Keystone Pop
When I arrived at Fenway I passed by a television showing the pre-game show and learned that Dustin Pedroia would be batting fourth. I was already excited to be there in person for Michael Bowden’s debut, but just imagining what Pedroia must be saying (and what his teammates were saying to him) in the clubhouse when the lineup card was posted amused me all evening.
I sat in the left field pavilion, or in marketing parlance the Coca Cola Corner. I was in the second row in the last section, under the “o” in “Cola.” These seats are fabulous; they seem less windy than the right field pavilion and the sight line to home plate is better. Of course, any fly balls that are close to the foul line cannot be seen, but crowd reaction is just a good a method to discover the outcome of such plays as any.
One way to get to the seats is to make as if you are heading to the Monster Seats but make a u-turn. You can catch a glimpse of the glistening halls to the private suites as you make your way through walkways bounded by seemingly ancient brick walls.
The buffet featured corn on the cob, Boston baked beans, barbecue chicken, chicken fingers, hot dogs, green salad, potato salad, cole slaw, watermelon, cookies, and brownies. You get one drink coupon with the $30 price.
Bowden makes his major league debut.
All your base are belong to us.
Papi: Guess who’s batting clean-up for me?
Griffey, Jr.: Who?
This guy.
A cobbled-together lineup due to injury and illness, and yet they still won.
Bowden winds up.
Papi in the box and Pedroia on deck: the Brash Brothers?
John Farrell calms down Bowden when the 21-year old starter found himself in a fifth-inning jam.
Pedroia evades Orlando Cabrera’s tag with a deft hand maneuver… and reminds the shortstop of that fact repeatedly as he occupies the keystone sack.
The “Dirty Water” Do-Si-Do.
The final line.
Pedroia flirts with history.
What would be the ruling if the ball lodged in this space between these two foul poles? Is there any other park with a divided pole such as this?
