Spring Means Baseball

Its almost that time again…

The winter’s cold, gloomy shadow is creeping away and springs warm embrace is starting to take over. Some people look forward to spring because they can get outside to fish or hike, start wearing T-shirts and shorts, and lighting up the grill for a good old fashion BBQ. Now I am not one to complain about being outside and enjoying a good burger and dog, but that is not why I look forward to the spring.

Spring for me means baseball is starting up. The hometown heroes are down in Ft Myers, Florida getting ready for Boston’s biggest stage: Fenway Park. Every year people all across the country tune in to watch the favorite teams play during spring training to get an idea of what the season's going to hold. Come early April, games are being played just about every night and sometimes during days. Every team has 162 games ahead of them and can be guaranteed more than a few unexpected turns. Opening day for the Red Sox has long since been somewhat of an almost “too good to be true” thing for me. Growing up I was spoiled to have a father that had Red Sox season tickets for over twenty years and I went to more games than I can remember. I remember going to watch Pedro Martinez pitch against the Yankees, Nomar Garciaparra strap and then unstrap his batting gloves fifty times, and David Ortiz hit a game-tying grand slam in the ALCS against the Tigers. I have witnessed some unbelievably great and terrible games at Fenway Park but I have never been to Opening Day. As long as I have been going to games at Fenway Park with my dad, he has never taken be. Him and his buddy go together every year and it’s a tradition that I respect as well as envy.

I was born into being a Red Sox fan as just about everyone in Massachusetts is. My dad and his siblings grew up loving the Red Sox just like my grandparents before them. If you are ever presented with the opportunity to go to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, I highly suggest you change whatever plans you may have so that you can go to that game. Once inside the historic Cathedral of Boston, you would really have to try to not understand why us Red Sox fans are so passionate about our team. I fell in love from the first time I walked up the ramp and got to look at the field I watched my heroes play every night on the TV. As I have grown older, it seems like the Sox have grown with me. Things always seem a little better whenever the Red Sox win and when the team struggles, there is usually a sense of stress in our voices.

I am excited for April and to see what the boys have in store for us this year. I have missed the arguing with my girlfriend (Mets fan) and making fun of my roommates (Braves Fans). For everyone else excited for the season, sorry to burst your bubble. The Sox are winning the world series in five games. Maybe six.