Happy Opening Day!!!

After a whole offseason of waiting, and Spring Training full of excitement, the 2009 regular season begins today!

The mood in the office is ummm…crazed (as it always is on Opening Day).  Everyone here is running around doing about a thousand different things trying to make sure that the season gets started right.

Our Fenway Ambassadors and others are preparing for our Opening Ceremonies; Our Media Relations staff is hurredly trying to make sure they can get everything ready (stats, lineups, etc.) for the hungry media’s arrival – no easy task; and the Red Sox Foundation group is preparing the House of Blues for tonight’s Welcome Home charity event.

Simply put…verybody is just doing their part – and then some, to make sure that everything runs smoothly today.

The Big I (our team photographer) got up especially early this morning to take the “Opening Day sunrise over Fenway” shot.  It has become a sort of tradition over the past few years to take this photo and send it out to everyone in the Front Office as a way to really kick off the year.

As soon as I’m able to track the Big I down (he’s obviously very busy today too), I’ll try to post the picture here.

All the best from a very busy and excited Front Office!
“The Voice of the Nation”

Let the suspense be put to rest!!! 

Now the only question is…will his special lady friend (supermodel wife) be joining him!?!?

Auf wiedersehen!

“The Voice of the Nation”

 

For Immediate Release

April 3, 2009

 

 

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING AND MULTI-PLATINUM ARTIST SEAL TO

PERFORM NATIONAL ANTHEM

AT RED SOX 2009 OPENING DAY GAME AT FENWAY PARK

Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops to perform “God Bless America” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during 7^th Inning

 

BOSTON, MA – Three-time Grammy Award winner Seal will sing the U.S. National Anthem prior to the start of the Opening Day game of the 2009 Boston Red Sox season on April 6.  The internationally-renowned artist, who has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, is in Boston as part of his current North American tour.  His newest album, SOUL, is his latest chart-topping record and has sold more than two million copies worldwide over the last six months.

Maestro Keith Lockhart and members of the Boston Pops will perform “God Bless America” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the Opening Day 7^th inning stretch.  Both pieces are featured on the Boston Pops Orchestra’s new recording, The Red Sox Album, which will be released on April 6.  The CD was produced in conjunction with the Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball, and includes new arrangements of Fenway’s traditional fan anthem “Sweet Caroline” and the Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shippin’ Up to Boston”.

A British singer and songwriter, Seal is known for his one-of-a-kind soaring, husky baritone voice and classic songwriting.  He has seen success across numerous genres of music, ranging from the Grammy Award-winning and 1995 US chart-topper “Kiss From A Rose” to “Don’t Cry” to 1991’s U.S. Top Ten single “Crazy”.  Seal’s latest album SOUL is comprised of twelve classic soul songs, and was produced in partnership with legendary producer David Foster.  The album’s first single is Seal’s rendition of the famous Sam Cooke song “A Change is Gonna Come”.  Seal will perform later that night (April 6) at the Orpheum in Boston.

 

The Boston Pops and the Boston Red Sox have had a storied history of working together in recent years.  Various members of the Red Sox, both past and present, have appeared in performances at Symphony Hall including Manager Terry Francona and 1967 Cy Young Award winner Jim Lonborg.  Various Pops ensembles have also performed at Fenway Park during some of the Red Sox’ most memorable moments, including Opening Ceremonies in 2005 and 2008 when World Series championships were celebrated, and Game One of the 2007 World Series.

 

Recent performers on Opening Day at Fenway Park include Steven Tyler (2002); Lou Rawls and Ray Charles (2003); Perkins School for the Blind student John Castillo and tenor John McDermott (2004); Boston Pops and Boston Symphony (2005/2008); Jimmy Fund patient Jordan Leandre (2006); and Harry Connick, Jr. along with Robert Goulet (2007).  Other recent notable performers at Fenway Park have included James Taylor, LeAnn Rimes, Dropkick Murphys, Kelly Clarkson, Donna Summer and numerous other award-winning and chart-topping vocalists.

 

The Red Sox are requesting that all fans at Fenway Park on Opening Day take their seats by 1:20 pm to enjoy the pre-game ceremonies before the start of the game at 2:05 pm.

 

–RED SOX–

 

For Immediate Release

April 2, 2009

 

RED SOX PRESENT “YEAR VIII FENWAY PARK IMPROVEMENTS” TO MAYOR MENINO

Off-Season Improvements Vital to the Long Term Preservation of Fenway Park; Mayor also sampled new menu items introduced by Red Sox and ARAMARK

 

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today welcomed Mayor Thomas M. Menino and city officials to Fenway Park to showcase the “Year VIII Improvements” at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, which celebrates its 97^th anniversary this year. 

 

The Year VIII improvements are highlighted by the Right Field Roof repair and expansion, which marks the completion of the improvements and repairs in the upper sections of Fenway Park; concrete repair and waterproofing of the original 1912 seating bowl; and necessary repairs to the Jeano Building, including the replacement of its roof and restoration of the windows and doors.

 

“From Day One, the mission of this ownership group led by John Henry and Tom Werner has been to protect and preserve America’s Most Beloved Ballpark for the long term.  With the completion of the Year VIII improvements, Fenway Park is poised to serve fans for several decades,” said Larry Lucchino, President/CEO of the Boston Red Sox.  “And that preservation and protection would not have been possible without the support of the City of Boston and, most importantly, the vision of Mayor Thomas M. Menino.  One of Mayor Menino’s enduring legacies will be that the Boston Red Sox can play baseball at Fenway Park for the next 40 to 50 years.” 

 

All off-season projects were designed by D’Agostino Izzo & Quirk of Somerville, MA, and overseen by the Boston office of Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse. 

 

The Year VIII Fenway Park Improvements include:

 

Right Field Roof Box Area Improvements

 

The debut of the expanded Right Field Roof Box area signifies the completion of improvements and repairs in the upper sections of Fenway Park, including foundation reinforcements and the use of steel and precast construction, which is consistent with the standards of the new construction projects of the past seven years.

 

The 383 Right Field Roof Box seats that previously existed have been replaced by 574 new seats, and 100 dedicated standing room spaces with drink rails have been added.  Additionally, new stools with drink rails similar to those above the Green Monster and standing room have been added to new wood-decked terraces that will serve as the new home to Conigliaro’s Corner.  Expanded concession stands featuring new menu items and restrooms were also constructed on a brand new concrete concourse.  The Budweiser Right Field Roof Deck has also been expanded with new seats at tables that offer in-seat service and an extended dedicated standing room platform. 

 

The remaining private suites in Right Field (R19 – R21) have also been updated and improved, completing the transformation of the EMC Level. All suites at Fenway Park are now equipped with locations for wheelchairs, a wheelchair accessible restroom, and new interior appointments and furnishings.  

 

The Right Field Roof Box area is topped by a new sign featuring one of the Red Sox’ newest partners, the New England convenience store Cumberland Farms.  The neon sign features the blue and green logo of the Canton, MA-based organization, the largest convenience store in the Northeast.

 

The Right Field Roof Box area improvements were constructed by William A. Berry and Son of Andover, MA.

 

 

1912 Seating Bowl Repair and Waterproofing

 

A large portion of the lower seating bowl, between Sections 14 and 28, was repaired and waterproofed during the off-season.  Originally constructed in 1912, this is the oldest part of Fenway Park and this project was undertaken to successfully prolong the life of the ballpark. 

 

The repair required removing and reinstalling the Dugout Seats, Field Box Seats, Loge Box Seats and Grandstand Seats in these sections with new or refurbished seats.  All Field Box Seats, originally installed in the 1970s, were replaced by seats with cushioned bottoms and cup-holders, and end standards replicating the 1934 chairs, making them uniform with other premium seats in the ballpark.  The Loge Box Seats were also replaced with new seats containing cup-holders.  The blue Grandstand Seats, originally installed in 1934 and the only wooden seats left in Major League Baseball, have been refurbished and fitted with a self-rising spring mechanism that will enable the seat to retract automatically once a patron stands up.  This will provide more room in the seating rows and improved mobility for fans entering or exiting the rows.  Every Grandstand seat in these sections now has no less than an industry standard 18 inches in width. 

 

The removal of the asphalt poured on cracked or broken portions of the concrete to provide temporary fixes over decades resulted in a lowering of the central aisle between the Field Box Seats and the Loge Box Seats by approximately 8 inches, which will provide fans sitting in the lower rows of the Loge Boxes with improved views of the playing field.  The work in the 1912 seating bowl also included modifications to two wheelchair and companion seating locations in the Grandstand sections, creating elevated platforms and improving sightlines.

 

All seats were refurbished and/or replaced by American Seating, the same company that has worked on the seats at Fenway Park since its inception in 1912.  The concrete repair work was done by NER Construction of Wilmington, MA, who in the 2007/08 off-season completed a similar scope of work in the Bleacher sections.

 

 

Jeano Building Repairs

 

The roof of the Jeano Building was replaced during the off-season.  The Jeano Building, which was built in 1914 next door to Fenway Park, serves as the home of the Red Sox Front Offices, the visiting team’s batting cage, the newly expanded Jordan’s Third Base Deck, the Third Base Concourse and Game On! Boston.  Over the years, the building has housed automotive based companies, radio and television broadcasting studios and a bowling alley.  Originally called the John B. Smith Building, it was renamed “Jeano” to honor Jean Yawkey, the wife of former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey when he bought the building in 1960. 

 

The replacement of the roof was also accompanied by necessary complementary changes including the addition of a new parapet, changes to the windows and doors, and additional masonry work.  The windows of the building, which were originally installed in the 1970s, were replaced by replica 1914 windows.  Replica 1914 wooden doors have replaced a steel door at 4 Yawkey Way in a 12-foot wide entry way designed for a car elevator that was at one time housed in the space.

 

The Jeano Building repairs were performed by Gilbane Building Company of Boston, MA.

 

 

New Concession Areas and New Menu Items

 

A new Red Sox Legends BBQ stand featuring BBQ chicken, BBQ turkey legs and BBQ beef ribs platters with corn on the cob and potato salad will open on Yawkey Way adjacent to Gate D and the NESNHD Stage. 

 

The Red Sox and ARAMARK also introduced several new concession items that showcase Boston’s distinctive tastes, feature new bold and spicy flavors, and highlight the use of local and seasonal ingredients.  Some of the new menu items fans will find to further enhance their ballpark experience at Fenway Park include: shrimp rolls and steak tips at the new Surf and Turf Grill on the newly expanded Jordan’s Third Base Deck; Gobbler sandwich (turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry); made-to-order chicken and beef tacos and burritos; boneless chicken wings (sweet and spicy and buffalo); and three sliders in a bag.  New for the kids are on-premise photo cookies, hand scooped ice cream featuring new Red Sox flavors, and fresh-popped popcorn.  Samples of these items were available for Mayor Menino as part of the walk-through.

 

Along with all the new items to be introduced at the ballpark in 2009, the club also displayed ‘The Starting Nine’ items available during games in April as part of Fenway Family Hour.  During the first hour after gates open, nine popular concession items including Fenway Franks, Pizza Slices, Bag of Burgers, Pretzels, Pop Corn, Cotton Candy, Fruit Cups, Veggie Cups and Hoodsie ice-cream cups will be available for up to 50% off regular prices.

 

 

Seven (and now Eight!) Years of Fenway Park Improvements:  Fenway Park has undergone a series of annual improvements since the Henry-Werner Group purchased the team in 2002.  Most visible among them are the addition of the Green Monster Seats in 2003, the Right Field Roof Seats in 2004, the EMC Club and State Street Pavilion in 2006, the Jordan’s Third Base Deck in 2007, and an expansion of the State Street Pavilion seating with the addition of more than 800 new seats and the unveiling of the new Coca-Cola Corner in 2008.  Another new addition in 2008 was ‘The Bleacher Bar,’ a restaurant located under the center field bleachers that gives patrons a view of centerfield from a special two-way glass paneled retractable door, which remains open year-round.

 

–RED SOX–

For Immediate Release

March 28, 2009

 

JOSH BECKETT NAMED 2009 OPENING DAY STARTER VERSUS TAMPA BAY ON APRIL 6

Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka to Follow

 

FORT MYERS, FL–Righthander Josh Beckett will start for the Boston Red Sox in the team’s 2009 regular season opener versus the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, April 6 at Fenway Park. 

 

Lefthander Jon Lester will take the hill for the Red Sox on Wednesday, April 8 followed by righthanded pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on April 9.  Manager Terry Francona made the announcement today.

 

The Rays will start righthander James Shields on Monday, lefthander Scott Kazmir on Wednesday, and righthander Matt Garza on Thursday.

 

Francona also announced the club’s starters for the two exhibition games against the New York Mets at Citi Field.  Lester will take the mound on Friday, April 3 with Matsuzaka starting Saturday’s matinee.

Great news announced yesterday…if you haven’t heard yet, check out the official press release my co-worker Marty sent out yesterday!

mmmm….cheap food….

For Immediate Release

March 26, 2009

 

FENWAY PARK TO FREEZE CONCESSION PRICES AND OFFER NEW AND DISCOUNTED Family-Friendly Elements in 2009

New ‘Fenway Family Hour’ will provide fans with lower-priced food, beverages and souvenir items during Opening Month

 

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox and ARAMARK, the Fenway Park food and beverage concessionaire, today announced that prices for all menu items available last year will be held at 2008 prices for the 2009 season.  This marks the first Fenway Park concession price freeze since 2002.

 

The Boston Red Sox also unveiled a series of initiatives for the 2009 season that will provide fans with new and discounted opportunities at the ballpark. The effort begins on Opening Day with the launch of “Fenway Family Hour”, a month-long celebration featuring discounted concessions and souvenirs, and special entertainment.  

 

“Our goal has always been to provide value and quality service to our fans every time they enter Fenway Park.  This year, we worked together with ARAMARK to find more creative and pocketbook-friendly ways to enhance the fan experience,” said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino.  “Thanks to partners like ARAMARK, we can offer initiatives like ‘Fenway Family Hour’ and a concession price freeze.  Our hope is to create opportunities for as many families as possible to enjoy coming to Red Sox games this season.”  

 

During the month of April, fans are invited to come out to the ballpark during the first hour after gates open to enjoy the new Fenway Family Hour.  A joint effort between the Red Sox and ARAMARK, Fenway Family Hour will feature nine popular food items at up to 50% off in price.  Themed “The Starting Nine”, the offerings include: Fenway Franks, pizza slices, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, fruit cups, veggie cups, bags of burgers (3 sliders), and Hoodsie ice cream Cups.  The discount is available at all locations throughout the ballpark and there is no limit on the number of items purchased. The Red Sox Team Store on Yawkey Way will also have select merchandise, including Red Sox hats and T-shirts, available at a substantial discount during the family hour period.

 

“We recognize the important role food plays in the Red Sox game day experience and the importance of offering innovative and value-packed menu options,” said Rich Roper, Regional Vice President, ARAMARK Sports, Entertainment and Conventions. “By working closely with the Red Sox to create the Fenway Family Hour, we’re able to offer a dining experience that ensures fans, and especially families, continue to enjoy their time at Fenway Park.”

 

This year the Red Sox will host a series of special sessions once a homestand where fans attending games can meet and take photos with a player or coach.  The photo sessions, which will take place after the end of Red Sox Batting Practice for approximately 30 minutes, will begin during the second homestand and continue throughout the regular season.  Individual session dates will be announced prior to each home stand. 

 

A number of fan-focused amenities have been enhanced for the 2009 season.   Fenway “First Timers” – fans on their inaugural ballpark visit – can now go to any Fan Information Booth to receive a special First-Timer sticker, a FanFoto voucher for a free personal or family photograph at the ballpark and sign up for a free welcome message on the Fenway Park scoreboard.  The Best Buy Players Club has been fitted with flat-screen televisions, video game consoles and other amenities to provide fans with a comfortable place to relax and seek shelter from the weather.  Located in the Big Concourse behind the Bleachers, the Club is available to all ticketholders once the game commences.

 

Fan-favorite activities will continue throughout the ballpark this season.  Fans of all ages can enjoy watching batting practice from as close as the first row of seats around the field.  For a 7:10 p.m. game, Red Sox batting practice is from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. and Visitors Batting Practice is from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.  From the time gates open through game time, the Big Concourse offers plenty of picnic tables and stand-up tables where fans can gather to enjoy live entertainment, face painting and balloon artists, or catch some of the pre-game show on one of the many televisions in the area.  The festive Yawkey Way atmosphere will again be punctuated by a stilt walker, musical entertainment, and the NESNHD Yawkey Way stage. 

 

A collection of photographs highlighting the 2009 family-friendly events and amenities is available on the photo gallery section on RedSox.com.

 

This week Red Sox pitcher and 3-time World Series Champion Curt Schilling retired from the game of baseball.  We may all remember Curt for his heroics in the 2004 and 2007 playoffs, but he decided the time had come to hang ’em up and end his incredible career.

As they say though…as one door opens, another opens!  Literally…a new door is opening this year.  As you may or may not have noticed in your travels to Fenway Park in the past, the address and main entrance to the Red Sox Front Office stands at 4 Yawkey Way – has been for quite some time.  Anyhow, this famed address and entrance got a big remodel this offseason as part of our continuing efforts to make ballpark improvements.  Below is a shot of the new door (as taken by the Big LaBellski just an hour ago).  In case you’re wondering, the fine young gent posing in front of the door (helping to give us some idea  of the scale of these new doors), is one of my Front Office co-workers, known fondly throughout the Front Office as T-Pain.

Let me know what you think! (of the doors, not T-Pain)

Megan LaBella/Boston Red Sox

 

And if you’d like see what the old door used to look like, you can reference the photo in my last post.

Hope this brings you all a little closer to Fenway!

“The Voice of the Nation”

For no particular reason, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I’m posting some photos showing the new windows that have been installed at Fenway Park this offseason.  Just one of a bunch of ongoing renovations to the America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.  Enjoy!

Ok…first, here’s the BEFORE…
 

Now here’s the AFTER (taken by the Big I a few days ago)…

 

 

Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox 

We’re just classing the joint up!  What do you all think??

All the best from inside the Front Office,

“The Voice of the Nation” 

SO happy to hear this news (as I think everybody else here in the Front Office is)!  You can look at this deal and say that it is great that we have locked-up yet another young player.  I think it may be even more impressive however to look at it as the next chapter in Lester’s remarkable journey.

Congrats, Jon!

Annnnd…here’s the official release:

For Immediate Release

March 15, 2009

 

RED SOX AGREE TO TERMS WITH LEFTHANDED PITCHER JON LESTER

ON FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH OPTION FOR 2014

 

BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms on a five-year contract with lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester with a club option for 2014. Terms were not disclosed.

 

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

 

Lester went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA over a team-high 33 starts in 2008, his first full season at the major league level. The 25-year-old finished among American League leaders in shutouts (T1^st, 2), ERA (4^th), starts (T5^th), innings (T7^th, 210.1) and wins (T8^th) and was named the Red Sox Pitcher of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

 

Cleveland‘s Cliff Lee (22) and the Angels’ Joe Saunders (17) were the only A.L. lefties with more wins than Lester’s 16 in 2008, the most by a Red Sox southpaw since Bruce Hurst’s 18 in 1988. The Tacoma, Washington native joined Babe Ruth (1916) and Lefty Grove (1937) as just the third lefthanded Boston hurler ever to record 15 wins, 30 starts, 200 innings, 150 strikeouts and a sub-3.50 ERA in a single season.

 

Lester threw the 18^th no-hitter in club history in a 7-0 win over Kansas City on May 19, 2008 at Fenway Park. He allowed just two base runners on walks in the second and ninth innings and retired 20 consecutive batters between the free passes. He was the first Red Sox lefthander to toss a no-hitter since Mel Parnell against the White Sox on July 14, 1956.

 

A lymphoma survivor, Lester was given the 2008 Hutch Award for “fighting spirit and competitive desire” by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and in 2007 received the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity.

 

Boston‘s second-round pick in the 2002 draft owns a 27-8 record with a 3.81 ERA in 60 career games/59 starts in the majors since making his debut in 2006. His .771 career winning percentage is the highest in the majors since 1900 among pitchers with at least 30 decisions. He is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA in seven career post-season games/five starts including a 1-2 mark and 2.36 ERA in four playoff starts in 2008. He was the winning pitcher in the decisive fourth game of the 2007 World Series and his 1.95 ERA as a starter in the postseason is the third-lowest in club history (minimum 30.0 innings).

 

— RED SOX —

 

That we have so many player’s whose names start with the letter J?  I realize this is a totally random thought…but for whatever reason, it dawned on me this morning whilst dining on my raisin bran…

For example, we could conceivably have a lineup at some point this year that went as such (and let’s say this is an away interleague game since our DH’s name obviously doesn’t begin with a “J”):

Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett or Jon Lester or John Smoltz

Catcher: Jason Varitek or Josh Bard

First Base: ok…I’ll give you this one…no “J” here…

Second Base:  same here…

Shortstop: Julio Lugo or Jed Lowrie

Third Base: Jed Lowrie (assuming it was Lowell’s off-day)

Left Field: Jason Bay

Center Field: Jacoby Ellsbury

Right Field: J.D. Drew

 

Bullpen: Javier Lopez, Justin Masterson

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon

 

Admittedly, I haven’t done the research, but I HAVE to imagine that this is the greatest preponderance of “J” names in all of Major League Baseball…

Anyhow, that’s my random thought over Raisin Bran for the day…

 

 

All the best from the Front office,

“The Voice of the Nation”

(and no, I’m not telling whether or not my real name begins with a “J”)

I figured I’d provide an update from Sunny Florida.  Although, word from my Front Office co-worker who is down there now, is that it is actually pretty breezy and cool in Ft. Myers today.

I know, I know…don’t worry, I let him have it for complaining about it being “breezy” whilst we’re stuck in a foot of snow.

Anyhow, he did have an interesting story to report from our Minor League Complex.  He said he was watching the Puerto Rican World Baseball Classic team workout (we’re allowing them to use our facilities to train), when Bernie Williams (who is on the Puerto Rican WBC team) ran over to one of the other Red Sox fields at the facility and started taking BP with our minor leaguers who were praciticing there.

I thought that was a pretty funny story.  Must have been quite a sight seeing uber-Yankee Bernie Williams surrounded by Red Sox, taking BP at a Red Sox field.

I have to say though (and I don’t think I’m alone here) – Bernie has always seemed to me to be the classiest of ballplayers.

That’s my “sunny” Florida update for today!

All the best from the home office (the Boston Front Office was closed today due to the snow)!

“The Voice of the Nation”