Play ball!!

   Its just another cloudy day in early March. There is still snow on the ground, but all is not lost. There are less three weeks now until the Red Sox open their 2013 season, and this year it starts with games against the “evil empire", the New York Yankees, three games! On April 1st? You have got to be kidding!

   Many in New England have a long standing love affair with the Red Sox. Over the years they have brought cheers, tears and sneers to many avid fans. But this new season will be different. All smiles, we hope!

   This year's team boasts a new manager, some new faces both in the infield and outfield, as well as some of the more familiar favorites that  bring a renewed excitement from the Fenway faithful. The hot dogs will be hot and beer will be cold as the umpire walks to home plate and shouts ...”play ball!”

   Truth is I was not always a Red Sox fan. Growing up just outside of New York City, it was a requirement to follow only the local teams. But, before you stop reading, I was never a Yankee fan, except for maybe the likes of Yogi Berra and Casey Stengel, two of the world's great baseball philosophers. Baseball in the New York area was and still is so “matter-of-fact, so business as usual.” It lacked emotion. (Just ask my sister-in-law! I can hear her cheering from here. ) And... back in my day we still had the Dodgers of Brooklyn and the NY Giants before they moved to warmer climates.

   Moving to New England has changed my view and appreciation for the sport. I do admire the dedication and devotion of the New England fans to their teams, especially the Red Sox. One might consider it almost like a 'romance', even during the seasons when things are not going well. Take last year for example. Poor Bobby Valentine. He just never got it.

   And as with love and romance, there may be times that we will argue and disagree, but we still manage to move on, and in this case, cheer the next home run. Who can not have a smile on their face as 'Big Papi 'sends the ball rocketing over the center field seats. He is coming back this year...right?

   Even if you can't attend a game in person, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy can make you feel as though you are right there, at the ball park, sitting behind home plate as the crack their corny jokes and funny stories. Grill up a few hot dogs, have a couple of cans of beer...it's almost as good as being there and you don't have to worry about finding a place to park.

   It's starting to rain a bit  and the wind is still 'picking up', but I have put aside the seed catalog, put on my Red Sox wind breaker and picked up the most recent copy of this year's roster. There are some new names, no doubt about it.  
   Now if we can just teach them the proper way to pronounce “chowda”!