Opening Day Schedule / Mystery Guest
There is nothing--nothing!--like Opening Day. Especially with all the pomp and circumstance following a World Series victory. So cue the Boston Pops, hand out those well-earned rings, and raise that 2007 championship banner!Sox co-owner Tom Werner is promising the Fenway return of someone who hasn't been to the Park in a while. He's expecting a goosebump-inducing moment when the mystery guest is announced to throw out the first pitch. Any ideas? Yaz? Buckner? Roger? Pedro? Nomah?
Then we'll have that long-awaited battle of the basements as the last-place Red Sox take on the winless Detroit Tigers. Something's gotta give!
Here's the schedule (from the Providence Journal):
6:15 a.m. -- World Series championship rings arrive at the park.
11 a.m. -- Red Sox begin batting practice.
11:35 a.m. -- Gates open.
Noon -- Tigers begin batting practice.
1:15 p.m. -- Pregame ceremonies, including presentation of 2007 championship rings, begin. Former players expected to participate include Royce Clayton and Doug Mirabelli.
Approximately 2 p.m. -- National anthem performed by the Boston Pops.
2:05 p.m. -- First pitch.
You got me excited with that speculation. Unfortunately, the person who hasn't been to the park in a while is . . .
Mike Greenwell.
NESN had a segment on Gator about a month ago, in which they said he hadn't returned to Fenway since his last game. He hadn't wanted to. Now -- for some inexplicable reason -- the Sox are inducting him into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in November, so he is happy and ready to make nice. And, unfortunately, they are probably going to honor him during the ring ceremony. I did a blog about my feelings on Greenwell a month ago. Needless to say, I'll be booing my tv screen when he is on.
-Dan
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Mike Greenwell? That's who it is?
Hardly goosebump inducing. I was kinda hoping they'd retire Roger's #21 today. Guess not...
Steve
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Retire Roger's #21? Eeesh. We're going to have to agree to disagree on that one.
-Dan
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Oh, come now. 13 years. Tied for most team wins. Two 20 strikeout games. This is pre-roid Roger. Come on, the guy's a selfish S.O.B. but there's no reason why his number shouldn't be retired. Of course, I'd prefer #45 to be retired first.
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Bill Buckner. Thank goodness it is Bill Buckner throwing out the first pitch.
I need to address this Clemens issue . . . but not today. Today I am all happy, good-vibes . . . unless Daisuke loses command. (I hope I didn't just jinx anything.)
-Dan
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Bill Buckner - hilarious! All the speculation and anticipation, and it turns out to be Buckner!
Well congrats on those rings, gents, and you definitely got a great day for the home opener...But I have to know, honestly, how do you really feel about Buckner opening the season ...? Is there still bad blood there, honestly?
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Nah, it was all water under the bridge in 2004. If fans are still bitter about '86, they need to lighten up.
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I agree - good luck today.
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To me, he's never been a villain. At the same time, I've always hated . . . HATED . . . Calvin Schiraldi. I remember having this same discussion with a guy about ten years ago. Buckner got a raw deal. So I don't think this is so much about us forgiving him, but about us realizing how stupid we were to blame him in the first place.
-Dan
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