Ahh yes.

Big Papi reports to Spring Training (photo from Boston.com)

Baseball's coming, baby!

Soon...soon...soon

Boston Globe photo

A happy ♥ day!

The inside of this card says "Hey! There's no baseball in February! And there we are, naked with nothing to do....hmmm..."

Fortunately, the programming geniuses at NESN have made this statement incorrect. This morning, they are offering a lovely Valentine's Day gift to Red Sox baseball fans: two hours of live programming from Ft. Myers. True, the coverage will probably just show a bunch of guys running around on the practice fields - wait, that is perfect!!
Globe photo from last year

Also on deck is the first media appearance for our captain:
I still have some unresolved feelings about Tek. All of the off-season drama about his new contract has left me cold. I know that some of the blame needs to be assigned to his agent the evil Boras. But Tek is a grown man, a professional ballplayer, and smart. He has to take some of the blame as well. I'll be watching with interest when he faces the press at 11:30 am.

Meanwhile - Happy Valentine's Day!

When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbing along

Globe photo by Steve Silva

Once upon a time, the first harbinger of spring was Mr. Robin Redbreast. When you saw him rooting around in the dead grass on the lawn, searching for a little breakfast, you knew spring wasn't too far away.

But nowadays, for me, the first sign of spring is what you see in the photo above. Mr. Al Hartz and his moving van, parked on Yawkey Way. This morning, he and his crew loaded up the last of the equipment, and are getting ready to head down I-95 to Fort Myers. Less than a week until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training!

Yes, friends, the long cold off-season is nearly over! Yeah!!

Manny - being Manny?

So, maybe now we're seeing a new Manny. First he came into camp looking buff, having spent a chunk of the off-season at the Athletes Performance Institute in Arizona. He's spoken to the press on several occasions. He's hitting well in ST.

We've always heard that his teammates love him. A little glimpse of that was seen in Joe McDonald's blog over on the Providence Journal:

Manny Ramirez just made Dustin Pedroia’s day.

The Red Sox slugger presented the second baseman with a Rolex watch for winning the American League Rookie of the Year in 2007. Ramirez handed Pedroia a box and then hit it pretty hard with his bat, denting the box. When Pedroia opened it all he could say was “Damn!”

“He’s the best,” Pedroia said before he walked around the clubhouse showing his teammates the generous gift. Along with the watch Ramirez wrote Pedroia a little note, prompting Pedroia to comment, “Now I finally have your autograph.”

And this little tidbit from the Boston Herald

One of the more intriguing sights in the clubhouse was Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez reading the self-motivational bestseller “The Secret” with a highlight marker.

Okay, first we learn that Josh Beckett keeps a journal. Now Manny is reading a motivational book. What's next? Lowell brewing ginseng tea? Papelbon practicing yoga? Pedroia chanting and practicing TM?

I guess whatever works!

More from the White House

Scout Tufankjian/Polaris Images

A little different angle on the Evita shot. I love Kyle Snyder's reaction!

Lifted from SoSH (RSN Diaspora)

Is there anyone other than Kyle in this photo?? Oh, yeah, Beckett, Wake, and Manny D look pretty sharp, too. I love MDC's pocket square. How elegant. And Kyle with his overcoat. Aww.

Lifted from SoSH (educatedcheese)
This is the most fantastic part of the DC adventure. According to Amalie, David Ortiz rode in a policeman's sidecar from the White House over to Walter Read. He was following in the footsteps of Terry Francona, who had hopped into it at the airport and rode over to the White House that way. And Kyle Snyder then rode in it from Walter Read back to the airport. Said Ortiz:

"It was fun, but it was too cold, man," Ortiz said. "It wasn't a good idea but Tito forced me to do it. He said he did it, so I didn't want to look like a [coward]. So I did it.

Kyle said his ride was twice as long as the other two, but he didn't feel he could ask the police officer to pull over and let him get back on the team bus. This is quite the mental image:

With his face frozen, and his knees squeezed into the tiny sidecar, Snyder said he was going about 40-45 mph on the sidecar.

At 6'8", that was quite a tight squeeze, I bet!

In real baseball news, the Sox won their first exhibition game today against Boston College, 24-0. Beckett pitched 2 innings, 4 strikeouts. And Kyle pitched 2 innings, too. The second game is against Northeastern, and it's due to start at 6pm

Wednesday at the White House

The Red Sox are headed tomorrow to Washington. They've got a 2:30 meeting with President Bush in the Rose Garden when, according to ESPN, they'll present him with a special RS jersey:

The white Red Sox jersey with the name "Bush" and the number "07" on the back traveled around the clubhouse. One by one, the World Series champions signed it with a blue Sharpie.

It's a gift from Boston's players to President Bush, who will preside at the annual White House ceremony honoring baseball's best on Wednesday.

Following the ceremony, they'll go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and visit with injured vets. I remember seeing pictures from a similar visit they made after the '04 series, and read some of the moving accounts from the players. According to that article, said Francona:

"You're looking at kids that have lost limbs but it was humbling. It was an honor to be there.

"Everybody wanted to stay and talk. I've heard a lot of the veteran guys telling the younger guys, this is what you'll remember about this trip," he said.

What a fantastic experience for them all.

Oh, and fantastic article in today's Globe by Gordon Edes. He follows Tim Wakefield's recent flight with the Blue Angels, and the parallel story of one of the Angels who got to see the Sox clinch the '04 championship. A beautifully written story, one that could have been maudlin or manipulative. It's neither. Have a kleenex handy.

Photo Day

Getty Images photo - Nick Laham
Yesterday was Photo Day in Fort Myers - all the players wear their home whites and get their official photo snapped.

The above photo is some of those posted on Getty Images. I'm hoping more come thru as the week progresses. But this one of the Captain, Jason Veritek, just screams "Mount Rushmore" to me.

In other news: last night the 80th annual Academy Awards were held. I got 12 out of the 24 categories - the "lesser" awards did me in! I was shocked that Marion Cottillard beat out Julie Christie for Best Actress - both were fantastic, but I thought Christie might ride the sentimental vote into the win. Cottillard was fantastic as Piaf - totally unrecognizable if you saw her in "A Good Year." No shock that Daniel Day-Lewis won. He is such a fantastic actor - even though his "method" is pretty frickin' weird. I'm so glad the song from "Once" won best song - the whole story behind that film is so cool.

Never say Atonement. Never say No Country for Old Men. Too much like a homework assignment.

Favorite dress: Katherine Heigl in red. Amy Adams' great dark green dress - which won my vote because I think it would look great on me!

First live game is Friday, 7pm on NESN!

Low and Fro

Two great photos from yesterday in Fort Myers:

Globe Photo by Jim Davis
Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedrioa and Kevin Youkilis played an intense round round ping pong tournament yesterday for Comcast Sports Net. I guess Youk claimed he could beat anyone, if someone would just set up a table. So CSNE did. And apparently, Mikey whomped them both. Here he is, accepted the "golden paddle" - don't you love the batting gloves?!


Herald Photo by Matt Stone
I'm not sure how Coco is going to get his baseball cap to stay on if he continues to eschew the cornrows!

The first game of Spring Training is only one week away!

The new Manny

Globe photo by Jim Davis

So even when he arrives at Spring Training "in a timely manner," Manny Ramirez makes news. Look at all the members of the press waiting to question him. And to his credit, Manny seems to be "making nice" with the media. He sat and answered the same question about his contract over and over again, so patiently. (Manny's contract is up at the end of this year, but the club has the option of renewing it for one or two more years.) Quoth he:

Are you going to approach the Red Sox for an extension this spring?

"No, I'm not going to ask nobody for an extension. I'm going to come, play the game. I know my situation. That's it. I'm going to come and play and let them make the decision."

Are you happy here?

"I'm happy, yeah."

And, you know, he's right. It really is up to the Front Office to decide if they want to pick up his option. All he can do is what he did today - make it clear that he likes playing in Boston, that he wants to finish his career there. He can go out in the post-season and get himself into good shape. He can report to camp on time and good-naturedly deal with the press. And then he can go out and have a great year.

I think he's taken the first steps on that road. If the FO wanted him to turn over a new leaf, I think he's shown that he can. As he said today:

"Well, I think you start growing up, and mature also. Now I'm here and I want to stay here. "

My favorite thing is this note:

After standing up, out of the huge group of reporters and cameras, Ramirez went over to Bob Ryan, shook his hand, and stood talking to him for a few moments.

He many be goofy at times, but there is not doubt that Manny Ramirez has a kind heart. Ryan recently lost his son, and I'm sure Manny had some kind words to share with him.

Let the games begin!!

Can't get enough

Herald photo by Matt Stone
After the long, long off-season, I can 't get enough of David Ortiz. He's lookin' really good!

Ortiz is here, all's right with the world

Herald photo by Matt Stone

Word that Big Papi has arrived at the Red Sox Spring Training HQ makes me smile - makes me happy! - because it means it almost time to get this season cranked back up. The AP reports David Ortiz took some swings in the batting cages, and says his surgically repaired knee is nearly ready for action. Just seeing the photo above made me realize how much I've missed these guys.

Also arriving late this afternoon:

Screen cap from Surviving Grady

It's strange, but when I heard the news this morning that Fidel Castro was resigning as President of Cuba, my first thought was of Mike - and the many, many Cuban exiles living here in the US. I'm sure today is a very happy one for them.

And happy for me - because Mikey's back in the Red Sox family, where he belongs!

Happy Valentine's Day

AP Photo
Yes, it's Valentine's Day. But, more importantly, it's reporting day for the Red Sox pitchers and catchers!! Yah! And here's lil' Jonathan Papelbon meeting the press, ready for another year of closing out victory after victory.

It's like the Thin Lizzy sang on my iPod this morning:

The nights are getting warmer, it won't be long
Won't be long till summer comes
Now that the boys are here again

The boys are back in town

So close!

Herald Photo by Matt Stone
Okay, so maybe Daisuke Matsuzaka looks a little dorky with the mullet and the dye job. But you have to admit, he looks pretty relaxed and trim. Unlike last year, when everyone was saying he looked a bit "heavy."

I've got high hopes for him this year. No, I don't think he'll ever challenge Josh Beckett to be the number one starter. But I predict a good, solid year for him. I'd like to see him settle in and be our good old #2!

NESN's first ST show airs tomorrow night at 6:30. And then a daily broadcast of their workouts, every day at 10 am. Got the video tapes stacked up and ready to go!

Happy Truck Day!

Boston Globe photo
Yes, it's the surest sign that spring is on its way. It's Truck Day in Boston. Even as I write this, the semis are headed down Route 95, headed south toward the land of spring baseball, warm sun, and snow birds.

It looks like they pack like I do - not an inch of available space! The long boxes on the bottom are VERY important - they contain all the bats our boys are going to use to launch baseball rockets into the Florida sky.

Less than a week until ST! Yeah!

Truck Day

Okay, I know it's strange that we Red Sox fans get so fired up about a moving van. But it's not just any moving van, it's the big rig that transports all the baseball equipment from Fenway Park to Fort Myers. It's the surest sign that the dreaded off-season is nearly over and that Spring Training is so close you can almost smell it.

And it's happening Saturday! I wonder if NESN will do any live shots?! It usually happens on a Monday, so I'm stuck at work, relying on random shots via ESPN. Having it on a Saturday is fantastic - almost sounds like something Dr. Charles would have orchestrated, if he hadn't headed over to Dodgertown.

Other key dates:
Feb. 14 -- Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Fort Myers.
Feb. 16 -- First workout for pitchers and catchers.
Feb. 20 -- Reporting day for Sox position players.
Feb. 22 -- First Red Sox full squad workout.
Feb. 28 -- First Red Sox spring training game.

Yeah!

24 Days!

Only 24 days until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training! Yeah! And NESN made my week, with their announcement that they are increasing the ST coverage by 250%! They will broadcast the daily workouts live every day 10am - with a rerun later in the day.

In anticipation, here's NESN's preliminary schedule:

Feb 13 Red Sox Spring Training LIVE 6:30 pm
Feb 14 Red Sox Spring Training LIVE 10:00 am
Feb 15 Red Sox Spring Training LIVE 10:00 am
Feb 19 Globe 10.0 (from Ft. Myers) 5:30 pm
Feb 20 Red Sox Spring Training LIVE 10:00 am
Feb 20 Globe 10.0 (from Ft. Myers) 5:30 pm
Feb 21 Red Sox Spring Training LIVE 10:00 am
Feb 21 Globe 10.0 (from Ft. Myers) 5:30 pm
Feb 22 Red Sox Spring Training LIVE 10:00 am
Feb 29 Red Sox vs. Twins 7:00 pm
Mar 2 Red Sox @ Twins 1:00 pm
Mar 9 Red Sox @ Dodgers 1:00 pm
Mar 16 Red Sox @ Pirates 1:00 pm
Mar 17 Red Sox @ Yankees 1:00 pm
Mar 19 Red Sox vs. Blue Jays 12:00 pm
Mar 29 Red Sox vs. Dodgers (@ LA County) TBD

YEAH - it'll be back soon!

In the meantime, I've found a way to satisfy some of my baseball needs. Friday, my 8-DVD boxed set of the 2007 ALCS & World Series arrived.

I've only watched Disc 8 - the bonus features. Many of the clips are on the two other DVDs I have - but there are deleted portions of some player interviews.

The most awesome part of the set is the audio option. On the 4 World Series games, you can switch off the commentary by Buck & McCarver, and instead play the Red Sox radio broadcast (or the Rockies' radio team). Talk about a dream come true for this fan - all the glory of the games without the inane chatter of the two Fox idiots! Fox should consider this option for its live broadcasts!