Friday, April 22, 2011

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? 

Thursday, April 21, 2011

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?

Monday, April 11, 2011

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 #54Ni**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 # 16Also 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 SurvivorEn La Ciudad De La Furia by Soda StereoHeroes 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!