Ringing In A New Fenway Season

The Boston Red Sox kicked off their 2008 home season with a tremendous ceremony honoring the 2007 World Series Champions. All four major sports trophies were in the house Tuesday as all time greats of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins joined members of the current New England Patriots and members of the 2004 World Champion Red Sox team to bring the rings out to the field, they also brought with them trophies from their sport. The Celtics players brought the NBA trophy, one they hope to win again this season. The Red Sox guys carried out the '04 trophy, the Patriots players had one of their Lombardi trophies and the Bruins players carried the Stanley Cup. When the World Series banners were dropped down from the Green Monster like in 2005, they dropped a wall sized 2004 banner and then dropped a 2007 one over it, the wind started blowing the 2007 banner up to keep the '04 one showing. The Boston Pops were once again there to perform throughout the ceremony. The rings were presented in groups, led my the manager and coaches, then trainers and staff, the catchers, infielders and so on. Johnny Pesky again got a big ovation. Eight players had slightly different rings. On the side with the name of the player was a Boston "B" logo and a World Series trophy, the eight members of both championship teams had trophies on either side of the "B". No idea if coaches from both teams or Pesky's were also like that with double trophies. David Ortiz was the last to receive his ring and then led the team to center field to raise the 2007 Championship flag, Pesky and Ortiz raised it up the flag poll. Bill Buckner was on hand to toss out the first pitch and received a long standing ovation. He tossed a strike to Dwight Evans. In the game, Daisuke Matsuzaka had another strong outing as Boston beat Detroit 5-0 behind Kevin Youkilis' 4-4 afternoon. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performed God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. A video was also unveiled with Neil Diamond wearing a Sox jacket leading Fenway in the singing of Sweet Caroline, the video played on the center field video screen and at the end Diamond shouted out "GO RED SOX". I have searched and searched and this is the best video I could find of it. I hope the video becomes an everyday thing at Fenway instead of just the audio track. The Red Sox should also release the video that was played on the screen on its official website so those not in attendance can actually see it.

Henry & Company Leaving After 2010?

Gotta thank Manramsclan over at SoSH for leading me to this. Back on October 12, Boston Herald Deputy Business Editor Frank Quaratiello followed Red Sox owner John Henry for a day and blogged about it. The blog was posted under News & Business and may have not been noticed by many Sox fans, but Manramsclan certainly noticed it and a hats off to him for posting about it. at 4:40 PM Quaratiello posted this bit that Henry said at 3:20. JH goes into meeting with Werner and Lucchino. They discuss changing the date of the partners meeting and the timeline for installing a new center field scoreboard. JH wants it done by 2010. “We may not be here in 2011,” he says. The scoreboard’s got to go. “What we have now isn’t attractive.” They decide to try to get all work on Fenway Park finished by 2010 and also to try to convince PR maestro Charles Steinberg to stay. Steinberg is getting Daniel Vinik, who grabbed Manny’s foul ball during the ALDS to throw out tonight’s first pitch. So this leads us to the question, are there already plans made for the ownership group that has totally changed the history and future of our beloved Red Sox to skip out of town in the next few years? I certainly hope not, they have changed baseball in Boston like no one else has or could. I fear what a new ownership group would do to the Red Sox.

Fenway Park Adding More Seats, Amenities

Larry Lucchino talked to NESN about the work at Fenway this winter.

What A Day

The Boston Red Sox have had a day more eventful then a team will usually work through, and Boston's day is only half over. We start with Clay Buchholz making his MLB debut today. He went 6 innings striking out five while allowing four runs (three earned). David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia homered for the Sox as they beat the Angels 8-4 in the first game of a double header. Doug Mirabelli started the game but left after the first with a leg injury. Jason Varitek who was to start the night game came in to catch thus throwing the front office into a frenzy. Needing a catcher to catch the nightcap, Boston got on the phone with the Pawtucket Red Sox to get Kevin Cash on his way to Boston, problem though, the Paw Sox aren't at home today so Cash is beating the clock trying to get to Fenway from Ottawa in time for the game. Mirabelli was placed on the disabled list and the Sox have an open spot on the 25-man roster so there's no problem working Cash in. The problem earlier today involved making room for Clay Buchholz and the Jacoby Ellsbury after Buchholz was sent down after the first game. To make that move Boston dealt Wily Mo Pena to Washington for a player to be named and cash considerations. The deal will likely involve someone on Washington's 40-man roster so the deal can't be finalized until after the season because of trade waivers. Notes: The Red Sox first five batters combined for a cycle in the first inning today... Julian Tavarez will start Sunday and Tim Wakefield is pushed back to Monday at Tampa Bay, he's 18-2 career versus the Rays... Varitek will catch Wakefield Monday... Bobby Kielty will take Ellsbury's roster spot Saturday... Ellsbury and Buchholz are both expected to rejoin the Sox on September 1... Ellsbury is leading off in the night game tonight.

All Star Game Coming?

I have read in a few places now that MLB will almost certainly award Boston a future all star game. Of course Red Sox fans remember the 1999 game at Fenway with Ted Williams there and Pedro Martinez striking out 5 of the 6 batters he faced. How soon can a team expect another appearance for the All Star game? Well apparently 2012 is the answer. It will mark the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. With the close friendship Sox ownership has with Commisioner Bud Selig, sources indicate that its being awarded to Boston is a mere formality.