This was fun the other day, but it's sad, I can't watch the game and hang out here tonight! Go Sox!

We'll cheer extra loud for you.

Why are you missing the game?

Courtesy of Ian, tonight's starting lineup:
1 - Lugo SS
2 - Pedroia 2b
3 - Ortiz DH
4 - Ramirez LF
5 - Lowell 3b
6 - Youkilis 1b
7 - Varitek C
8 - Crisp CF
9 - Kielty RF

44 minutes and counting until the start of the game... is NESN doing a pre-game show, does anyone know?

No pregame - unless you count showing BC women's basketball highlights "pregame".

Oh. Gotcha. Do they look better than the baseball team looked yesterday?

At least they aren't playing against the [insert whoever won last year's basketball championship here, because I know nothing about pro sports not called baseball]...

can't wait.. is there a radio pregame?

Oh, sneaky Tito, playing Coco and Kielty.

Not sure, kate. I'm not in town, otherwise I'd check.

At least NESN is now showing Red Sox Report.

We're live! Whee!

Orsillo has a WICKED sunburn.

Is my color off or has Orsillo's head turned into a tomato?

Play Ball!!!!!

*is excited*

I was hanging around the dinner table with the fam and glanced up at the clock--6:59--and rocketed out of the room with only a quick, "Baseball game's starting!" by way of explanation.

I'm so excited. :D

FIRST PITCH! Strike 1 for Lugo.

Wow--Bonser does look fantastic!

Lugo just grounded to short.

Boof does not even look like the same person from last year.

Night games at ST are so much fun. Go right from drinking at the game to out at the bars.

These blue unis are freaking me out.

Base hit for Papi!

(Pedroia grounded to second before him.)

MANNY MANNY MANNY MANNY!

Manny's pants are smaller than normal. I'm convinced of it.

HOLY CRAP. Manny's swing is amazing. I love it. Wow. He just looks so much more powerful than he did even at the end of last year. This is ALDS Manny, but better and in February.

The unis are throwing me off, too! Aww, and look--there's Tito in his jacket. Poor guy.

No mistaking Manny's old helmet.

Did we get a Molson commercial because of Justin Morneau?

Those Boston blue jackets look SHARP. I have the red Red Sox one, that came out for the World Series... but the visitor's blue one isn't out yet.

I can't wait to see DiceK throw.

Dice-K! Wow. Is it just me, or does he look short?

Aw, base hit. But nice hustle by Coco for the out.

PFP paid off!

Nice little 6-4-3 DP there.

All hail the Mullet!

Oh no. SOX Appeal is back.

PFP FTW! :D

(SeewhatIdidthere? :o)

Holy shit, is Sox Appeal back? I though no dentist= no Sox Appeal. Boo.

Liza: That's SWIDT

Did we all spit out our drinks when they said Sox Appeal was back?

and by the way pink hat ian is here

UGH. Sox Appeal.

The idea is great - I'd love it if all my first dates were at baseball games. You learn a hell of a lot about a guy from that.

fc are we playing texting scrabble here.

I accidentally just commented anonymously...oops!

No one cares about Sox Appeal. Shut up Remy.

Pink Hat Ian! Are you wearing your favorite pink hat?

Oh yes it is being displayed proudly.

All that NESN HD coverage during the Red Sox spring break and they couldn't bring the cameras across town.

and a honey latte from starbucks to boot :D

BOOOOO! I don't want the kiddie Sullivan Tire commercial, I want the Dustin Pedroia one.

Uggghhhh. Shut up about the RSN president stuff too.

I'm already tired of Remy.

Wow--look how full the dugout is!

I know. Maybe no one got sent out to the bullpen? I saw Timlin in there earlier.

Sox are on! I just got home (of course had to stop for pizza, cause I'm not cooking today!).

Am I a total geek for putting my Sox jersey and hat on??? heeheeeheee

and a honey latte from starbucks to boot :D

Soweet double play!

Another DP? Good job, Dice-K. :)

Some non-shocking news here

Eric Gagne was roughed up in his spring debut Friday, allowing three runs in an inning versus the A's.

Gagne allowed two singles and two doubles before getting through his frame. "I was throwing the ball good in the bullpen," he said after his appearance. "My body just got tired a little bit, started striding a little longer. Everything was up and I wasn't throwing my changeup over.

Not at all, jules. I forgot to go put mine on. I'm wearing a Dallas Cowboys shirt. GO AHEAD AND BOO ME. :)

Jules, you're asking a bunch of people typing on computers during the game if you're a geek?

Man, I really miss that Eric Gagne. //opposite day

Jules- I put a jersey on too hehe.

OF COURSE Gagne was throwing well in the bullpen. The poor Brewers.

Coco's wearing batting gloves:-D

Coco! Wow. He looks a lot better, somehow.

Hit to left! I guess he is better.

There is a guy in a Phillies hat and shirt, three rows up from the blue Fort Myers sign. Maybe someone needs to tell him the Phils play up in Clearwater.

Also, that drive from Clearwater to Ft. Myers sucks. Hard.

TG: BOOOOOOOOOO on the Cowboys! ;-)

Sorry, as a native San Franciscan, it's genetic!

fc: heeheehee...so true. I'm in good company. I just can't wait to wear my new jersey to a game.

Oh Coco! Great hit!

I was gonna wear something Sox to work today but I had to dress like a perfessional.

you're not a geek jules at all. i've got my pink hat and red sox t-shirt on. and BOOOOOO cowboys.

The coaches look awfully funny with the hats on the coaching boxes. Could you imagine Tito with the bald head wearing one.

Who else saw that piece in the Herald about Lugo? Apparently, he got a stomach parasite last offseason. He'd had a lot of weight loss before ST and never got it back.

...And now Don and Remy are talking about it.

I can't get away with wearing Sox apparel to work, but my office is another story. I've got a huge poster of Fenway, SI covers of Papelbon, ST schedule, regular season schedule, and a shot of Fenway on my PC. I have to keep myself amused.

But, jules - I went to Notre Dame. So, we have Joe Montana in common.

Lugo leading off cracks me up.

Ah, Joe Montana. I was fortunate enough to see him play at The Stick. What an amazing talent.

Jules: Question to me today from a colleague at work: "Who are all those men on your wall?"

answer: Gods.

TG, I'm firing my writer and hiring you.

I have Red Sox all over my locker. (/high school)

They HAD to ask? ha!

I've got another fav hanging in my office: one of the student assistant graphcis guys created a poster for a communication seminar with the title, "Communication Breakdown?" over a photo of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page in their prime. I just *had* to have it.

TG: That's a great answer.

The doki-doki is a two seam fastball, right? I thought they had "revealed" it recently...

Okie! Wow. I want to see the Doki-Doki...

But it's definitely nice to see that head-in-armpit pitching motion again.

fc: SWEET! Except we'd get no work done, and just talk about the Sox all day.

jules: I remember one time talking about Page with my dad, an avowed classic rock freak- and he didn't recognize Jimmy Page's name. I about fell over.

OKI!

Someone will tell us when he throws the Doki-Doki, right? Because I'm not seeing it.

Tek looks fantastic!

That moment Tek popped up behind the plate to grab the foul? Crazy reflexes! Wow.

Not recognizing Jimmy Page's name? I would've fallen over, too.

There's the Oki Doki!

Hm--just threw the OKI-Doki... we haven't seen the DOKI-Doki yet, I think.

And we won't--Everett just popped up to center.

TIMMEH!

It's weird to see the new guys playing in new uniforms the first time. Adam Everett, for example.

Royal blue shirts + navy blue caps = What Not To Wear

DOKI-Doki? LOL, I can't keep up ;-)

Agreed, fc. Now granted, the royal blue is a dark royal - but the navy caps are DARK navy also.

I do like the blue jerseys, though. They're just... different.

Mr. Slowey is doing a heckuva job. Maybe he should be in the starting rotation.

FC: Yes.

I love how Manny's helmet is already filthy, though.

(Papi and Manny both struck out. Let's go Mikey!)

(Is it too early to start the MVP chant?)

Nathan's warming in the pen.

YES! We love Mikey!

Woohoo Mikey! He look particularly nice in the blue I think:-D

Gotta run...Go Sox!

Oh, man. Youk Target Practice already?

YOOOOUUUUKKK!

Bye jules!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Youk!

YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUK!

(I just shrieked. An honest-to-god shriek.)

HOORAY!

Mikey, Youk, I've missed ya, Buddies!

OMG Tek!

back to back!

TEK!!! Yes!

Back-to-back again already, boys? :D

Back-to-back!!! Woohooo!

I was just going to say something about TEK striking out.....he must have heard me. Nice shot!

Coco! Oh, I'm happy for him. :)

I definitely heart Coco. I want him to play his ass off.

It's so much nicer having folks to squee with. You can't be at the park or the bar every game - so it's fun to have compadres.

COCO! Hooray! Too bad he didn't make it to third...

::Remembers Jacoby scoring from second on a wild pitch::

Much agreed, TG.
No one in my house feels the love.

Bright red hair + royal blue jersey = Vast improvement over cream/peach shop teacher ensemble.

Mumbles! Wonder if they will show him on the jumbletron...

Eek. Getting pulled in a ST game? Not fun.

Yeah - the Kielty fashion choices befuddle me.

Haha--a pitching change in a spring training game. Oof. Poor Slowey. He struck out two of the best hitters in the game, then gave up a single, two homers, and two walks.

TG, TOTALLY and thanks

That was TOTALLY to "folks to squee with."
And yeah, getting yanked now? That's just embarassing.

Montgomery, Alabama, huh? I always get inordinately excited when I find out ballplayers are from the South.

These commercials are the worst

Wish my comp. was in the room with the Tv, but...

I have participated in a variety of acts which have stained the game and must live with the consequences of my actions.

My brother bet me 50 cents that Tek would get a hit. I bet him double or nothing he'd strike out before reaching a full count. I usually love it when I'm wrong about my boy, but that was the only small change I had lying around...

From an article in South Coast Today, about the sidecar rides:

Along the way, Ortiz, manager Terry Francona and pitcher Kyle Snyder were given the opportunity to brave the frigid weather in a police sidecar. Francona went first, riding from the airport to the White House, and Ortiz was offered the trip to the hospital.

"(Francona) said he did it, so I didn't want to look like a you-know-what," he said, a decision he quickly regretted. "It was bad," he said. "(The officer) kept asking me (if I was OK), but I took it like a man. But being hit by the wind on a motorcycle, you freeze your (butt)."

Josh Beckett made no such sacrifice when given the chance.

"Hell, no," he quipped. "It was freezing. It was like 38 degrees. There was no way I was doing that."

Twinkie, serves you right. You don't bet against The Captain.

Josh and company will be happy that they aren't here in the Northeast tonight. More snow on the way tonight.

Twinkie - please bet against the Sox throughout the season. Especially October. :)

Jed Lowrie! Squee!

Adm'ral Timlin, sir! I am befuddled by your camo glove, sir!

LOWRIE! Eek! I'm so glad he's playing!

Jed, Jed, he's our man!

I love having a guy named "Jed" on the roster. If only we had a "Bubba".

I love the guy and I never bet on him until now. But more often than not my instinct is right. Doesn't mean I'm not happy about it; I'm a pathetic fangirl so as long as I get to look at him I don't care too much what he does.

There are three Dustins in the organization: Pedroia, Brown, and Richardson. It isn't that common a name, even, is it?

We might in a year or two if Bubba Bell gets called up:-P

Only at spring training do you hear guest services announcements over the P.A.

Mike Timlin is still hot.

And there's Mauer and his sideburns.

TG: Agreed, on the Timlin point especially.

Ugh. Dunkin Donuts commercials? Where are those Pedroia Sullivan Tire ones?!

I really like Cuddyer - but Pridie? Very nice.

I always forget Dusty Brown is really a Dustin.

And speaking of Dustin- nice 5 o'clock shadow on Pedro.

Mike Timlin is a work of art.

fc: could not have said it better. The man is one handsome guy.

YOYO! Hide your children!

and Julian Tavarez is NOT.. wow.

I do love the hair on Papi. I think it looks fabulous.

Trash-Man Tavarez! We missed ya for, oh, HALF OF THE OFFSEASON. Did anyone ever find out where he went?

Living statuary.
Oh, right, there's a game on - shake it off, girl.

OMFG TAVVY DO NOT WANT!

I am not at all biased in favor of pitchers from Texas.

Nice job Joey and Gil!

I bet he was in the Antarctic working with disabled orphaned penguins.

Or not...

Timlin was really a looker circa '92.

Velasquez? You just made my list. The good one.

Personally I think Timmeh's getting hotter with age.

Hee, Liza. I get that reference. He's the mascot for our '86 Jays, even if he didn't play then.

"Younger" guys Remy? Thurston and Gil are both 29 I believe...

Totally missed who was in before Velasquez--it's so annoying to have people in the room who insist on muting the TV while they talk on the phone! Who was he?

Oh, Johnny Pesky!! Love him.

The guy who scored, Liza? Thurston. Who is also easy on the eyes.

Joe Thurston was before Velazquez.

And Kottaras is in!!!:-D

Does Tavy look a little bit "larger?" Or is it just me?

Maybe they had really good food wherever it was he disappeared to.

TG: Hooray! I was hoping you would. :D I'm probably the '86-Take-Two Jays' biggest fan. And by that I mean I check the standings every couple days. And laugh at Schill's abysmal team.

Although, the "looker" comment wasn't sarcastic this time. Mikey Tim really was quite hot.

And thanks, to Meg too. Agreed on the looks.

The baby infield turning a double play is pretty sweet.

Baby infielders! So precious!

He was, in my opinion, either in the Dominican (boring guess) or touring the world on tortoise-back (more probable guess).

If I could draw I would totally make a comic of the epic adventures of Julian Tavarez during the off-season.

YES! Kottaras! :D

Yo-Yo was actually working on the new Freddy Kruegar movie as a stunt double.

Is it to late to join in on all the fun?

So a Twins buddy has been emailing me throughout the game, and has informed me that Cuddyer is apparently a big magician. Seriously. Which makes this commercial make more sense.

I do love Cuddyer - he's my favorite Twin.

YES! Kottaras scored on a Coco double!

And Erin, absolutely not.

Go Coco!

Coco! He ain't going down without a fight!

Of course not, Erin!

Ian - good guess. Or, just acting like Freddy Krueger and scaring random small children.

I'm gonna miss Coco... :(

Nope Erin it's never too late to join the party

OK - first, guy in a Phillies hat. Now, guy in a Cubs jacket. I'm taking both of those as personal shoutouts.

I'm going to miss him, too.
I know that baseball is a business, but I can't help but to feel really bad for him. It kind of breaks my heart when I think about how sad he must be to have been replaced by a kid. Gotta be a big, jagged pill to swallow.

Aww! Lowrie! He looks so little and adorable. I love him.

TG, it may, in fact, be all about you!

Of course it is!

I wonder if Jed Lowrie will be up in Boston sometime this year.

I really hope so!

So who else is going to pitch tonight?

I think def. in September, and before if anything happens to DP or Lugo so Cora has some backup. In other organizations he would probably be on the roster out of camp...

Ginter! Awesome. I don't know much about him, though.

Cocoooooooo! I'm happy for the guy. I hope he starts the year in Boston and he's traded mid-season. I don't want Jacoby to start right away.

Wow--his second steal of the GAME. In less than six innings. Wow.

Aw--homer. Oh well. I'm assuming Tavarez's still in because he's on a starter's schedule?

Eeek. I want so badly for Moss to do well.

I'm definitely pulling for Moss. I have a total soft spot for the guy.

Thurston! Yay!

Thurston, huh? (Taking notes)

I'm glad to see that other people like Moss.

Mossie! Whew--nice swing. Too bad he struck out.

We get to see Buchholz a bit Sunday! I was hoping he'd be Sunday and not Saturday so we could watch:-D

And I love those boston.com ads for some reasons:-P

Love Moss. Next to Kyle Jackson, he's my favorite prospect.

Aardsma!

Am I the only one who is tempted to scream, "A-A-R-D... V-A-R-K!" every time I hear or see his name?

these two are in rare form, laughing already

Oh how I missed Jerry and Don

do don and jerry realize they are playing baseball out there

Proper pronuciation: Aaaahdsmar!
(footnote to mhc)

Oh, baseball schmaseball. They're not counting this as real baseball.

They are a riot together. that's why I posted the Remdawg air guitar clip and the Don losing when manny was petting Yo-yo clip from last year today to get everyone ready for the RemDawg and his sidekick.

Meg: Watcha bumpa!

TG: Masterson, Moss, Jackson, Kottaras, and Van Every are my favorites (of course, not including Jacoby and Clay in that.)

Manny petting YoYo is a classic.

Sorry about the delay on that one--my connection got really slow.

To catch up--

Yes, I love Remdawg. That clip of Manny and Joolian (with Don nearly laughing up a lung--yes, I just made up that phrase) is my favorite ever.

Why was Manny petting YoYo again? Or was it just Manny being himself?

Erin, just Manny Being Manny.

Also, GO KOTTARAS. I really want him to be our backup next year.

Just because. Julian's head needing petting, apparently.

Van Every? Is totally a looker. That's not just the beer talking.

Van Every, oh my yes. Intense.

No Jameson tonight?

Nope. Good ol' Shiner Bock beer, brewed in Texas.

I had Shiner Hefeweizen once in FL...good stuff. I didn't know it was from TX.

Well, one inning left - then it's no TV again until Sunday.

Yep - it's brewed in... Shiner, Texas. Surprise! If you ever wanna woo a Texas boy, get him some Shiner. He'll love you forever.

want...more...baseball....

I can't wait until Sunday because we get to see Buchholz. pitch.

Baby in a pink hat!

There are an awful lot of empty seats for a sellout.

Maybe the Twins will tie it up and force it into extras...and then in the 14th inning the Sox can win on a Van Every walk-off!

(Do they even go into extras during ST? I really can't recall)

And for us guys in pink hats, if we get a Texas woman some Shiner, will she love us forever.

ADORABLE BABY.

And, delayed response, but yes, agreed on the Van Every point. I saw him at the Rookie Development Program Signing. He was quite hot in person.

That baby is so cute! I'm making my niece a Sox fan. When my nephew is old enough I'll make him a Sox as well.

Sometimes an inning or two Meg. Depends on the amount of pitchers the teams have to use.

No extra innings - although...

True story: last year at the Phillies/Yankees St. Pat's game I was at, they announced on the P.A. in the 7th that normally they'd call the game and end it, but both sides agreed to play to 9 so some of the babies could get some time in. Then the Yankees pitcher got shelled in the 8th, so they called the game and ended it early anyway. Everyone was all, "WTF?!?"

Shiner is always an excellent choice for any Texan. Trust me on this.

Is it just me, or does Kolb look even heavier than his 210 listed weight? (consider: he's 6'4''.)

If you're in the Boston area, the snow will probably be there soon. It's snowing here on the shoreline of Connecticut.

No, he's heavier. I don't think they've updated the stats online to reflect what the guys reported in at this year. Lester's still listed at 190, and he's about 215+ now.

Like clockwork, that weather is. We had the snow here in Chicago last night. Y'all always get the weather a day after us.

If he's 6'4" and 210, then that means I'm 6'4" and 180

That would make sense. Clay and Lester both have put on a lot of weight, and they're listed at last year's weights.

Carter! I like him, too.

I don't think the listed weights are always accurate...Papi's listed at 230 (yeah right!), and I read an article this past week in which a trainer said he weighed in at "268, same as last year." Yet he was listed at 230 last year..

Ian is now our weather reporter? ;)

"No Randy, we're on a budget! That's a good ball!"

Anyone else hear that? I wonder who said it. Hahahaha.

Meg: I didn't catch that! Who said it?

Kottaras! Hooray! 1-for-1 with a walk so far. I like the guy.

YES! GO KOTTARAS!

What a night for him, eh?

I'm not sure...I'm guessing one of the other umps to Randy Marsh (the HP ump). I just thought it was funny that they are "on a budget," and reusing balls cause of it.

Yay Kottaras!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!

Yay Kottaras! That's 3 homers on the night for the team.

Baby Catchers RULE!!!

Hellllooooooo Van Every.

I do it all.

YAY Kottaras! I have a slight crush on him.

I am DVR'ing the game, I'll have to go back and check to see who said it in a bit.

This might be a dumb question but when did the Sox get an error?

I've had a mini-crush on Kottaras for a while. He's so great.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY EMPTY SEATS!?

it was past all the old people's bed times.

Whoa--nice catch there by Kielty, huh?

That was a nasty curveball

Fair ball. Runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

C'mon, Kolb...

Aw, crap. 8-3.

This is bringing back memories of Gange:-P

Lock it down, guys. Don't give it away here with just 1 out to go.

*Gronkeiwicz. Not Kolb. Oops. >

That's what I'm talking about!

AND THE SOX WIIIIIIIIN!

:D

That was a fun game. Great way to get back into baseball!

Yay. That was fun:-D I love getting to see everyone. I hope tonight is kinda indicative of how Kottaras will do this year, since if he does well a very big question might be answered:-)

Oh and just because...

"Dooowwwnn by the riiivvverrr..."

Kind of sucks they aren't on TV tomorrow. Lester and Papelbon are among the pitchers scheduled to pitch.

lol Meg!

Strange watching a Sox game and not having a postgame show.

Lester AND Paps? Aww. Too bad we'll miss that.

Exactly, Meg. We can do our own Dirty Water renditions.

I love that Dirty Watahhhhhhhhh

whywhywhy is that not on NESN?

Boston, you're my home!

(No snow yet...)

Boston you're MY HOME!

The game is on the radio though. WRKO at 1:05

Haha--FC, we can do a duet. :)

Tito!

Who said no post game. Tito!

Tito is a little comedian.

That was funny TG

Liza, you're scaring me.

Tito: Don, I don't want to talk to you. i want to talk to Rem

Awww. I guess we get a mini-postgame.

I'm just glad scheduled the computer DVR to do SportsDesk.

Liza - Snow is coming. It is coming down pretty hard here in CT. Just got in from walking the dog. Poor thing had to hold it for the whole game!

Its snowing here in Amherst Mass right now. I hate snow I want it to be warm again.

Play-by-play as the storm moves up the Pike

...Nope, nothing yet.

Can I be the color commentator? (tries to thing of something to advertise...)

Sullivan snow tires?

I was at work for this game, but I would like to say

"GEORGIE HIT A BOMB TONIGHT"

He's doing his DAMNDEST to make us forget Dougie.

And I would like to say: I HEART GEORGIE.

Also, the snow's started. I just noticed it. I don't know how long it's been going, but there's maybe 1/2-1 inches of accumulation on the sidewalk outside. :)

LOVE me some George Kottaras!!!

As for today's game...

It's now 6-6 in the top of the eighth, as Dusty Brown homered to lead off the inning after the Sox trailed most of the game. Thurston singled and got caught trying to get back to first after attempting to steal.

Howie Clark just got charged with an error and Granadillo's on first now. Granadillo is GOOD.

Argeniz Diaz is up now.

7-6! Moss got a base hit, scoring Granadillo, in the eighth. Now it's the bottom of the ninth, two outs...

Switzer's pitching... full count... strike three! YERRRRR OUT!

Sox win 7-6 :D

Liza, nice call of the end of the Twins game today. Thanks!