Opening Day 2009
The 2008 season hasn’t even wrapped up yet – there’s still loads of September ball to played, not to mention the crucial month of October – but that doesn’t stop the Red Sox front office from gearing up for 2009: the 2009 schedule has been released. The fabulous news is that the Sox will have a true Opening Day next season, because they will play their first game at home in Fenway Park (for the first time since ‘02).
And who do I spy as the Opening Day foe to square off against the Sox? Why, it’s our chums the Tampa Bay Devil Rays!
But just to make sure the Red Sox aren’t pining for the opening weeks of 2008 too much, the MLB schedulers have kindly arranged to whisk them away to the west coast right after that opening series for consecutive Cali matchups against the Angels and A’s. We all love those west coast swings!
Other highlights:
* May 4th will be the first game in new Yankee Stadium.
* No Yankees visit in September – last matchup at Fenway in August.
* Patriot’s Day matchup will be with the Orioles.
* Interleague play at home: Mets, Marlins, Braves
* Interleague play on the road: Phillies, Nationals, Braves
* Sox will close the season at home against the Indians.
Here’s the full schedule, courtesy of ProJo.
Also in really good news is that the Red Sox don’t have to go to the West Coast again after mid-May. They’re done after that! Though it makes the day off right after the first game but yet they don’t have one to travel to Anaheim? Where’s the rationality in that?!
Mets at home vs. Sox. IF Pedro is still playing, that’s going to be an interesting home coming. I’d LOVE to see a Beckett vs. Pedro matchup.
What ARE you going to do Texy having to choose between Philly and Boston???
Oh, wow. Three series against the O’s at Camden and interleague vs the Nationals in DC?
This transplanted Sox fan is VERY happy with the schedulemakers.
WICKED happy about the DC dates!!!
Another year of a home game on my birthday!
It’s not a Yankees game, so maybe I can actually go this year.
(For anyone wondering, I’m referring to July 27th.)