Brick by Brick
The Red Sox attempted to rebuild their championship franchise with a successful home opener. Josh Beckett contributed by not grooving fastballs down Broadway and every batter but Cody Ross had at least one hit. The lineup batted around in the eight-run eighth inning, only the second time Boston has done so this season.
Kelly Shoppach stole a base for the first time in his career in the sixth inning with the score 4-2 in favor of the Red Sox, Mike Aviles at third, two out, and Ryan Sweeney (who is batting .429 and has an OBP of .478). I forgive Bobby Valentine for sending Shoppach in this situation because it resulted in the most hilarious slide ever. I thought I was watching a trailer for the upcoming Three Stooges movie rather than a baseball play.
As the Bruins are busy defending their Stanley Cup championship other luminaries participated in this historic Opening Day ceremony. Recently retired Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek emerged from behind the left field wall-sized American flag to throw the first pitch out to Dwight Evans and Jim Rice. Johnny Pesky, who had to be assisted onto the field, opened the game with the customary shout of “play ball” and, unlike in September 2011, they did.
I received notification from the Red Sox about the placement of my brick. As you can see in the brick finder, each section is named after prestigious (for the most part) Red Sox personages.
| Gate B | Gate C | ||
| 1 – David Ortiz 2 – Bob Stanley 3 – Carlton Fisk 4 – Jerry Remy 5 – Dennis Eckersley 6 – Bill Lee 7 – Jason Varitek 8 – Luis Tiant 9 – Wally the Green Monster 10 – Larry Lucchino | 11 – Mo Vaughn 12 – Dave Roberts 13 – Jim Lonborg 14 – John Harrington 15 – John Henry 16 – Johnny Pesky 17 – Wade Boggs 18 – Rick Burleson 19 – Tom Werner 20 – Bobby Doerr |
1 – Pedro Martinez 2 – Frank Malzone 3 – Nomar Garciaparra 4 – Rico Petrocelli 5 – Bill Monbouquette 6 – Dwight Evena 7 – Jim Rice 8 – Tom Brunansky 9 – Tim Wakefield 10 – Carl Yastrzemski | 11 – Mike Greenwell 12 – Kevin Millar 13 – Joe Castiglione 14 – Joe Morgan 15 – Don Orsillo |
An odd collection of folks thus far, isn’t it? How do they miss matching up section numbers with the numbers they are most associated with? Where is the Ted Williams section? There’s a Kevin Millar spot but no Curt Schilling? It is heartening to see that Tom Yawkey, Eddie Collins, and Joe Cronin, the three Red Sox officials in the stands who failed to sign Jackie Robinson and one of whom yelled a racial epithet, do not have a section. I hope it stays that way.
| Game 7: April 13, 2012 | ||
| Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 |
2 |
L: David Price (1-1) S: Sergio Santos(1) |
| 2B: Carlos Pena (2), Jeff Keppinger (1) HR: Ben Zobrist (1) | ||
 Boston Red Sox2-5 |
12 |
W: Josh Beckett (1-1) |
| 2B: Jacoby Ellsbury (2), Kelly Shoppach – 2 (2), Darnell McDonald (1), David Ortiz (3) | ||
