Opening Day 2013

My Red Sox won the season opener at Yankee Stadium 8-2! It's always a good day when the Sox win, it's a great day when they beat the Yankees!

Hey, Hey, Hey- It's Opening Day

Today is one of my favorite days of the year- Red Sox Opening Day! This year's team is poised to make a serious run for a pennant- the pitching is strong and they added two BIG BATS in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to an already potent line-up. I look forward to watching many games as the Spring and Summer progress.

Baseball season means Hot Dogs too.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council projects that MLB ballparks around the country will serve 22,435,400 hot dogs this season, enough to round the bases 31,160 times and, if laid end-to-end, would stretch from AT&T Park in San Francisco to Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. That represents 1.06 million more hot dogs than 2010, or a 5 percent increase, the first increase in three years.

That's a lot of Hot Dogs!

They serve Fenway Franks made by Kayem at Fenway Park (they also serve Kayems at Washington Nationals Park). At Wrigley Field, they serve Vienna Beef. The Cincinnati Reds have the most interesting hot dog on the roster this season: the Meat Lovers Hot Dog- a jumbo hot dog wrapped with bacon and deep fried, then topped with beef and black bean chili, shredded pepper jack cheese and crispy salami. Does that ever sound good!

No matter who you root for, the hot dog will always be a part of going to the ballpark.

As Humphrey Bogart once said, "A hot dog at the ballpark is better than steak at the Ritz."

I couldn't agree more!

Dustin Pedroia Gets a Hot Dog

From ESPN.com:

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It was not a question Terry Francona was expecting Saturday afternoon.

Did the Boston Red Sox manager have a rule against a player coming out of a game and going to the concession stand to buy hot dogs?

"No,'' he answered cautiously. "Not if he shares.''

Well, then, did Dustin Pedroia offer him a hot dog?

Francona turned to team publicist Pam Ganley.

"What did that little rat do?'' he asked her.

What Pedroia did, after coming out in the top of the sixth inning against the Florida Marlins, was to emerge from the back entrance of the Sox clubhouse -- the doors open into the main concourse -- stroll across to the nearest concession stand, and buy three hotdogs. Reporters headed to the clubhouse to interview pitcher Jonathan Papelbon nearly bumped into him as he was carrying his snack back.

"I was starving,'' he said.

Read More>>

OFF THE MAT!!!!

Down 7-0?

NO PROBLEM!

THIS GAME WAS UN-BELIEVABLE! 8 runs scored from the seventh inning on punctuated by a Pedroia RBI double, a big Papi 3 run homer, a JD Drew 2 run homer, a Coco Crisp RBI single to tie the game (which followed a 10 pitch at bat) and a 9th inning which featured a walk to Kevin Youkilis, an intentional walk to Jason Bay and a walk off RBI ground rule double by Drew.

RED SOX WIN 8-7!!!!!

WOO HOO!

UGH!

The sleep deprivation brought on by post season baseball is rearing it's ugly head and Tampa Bay's 9-1 thumping of the Red Sox (in a 4:30 PM start) following an 11 inning marathon game on Saturday has not made the lone early bedtime of the week very bearable.

Jon Lester looked like Mike Timlin tonight and the Sox only managed one run.

Recent history has shown the Red Sox are very capable of getting up off the mat and coming from behind in the post season, so I have not lost heart. We still have lots of baseball to play and lots of late nights to boot.

I TOLD YOU SO!

SOX WIN 2-0! Dice-K goes 7+ strong innings!!!!

WOOO HOOO!

Tonight's key is Beckett. If he can pitch like Josh Beckett, the Sox will win.

Time to get Your Sox on!

The Sox and the Rays start duking it out in the ALCS tonight and this Hotdogman will be parked in front of the TV for every out!

The key to tonight's game will be for Dice-K to get out of the fifth inning. Dice-K always seems to have one bad inning early in games which forces him out too soon. If he can hang until the 7th inning, the Sox will be better off. We don't want the bullpen overworked in game one and Dice-K's performance will have a lot to do with that. He didn't get out of the 5th against the Angels; luckily the Sox were able to rally and take advantage of many Angel miscues to win that game.



The Rays won't be as sloppy defensively, so good pitching will be the key to victory!

GO RED SOX!!!

Manny will be Manny Elsewhere

When the Red Sox traded Nomar in 2004 at the trading deadline, I expressed shock and dismay. Then the Red Sox went on to win a World Series title.

When I heard about Manny today, I was similarly stunned. I can only pray the Sox will have similar results. His is one tough bat to replace in the lineup. He is, quite simply, the best hitter in baseball. I always liked him, despite the shenanigans. I wonder where he'll end up next year. I just hope it's not the AL East.



Bye bye Manny. The Hotdogman will miss you!

Red Sox Truck Day

While this might just look like an ordinary moving truck to most people, it signifies a landmark early right of Spring to members of Red Sox Nation. This is the truck that leaves Fenway Park with all the Red Sox equipment every February for Fort Meyers, Florida. The truck left this morning, signaling the first spring training ritual.

ONLY 59 days until OPENING DAY!!!!

Still More Inspiration

We went to a place called Cohunu Koala Park on our trip to Australia. It's a place that takes sick and injured koala bears and nurses them back to health. There are also kangaroos that are tame and will literally eat out of your hands. It was a cool way to see some interesting animals up close.

One of the big attractions is you can actually hold a koala bear in your arms! They are such gentle creatures, it was an honor to be able to actually hold one. While the lady wasn't looking, I slipped my Red Sox cap on the little fellow and snapped a picture. The koala lady got a bit miffed, but she was good natured about it.

Anyhoo, I went to big HUGE Labs and made a poster of the photo (that's Mrs. Hotdogman and one of the kids with the koala):

Sox on a Plane

My wife got these pictures on her email at work. They're photos of the Red Sox returning on their plane from Game Four in Colorado. Enjoy this rare glimpse into the unseen world of Sox on a Plane!

Here's Mike Lowell with his MVP Trophy and the World Series Trophy. Hasn't Mike ever heard of stowing stuff in the overhead bins?

Tom Werner, John Henry and Larry Lucchino with the hardware.

Kevin Youkilis catching some Z's.

Big Papi and some of the guys get a card game going.

Youkilis doesn't want to play.

Julio Lugo snuggles with his wife.

Big Papi carries the trophy off the plane.

Jonathon Papelbon and others follow.

Jacoby Ellsbury shows off a signed souvenir shirt.

Curt Schilling working the video cam.

Big Papi on Conan O'Brien

This is the last Red Sox player to do a late night talk show. The one and only BIG PAPI, David Ortiz! I missed this one as I fell asleep before he came on.

Big Papi is THE BEST CLUTCH HITTER IN BASEBALL. The man almost single handedly won the 2004 ACLS and he's had 15 WALK OFF HITS since 2003. His numbers with men on base in the late innings and his team behind forced Bill James to rethink the entire CONCEPT of "clutch hitter."

I can honestly say I LOVE BIG PAPI! I gave my son a Big Papi signed box of Wheaties back in 2004. He loves Big Papi too.

Here's Papi on Conan:

Manny being Many on Leno

As part of the Red Sox victory talk show tour, Manny Ramirez made an appearance on the Jay Leno Show. Manny doesn't talk to the media much, so it was nice to hear what he has to say. He came across as a likable, somewhat goofy guy who was willing to laugh at himself. This is a rare glimpse at Manny being Manny, without the rabid Boston media trying to twist his words.

Enjoy.

Papelbon on Letterman

In the aftermath of the Red Sox World Series Victory, some of the stars are making the talk show circuit. Jonathon Papelbon was on the David Letterman Show last week and he was his usual goofy self. He had to be bleeped once.

His act is funny because he was a winner. Guys who win can get away with being goofy when they're good and when they win. Enjoy.

Red Sox Rally and Roll!

Today the Red Sox drove through Boston in Duck Boats in what the Mayor of Boston, Tom Mennino, termed a "rolling rally." I'd call it a Victory Parade, but whatever.

Jonathon Pabelbon (or is it "PapelGONE") had a grand old time dancing his version of the Irish step/victory dance for the assembled masses. I wish I had a kilt concession!
It was a GLORIOUS autumn day-not a cloud in the sky and 65 degrees. The million or so fans that showed up had a great time-not like the Patriots' Parades in February-BRRRRR.
Jason Varitek echoed a sentiment shared by many Red Sox fans. Let the Hot Stove season begin!
Some things never change!CONGRATULATIONS RED SOX 2007 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!

Won and Done!

Unlike 2004 which was, until they won it, an aggravating aberration, 2007 was the year they were supposed to win it. I said it in February and all season long: the Sox had the best pitching in the majors. Pitching wins pennants and the Red Sox look to be stacked for years to come.

These are not my father's Red Sox!

WOOHOO WE DAH CHAMPS!!!!!

Sox keep Rolling

3 down, 1 to go!

Pedroia and Ellsbury go 7 for 10 as the Sox roll over the Rockies AGAIN.

Dice-K gets them far enough and even with Lopez and Okajema giving up 5 runs to let the Rockies get close, the Sox get enough to win 10-5.

If John Lester can get them six good innings tonight, THE RED SOX ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES.

GO RED SOX!!!

Sox take 2-0 Series Lead

Four short years ago, Red Sox nation was awash in misery. The Yankees had beaten us once again as Grady Little left Pedro in one inning too long.

Now, Red Sox fans expect to win it all. These are not your father's Red Sox. These Red Sox are winners. There is no more curse, there is no more morose self loathing.

Our team is going to win the World Series for the second time in my lifetime.

For the second time in three years!

In the most tightly played game of the post season so far, the Sox prevailed again. Schilling pitched crafty ball, Okajema was lights out in relief and Papelbon slammed the door, thanks in part to a baserunning brain fart by Matt Holiday.
"Hey Matt, wanna get away?"

Mike Lowell scored after he hustled to third on a JD (he doesn't suck anymore) Drew hit and scored on a sacrifice fly and also drove in the winning run with a sharp hit down the leaft field line.

Sox win, Rox lose.

SOX IN 4!!!!

Sox Sock Rox

The Red Sox took game 1 of the World Series! They're going to win again tonight too!

My NEW FAVORITE PLAYER, Dustin "Peanuts" Pedroia (we call him "Peanuts" because he reminds us of Charlie Brown-see the resemblance?) smacked a home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning to set the tone as the Sox went on to CRUSH the Rockies 13-1. You know the Sox are kicking butt when Julio Lugo has three hits on the night.

GAME TWO TONIGHT- SOX IN FIVE!!!!!!!

World Serious!

For the second time in the past 3 years, the Red Sox are playing game 1 of the World Series at Fenway Park. The game starts at 8:36 PM EST and I'll be watching on my brother's new 52" PLASMA! I can't recline in his recliner or I'll be asleep by 9 PM!

The late starts on these games guarantee a very groggy Red Sox Nation tomorrow morning.

While the Rockies were a hot team down the stretch, they've been cooling off for 8 days while the Sox finished the Indians.

My World Series predictions:

JD Drew (who started UN sucking with his heroic and clutch grand slam in game 6 of the ALCS) is going to shake off a sub-par season and have an MVP like performance in the Series.

Jacoby Ellsbury is going to make a game changing play on the base paths.

Manny Ramirez will jack 3 Home Runs.

Josh Becket will shut out the Rockies in Game 1.

Red Sox in 5!