Day Two--Um...Never Mind

Here's the journal entry I typed on my laptop for July 26. Um...it just dawned on me that I had the date wrong on the previous journal. I'm fixing it after this.

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July 26, 2008

We got up pretty early and headed out to find breakfast somewhere. After asking the concierge for some suggestions, we decided on a place called Charlie’s Sandwich Shop. It was a fairly short walk from the hotel, on Columbus Street. It was an adorable little diner place, very small. We were seated at the end of a table, shared by a nice couple from France. The breakfast was very good, and reasonably priced. We learned from the waitress that it was a family owned place for over 80 years. Her father had worked for the original Charlie in 1927, and become his partner later. Her and her sons and brothers currently work there.

After breakfast, we walked back to the hotel and grabbed a taxi to take us to Fenway Park. He dropped us off right at Gate D (finally found it, heh), where we waited for the tour to start. We actually went around the corner to the Game On sports bar and had some sodas while we waited. By then, the Team Store was open on Yawkey way, so we went in there for some t-shirts. At which point I discovered that I had left my debit card at the sports bar. *doh* So Christi went back to get that. By that time, people were lining up outside Gate D for our tour. It started at 9:45.

This was an amazing tour of Fenway Park. Much better than the standard tour, which we took last year. Keep in mind that this tour was part of our Red Sox Destinations package. We started where last year’s tour ended, in the blue seats behind home plate. These are the oldest seats still in use in Major League Baseball. According to our tour guide, Jessica, they are also the most uncomfortable. I agree. They are the really old style wooden seats. Five inches smaller than the newer seats. Jessica gave us a brief, but enthusiastic history of Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox while we were seated there.

After that, the unthinkable happened. The unimaginable. The impossible.

WE GOT TO GO ON THE FIELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the field! At Fenway Park! The hallowed ground!!

I almost cried.

We walked around the warning track (they wouldn’t let us on the grass) to where we stood right in front of the scoreboard. We took pictures, looked at the on-field memorial to Tom Yawkey and his wife (this consists of two vertical lines that have Morse Code which spells out their initials), and then…

We got to go where Manny goes. Inside the scoreboard. Wow. We got lots of pictures in there. Hundreds of people have written their names inside the Fenway Park scoreboard (including the Bickleys…) and some of the scorekeepers even memorialized themselves. We looked through the holes that the scorekeepers use to watch the games. We had a picture taken looking out of the hole, by one of the tour people. Incidentally, eventually all of the photos that they took will be posted on line and we can select ours, and they will send us a photo disc of them. Included in the package.

After we left the scoreboard, we wandered around in front of the scoreboard a little more, and then it was up to the Monstah! Yes, we got to go sit on top of the Green Monster. We had a nice view from up there while Jessica told us about broken noses and broken hands that people suffer while sitting up there. She said that during batting practice, balls come up there at an average of every 45 seconds. At about 90 mph. It’s pretty important to be paying attention.

Then we went to the press box and got to sit in there for a few minutes. She explained to use the hierarchy of seating in the box.

All of this took about an hour and a half, after which it was time for our pre-game reception.

We went to a big banquet room on the EMC level (Fenway’s version of luxury suites). After we all got seated, our guest of honor was introduced to us. Manny Delcarmen. Ok. That was cool. At least it wasn’t Lugo. They sent us all around in a line to get his autograph first. Stephanie and I had him autograph our baseballs from our package (game-used, complete with grass smudges), and Christi had him autograph her “credentials.” (That would be the VIP badge.) Then we got to go back through the line for our photo op. We chose to get a picture with all three of us instead of three individual pictures. Manny was very friendly.

Then he answered some questions. The only complaint about the whole thing was that we couldn’t hear most of the questions that were asked. They should have someone with a microphone repeating the questions.

Then it was lunch. The buffet consisted of Fenway Franks (heh), pulled pork, BBQ chicken and other stuff. Potato salad, corn on the cob, and some fairly icky brownies (shoulda got the cookie). Overall, it was pretty good. Then they gave away seven autographed items, including a ball autographed by Pedroia. We didn’t win anything. *sad face*

We still had about 20 minutes in the room, so we were allowed to stay up there if we wanted. Some people, who wanted to leave, were allowed to leave with an escort out. But there was a surprise. Since we were already in the park, if we wanted to, we were allowed to leave the room, go down to the stands and watch batting practice.

WOOT!! We got to watch Red Sox BP, right from beside home plate, just between the dugout and home. That was a treat. Some of the players even waved at us.

We wound up never having to leave the field until after the game. Actually, I’m kind of wondering if it skewed their attendance figures, because quite a few of our tickets were never scanned in. But anyway, it was an amazing day.

Then there was the game.

Sigh.

Wake started out good. We score first. That was pretty much it. Masterson gave up, what five runs??

Final score, 10-3, Evil ones.

We took bicycle rickshaws back to the hotel, and went to the pool for a little while. Then we went to the Cheesecake Factory for a bite to eat, and the most amazing Key Lime cheesecake that I’ve ever had.

Something interesting happened there while we were waiting. There was a group of people standing by the front door behind us. Suddenly, we heard the sound of something dropping and a small commotion. There was a puddle of what appeared to be Starbucks cappuccino on the floor, which had splashed all over the group of people. The person who had been holding the coffee had left. Then it occurred to us that the group there were Yankee fans. If what I think happened is what really happened, that’s pretty shameful. The rivalry is all in good fun. But if a Sox fan deliberately threw down his coffee drink just to splash those Yankee fans, that’s pretty much over the line, at least in my opinion. Oh, well. I’m a “foreigner” to these parts, but still…

We pretty much came back to the hotel and collapsed after that. Slept until after 8 the next morning.

One more game. One more chance. If we lose this one, I’m asking for a refund.

Hahaha…

TTFN, y’all!

The Magic of Fenway

Reading Ted's posts (see the link to the right on the "Red Sox Dad") has taken me back a year to my first game at Fenway Park. I can't technically say that it was my first visit to Fenway, because way back in the year of the Subway Series (was that 2000??), my wife and I were in Boston one day during our whirlwind tour of New England, and we finally found Fenway. There were no tours at the time because of renovations or something, and it was October, so season was over. After I carressed the bricks on the outside, we walked up one of the sidewalks (I can't even remember what street) and one of the gates was up. There were a couple of old guys chatting inside, at least one of whom obviously worked there. After one walked away, the other guy looked at me standing there with my mouth hanging open and said, "Well, say something!" I just said, "Wow." He laughed and my wife explained that we were from Fort Worth, Texas and were up there for our anniversary, etc. He pointed up a ramp and said, "Just don't go on the field." I said, "Yes, Sir!!" and trotted up the ramp to the infield seats. I cried then, too. Took some pics of the stadium (Green Monster first, of course) and marvelled at how small the place looked in real life.

Anyway, so last year wasn't my first visit to Fenway, but I say it is my first official one, because we got to go to games there. Reading about Ted's first trip really brought back the height of emotion that I felt when I walked in there for the game last year. I had the pleasure of having my wife and kids with me. It's indescribable. And as I commented on Ted's blog, I did cry, and I'm not ashamed of it.

I wonder what it is about that place that causes that in people? Some would say that it's "just a baseball field." I would disagree. Maybe there's some magic there. Bill Simmons, the sports guy on ESPN, who wrote the book, Now I Can Die Happy after the '04 series, says Fenway is haunted. I haven't done any research on that theory. But, for cryin' out loud, look at the record! I was just looking at the standings while ago, verifying that our beloved Red Sox are, in fact, once again, the best team in the Major Leagues (Woot!!) and the only team, as of today, with over .600 percentage. I was astonished to see that their home record is 21-5! Geez! The only other major league team with that kind of home record is the Braves, with 20-5. What a lopsided home record, and, unfortunately, the Sox are losing on the road. But, with this 7 game winning streak going, maybe they can fix that on this West Coast trip. Anyway. There is definitely something spooky about Fenway Park. Wonderfully spooky, I might add. I love it. Ted loves it. Grown men cry over it. They will probably break the record for consecutive sellouts this year.

I could go on and on, but I won't. Mainly because you're probably tired of reading by now. Fenway is Magic. 'nuf said, as McGreevey would have said.

Watch Out A-Roid!!

Here's an article from the Yahoo front page this morning.

Hawk swoops from Fenway Park railing, attacks girl on school tour

Buzz Up Print BOSTON (AP)—A 13-year-old girl touring Fenway Park on a school trip was attacked by a resident red-tailed hawk that drew blood from her scalp Thursday.

She wasn’t seriously hurt, but some observers saw an omen for a certain New York Yankees slugger in the attack at the home of the Boston Red Sox. The girl’s name is Alexa Rodriguez.

Vince Jennetta, a teacher who chaperoned her class trip from Memorial Boulevard Middle School in Bristol, Conn., told The Boston Globe that Alexa is “a little shaken, but OK.”

The hawk was perched on a railing in the upper deck behind home plate while the group toured the stadium. The hawk flew at the girl and swooped with its talons extended, scratching her scalp.

A single egg lay in the hawk’s nearby nest in an overhang near the stadium’s press booth.

The nest and egg were removed at the direction of state wildlife officials.

Personally, with, of course, no ill feelings towards the young lady, I think they should keep the hawk and release it only when A-Roid bats.

MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

A Red Sox Destinations Trip

I know I haven't updated in a long time, but there really hasn't been a whole lot to say. The Mitchell Report came out and shocked and dismayed a lot of people, and emotions are running high as to what MLB's response should be. I've gone through several opinions, and basically where I've come down is this. Unless it can be proven that any of these players used forbidden substances after they were banned, they should be left alone. A lot of the players named were using steroids before they were banned. Not much you can do about that. Whatever happens, baseball needs to move on. Oh, yeah. Selig should be canned. Just because all this happened on his "watch." Besides...we need a real commissioner.

Ok. On to something positive. Very, very positive.

We're going to Boston again. This time in the form of "Red Sox Destinations." We were thinking about going up there in August to see the Rangers play again, but I got to looking at the Destinations packages that the Red Sox offer, and realized that several of them are actually at Fenway. Most of them are in the other parks that the Red Sox visit, but a few are at home.

I noticed that two of the Destinations packages were against the Yankees at Fenway. And one of these is in late July. So I started calling. It was Saturday, so I guess they were closed. I started emailing. Finally, late Saturday night, I got a response (or maybe it was Sunday night) via email from one of their representatives. He said there were still spots available for the July Yankees games, but they were going fast.

I called early Monday morning, and finally got hold of him. Heheh...we were sitting in a room at Stephanie's orthodontist's office when I finally got hold of him. I booked us three spots for the July 25-27 series against the Yankees at Fenway Park! That's right, folks! I'm going to see the Sox play the Evil Empire at Fenway Park in July, 2008!! As we are prone to say in Texas,...YEEHAW!!

Along with tickets to all three games (I'm told we will get to sit in the newest section of seats that they are adding for '08, on top of the first base side, where that "temporary" box was), we get to stay at the Copley Marriott for several nights (we extended our stay there for one night so we can go back to the hotel after Sunday's afternoon game). We also each get a game-used ball, an official player jersey (we get to choose the player, too), and a pre-game reception with Q&A with a current player, plus photo ops and autographs with the player. It says there are 125 spots in each one, so the crowd won't be too terribly big.

I'm so pumped about this, I can hardly stand it. And...when I checked back on the web site on Tuesday...it was sold out! By the end of the week, the other Yankees destination at Fenway was sold out, as well.

I can't even imagine what it's going to be like to get to witness the greatest rivalry, perhaps in all of sports, live at the greatest ballpark in America.

Ok. I have to stop typing about this. I'm drooling all over the keyboard. Hahah....

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! And I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Blessings to you in 2008.

TTFN, y'all!

Happy Thanksgiving and A New Friend

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We have a turkey in the oven and are beginning preparations for stuffing (I used to call this "dressing"), gravy and rolls. Other people are bringing a ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (yuck), cookies, pies...Ooh...I hurt already!

The coolest thing happened the other night.

We have this food delivery place in our area, called Dine-In Delivery. They have access to 10 or so local restaurants (real ones, not fast food) and they will deliver hot, fresh food to your door (for a small fee, of course). But it's a very cool service, and we use it quite a bit.

Monday night, we ordered Italian food from Zio's for dinner. The guy showed up with our food, and as he was running our debit card, Stephanie said, "Hey, he's wearing a Boston Red Sox hat!" I looked up and, sure enough, he was. He looked cautious, as if he were thinking we were going to bash him for that, when I kind of lifted one leg and pointed to my Red Sox logo pajamas that I was wearing.

As is customary, there was an instant bond between us. That's all it takes for Red Sox fans, especially ones who are hundreds of miles away from Boston.

Now here is the really cool thing. In our brief chat that ensued, he mentioned that he, too, made it to Fenway for the first time this year. When asked when he was there, his reply was July 4th week.

Hey!! That's when we were there. What game did you go to??

Turns out, he was at one of the two games that we were at! We went to Sunday afternoon and Monday night. He was at Monday night and Tuesday night.

Hahaha...how cool is THAT? Then I asked him where he was sitting.

"Behind home plate," he said.

*massive jealousy!*

How??

"Friends of the family..."

Wow. He was actually in the old blue seats a section up from the field, but those are the oldest seats in any ballpark in the US. Possibly the most uncomfortable, too.

I was wondering if I could be their friend, too. Hehehe...

We are planning another trip this year. I never dreamed we could do it again, but my wife is all for it. So, we are looking at the week of August 10th, when the Rangers will be up there, starting on that Wednesday.

Good times.

Oh, and most excellent news...Mike Lowell has signed back with them for another three years. That means that the Red Sox will have virtually the same lineup for 2008 as they had this season.

Twofers, anyone??

TTFN, y'all!

Update on Christi and Baseball

I took Christi to her first follow-up doctor's visit yesterday (November 16). It went very well. They took X-rays, which they said looked really good. She is cleared to ride in the car and even drive some if necessary. She is also cleared to return to work for at least partial days the week after Thanksgiving (which is next Thursday). It was a great report. She was also told that she doesn't need to wear the hard neck brace any more, so we picked up a cervical soft foam collar on the way home from the doctor's office.

In other news, (I haven't talked about baseball in a while) dear old A-Rod now says he wants to remain a Yankee. This is fine with me, in fact, I'm ecstatic about it. That means he won't be coming to Boston or even back to Texas. Let him stay in New York. Let the Yankees keep his baggage. Once again, look at the record. Yes, he will likely break the all-time home run record some day if he stays healthy. But no team has won with A-Rod on the roster. Not even the Yankees.

Barry Bonds is being indicted!!! Yay and Hooray!!!! Now, maybe he will go away!

Kenny Rogers has fired Scott Boras!! People, this his HUGE news! Especially in light of the fact that A-Rod had negotiations with the Yankees without Boras, as well. Perhaps this is the beginning of the end for the "devil of baseball." I keep saying that all of the major league owners/GMs need to just refuse to talk to Boras. He is singlehandedly attempting to destroy baseball as we know it. Free agency may be not such a bad thing, especially for players, but representation by an agent is bad for the sport, especially an agent like Boras.

The Red Sox are still in negotiations with now free agent Mike Lowell. They have offered him a three year deal, but he seems interested in a four year deal. One of two things needs to happen. Either the Sox need to go ahead and give him what he wants, or he needs to have some loyalty and do something unique in the baseball world by not just going for the money. Either way. The Sox need Lowell. The Red Sox Nation would love to see basically the same team take the field on Opening Day as the one that left the field at the end of game 4 of the World Series.

I think they need to work on a good shortstop. That has been the weak link for years. Lugo and Cora are adequate, but neither one of them can be compared with the likes of Youk, Pedroia and Lowell.

Oh, I almost forgot. It has been announced that they will be adding at least 800 new seats to the legend that it Fenway Park for next season! All in the ongoing work to keep Fenway alive. And we may get to go back again next year. I may have actually made a Red Sox fan out of my wife, now. Hee!!

Well, Thanksgiving is next week. I have to go get some groceries today so we can start preparing for the big meal. We will be cooking a turkey, some dressing, and the ubiquitous grean bean casserole. Plus I am making a sopapilla cheesecake for church tomorrow. I've never tried that one before.

TTFN, y'all!

There Will Be A Saturday Night At Fenway Park!

Yes!!!! Huzzah!!!!

The Red Sox dominated in their own fashion Thursday night at the Jake.

Beckett was simply amazing. He went 8 innings, only allowed one run (in the first inning, after a really lame pop fly that three people couldn't be bothered to catch), and struck out 11 batters! ELEVEN!! Beckett is THE MAN!!

He jolly well had better win the Cy Young award this year.

Game 6 will be played at Baseball Heaven at 8 E.T. Saturday night. We were planning to go to the State Fair of Texas Saturday and watch Third Day play a concert that night, but not now. No way! I've seen Third Day. Several times. I've never seen game 6 of the 2007 ACLS. Gotta watch my Sox.

You know...it's kind of funny. Being down here in Texas, I don't run into an overabundance of Sox fans. But we always connect when we see each other. All kinds of barriers fall when you see another person with that telltale "B" on their cap or a shirt that says "I support two teams: Boston and whoever BEATS NEW YORK!"

I've met a clerk at our local library branch who is a Boston fan. So now, whenever I go to the library on Saturdays, he is there, and we talk briefly about the Sox and the season.

I also have quite the reputation at work for being a staunch supporter of the Boston Red Sox. So much so, that every night this week (until last night) everybody at work walks up to me and says, "What's the matter with your Sox??"

It's cool being recognized as the company's biggest Boston fan, but, honestly, that was getting depressing! Hehehe...I actually got tired of hearing that. But then, when I realized that it meant that, hey...people know. I'm a Red Sox fan.

That's cool.

By the way...this Texan is a card-carrying member of the Red Sox Nation. In fact, my first year's membership card says I'm a "Founding Member." How cool is that?

Maybe we need to change the name, though...to something like...

The Royal Rooters.

"'Nuf Said" McGreevey would be proud.

And we could all sing....

"'Tessie,' 'Nuf Said Mcgreevey shouted,
'We're not here to mess around,
Boston...you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound...

Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Red Sox!! You are the only only only..."

Thank you, Dropkick Murphys!

Was the Teixeira Trade A Good One?

The buzz around the MLB was that the Rangers actually came out pretty good for this year's trades. I'm not so sure.

While it was obvious that the "devil in baseball," Scott Boras was NOT going to allow Tex to stay in Texas (and Tex is foolish enough to think that Boras actually works for him...), there was still a year left in his contract. Hickman and the Boy Wonder claim that Tex turned down a multi-year contract worth $140,000,000. The problem is that Tex did not turn it down, Boras did. I wonder if Tex ever even knew it was made. That's just the kind of agent Boras is. Every fan of baseball should detest Scott Boras. Oh, sure, he's great for the players...or is he??

Most Rangers fans should remember the glory days of Rafael Palmeiro. Rafe wanted to stay with the Rangers. Boras lied to the Rangers and said he had a better offer. So the Rangers backed off and let him go. There was no better offer. So Palmeiro wound up in Baltimore instead.

It's my opinion that every MLB owner should band together and refuse to even talk to Boras. Ever. Don't even acknowledge that he exists. It would only take one season with all the top name players having contracts before they get smart and fire him. And yes, baseball could survive one season without all of them. Look at how much fun it is watching the Rangers right now. They are a bunch of (mostly) young, hungry players. They are barely playing .500 right now, but so what. This season is pretty much over for them. If they manage to claw their way up to .500 before the season is over, most fans will consider it a success. And they might not even finish in dead last!

Ok....lemmee step off of that soap box now. So far, the mediocre first baseman for which we traded a great first baseman is 1 for about 11 at the plate. In the meantime, Tex has hit two homer in his first two games as a Brave. I understand we got some "prospects" for Tex, as well. But how well have the Rangers' "prospects" ever worked out? Anyone remember this infamous "DVD" bunch? Danks, Volquez, and Diamond? Zilch. Nada. Never panned out worth anything.

And...we traded our only closer to the Red Sox. Now, mind you, it tickles me to no end to see Eric Gagne with the Sox. He's got a sure shot at some playoff action this year. A possible World Series ring. And the Rangers got Kason Gabbard out of the deal. That shocked the heck out of me...but I guess if you have talent out the wazzoo, you can afford to throw some away. But even Gabbard lost his first outing with the Rangers, after being 4-0 for the Sox so far. And the Rangers still have no closer until Otsuka gets off the dl. So there you go.

Only time will tell if the Rangers actually did well this trade season. My bets are on "no." Because that's the Rangers style, and it's definitely Jon Daniels' style.

And by the way...a note to the Rangers fans...probably some of the worst in all of baseball. Both Tex and Gagne got huge standing ovations from their new fans. When have Rangers fan EVER done that?? When have Rangers fans ever waited in a block-long line just for the hope of getting a ticket for a sold-out game? When have Rangers fans ever bought enough tickets that there is no hope of the opponent's fans even getting in the ballpark. And yet they whine and moan when they hear cheers of "Let's Go Red Sox!" wafting through the Rangers Ballpark. Pft. Every Rangers fan should be required to visit Fenway Park at least once. At Fenway Park there is no "cutesy" organ music urging fans to clap for the players during the inning. The Fenway Faithful need no urging. If one tries to start up a cheer of "Let's Go Rangers!" during an inning in Arlington, he will be a lonely voice, getting some stares from other fans indicating that he is just south of sane. Another thing I noticed about Fenway Park is there is NO promotional schedule. They don't give away anything. They don't have to. No stupid "chatter bats." No bobbleheads. No stupid "Wingo" games. And DEFINITELY no stinkin' CHEERLEADERS!!! I still think that's the dumbest idea that Hicks has ever come up with.

At Fenway Park....it's just baseball. And it's glorious!

TTFN, y'all!