Sox Get Their Parade On

Everybody loves a good parade– and the triumphant members of Red Sox Nation are no exception. Of course, I have TONS of video of the whole day after the jump!

The grouping of the guys onto the duckboats was pretty smart- kudos to whatever Sox staffmember was up until 5 am sorting out those details.

Starters (grey boat): Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield
Rookie Starters (red): Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester
Middle Bullpen (pink): Manny Delcarmen, Brendan Donnelly, Kyle Snyder, Eric Gagne, Bryan Corey, Javier Lopez
Late Bullpen (flatbed): Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Timlin, Hideki Okajima
Catchers (blue): Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli, Kevin Cash
Infield right corner (brown): Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Eric Hinske
Infield left corner (lavender): Julio Lugo, Mike Lowell, Alex Cora
Outfield (purple): J.D. Drew, Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury, Bobby Kielty
Dominican (orange): Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Julian Tavarez + Royce Clayton

This duckboat needed a chaperone… or five

Most fun duckboat to be on (other than the flatbed, which is disqualified because they had their own live music)? Probably the Dominican duckboat- an uncharacteristically hyper-talkative Manny Ramirez, typically gregarious Big Papi and nutty Julian Tavarez make for one helluva fun duckboat ride. Tied for second would be the Infield duckboats- Mike Lowell is a card, and we’ve all seen Dustin Pedroia’s partying skills (he can dole out the Jack Daniels with the best of them). Quietest duckboat? The Rookie Starters, no contest.

Cutest, sweetest, most earnest duckboat EVER

I think there was a requirement that NESN mention the Jonathan Papelbon dance (either past dances or the ones he performed today) at least once every 10 minutes. You’d almost think that NESN just showed up purely for that part of the celebration. Forget you, World Series trophy and the rest of the Red Sox teammates- we want Papelbon to dance for us! Repeatedly! Like a trained monkey! DANCE, MONKEY, DANCE! Lucky for them that Papelbon seemed to find the prospect of acting like a fool nonstop for a couple of hours for the adoring crowds lining the streets of Boston to be an exciting one. And lucky for us, too- since he danced not once, not twice, but at least three times during the course of the 7 mile trek. How he had the energy to jump around like a crazyperson for that entire parade, I do not know. But I do know that he looked mighty at home in that kilt– he should rock that look more often (but lose the jeans and the belt).

Jason Varitek is a charter member of NDRaPRSFftEMRSoML

Josh Beckett, however, apparently wanted no part of being forced to dance on command. In public. On a moving flatbed. With thousands and thousands of screaming fans watching. I think just being stuck on a duckboat and having to wave and smile (!) at strangers for hours was probably a hellish experience for him- as I don’t think he enjoys being stuck in the trained monkey role at all whatsoever. I think all the other guys are happy to bask in the crowd’s cheers (or were smart enough to drink enough beer beforehand to loosen up), but I think all that stuff just makes Josh super uncomfortable. (I’m also going to choose to believe that Josh fulfilled his promise to dance at the afterparty at the Palm in Denver on Sunday night– and may I also say, Irish car bombs, boys? I am IMPRESSED.)

Please cease and desist the backwards cap look immediately, Josh

Probably the only person more uncomfortable than Josh at the parade? Eric Gagne. He has to show up and ride on a truck with his name plastered on the side knowing not a single person there would care if he didn’t show up – and he’s probably thanking the baby Jesus the Sox won so he wouldn’t have to worry about people chucking water bottles at his head when his duckboat drove by. I bet he’s also thankful to have been on the duckboat with 5 other bullpen guys, so he could hide behind the gigantic Kyle Snyder.

Gagne: smart enough to know no one will hate him if he says the Yankees suck

Mike Timlin was hilarious- walking around with Parlay the Parrot stuck to his shoulder, and then bringing Parlay on the flatbed with him, Papelbon and Hideki Okajima. Admiral Timlin also made sure that their bullpen pirate flag was flying over the front of their truck. If only they’d have put Josh on the flatbed truck, instead of a duckboat with Schilling and Wakefield, I think there possibly could have been a Beckettdance. If Papyboo and Timmeh can get the painfully quiet and shy Okajima to bounce around and dance an Irish jig, I’m presuming it wouldn’t take much (beer) to get Beckett to join in.

Is that a parrot on your shoulder, or are you just happy to see me?

TONS OF VIDEO, all after the jump… (including the pre-parade interviews at Fenway- with special appearances by D’Angelo Ortiz, Parlay the Parrot & the Dropkick Murphys, footage of all the guys at the parade, and OF COURSE footage of Papelbon dancing… all three times)

Pre-Parade, Part One:
- interview with Terry Francona
- interview with Mike Lowell

Pre-Parade, Part Two:
- interview with Josh Beckett
- interview with Curt Schilling

Pre-Parade, Part Three:
- interview with David Ortiz (with special guest D’Angelo Ortiz)
- interview with Jason Varitek

Pre-Parade, Part Four:
- interview with Kevin Youkilis
- interview with Tim Wakefield
- interview with Dustin Pedroia

Pre-Parade, Part Five:
- interview with Mike Timlin & Parlay the Parrot
- duckboat tour with Pedroia, Youkilis & Hinske

Parade:
I cut the video footage of the parade way, WAY down- and still ended up with several clips. But I couldn’t leave out any of the dancing or the waving or the guys. So, enjoy!