Column: Rockets, flames, power-hitting and great hair

A lot has changed in seven years, I realized, as I drove around the 405.

For example, when I wore my Royals hat to Fenway Park in 2015, plenty of Red Sox fans asked: “Are you from Kansas City?”

When I replied, “No, Montana,” the response was generally: “Oh.” And the person would walk off.

It turns out I’m much more interesting in 2022. In fact, here's a test.

In the past week, when people found out where I was from did they:

Say they recently bought a home in Montana. And Idaho.

Say their son/son’s family had just bought a home in Montana.

Add that they bought a lumber yard “just to play around with.”

All of the above.

The answer is d), though in the interest of full disclosure c) was overheard from the row behind me and my wife, on the plane out of Missoula. But still.

That’s not to be too critical, because we all came from somewhere else. My own dad was a Missouri-born Okie, who decided he’d live in Montana from the time he hopped a train up here during The Great Depression.

I prefer Californians (but not that dolt, Devin Nunes) over Texans (exceptions: Jamie Foxx, Willie Nelson, Steve Martin), and will soldier on no matter who shows up with the knowledge that — exploding housing prices and all — we might be better for it.

I’m thinking big-picture here; it helps push down the other feelings as you scrunch into the seat of your discount air carrier. Which was on its way to LA, where we would see the Royals play — checks notes — the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

This was partly, or even mostly, because my wife likes Shohei Ohtani. He’s somebody we hadn’t heard of in 2015; now it’s fair to say one of us pretty much thinks about him all the time.

Anyway, we got to venerable and gorgeous Angels Stadium and there he was, all 6-foot-4 of him with his rocket arm, light-tower power and great hair.

Don’t believe me? He hit two home runs and had eight RBIs the first game we attended.

The Royals built leads of 6-1 in the sixth inning and 10-7 in the ninth, only to see Ohtani hit a three-run home run in each frame, forcing extra innings.

The ninth-inning homer was a Ruthian shot to right field, and the place was lit: Fans screamed and flames and fireworks rose in the air. I should have appreciated the moment more. Instead I was thinking the Royals had five years to rebuild that bullpen.

I grew more thankful when the Royals won, 12-11 — setting up the next day when Ohtani gave up hits to the first two batters and recorded 24 outs without allowing another.

I appreciated this. If he gets three more outs, I figured, we can call this a “N-Ohtani.” Alas the Angels brought in Ryan Tepera, who retired the side in order. Sorry, rules are rules: Not an Official N-Ohtani.

Neither team is very good, by the way. The Angels fired manager Joe Maddon, their bench coach during the 2002 World Series season, the same day he shaved his head into a Mohawk to inspire the troops. On Tuesday, for the second time in eight days, the Angels lost a game in which Ohtani homered twice.

The Royals don’t seem to want to fire anyone no matter how bad they look.

You may have heard the Angels and Mariners had a little dust-up this week. These aren’t good, and each team lost a player to injury. But there was at least one high point: If you paid attention, Ohtani doffed his cap mid-melee and checked his flow.

Is that alone with the price of admission? I suppose it depends on who you talk to. But the guy can play, and make a moribund team (apologies, Mike Trout) very watchable.

If you don’t believe me, I have a lumber yard to sell you.

Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 756-4463 or fneighbor@dailyinterlake.com.