Is anyone else out there? I'm too exhausted to go watch the game at a bar, so I started up this gameday open thread in case others are at home on this night of crappy weather.

I'm here. Finally baseball at a decent hour.

I know! And especially after an offday, it's very welcome.

I'm around...I was out all day and not too motivated to go back out, especially due to the five inches of water I'd have to wade through since the bottom landing outside my front door is slightly below ground level:-P

Hopefully the knuckler keeps a'knuckling.

I'm looking forward to opening day at Fenway. I have a conference that day at 10:10, but after that I'm heading home so I can watch them get their rings.

Meghan- I was walking around campus an I stepped in a large puddle. My jeans are still wet.

Same here - I got soaked running errands today. I don't think my clothes and hair have fully dried yet.

How many sideline intros have they had so far this year? Japan opener, LA Coliseum, A's opener, Jays opener...and still one more to go at home. Damn.

Those baby blue unis are snazzy.

Meghan - they had sideline intros for both the Japan exhibition games as well.

Anyone know the song they played for the Blue Jays?

Oh good grief Toronto fans have rally towels also?

The song they played for the montage video? It's the same one from this Sox video I posted earlier. "Ladies and Gentlemen" by Saliva.

I think the camera just caught Alex Cora dozing off.

I'm here!

And I absolutely love those Jays jerseys... the hats are pretty cool, too. But can they start the game already?

Awww, that little girl is adorable! The littlest one, without her front teeth? She's so sweet.

The cameras caught Youk turning Papi around for his introductions earlier.

And then when they introduced Manny and he didn't do anything, Papi pointed at Manny like, "Here he is!"

Liza- That little girl was really cute.

That's an awesome video.

I'll have to check out that song. I heard "welcome to the show" a lot in the song.

OK, I have to say, I'm soooo glad that Fenway doesn't have that obnoxious stadium-wide electronic sign.

Oh thank goodness....I can finally watch a game with both eyes open! Nice to see Josh with the team again! A sight for sore eyes!

I find it adorable that every single time the camera catches Sean Casey in the dugout, he's making whoever is sitting next to him crack up. In this case, it was just Mike Timlin.

Also a welcome sight: Josh's 5 o'clock shadow.

Nice Beckett-esque necklaces on Schill!

Youk and Papi were too funny.

Happiness is: baseball on NESN.

OH...I was at the game in Oakland Wednesday afternoon. There were many Sox fans! The section I was in was mainly Sox fans. The fans sitting near the Sox dugout started the "Let's go Red Sox" cheer right before Papi hit his HR. Awesome.

LOVE: Flashback jerseys.

HATE: Those damn towels.

Hey look! We scored a run! (even though we didn't)

Does anyone else have annoying squiggles on the white lines?

Jules - Yes, yes.

(I KNEW THOSE JERSEYS WERE FAMILIAR!)

(Also, towels = lose. I hate all rally towels with a flaming, burning passion. If Fenway started using rally towels, I'd go around the park stealing them from everyone and donate them all to a homeless shelter or something.)

I had the squgglies...I just switched to NESN HD even though I have an SD tv and it actually looks better because they are gone.

It is driving me nuts!!

Yeah, there're no abnormalities on the HD channel...

Wow. That was quick.

That was an annoying top of the first.

It's a beautiful spring day and we're going grill sausage dogs while watching the game.

I love baseball!!!!

Liza- HAH.

Also, DHL gave away rally towels outside Fenway before Game 1 of the WS. I did not take one, and no one used them inside.

I'm glad people hate the towels as much as I do.

Liza- They tried to hand out yellow DHL towels before one of the ALCS games last year (I think 6) and almost no one wanted them, and the few people that took them didn't wave them.

Also, jules- great to hear that Sox Nation was in full force in Oakland.

ha! no one used them. I'm sure they made a nice shop towel.

Yikes - knuckler hits a batter right out of the gate.

Eckstein runs to first! Because he's so SCRAPPY. He's such a GAMER.

TG - The Rance? ^_^

Meghan - Good! Towels are ridiculous.

And owww. That looked like it hurt. Not that he didn't sprint down to first, or anything.

Was it Game 1? Oops. I had quite a few drunken Fenway entrances in a six day span then so I couldn't remember for sure.

You know who Eckstein reminds me of? PEDROIA. :-P

And I just want to add that was a joke!

Wake gets him.

whew.

There's just something about those two that's similar... I can't quite put my finger on it. I wish I had about 10,000 sportswriters to repeat for me what that is...

Wake gets him.

whew.

Seriously? Gee. I wonder why nobody's thought of that comparison before.

Double post? Interesting.

Meghan and TG: ummmmm...scrappy?

Well meghan they are about the same height.

I didn't take a towel at the World Series either but we did get some sweet signs.

I'm really surprised that they set fireworks off in a closed stadium. That cannot be healthy.

how long was that inning? two minutes

I know they are the same height:-P

Damn J.D.

Jules - Good point...

Aaron Hill is a stealth hottie. Actually the whole Jays roster is loaded with hotties. Which is good news for us, since we play them one million times a season.

Nice back to back snags by Manny and Mike!

I feel honor bound on behalf of my roomie, who went to PC, to say... FRIARS REPRESENT!

Bummer on the stolen base. Good throw by Cash, tho.

This game is just zooming along.

who went to PC, to say... FRIARS REPRESENT!

I have to ask...what does that mean?

...-coughs and points subtlely toward Rance link-

Also, for the record, both Pawtucket and Portland have been rained out.

ohhhhh...Becket and Schil sighting!

They look cute with their coordinating necklaces ;-)

Gotta run!

They were just talking about the Jays' McDonald who went to Providence College- and their mascot is the Friars.

That first part was meant in reply to the Stealth Hottie Aaron Hill comment, for the record.

C'mon, Lugie. Let's get some HITS!

I'm headed up to Maine for the first time ever this weekend -- but only for a couple of hours. Still... I'm excited.

Aw, okay, Jules. Bye!

There is SO much foul territory here. I'm having flashbacks to L.A.

Maine is much nicer in the summer. I spent some time there in the winter. It was -60 with the windchill like -20 without it.

Whos says Cashie can't hit?;-)

Cash coming through with the H!

Aw, it didn't post my comment.

TG - to Portland? Or somewhere else?

Yeah Cahsie!

*Cashie

Jeez. I fail.

Yep - Portland. To pick up some furniture. Whee! Not exactly a crazy fun outing.

Tim's knuckle is dropping in beautifully tonight so far.

Portland is a great town to party in during the summer.

Go see a Sea Dogs game then head downtown. Plus the people are so friendly there.

Oops. I meant Portland for a Sea Dogs game. But funnn.

Except for the part where he hit Eckstein (and that BB), he's been locating really well tonight. Almost like Dice-K the other day but less predictable...

Ian Kennedy is pitching an absolute gem in NY right now:-P

Well nevermind...they just took him out haha.

Thank youuu, Kennedy!

No thank you, Overbay. :P

Kennedy has a really pretty 16.88 ERA for 2008.

Thank goodness Bob's isn't using that same horrid song in their commercials this season.

Well that commercial makes me fell better!

The "Bob's. Bob's. The hero of the day!..." one?

they need to show the other pedroia sullivan tire commercials. i already have that one.

it appears even the red sox bats have jet lag

The very same. Mega annoying.

This game could be over in 2 hours.

it won't be over that quick now that you talked about it.

Or if it stays 0-0 through nine.

Im switching back and forth between this and the Yanks game....we've gone through three innings while they are still in the third.

No worries about that tie now. Dang.

sometimes you feel like wearing a bathing suit to opening day. That's disgusting.

Ya gotta lov Donnie O

Ohhhh no. Oh well. You had to say it... (kidding!).

What's the score for the Rays/Yanks, Meghan?

I hate towels.

Please don't do this Timmy.

I'm not Meghan, but it's 6-4 Rays.

6-4 TB. Sonnanstine decided to imitate Kennedy:-(

I was really hoping we'd be able to get 6 good innings out of Wake this season, with a possible good 7th on occasion.

It's good to see my Alex Rios ball go up in value with that fat contract he signed today

What exactly is the crowd chanting?

Well they've got the pen going.

I'm impressed with Cash so far defensively...each of those throws were a hell of a lot closer than Dougie would have been. If he can perfect that it might help get Wakey a few more outs and extend his IP.

Awww, hell.

Manny and Jacoby confusion = no bueno.

Well...that was ugly.

Ouch. What was that? Communication, kiddos!

TOWELS. I HATE TOWELS.

I'm annoying my mom by yelling about the towels.

"Things are becoming a little bit ugly for the Red Sox." You don't say! When Remy's right, he's right.

Defense, defense, defense...

C'mon, Wakey! Just one strike and you're out of this... if he goes 6 innings, I'll be happy. Anyone know his pitch count so far?

JACOBY IS DROPPING BALLS NOW?!? What the heck, kid? Hold on to that once it's in your glove.

CRAP.

I just moaned, "Where's Coco when I actually want him?"

Yep..that was ugly, too.
It WOULD have been one heck of a catch, though.

We're looking a tad little league this inning.

EEEWWW..Ugliness

Who's up in the pin?

The announcers on YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports) are talking about the hawk now, and they keep showing A-Rod's ugly face on the screen instead of the game... it's so annoying

Aardsma. Paps was warming up sort of, but I bet he's done with that now.

Thank God that's over.

GOOD. Only three runs...

Well, a DP was the best thing that could have happened there.

I would have loved to see Coco's reaction to that "catch."

Youuuuuuuuuuuuk. Let's make those runs up...

I can't take the day off and will ultimately miss the home opener...does anyone know if it will be re-broadcast? Re-broadcasted? HHHMM...I'm an English teacher, too!

Yep - they're replaying the ring ceremony and a 2-hour condensed home opener (I think) later Tuesday night.

Wow. That was a great pitch. Youk had no business swinging at that one...

Let's go Papi! -clap clap clapclapclap-

Nice! Thanks! I knew you would know!
If you hear what time they are replaying, will you post it?

It's 6:30 for the ring ceremony, 7:30 for the game - and it's a 2 1/2 hour condensed version.

YAY - we're on base!

I bet the Jays fans are super psyched they made Marcum a SP. He looks rock solid.

Also: QUIT IT WITH THE TOWELS, CANADA.

Thanks TG! Stupid day games...

WOW. Great pitch. Ugh. Marcum is doing really wlel tonight. Oh well.

Let's go Mikey!

YES. GO MIKEY. YES.

NO TOWELS!

JD FUCKING DREW!!!!

JD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES JD!

JD Spewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

I did not see that coming. Wahoooo!

YAY! I'm a little late to the posting party, but happy to be here. Welcome to Boston in the spring, TG!

This guy is positively EN FUEGO. A three-run homer and a grand slam in the exhibition games, then ANOTHER three-run homer in his second game of the season. Wow. Let's hope he's like this all season long.

Yay JD!

Thanks a bunch, mjaegs!

And you're never too late to join the party here. I'm thinking you were JD's lucky charm.

If they play that "Call to the Bullpen" graphic every time there's a pitching change this season, I will go and personally murder whoever at NESN made that choice...

Anyway, yay Aardsma!

aardsma is pitching for his job here

Eckstein runs SO HARD to first. He's such a GRINDER. He plays ball THE RIGHT WAY.

Bye bye Aardsma. We hardly knew you.

and yet another pitcher pitching for his job in javier lopez

I f-love that out of three games in that "we sorta did" commercial, I was at two of them.

And don't forget about how SCRAPPY he is, TG.

LUCKY. I just remember watching them.

But I love that commercial sosososososososososo much. It makes me so happy.

Well, yes. That goes without saying. (which is funny, considering every lazy sportswriter says it anyway)

Bullpen audition time. Whoever gets an out gets to stay when Beckett and Timlin come back!

And there goes Lopez...

time for the real members of the bullpen to get the job done

and i told you texy, once you commented about how fast the game was going that it would slow down :D

Youuuuuuk!

Thanks TG! I've enjoyed your blog ever since starr4 introduced me to it.

YOUUUUUUK!

Youk da man

Manny D looks SO slim!

Fabulous. And here come the towels.

sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit

I almost threw a pillow at the TV.

NO TOWELS

He lost around 15 lbs in the offseason if i recall correctly....

and maybe thats why he just gave up that double! UGH.

Why are towels at sports events?

Youk's getting quite the workout. How much schvitzing do you think is going on there? (As a member of the tribe, I feel ok using the term). Oh crap! Maybe he should head to the outfield... Yeesh!

there's your PC boy. He needs Sweet Lou Merloni with him now

Good. Can we score some runs now?

And yeah--MDC lost a LOT of weight and definitely looks great.

that hit happened because delcarmen fell behind in the count

maybe it's that new baby food diet he's on. I'll take the strained pears please.

Boooooo, Francona took out Jacoby

Hopefully it's not cause he messed up his wrist running into the wall or something like he did last fall...

Let's go Pedey!!

Nah it was most likely due to the fact a lefty was on the mound and Coco is a switch hitter.

Ian - That, and gold glove-caliber defense doesn't hurt in a game like this.

It's really a sad state of affairs when you have to add the "caliber" qualifier on the end of that sentence. DAMN YOU, GRADY SIZEMORE.

I'm having major flashbacks to games 3, 4, and 5 of the ALCS tonight, and I'm not liking them. Towels and the phrase "DAMN YOU GRADY SIZEMORE"--it's like reliving it all over again.

Let's go, MDC...

But in the end Liza, the Sox won it all.

ya think Zaun was looking fastball there

Eckstein's bat is taller than he is.

The towels make you look stupid, Jays fans. Or like Indians fans. Same difference, really.

there's your difference in center. Ellsbury has a much better arm that Coco puffs.

and with that, the third pitcher auditioning for his job is coming in.

What is it with the middle infield tonight? Was there something in the water?

And moreover, who're they bringing in?

Ian - let's hope it ends similarly this time around.

9-4 Rays

their canadians. They don't understand our American baseball customs.

Corey! Let's go COREY!

Also, thanks, Devils. Woohoo!

Unfortunately, the towels are very much an American custom. A stupid custom, but a custom nonetheless. I even have towels from the AFC Championship last year - they're fun to keep, but stupid to wave.

So the Bruins need 3 points to make the playoffs. What the heck does that mean? 3 goals?

Good. Now, for those runs...

Youk, Ortiz, and Manny due up.

10-4 Rays!!

Good old Latroy Hawkins:-P

This game is frustrating. I missed JD's HR. The ball seems to find its way through the infield much too often.

GO RAYS!

And, um, GO SOX!

(Oof. C'mon, Papi...)

For a win you get 2 points, for a loss you get 0 points. You get 1 point for losing in overtime.

Has everyone here already heard my diatribe on LaTroy Hawkins? Because I know I unloaded it on every Rockies fan in earshot at the WS.

That was for the Bruins question above.

Ah! So if they win tonight + one more game, they're in.

TG - Strangely enough, I don't think so...

C'mon, MANNY!

3 run homer by Pena!
13-4 Rays

Stayin' alive! Stayin' alive! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

YES

YES to the Rays and the Manny.

"You have to wonder what goes through their head."
"Obviously, a lot of alcohol."

I also love Josh and Youk recreating the streaker jumping down right next to Youk and onto the field.

I like the shot of the roof. And the crowd booing because they "covered her up."

dang, a scantily clad woman runs on the field and they have to cut away. as the only guy here, i'm outraged. LOL.

I kind of wish they showed us people running across the field. I know it might encourage people, but it's HILARIOUS.

C'mon, Mikey...!

Agreed, Abby. Although watching the players watch the streakers is almost as funny. Jon Lester was REALLY interested in that girl.

Too bad.

TG: I noticed that, too.

Night, all.

Awww, damn. Damn.

DROP IT DROP IT DROP IT... never mind.

Too bad they didn't fall victim to that crappy up-the-middle defense that's plagued Pedroia and Jacoby today. Oh well.

Oh well I'm watching the Bruins game now.

Me too. Go Bruins!

I'm so happy right now the Bruins are going to the playoffs. Who would have thought with all their best players going down with injuries they would make it this far?

I know. I thought it was over once Bergeron went down, and then Kobasew a couple days ago. Good for them! Hopefully they don't get the Canadiens in the first round.

I know nothing about the Bruins except that they just won. Woo?

That sucked when Bergeron went down. It would be nice to see him play in the playoffs but I'm not counting on it.

I hope they don't face the Canadiens in the first round also.

I know that Lucic and Thornton are the guys that fight a lot! That's my favorite thing about hockey. I kind of suck:-P

My mom grew up in Boston and she went to a fe Bruins games. She met Bobby Orr once.

Of Course the thing my mom remembers most were the fighters on the team. She tells me all these stories about Phil Esposito getting into fights.

Final Score: 13-4 Rays

Kennedy was the LP with an ERA of 23.14
=D

Is it wrong that I'm laughing at Kenndy?

Lucic is my favorite, and gets bonus points for being hot.

My old favorite player was this guy whose name was PJ and I can't remember his last name, but he was one of the fighters on the team and he was somewhere in the neighborhood of 5'4".

My mom thinks Lucic is adorable. Of course she's never seen him fight.

Abby you are talking about PJ Stock.

He was my favorite player when he played for the Hartford Wolfpack of the AH. There wasn't a fight he'd back down from. He even fought big Peter Worrell.

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