CENTER FIELD :: Sneak Peek

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Sneak Peek

Tomorrow marks the return of the Red Sox to play in Boston for the first time since Game 2 of the World Series last October. In addition to the home opener, there will also be the triumphant pregame ring ceremony and traditional championship banner unfurling. Remember this?

One lucky Sox fan, d0wnbytheriver, was on-hand last week during the rehearsal and run through of the ring ceremonies at Fenway Park -- and she got a first-hand sneak peek at the fun that's going to take place tomorrow. The new Coke sign, the new right field bleachers, Fenway groundskeepers playing the part of players, and (of course) the banner. Lucky for the rest of us, she took photos of the whole kit and kaboodle.

All of d0wnbytheriver's awesome photos after the jump!

WARNING: If you do not want to be spoiled, don't look.

Bye bye, coke bottles - hello new space for an ad.

The new and improved Coke advertising.

Much spiffier right field bleachers.

Practice for the opening day festivities.

All photos credit d0wnbytheriver

Comments (17)

[ Ian ] says:
on April 7, 2008 4:17 PM

SWEET!!!!

And wow Clay really let himself go since Saturday. ;)

[ jules ] says:
on April 7, 2008 4:24 PM

OMG! I can't wait. I'm sooooooo working from home tomorrow (TGFPB)*

LOL on Clay and Lester.

*Thank God For PowerBooks ;-)

[ cody ] says:
on April 7, 2008 5:30 PM

the new improvements are awesome
thks for taking the pics and i cant wait for opening day tomorrow

[ Ian ] says:
on April 7, 2008 6:07 PM

From redsox.com:

But the Red Sox also have a couple of surprises up their sleeve. Who will throw out the first pitch?
"It will be a great day," said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. "We have a lot of surprises -- [including a] very exciting surprise about who is throwing out the first pitch so I'm going to tease everybody about it -- but it will be a great experience. We've got a lot of great plans. Opening Days are great, but to combine it with the ring ceremony will be terrific."

Any more hints on who will throw out that first pitch?

"All I can say is," said Werner, "I think everyone will get goosebumps."

Who could they get to throw out the first pitch that will give us goosebumps?

[ jules ] says:
on April 7, 2008 6:36 PM

Good question, Ian. That's quite a statement. "Goosebumps"? "Very exciting"?

Diasuke's baby? ha.

[ amber ] says:
on April 7, 2008 6:38 PM

Oh my, how Clay and Jonny have changed over a few days. I guess that trip north of the boarder could have aged anyone.

Quick question: Does anyone know if the ring ceremony will be aired on one of the ESPN channels and if it will happen prior to 2:00 (or if the 2 'o clock time listed on the Sox site is including the start of the awarding of the rings)? For the life of me I cannot remember how it worked last time and need to know if I'm going to have to leave my afternoon class early or skip it all together.

[ Meghan (aka d0wnbytheriver:-P) ] says:
on April 7, 2008 6:39 PM

I'm ridiculously excited about tomorrow...especially after reading the first pitch thing. I want to speculate, but I would probably be mad if I guess right because I'd spoil the surprise for myself.

Apparently they are giving out two different rings...one for the guys that were here in '04 and '07, and a different one for just '07.

[ jules ] says:
on April 7, 2008 6:50 PM

Meghan,

Thanks for the pics!

[ Liza ] says:
on April 7, 2008 9:07 PM

Aah, Meghan, you're so lucky! And yes, thanks for the pics!

Also... I'm thinking maybe past Sox for the first-pitch business? I don't know who it would be, though...

[ joyosity ] says:
on April 7, 2008 9:10 PM

Gah, I can't wait! Although I heard they'll be starting Coco over Ellsbury. =( But still. Ring ceremony, new banner, our boys finally back at home!

[ Abby ] says:
on April 7, 2008 9:25 PM

Hopefully I can take a late lunch and watch some baseball in my brother's dorm room.

Did they reanimate Ted Williams to throw out the first pitch? That would definitely give me goosebumps.

[ Karen ] says:
on April 7, 2008 10:49 PM

I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow. I just wish I had NESN, being outside of Mass. is killing me. I hope the ceremony will be online. Hope you could post some pictures or video online. I can see the game online at mlb.com, just not sure if they will show the ceremony.

[ Piney61 ] says:
on April 7, 2008 11:26 PM

First Pitch that'll give goosebumps....ooo that's a toughie to figure out....however I totally called the first pitch in 05's home opener. :) But anyways...

I'm guessing Neil Diamond will be involved in this for the 7th inning/8th inning. They could never get him before, this time would be awesome.

As for first pitch...if Foulke had stayed retired, I would've guessed him. Closest thing I can think of is maybe Buckner but I don't think he wants any part of it.

[ Meghan ] says:
on April 7, 2008 11:57 PM

I'm definitely thinking past Sox, but trying to figure out who hasn't been around recently. Buckner would be a good choice hehe. My brother suggested this: Pedro, Clemens and Longborg. All of the Sox Cy winnners:-P Very, very, VERY unlikely, but it would be kind of cool (even with all the other Clemens stuff going lately).

Or maybe Schilling will throw it out and be like "April Fools! I can pitch! Seven man rotation FTW!" or something.

[ Liza ] says:
on April 8, 2008 1:42 AM

Schilling throwing the pitch wouldn't give me goosebumps. He's thrown a couple dozen roughly every fifth day seven (or eight) months of the year for the past 20 years or so.

Ted Williams reanimated would be awesome, wouldn't it? And definitely goosebump-inducing.

And I applaud the starting of Coco over Jacoby, at least for this game. Coco played the entire season (minus that one week in July) in center. If he didn't start, it'd be a huge slap in the face to him.

[ amber ] says:
on April 8, 2008 8:00 AM

Aw I was going to guess Teddy's re-animated head ala Futurama, but thopught it may be too soon. ha

[ ilsboston ] says:
on April 8, 2008 12:37 PM

bob lobell, ball 1-0

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