Rivalries, All-Stars, and Some Stadium Courtesy

Is the bloom off the rivalry for the Royals and the Cardinals? I’ve actually been posed this question a couple of times ahead of Monday’s series opener. I believe the correct response is, “Who cares?”

The novelty of interleague has long worn off, and at this point, cross-state games (they are not rivalries) have become increasingly blah. Kansas City, bless our inferiority complex, has been able to shed this pseudo rivalry by making it to the World Series the last two seasons. The only thing the Royals-Cardinals series stands for now is jacked-up ticket prices.

Rivalries are necessary for any sport, because the best moments tend to revolve around those flashpoints that occur when two competitors who dislike each other play the game. But certain ingredients need to exist for any rivalry to take root. Yes, geography can be important, but there’s so much more. Most importantly, the teams involved have to be at, or near, the top of their game. Second, they have to play games that really and truly matter against each other. And if you think about it, Royals-Cardinals have historically (history being the interleague play era) failed in both regards.

But money continues to have the seat at the head of the table, so MLB will do it’s damnedest to convince the fan that these games are special when in fact, they are no more notable than the other 158 games on the regular season schedule. The only thing that’s different is the premium you have to pay if you want to attend.

If there’s something that doesn’t have the juice of last year, it’s the Royals and the All-Star Game voting. We’re entering the final stretch, and, as it stands, it looks like the Royals will have two starters in the lineup. Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer are both deserving.

Last year was all sorts of fun because the Royals were coming off their first World Series appearance in decades and they were the best team in baseball at the time, running away with the Central. Stuffing the ballot box was civic pride and it was brilliant if it managed to irritate some holier than thou writers who tend to take some things way too seriously. This year, it’s the Cubs turn in the NL and it sure looks like the Red Sox are the hot team in the AL. Hey, we had our moment in the All-Star sun.

Besides, Ned Yost is still managing the team. There will be plenty of Royals representation in the game. My guess for Royals besides Hosmer and Perez? Let’s go with Wade Davis, Lorenzo Cain, and Luke Hochevar. Yep, Hochevar. He gets this year’s “Kelvin Herrera Pick” for the game. Hochevar has emerged as Yost’s go-to fireman and that is exactly what the AL manager will reference when he names his roster.

Five All-Stars? That’s not so bad, is it?

The Royals are polling some season ticket holders to see if they favor something called “an official stop in play seating process.” Apparently, this is an increasingly common policy at major league ballparks, which caught me by surprise.

This is baseball, not tennis.

True story: I attended a Royals-Indians game a couple weeks ago. It was the Wednesday game where the Royals were putting the finishing touches on a sweep and a five-game winning streak to move into a tie for first. They broke things open in the fifth and brought home a couple more in the sixth. It was, for a Royals fan, a fun game. In that sixth inning, the Royals loaded the bases with Salvador Perez, who had already homered earlier in the game, at the plate. At that moment, I scanned the crowd and noticed something that was of interest to me: There were several fans moving out of their seats. They were headed to the bathrooms, concession stands, outfield experience…who knows where. There was enough movement, I turned to my companion for the game and made note. Personally, I couldn’t believe it. Why would someone fork over money for a ticket and basically ignore a grand slam opportunity? What was so important they had to leave at that moment? And as I observed the movement, it seemed those leaving were oblivious to what was happening at that moment.

Perez struck out.

Sometimes I have to be reminded that not everyone who attends a baseball game is there for the baseball. For many, it’s a social experience. A time to sit, have a beer and catch up with friends. And as long as they don’t interfere with those there primarily for the game, that’s okay.

In that respect, I understand what the Royals are attempting to do with this survey. As The K has evolved into one of Kansas City’s places to be on a summer night, they are taking the feelings of the core baseball fans into consideration. As someone who doesn’t own season tickets but changes a seat from game to game, I can attest my experience at the ballpark is different every night. Sometimes, I don’t have to budge from my seat. Other nights, I’m standing up nearly every inning as it’s a steady stream to the bathrooms and concession stands. Sure, sometimes it can get old to constantly let people pass, but this is Kansas City and usually there are some good natured comments to lighten the mood.

A recent check of a poll on the Kansas City Star website shows a virtual dead heat with 45 percent in favor of a stop in play seating process with 46 against. Undecideds make up nine percent of the vote. This is one of those votes that doesn’t impact me even though I attend my fair share of games, so I’ll roll with whatever the results.

Can we have a referendum on the wave?