly enforced by the players themselves. really, how can you say no to double chocolate brownies with green mint chips?

but back to cookies and such: no word on if security does a taste test, but the guy who caught KC's second HR ball and threw it back onto the field was promptly escorted out of the coliseum by a surly looking security guard. and if that's any indication of my potential future, well, it'd better be worth it, like a big-delivery-of-cupcakes worth it. guess i'd better get cracking. egg cracking, that is.