Rain Delay + Omar Vizquel = Awesome

Monday night at Fenway between the Red Sox and Blue Jays took the few fans that remained past the midnight hour thanks to a two-hour rain delay. When the tarp started to come off, music was blasting over the speakers, turning Fenway Park into a high school dance for about an hour. The house cameras panned the crowd looking for good candidates for the jumbotron, but no one received more cheers than Jays' infielder, Omar Vizquel.

The 11-time Gold Glove winner but on a show during "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO in the away dugout towards the end of the rain delay. At age 45, it looks like he's still got it.

The Answers: Should "Shipping Up to Boston" be Played in Fenway?

LIVE ON LANSDOWNE BOSTON MA BY DROPKICK MURPHYS (CD)

"Shipping Up to Boston" has been a staple in Fenway Park since 2006 as the walk-up song for closer Jonathan Papelbon.  Papelbon has since parted ways with the Red Sox, and left a bad taste in most fans' mouths.

"The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball," Papelbon said, just days after Spring Training opened for the Phillies, before he had even played a single game for Philadelphia. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

With Papelbon gone, we are rid of his idiotic comments and his dumb, pouting look he puts on to "intimidate" hitters.  But one part of him still remains, the Dropkick Murphys anthem, "Shipping Up to Boston."  Should this song still be played in Fenway park?

It's tough to say.  But when you stack up the evidence, I think the scales sway in the song's favor.  The biggest problem with the song would be the memories it brings up about Papelbon.  The uneasy, borderline queasy feeling you got watching him saunter up to the hill, knowing that even a three run lead won't be safe.

But overall, the Dropkick Murphys have been a Boston-area staple, holding shows in Fenway Park and doing a four-day set every St. Patrick's Day across the street at the House of Blues.  If you haven't heard the song, listen to it above, and imagine being in Fenway Park, late in the game, needing something to get the crowd going to get the team going.  The song really is a perfect fit, and hopefully, if the team plays better, we can turn those subconscious feelings of hatred and nervousness around.

The Answer:  Yes, so long as this team starts to show a little improvement and starts to win in Fenway.

"The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball," Papelbon told 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/03/jonathan-papelbon-says-phillies-fans-know-baseball-better-than-red-sox-fans-praises-bostons-passion.html

"The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball," Papelbon told 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/03/jonathan-papelbon-says-phillies-fans-know-baseball-better-than-red-sox-fans-praises-bostons-passion.html

"The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball," Papelbon told 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/03/jonathan-papelbon-says-phillies-fans-know-baseball-better-than-red-sox-fans-praises-bostons-passion.html

Jeremy Hellickson Doesn't Give a Sh*t?

 

If you think you know what Jeremy Hellickson is all about, you're probably wrong.  According to one elderly gentleman at Fenway Park last night (during the Sox-Orioles...) game, Hellickson's focus lies outside the game of baseball.

The guy came up to me and we got to talking for a minute before he found his seats, and he explained to me how he was born and raised in the northeast but currently lives in Florida.  He told me about "this good little ball team they got in Florida, the first place Rays."  They're in third place, but that's besides the point.

He told me how Carlos Pena, or "pee-nuh" as he pronounced it, was a great hitter, and how they got "a young pitcher, he's only 25, the kid, what's his name..."

After I guessed Matt Moore, David Price and James Shields incorrectly, I finally guessed Hellickson's name, and the guy lit up, and filled me in on this fact:

"Hellickson, now he's up there, chewin' gum, like he don't, give, a shit!"

I don't know what I'm supposed to take that to mean, but I love it.  I'll look forward to the next time Hellickson starts to witness this.

Breaking News: Red Sox (Not Rays) Are Cowards

"I'll start hitting home runs.  I'll hit one tomorrow." - Adrian Gonzalez

And that's where it all began.  Last week, when the Red Sox were in Tampa for a series against the Rays, Gonzalez had a rough day at the plate in the penultimate game of the series.  He went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts, but kept a level head at the plate and instead took his frustrations out with the media instead of the umpire.

Rays starter David Price was one of the first to speak out on Gonzalez's comments, albeit a retweet.

 Moore made good on the suggestion, hitting Gonzalez in the hip in his first at-bat.  Not to be outdone, Felix Doubront planted one on Luke Scott, and both sides were even.  Well, at least until Friday night at Fenway.

In the sixth inning, Rays reliever Burke Badenhop drilled Dustin Pedroia in the back on a 2-0 count.  (We'll get back to this point later...) And in the ninth inning, already down 7-4, Sox reliever Franklin Morales attempted to hit Scott three times before landing one on his knee.

You can check out the scuffle in the video above, but as far as after the game goes, here's what Rays manager Joe Maddon had to say:

“I’m kind of curious regarding who put out the hit, because I know it wasn’t one of their players,” he said. “Truly, watch the video. The people that were incensed, obviously they’re the ones that were probably behind the effort, the really weak, cowardly effort on their part. Did I say that strongly enough? Did I make my point?”

Maddon, are you forgetting who started all of this?  Matt Moore, already seeing his season in shambles decided to take matters into his own hands and plunk Gonzalez to start all of this.  And the Red Sox are the ones who are weak and cowardly?  Give me a break.  It was the Rays who decided to start all of this garbage, and if you want to see someone who's acting cowardly, then look right at BJ Upton, who decided to start barking at a fan when he was exiting the field Friday night.  That's just embarrassing.

Walk-Up Songs at Fenway

 I stumbled across this article this morning, and while there's nothing I can add to it, I thought it would be a good reference for anyone who is wondering about what songs Red Sox players come out to, both batters and pitchers.  Thank you to NESN.com and Jenny Dell for the lists.

Hitters' At-Bat Music 
Mike Aviles: "Rocketeer," Far East Movement
Marlon Byrd: "Work," Gang Starr; "Get Like Me," David Banner; “I’m The Sh*t," Meek Mill
Carl Crawford: "Balling," Young Jeezy
Jacoby Ellsbury: "Let It Rock," Kevin Rudolph; "Hustle Hard (Remix)," Ace Hood
Adrian Gonzalez:"Levantate/Get Up," Pitbull; "Bon, Bon," Pitbull
Darnell McDonald: "Public Service Announcement," Jay-Z, "Leanin'," Stuey Rock
Will Middlebrooks: "Texas Flood," Stevie Ray Vaughn; "Levels (Skrillex Remix)," Avicii
Daniel Nava: "Dream," Lecrae
David Ortiz: "King Of Diamonds," Rick Ross; "Schemin'," Rick Ross
Dustin Pedroia: "Gettin' It," Too $hort
Nick Punto: "Mother," Danzig
Cody Ross: "Livin' On A Prayer," Bon Jovi; "Who Am I? (What's My Name)," Snoop Dogg
Jarrod Saltalamacchia: "Rock Me Amadeus," Falco
Kelly Shoppach: "Kick It In The Sticks," Brantley Gilbert
Ryan Sweeney: "Good Good Night," Roscoe Dash; "The Motto," Drake
Kevin Youkilis: "Just A Friend," Biz Markie; "Till I Collapse," Eminem

Pitchers' Entrance Music 
Alfredo Aceves: "Iberia Sumergida," Héroes Del Silencio
Matt Albers: "Sleep Now In The Fire," Rage Against The Machine
Scott Atchison: "Heartland," George Strait
Daniel Bard: "Slow Ride," Foghat
Josh Beckett: "My Kinda Party," Jason Aldean
Clay Buchholz: "Buckaroo Man," Dave Stamey
Aaron Cook: "Hit The Floor," Linkin Park
Felix Doubront: "Contéstame El Teléfono," Alexis Y Fido
Rich Hill: “First of the Year,” Skrillex
Jon Lester: "I Use What I Got," Jason Aldean
Franklin Morales: "Fever," Wisin Y Yandel
Vicente Padilla: "La Despedida (Remix)," Daddy Yankee featuring Tony Dize

We're Back...

                                                         Photo: legendsrevealed.com

It's been almost a year since my last blog, which is a problem in and of itself...  But the bigger problem is why I had to start this blog.

I have a thesis paper due in just over 24 hours, and I have to report to Fenway Park at 6:05 p.m. where hopefully I'll avoid the 5th Boston Massacre.  The 4th is the reason I'm back to blogging.

Last night the Sox carried a nine run lead into the sixth inning.  They held an eight run lead going into the seventh.  That's as much as I'll say.

This blog will be much of the same from The 7 Day Weekend -- little bit of baseball, little bit of hockey, little bit of Boston.  Anything you want to hear, see or read, it'll be here.  Thanks for reading guys.  And I apologize in advance for how many times I'll be using that picture of Bobby Valentine.