From the idiotic catwalks not-so high above the field to the idiotic catcalls from the oh-so fat guy behind home plate, the whole experience is just--wrong. I mean, say what you will about the Marlins and their more-than-half-empty stadium, at least they play their games on grass and not that rubberized ... whatever-the-hell-it-is nonsense.
Red Sox nation will be out in full-force tonight as usual, pissing off the locals by making them chant "Let's go Rays" just to drown our the cheers for the Sox. That has to be infuriating. And it seems to happen everywhere these days.
My fellow Rhode Islander Rocco Baldelli is back in the lineup for the Rays. He's also back in the groove, hitting 375 last week with two homers and 8 RBI.
With Baldelli back, you've got to figure the Rays will deal one of their surplus outfielders before the deadline. Carl Crawford's name has come up in trade talks with the Angels but so far nothing has transpired, probably because the Angels suck this year too.
Josh Beckett gets the start tonight vs. first time All-Star Scott Kazmir.
I think Kazmir is one hell of a pitcher. He usually gives the Sox fits for the first six innings or so. Here's hoping we can get into that vaunted Rays bullpen early and set the tone for the rest of the series. I don't know about you, but what I'm looking for is some momentum before the "War of the Colored Sox."