Fenway

As a birthday/Mother’s Day/Father’s Day gift, the girls bought Red Sox tickets for Dave and me to Saturday’s game.

Now, the home team is not exactly doing very well right now. In fact, things have been about as dismal as they can get for 3 out of 4 years.

But, no matter what, Fenway is an experience, especially on a sunny, summer day.

Observations during the game:

1. I had a perfect view of Toronto’s Bautista plucking that ball out of the bull pen.
2. Sandoval and Leon running into each other was not one of the finer moments of the game.
3. There is no way I would choose to have a Fenway Frank outside of the ballpark.
4. I had a perfect view of David Ortiz’s ball plopping into the stands. That ball was crushed.
5. Who are Bianchi and De Aza?
6. Sweet Caroline never gets old, at least for me.
7. Even if Napoli needs to reflect on his swing, don’t you bring him in and move Holt to 3rd?
8. I was really hoping to entitle this post “Walk-off”

One more observation – It’s hard not to reflect on the past when you are at Fenway.

I’m not sure how many games I’ve been to. Not many compared to some, but still quite a few. I’ve sat in every section of the ballpark except for the Green Monster seats (one of these days). And when I’m there, I think about the more memorable games. For instance, game 3 of the 2004 ALDS. Dave paid an exorbitant sum of money so we could see Ortiz’s walk-off after Guerrero’s grand slam to tie it up. And even though I wasn’t there, I still get a twinge when I remember that my father was at the game after Carlton Fisk waved that ball fair.

I also think about the different people I’ve been there with and the different people I’ve happened to run into.

My grandfather on right. Carlton Fisk center.

First Date

First Game – 2006

Saturday – a few rows directly behind us – bachelor party that included nephew, brother-in-law, and future nephew-in-law

Another game added to the Fenway experience.