A Tribute to the Minor Leagues: Your Pawtucket Red Sox

Hi everyone! My name is Melissa and I am honored to be a new contributor here at Soxy Lady! I'm a mom of a 7 month old little boy, author of Filling Our Bucket and a huge Boston Red Sox fan. My family lives in Rhode Island, and we are frequent visitors to McCoy Stadium to see our "hometown" team, the Pawtucket Red Sox! If you've never been, check it out! Below, you'll find lots of information about the ballpark and the team. Enjoy!

We are huge Boston Red Sox fans. But as Rhode Islanders, and now Rhode Islanders with a 7 (already!!) month old, it is pretty tough for us to get up to Fenway Park as much as we would like. Aside from that, the cost of a Red Sox game is not a small amount! Between tickets, food, a couple sodas...we are often talking over $100 a game! I love my Red Sox, but sometimes, I love having the money in my pocket a little more.

So what is a girl, and a family, to do? Well, head to a Pawtucket Red Sox game of course!!

The PawSox are the Triple A affiliate of the big club and play at McCoy Stadium. We are lucky enough to pretty much live within a stones throw of the park, so it is really easy for us to pop on over for a game.

A little history about McCoy. It was built in 1942, and named after the mayor of Pawtucket, Thomas P. McCoy. It was renovated in 1998. So much like the big boys, the PawSox have been playing in their original stadium for a long time, although not quite 100 years!

McCoy is also home to the longest game in baseball history. 33 innings over 3 days, April 18, 19, and June 23, 1981. On June 23, the PawSox were victorious and beat the Rochester Red Wings 3 - 2!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the game, and there has been quite a few stories and events in recognition of it, including a story that aired on CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. I never watch CBS, but I did that night. There were two gentlemen in the story who were at the game, two men that were two of the few fans that stayed until 4am that first night. They had them sit in the seats they sat in for the game...on opposite sides of the field. It was a fantastic story, and reminded us of the glory and excitement of baseball. Want to learn even more? NY Times columnist Dan Barry has written a book about the event called Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption and Baseball's Longest Game.  I haven't read it yet, but it is definitely on my summer reading list.

As an aside, I have to wonder what would happen if a game went on and on and on like this these days. Would someone pull a Bud Selig, call the game and have it end in a tie?

Another great bit of history at McCoy are the murals. The Murals at McCoy, painted by Carol Heuser, are of PawSox greats over the years. Men who have made significant contributions to the PawSox and Red Sox organization not only as players, but as people. Here is a collage of the murals. Do you recognize any of the greats? See your favorite player?

photo credit

McCoy Stadium and the Pawtucket Red Sox are incredibly family friendly place. Before the ballgames, there is almost always some sort of entertainment outside the gates. We missed the band this week, but as we walked in I heard people talking about how great they were. Every Sunday after the game, kids of all ages can go down onto the field and run the bases! There is face painting, several kid friendly giveaways throughout the summer, and several games start at 6:05 - you know, to accommodate those early bedtimes!

On Sunday, the PawSox played the Durham Bulls, the minor league team for the Tampa Bay Rays - who the Boston Red Sox beat that night in a 16 inning battle, 1 - 0. It was hot, but McCoy Stadium has the luxury of having most seats under the roof, and during a day game with the position of the sun, typically the only seats in the sun are those that are down the third base line, the bleacher seats in center and right, and the grassy area in left. We were lucky enough to be sitting nearly right behind home plate, so we were under the roof. A comfortable breeze was blowing, so that definitely helped!

our view - no zoom!

Tickets at McCoy are incredibly reasonable, as I'm sure you can imagine and because the stadium has a capacity of only just over 10,000, there isn't a bad seat in the house. Box seats at McCoy are $11 for all ages, General admission seats are $7 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under and seniors. General admission seats are great, but if you choose to go that route, remember that you'll have to get to the park fairly early, particularly for weekend games! The seats fill up quick, and the ballpark opens two hours before game time.

McCoy offers a good selection of concession options at reasonable prices. They even have the complete list of their concessions - with prices - available online! Please note the price of a draft beer in McCoy Stadium - $4.75. They even offer healthier fare for those who may not want to go all out in the full baseball experience, noshing on hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Salads, fruit and hummus with pita chips are just a few of these healthier options.

photo credit

The mascots of the PawSox are Paws and Sox. And while they are no Wally the Green Monster, they are pretty awesome. I mean, according to his bio, Paws favorite song is "Centerfield" by John Fogarty. That's MY favorite baseball song. It was meant to be!!

Do you want to meet Paws and/or Sox? You can!!! During the 2nd, 3rd, 8th and 9th innings, one of these furry mascots will be at the SBLI Paws Pavilion to take pictures and give autographs! Unfortunately, when we went to the game on Sunday, I didn't get a chance to get down there with the little man. But, I did get a picture of the Pavilion! Too bad that person was standing there, kind of ruining the shot. But, I have never claimed to be a photographer! See how the seat looks like ice? That's to keep Paws and Sox cool. Since they are polar bears. Of course.

TSI is already a big Paws fan. He's got a fun little beanbag Paws that we bought him way back in February, when he took his very first trip to McCoy!! We started training him about PawSox and Red Sox love young, and brought him to the ballpark the day it opened for ticket and souvenir sales!! They didn't expect anyone to show up, but we showed up about an hour after I saw the posting on Facebook, and they actually had to unlock the doors for us. That was the day we also bought our flex pack tickets.

The PawSox offer a really cool deal with these tickets. You can purchase packs in multiples of 25. The more tickets you purchase, the lower the price! We decided to get the 25 tickets of the box seat package. Normally box seats are $11 per set, but when you purchase through the flex ticket pack, you save $1 a ticket! That's a total of a $25 savings over time! Pretty sweet! When you want to go to a game, all you have to do is show up at the ticket window and exchange your voucher for a real ticket. It's pretty great. Just remember, there will always be games that are super popular that you should consider getting your tickets in advance. Most of these happen to be the games where there are fireworks such as Memorial Day and 4th of July weekend. We got a few games in advance - including Memorial Day Sunday and July 30, which is Clay Buchholz bobble head giveaway night! Get well soon Clay!

We left the game on Sunday in the bottom of the 5th inning. It was hot and TSI was getting sleepy and needed a nap. That's the beauty of going to a PawSox game, it's so close and the tickets are cheap enough that you don't feel too bad when you have to leave early! On the way out, I got to take a closer look at the area outside the ballpark. This season, they have lined the sidewalks around the outfield with pictures of some of the greats that have played in a PawSox uniform. As part of this addition, they created a nice little garden area with some pretty cool statues!

I do have to say that I love they included a little girl in this group of statues! Girls love baseball too!! I also love how one group of kids is just playing for fun, and the other is clearly playing more competitively. They are fun and full of whimsy. Someday, that'll be TSI!!

So, if you are a baseball lover and you live in the Rhode Island area - or even if you don't live in the Rhode Island area! - you must head on over to McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket to check out a game. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and see one of the major leaguers that are set to come off the DL soon doing a rehab assignment!!

Play Ball!!!

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All Star Pizza - The Best Pizza in Rhode Island

During this MLB All Star break, it only seemed appropriate for my husband and I to pick up dinner from our favorite local pizza shop, All Star Pizza.

All Star Pizza, 417 Broad Street, Cumberland, RI 02864

Located in Cumberland, Rhode Island All Star Pizza is owned by brothers Brian and Steve Seagrave.

From the name, to the colors painted outside the building it is apparent baseball is going to be a theme in this pizza shop - but just wait until you step inside.

Once opened, the door chimes with "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and everywhere you look are pieces of Red Sox memorabilia. There are bats, World Series pictures, pennants, a mini scoreboard/green monster, Red Sox pizza cutters, cotton candy and even a the light switches are Red Sox themed!

Red Sox Memorabilia in All Star Pizza

As much as it's fun to look around while picking up your order (or dining in at one of the high top tables located within the small shop), All Star really hits a homerun with its food.

They have some signature items like friend pickles and wieners served Rhode Island style (yellow mustard, diced onions, seasoned meat sauce and celery salt) and seriously some of the best pizza I've ever had. Their pizza dough and sauce are made from scratch and they smother their toppings in cheese.

Look at that cheese-covered pepperoni goodness!

I even hear in the fall they serve a special Thanksgiving Pizza (brown gravy, chunks of turkey, bread stuffing, green beans and mozzarella cheese). Yes, please!

In addition to the wonderful atmosphere and outstanding food All Star also offers free delivery and the best prices around.

If I had one (or two) small wishes it would have been 1) That All Star supported their local professional baseball team, the Pawtucket Red Sox a little bit within their shop and 2) Sports was on their TV instead of Cake Boss ;)

But seriously if you're ever in the area or looking to try some great pizza check out All Star Pizza. Tell 'em SoxyLady sent you.

All Star Pizza

417 Broad Street

Cumberland, RI 02864

401-725-SLAM

Business Hours:
Sun-Thurs: 11 AM - 11 PM

Fri - Sat: 11 AM - 1 AM

Like All Star Pizza on Facebook

View pictures of All Star Pizza's Menu on Facebook

No free pizza or other offers were exchanged for this review. In fact, nobody at All Star even knows who I am. I just want to support this local Rhode Island business and fellow Sox fans! 

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Boo Birds Sing

There's stormy weather in the forecast, and it made me think about one of the times when I feel it's okay to boo at Fenway Park, when it's not directed at the other team; If you feel you're being held hostage by a rain delay.

Rain is just a part of what you deal with as a baseball fan.  It's not played indoors like hockey and basketball, and it's not just an exciting, additional factor, like it is in football.  It's cause for cancellation of a game that is played almost every day of the Summer.  Therefore, it's hard to make up this games after they're called off.  Believe me when I say I'd much rather have an open field like Fenway than one of those artificial domes, that feels more like a novelty size child's toy than a ball park. However, there's been plenty of times where I feel this has been taken advantage of. 

Obviously not all Sox fans live in Boston.  Usually, a trip to catch a game involves a commute that lasts hours each way.  When one finally arrives, the ordeal isn't over.  If you didn't feel like parking outside of town and going through the nightmare that is public transportation revolving around a sporting event, you have to find a place to park that beast, and it costs $30.00 + dollars to do so.  Then you file in, probably pick up an official trash bag with a hood, because you forgot to pack any gear, buy some food, and wait for the delay to be called off, knowing in your heart the whole time the whole game is going to be called off.  You heard the weather man say 100% chance of precipitation in Boston tonight on the way up.

That excuse about how difficult it is to make up that game is always at the ready, should you ever imply the whole run-around is given to prevent loss of vendor revenue to anyone official.

So you sit there...In your hooded trash bag...Watching as time trickles on, just like the rain, only to have it called about an hour after the game was supposed to start.  Just enough time to make sure as many people as possible spent money on parking, rain gear and food.


Recently, my father had tickets to a game that was cancelled hours before it started.  He was so pleased that he didn't have to deal with the weather gamble that he was moved to write a letter to the Red Sox saying so.  I've never known Dad to take the time to write letters when he's anything but livid about something.  Sign my name on the bottom of that letter too, pops.

Anyone who has been in this situation knows exactly what I'm talking about.  Anyone else thinks I'm just bitching about the weather, which no one can control.  Fair enough, but it brings me back to my original point about being more clear about when it's okay to direct boos at something other than the other team.  Here's the break down:

-When your team is losing to a bunch of Canadians on America's birthday.
Nope.  Just turn that cap inside out, and rally like a good fan.



-When a consistently lackluster pitcher is giving the game away.
  No.  This is only going to make him worse, and build up resentment.



-When the organization waits until the last second to call a game, while the weather reports were telling the people of Boston all day not to worry about filling up the kiddie pool using town water.
Absolutely.  Boo the bejesus out of that place!  Better to get it all out there, than behind the wheel on the long trip home.

Source

That's all for today's lesson.  Cheer up, though.  We're back in first!

-eMouse

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The Seven Commandments of Fenway

This past week, I've had a few friends reply "So I guess you're the judge now on who's a real fan and who isn't?" after I posted the link to my last blog entry on Facebook, I thought "Yes.  Yes I am...And why not?" 

In light of this, I've decided to compile a list of rules one should follow in order to behave properly as a baseball fan, particularly within the walls of our beloved ball park.  So, without further ado, I present you with the SEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF FENWAY!!!

Yes, there's only seven.  The remaining commandments were lost in an unfortunate and unforeseen incident.

Thou Shalt Remember that You are at a Baseball Game.

While a baseball game is certainly a place to connect with other fans, it is not a cocktail party.  It is impolite to come and go as you please, making everyone in your row stand up to let you by, and blocking the view of the people behind you while the count is full.  If you need to leave your seat, wait to do it between innings.  If you can't wait that long, do it between at-bats.

Seeing people more interested in waving while talking too loudly on their cell phone, either at a camera or to a friend on the other side of the park who isn't going to see them anyway is also annoying.  While pretty much everyone has done this at some point, you should be mindful that you will be made fun of by complete strangers.  You may not be aware of it, but it is happening.



Thou Shalt Not Boo Any Member of thy Current Red Sox Roster

I'm typically not one to utter a phrase such as "How dare you!?", but I've found myself saying it at Fenway before, particularly during David Ortiz's dry spell.  When a player has been performing poorly for a while, it weighs heavily on his mind.  He doesn't need your entitled sense of indignation following him in wafts of hot air back to the dugout.  Since I've been a Red Sox fan, I've sinned;  I've booed two team players.  The first was  Manny Ramirez, because...Well, because of the same reason you booed him.  Also there was Eric Gagne, because he was clearly a Yankee spy.

What more proof do you need?

The fickle nature of many that inhabit the stands of Fenway was the reason Ted Williams refused to tip his cap for so many years.  No one's saying that you have to cheer or come up with with motivational posters to hold up at the game, or that you're not allowed to discuss your disappointment with a player's falling numbers...But absolutely no booing, especially when it comes to players who have already done so much for the team.  I don't buy the argument that it gives him incentive to shut the crowd up, either.  It is uncalled for and there's zero class in it.



Thou Shalt Not Waste Playoff or Yankees Tickets on Non-Fans.

I propose that when deciding whether or not a person is worthy of post-season or Yankees tickets, they should be quizzed.  I suggest asking them to name the players corresponding to all the Red Sox retired numbers.  If none of your potential "dates" pass the test, sell it to someone who is dying to go.

In December of 2003, my parents stood in line and acquired a ten-man-ticket-plan season ticket package.  That was quite a year to pick up one of those!  Their deal included four seats to ten regular season games (two of which are Yankees games), and four seats in one post-season game.  I was in my senior year of college, so my parents sold two of the seats for every game to a friend of my father's.

Turned out that was a bad idea, because the first thing he did was sell his seats for the Yankees games, and brag about how much money he made.  That wasn't the worst part though.  The post-season of 2004 was rather exciting, as you may remember.  The game my parents wound up getting tickets to was game 5 of the ALCS.  Despite strong suggestions from both myself and my parents that he should offer me the last ticket, Kevin (screw it, I'll use his real name.  The bastard deserves it.) decided to take a woman he'd just met to the game.  I'm sure she was very impressed by the gesture, but according to my parents, she knew next to nothing about the game, and apparently cared even less.  That's some bullshit, huh?

Also, small children that don't know anything about the game should brought a regular season, non-Yankees game for a test run to see if they show any interest in watching and sitting through one.  Too many times have I sat near a family, and the well-intentioned parents brought their children, thinking they were giving their children a memory they'd have for the rest of their lives. They realize only when the kids argue with each other the entire time, climb the seats, kick the back of my chair, and cry that they want to go home starting in the fifth inning, that maybe it wasn't such a good idea.




Thou Shalt Not Fake It

Of course you're going to meet people in the stands that know very little about the game, and readily admit it, but are enthusiastic about learning more.  However, many band-wagoners are highly annoying in their attempts to make it seem like they've been fans all along.  This makes it an important commandment, as it has to do with the self-preservation of one's own pride.  Faking it to try and appease the Faithful is a mistake, because you will eventually be outed, and that's just embarrassing for everyone.  You will also be the subject of scorn if you managed to fake your way into getting a ticket to an important game, and are found out when you ask "Why is everyone booing and clapping at the same time?" when Youkilis approaches the plate.


Thou Shalt Not Confuse Thy Team Colors

These days, it's fashionable to claim to root for the Red Sox.  The key word in that statement is "fashionable", and the influx of band-wagoners that have converged on Fenway Park since the mid to late nineties haven't exactly made themselves hard to spot, particularly if they're so ridiculous as to wear a pink hat, pink Ellsbury shirt and pearls...Yes, we have photographic evidence of this.

Green is not okay either.  I realize the Sox have been known to wear green uniforms one day out of the year during Spring training in honor of St. Patrick, but neither pink nor green shall ever be considered team colors, unless the club changes its name to the Boston Watermelons.

Only then...

Thou Shalt Be Mindful of Thy Beer

Pay attention, whether it be in watching your overall consumption level, or trying to carry one too many cups back to your seat, and sloshing it everywhere.  Either situation can become uncomfortable for all involved.  I know the beer isn't that great at Fenway, and it's no big loss to you losing a splash or two, but I don't want to wear it on my sleeve.  Please be particularly careful if you have higher-up seats right on the perimeter.  Too many times have I seen fans with their elbows perched on the railing holding a beer, blissfully unaware of it raining down on the fans below.  I don't know about you, but my chances of being stopped by police double when I leave a game, especially if we lost.  I prefer not to smell beer-soaked in such cases.

Worst case scenario:  Being soaked in a beverage disaster, and then antiqued by a mountain of powdered sugar from a piece of fried dough on a windy day.  Source

Thou Shalt Not Leave Early, Just Because Thy Team is Losing

-You took the train in, and you don't want to miss the last one out.

-You've got children with you, and they're getting cranky.

-You work the graveyard shift, and you have to be there in an hour.

Those are all acceptable excuses for leaving a game early.  Leaving because the team is losing is never, ever, ever, ever acceptable.  Leaving just to beat traffic is just as bad.  You're the very definition of a fair-weather fan if you do either, and you will deserve the walk of shame to the scowls of the real fans who know to stick around when their team needs them.

-eMouse

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Pink Stinks!

Author's Note - I wanted to post a positive, non-ranting piece for my first entry on Soxy's blog, I really did! But I saw something last week at the coffee shop that just inspired me to go off.

Source

"I ain't no pink hat-wearin' Red Sox 'fan'".

I wonder how I would explain this statement to somebody visiting our country. Someone with absolutely no knowledge of baseball. Even if they did know a little, I'm sure I'd come off as a complete nutcase. I wonder how I would describe this to a "pink hat" herself. I pondered this question as I took a gander at my first viewing of a pink Bruins jersey, on the eve of game 7 last week. I was sipping my anti-grump serum on my fifteen minute break when a familiar bitter taste of non-coffee origin crept into my throat. I gazed upon the familiar B logo without even a hint of black or gold coloring.

I thought to myself "Well now, I guess this means at least I shouldn't have any trouble finding someone to go to a Bruins game with me." However, I know from experience that the crowd once made up of "Good Will Hunting" stunt doubles will be replaced with wannabe runway models. It will be less of a hockey game and more of a school dance. It's a small price to pay for victory, and hell, some would call it an improvement, but it always makes me mourn  for the watering down of the die-hard crowd.

What does a pink hat in Fenway Park represent to me? It represents a movement of poseurism that inevitably follows any championship, or even any serious run at one. You'll turn around to high five a stranger after a home run, only to see the top of a pink hat, gazing down at her iPhone. Maybe she's updating her Face Book status at how awesome it was seeing Papi knock one out at a Yankees game? Nope. She's playing "Angry Birds".

Congratulations to the runner up in the "Image of a fair weather fan" category.  Source

You couldn't find a more literal sign of when it's fashionable to be a sports fan. I get the same feeling when I watch a post-season game and see the seats filled with Muffys and Mitchum Grayson Snobington III's, that cower at every hint of a foul ball, instead of the real fans that were there rallying with the team all season long. For every clown in a Nantucket red hat sitting behind home plate that's more interested in talking on his cell phone and waving at the camera than watching a crucial game from an amazing seat, there is a real fan sitting at home or in a bar with a hate-induced nose bleed.

Don't think I'm overlooking a double-standard, here. I'm not ready to let green hats off the hook either. Green is not a team color, unless we're talking Celtics. The only reason I don't rail on them so hard is because the ratio of true fans to fashion victims is reversed when you compare pink and green hats. Although the green is meant to show the Irish pride of Southie, it really just dilutes what should be a sea of red. Seriously, it's on the exact opposite side of the color wheel. You're there to support your team; Wear the team colors! I know I've seen correctly-tinted hats and jerseys with a shamrock patch.  That'll do just fine, won't it?

Boston is a proud city, and the greatest sports town you'll find anywhere. It has endured years of agony and last second misses that have made its victories all that much sweeter. The heart and soul of the sports scene is its fan base, who's unwavering passion has brought about nicknames such as the "Fenway Faithful".

Source

Fenway is the only park I've been to where the fans don't need to be prompted over the P.A. or big screen to start a cheer. Take a trip up to Toronto, and see how many gimmicks they use to try and keep half-hearted fans engaged in supporting their team! I think of that whenever I see a pink hat...I feel like there is a spy among us.

I'm not saying anyone that's ever worn a pink hat can never be considered a real fan. I'm merely writing this to alert the unaware that if you want to support your team, you need to wear their colors, and learn not to ask if a pitcher that was traded two years ago is warming up in the bullpen. Get some real gear, and either toss that pink hat out, or just use it to keep the hair out of your face when you clean out the garage once a year. Every time you wear it, you'll be taken as seriously as that girl at every Super Bowl party that cheers when the other team scores because she "thought touchdowns were good"

Source

Unless your name was Lib Dooley...Then you get a pass.





-eMouse

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Red Sox Events Calendar

I'm happy to announce the next major change to SoxyLady!!

There are often many cool events happening for Red Sox nation and now SoxyLady can be your one-stop shop to find out about all of them.

There are two ways to view what's going on.

Now listed in the right hand navigation is an agenda view of upcoming events -- click on the name of any event to get more information and add the event to your personal Google calendar.

Second, also in the right hand navigation there is now a link under the "Quick Link Pages" to the main calendar page. Clicking on this will bring you to the static Red Sox Events Calendar page.

Again, clicking on any date/event name will provide you with more detailed information on the event as well as the option to add it to your personal Google calendar.

I hope you love this change, as I'm very excited about it.

Help get the word out to others by letting them know they can add their own event to this calendar by emailing me at: Soxylady33@gmail.com
In the subject of the email please write "Red Sox Event Calendar Addition"
In the body of the email please write the event name, date, time, registration information, costs associated and a brief description. Events should be in the greater Boston/Providence/Manchester/Portland areas.

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Changes Coming to SoxyLady!!!

Over the next few months expect to see some changes over here at SoxyLady. We're getting an overhaul, a self-hosted domain, some new writers, new focus....a lot of exciting stuff. Now is your chance to let us know what YOU want to see on this site, we just might take you up on it and send you a thank-you gift.

The first change I'm going to announce is a writer who has joined the Soxy family! Erin aka eMouse is the amazing artist who brought us such greats as "Darth Jeter" and "Emperor Steinbrenner"

I asked eMouse a few questions in effort to let you get to know her a little bit.

SL: I know you've been a Sox fan practically since birth, what is your earliest Sox memory?
eM: My earliest Sox memory is ironically hearing about my big brother's first trip to Fenway.  I wasn't included on that trip.  Dad says it was because they sat in the bleachers, and that was no place for a little girl.  Of course, my brother's lasting impression of that event was seeing a drunk female flash the crowd and "having to pee in the sink". Of course, I'm referring to the infamous old urinal trough in  Fenway.

SL: Were you disappointed the first time you went to Fenway and realized girls didn't have to "pee in the sink?"

eM: No, I was definitely not disappointed at not having the sink-peeing option.  My first trip didn't come until 1995.  I couldn't tell you who was pitching that night.  I was more interesting in taking in the park for the first time.

SL: Of all of the changes that have taken place in Fenway Park over the years, what has been your favorite/least favorite?

eM: Hmmm, I think my favorite would be the monster seats, though I've never had the privilege of sitting up there.  It just enhances one of the park's most famous quirks in an awesome way.  My least favorite would have to be the seats in section 33 that they swapped out during last year's renovations. They're uncomfortable, they get smaller as they get closer to the wall, and they somehow managed to situate two of my parents' season ticket seats behind the same pole.

SL: AMEN!

SL: Obligatory question, who is your favorite Sox player, past or present? 

eMouse: Y'know, Nomah was my first love, but I think I'm going to have to go with Papi.  He's got as much class as he's got game, and his smile could light up the park at night.  Attitude is very important, and Papi's got the right kind.

SL: What one thing do you want the readers of SoxyLady to know about your love of the Red Sox? 

eM: It is real.  I love the Red Sox and Red Sox Nation.  I even love Yankees fans, in the same way a puppy loves an expensive leather shoe.

SL: Hahahahahaha, there comes some of that personality and fiestyness you're so famous for!

SL: One of my friends said today "Times have changed - my six year old thinks I'm joking when I tell him the Yankees used to beat the Red Sox all the time.." Those kids are lucky. At the same time, what do you say about pink hats who don't know the true pain of being a Red Sox fan? They aren't six years old...they should know better. Or do you think enough time has passed since 2004 that those pink hats should now be given a pass of being a true red sox fan? 

eM: I wouldn't give pink hats a true fan pass.  I'm sick of the pink hats who are just at games because it's the popular place to be.

SL: I suck at interviewing. Let's play a lightening round.....

SL: Fenway Franks or Italian sausages? 

eM: Sausages

SL: Don or Jerry? 

eM: Jerry

SL: Curveball: Damon or Clemens? 

eM: [I hate] Damon more

SL:Dirty Water or Sweet Caroline?

eM: Dirty Water (tough one)

SL: Dirty Water or Shipping Up To Boston? 

eM: Dropkicks win that round

SL: Curveball: ESPN or FOX

eM: ESPN...Fox {censored} {censored}

SL: Haha, ok. Soft serve ice cream in a mini sox helmet or fried dough?
eM: Soft serve in the helmet
SL: God Bless America in the 7th - yay or nay?

eM: Yay. Definitely yay. Please strrrrrrrrrretch and remove your caps for this evening's rendition of "God Bless America"

SL: Beckett or Pedro?

eM: Pedro, no questions

SL: Pardon the sexist girly question, but I gotta ask...[Babe] Kaplers abs or Variteks @ss?

eM: Kapler's abs, hahahaha

SL: Papelbon or Foulke?

eM: Papelbon. Didn't care for Foulke's attitude towards the end. He said he didn't even like baseball! WTF?

SL: Youk - beard or no beard?

eM: No beard! But have you seen him with just a mustache? He looks like Sgt. Slaughter. Fitting, no?
SL: I was thinking Buzz Lightyear

eM: You're stalling...you're on Google Images right now looking up Sgt. Slaughter, aren't you? 

SL: Haha, GUILTY!
SL: Booing players, yay or nay?
eM: NAY!

SL: Bigger dirt dog, Nixon or Pedroia?
eM: Nixon, I used the snot rocket statistics to break the tie...you know, Nixon had more instances of snot rockets and nose picking on camera. I couldn't decide otherwise just based on diving catches and scrap.
SL: Ha! On that note, I think we've given readers a pretty good idea of who you are. I can't wait to read your posts, they're sure to entertain!
 

Stay tuned.......

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Boston Bruins, 2011 Stanley Cup Champions!!!

Photon from http://bruins.nhl.com/

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Red Sox Support Earth Day, Every Day, But Can They Do More?

Photo credit

Over the past few years the Red Sox have made significant strides in becoming a more environmentally-friendly ballpark.

This page on their website outlines their "Go Green" initiatives: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/community/gogreen.jsp

I've highlighted one of these initiatives below, as well as added thoughts on what  I'd like to see from America's Most Beloved Ballpark.

Poland Spring Green Team
In 2008 Poland Springs solicited volunteers from local organizations and schools to walk around the park during the game and collect recyclable materials. According to the website, these teams collectively gathered 25 tons of plastics during the 2008 season. That number is absolutely mind-blowing. 25 tons of plastic gathered in just Fenway Park alone.

The Livestrong website estimates in 2008 the US used 14 million tons of plastic, and that recycling a ton of plastic saves about 30 cubic yards of space in landfills. So that means the Red Sox did their part by saving 750 cubic yards of space from Boston-area landfills. Seems admirable, right?

But here's the thing. I don't recall seeing Green Team members collecting plastic over the past couple of seasons. Did they only do this in 2008? If so, why haven't they continued? Since they are asking for volunteers I don't see that it costs the team much money (unless they sponsor the Tshirts the volunteers wear? Even so, they are effectively paying a ridiculously low sum of money to help have the park cleaned up).

Then comes an even bigger issue....do the Red Sox need to sponsor Poland Springs and bottled water usage? I'll admit I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I do purchase bottled water from time to time and I also bring my own sealed bottle of water to every Sox game I go to (what is the price of water up to in the park now, $4.00 or something?!). However, if I were allowed to bring in an empty reusable water bottle and fill it with filtered water I'd do just that instead.

Jack Johnson did something similar during his 2010 To The Sea concert tour

Jack and his crew reduced the use of single use plastic bottles on tour and backstage. All water came straight from the tap, filtered with Brita’s filtration systems and hydration stations. 

As a result, the band, crew and concert-goers saved over 55,000 single use water bottles from being consumed and thus ending up in the wastestream.Concertgoers were able to fill up their own reusable water bottles for free at All At Once Water Stations located throughout each concert venue

The Red Sox could partner with All At Once, or a similar organization to effectively reduce plastic use at Fenway Park.

I know the push-back is going to be the fact the Red Sox will lose money by doing this. After all, they are a business ::rolls eyes:: but there are ways to work around that as well.

• Red Sox could sell their own branded reusable water bottles, earning money
• It would be free for fans to fill the Red Sox branded water bottles at filtration stations
• Fans bringing in their own empty reusable water bottles would have to pay $1 to use the filtration station -- cheaper than buying a bottle of water, thus encouraging participation but still earning the organization some money

What do you think? What can the Red Sox do to reduce plastic water waste at Fenway Park? 

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The Boston Jed Sox

Photo Credt: Elsa/Getty Images North America

If you had asked me who the shining star of the Red Sox would be at this point in the season, I can guarantee you Jed Lowrie wouldn't have been on that list.

Historically Lowrie has been an average utility player who has earned the nickname "no tickets" in my household (inside joke, sorry all). 

He made his MLB debut playing 3rd base on April 15th (my birthday!) in 2008. He had a respectable season batting .258 over 81 games.

2009 was a different story for him entirely. Batting just .147 over 32 games, it didn't seem the Sox would have a permanent place for this young player.

In 2010 he hit a respectable .287 with 9 long balls over 55 games. Lowrie seemed to to be a decent utility player, especially against lefties. But to me, there wasn't much else.

Enter the 2011 season. The season of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and the triumphant return of Youkilis, Pedroia and even Ellsbury from the DL. We had Scuataro as our starting SS it seemed like our team was set. Lowrie wasn't supposed to be a key player, yet here we are. Over the past couple of weeks Lowrie has become the heart and soul of the Red Sox franchise. Even in the past couple games where he hasn't been hitting as well, he's had productive at bats by advancing batters. (Don't make a liar out of me, no tickets!)

I even picked him up in one of my fantasy baseball leagues (OK, truth be told. I tried to pick him up in both of my fb leagues, but lost out to my brother in one!)

Not only is he making waves on the diamond...he's also earned himself a Chuck Norrisesque Twitter following using the hashtag #legendofjedlowrie






This is the final year of his contract if I'm not mistaken. Let's really see what the kid can do this year. What do you think?

Is Jed Lowrie The Real Deal?

• Yes! He Will Be a 2011 Legend
• Only Time Will Tell
• Nah, He's Had A Few Good Games, That's all

View Results
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2011 Red Sox At Bat - Player Entrance Songs and Songs of Fenway Park

It's that time of year again! It's time to start compiling the list for the Red Sox 2011 At Bat/Player Entrance songs, as well as the songs of Fenway Park.

I was at last night's 4-0 win over the Yankees. I'm not sure what it is, other than the fact that I must be getting old (it is my birthday on Friday...makes sense), but I didn't have a clue on a lot of the at bat songs!

So just like last year, I'm going to need some help. Please email me at soxylady33 {at} gmail {dot} com or post a comment with any updates!!!

Mike Aviles #3 - Rocketeer by Far East Movement ft. Ryan Tedder
Carl Crawford #13 - Balling by Young Jeezy ft. Lil Wayne (previously John Doe by Rick Ross and Mr. Kodak by T.I.)
J.D. Drew # 7 - No song by request
Jacoby Ellsbury # 2 - Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolph ft. Lil Wayne
Adrian Gonzalez #28 - Get Up Levantate by Pitbull and Bon, Bon by Pitbull
Jed Lowrie #12 - Stylo by Gorillaz 
Darnell McDonald #54 - Ni**as in Paris by Jay-Z and Kanye West  (previously That's All She Wrote by T.I. ft Eminem , Can't Tell Me Nothing by Kanye West confirmed by Soxy reader, jmorse6)
David Ortiz # 34 -  Subete by Alexis Y Fido and DJ Got Us Falling In Love by Usher ft. Pitbull (previously Never Scared by Bone Crusher ft. Killer Mike & T.I. and Big Poppa by Notorious BIG and Moment 4 Life by Nicki Minaj ft. Drake  and All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled  - early in the season he was also coming out to Hotel California - both the Eagles and the Big Lebowski versions, anyone know why?)
Dustin Pedroia # 15 -  Dre Day by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg (previously All of the Lights by Kanye West ft. Rihanna and More Bounce To the Ounce by Zapp & Roger (confirmed by @mattjgoldstein) and The Wash by Snoop Dogg ft. Dr. Dre (confirmed by @jared_carrabis)
Josh Reddick # 16 - Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss (aka 2001: A Space Odyssey) (previously Cadence to Arms by Dropkick Murphys confirmed by @Shelley1005) 
Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 - 8 Second Ride by Jake Owen 
Marco Scutaro # 16 - No Song by request
Drew Sutton #44 - Warehouse by Dave Matthews Band
Jason Varitek # 33 - Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down
Kevin Youkilis # 20 - Just a Friend by Biz Markie

Pitcher Entrance Songs
Alfredo Aceves #91 -  Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, En La Ciudad De La Furia by Soda Stereo, Heroes Del Silencio by Soda Stereo, Musica Ligera by Soda Stereo, Viento by Caifanes, Letting Go (Dutty Love) by Sean Kingston ft. Nicki Minaj, Arboles De La Barranca by Banda El Recodo, Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas, Dime Jaguar by Jaguares, Amante De Lo Bueno by Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Iluvia Al Corazon by Mana and Without Me by Eminem (confirmed by @RedSox)
Matt Albers #32 - No Song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Scott Atchinson #48 - No Song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Daniel Bard # 51 - Strangle Hold by Ted Nugent
Josh Beckett # 19 - My Kinda Party by Jason Aldean submitted by SoxyLady reader loopschick
Erik Bedard #23 - No Song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Clay Buchholz # 11 - VooDoo Child by Jimi Hendrix
Felix Doubront #61 - unknown
Rich Hill #53 - No song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Bobby Jenks #52 - I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
John Lackey # 41 - Guys Like Me by Eric Church (confirmed by Soxy reader Loops)
Jon Lester # 31 - I Use What I Got by Jason Aldean
Andrew Miller #30 - No Song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Franklin Morales #46 - No Song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Jonathan Papelbon # 58 - Shipping Up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys
Tim Wakefield # 49 - How Bad Do You Want It? by Tim McGraw
Dan Wheeler #35 - No Song (confirmed by @RedSox)
Pitchers Walking Out To The Bullpen - He's a Pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean

Fenway Park Songs
Before the Game - Cheers Theme Song
Before the Game Player Video Montage - The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco
Middle of the 8th Inning - Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
Pitcher Meeting On The Mound (by Opposing Team) - Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin and Message in a Bottle by The Police
Pitcher/Catcher Meeting - Theme from the Odd Couple
Pitching Change (Visiting Team) - Surrender by Cheap Trick
Ground Rule Double (by Sox) - Brass Bonanza
Walk (Sox player on base) - Walk This Way by Aerosmith
Intentional Walk of a Sox Player - Free Ride by Edgar Winter Group
Homerun (by Sox) - Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation or Boom, Boom, Boom by The Outhere Brothers
When the Game Goes into the Bottom of the 9th - I Need a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
When the Sox are Trailing in the 9th - Livin' on the Edge by Aerosmith
Extra Innings - Time Is Tight by Booker T & The MGs
After a Sox Win - Dirty Water by the Standells
After Dirty Water - Tessie by Dropkick Murphys
After Tessie - Joy to the World by Three Dog Night
After a Sox Loss - (on the organ) Goonight Sweetheart by The Spaniels and (on the organ) Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles
Other songs:
Vertigo by U2
Gimme the Bassline by Torpedo Boyz

Here are the lists to my:
2007 Red Sox At Bat Songs
2008 Red Sox At Bat Songs
2010 Red Sox At Bat Songs
And not mine, but
2009 Red Sox At Bat Songs

And hey, guys, these lists are really a labor of love. Feel free to share with others, but please link back to me if you do.

Some of my information on 2011 player songs came from this article on the Boston.com. Last year, for the first time the Red Sox took my lead (yep, I'm saying my lead. Based on the number of hits I've gotten on these posts, you'd say the same!) and ended up posting their songs online.

I'm counting on you guys to help me fill in the blanks and confirm what I have!

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Lil' Papi, D'angelo Ortiz Bringing It Big Time

Personality: Check
Swagger: Check
Talent: To be seen, but looking good Lil' Papi, looking good!

There is something so refreshing about seeing the players out on the field with their kids, and seeing D'Angelo Ortiz at spring training is like a cherry on top of the sundae.

Spring training is a time of hope for many.
It's the hope of those young men trying to make it to the bigs.
It's the hope of a nation to bring home another World Series Championship
And where more do you see more hope than in the eyes of a six year old?

Love it.
Play Ball!

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