Bottom of the third against Tampa Bay's Steve Parris at Fenway, Manny Ramirez banged a solo homer into the new section of seats above the Green Monster, a feat to be known henceforth as a "monster shot". (Not that it's a particularly difficult thing for a batter to do at 300+ ft, but the monster seats have a high snaggability factor.)

Even more remarkable, Boston's bullpen managed to pick up a win (Chad Fox) and a save (Brandon Lyon). Woo-freakin'-hoo.

"Committee" member Bob Howry was sent down today, a move that Young Theo said was "not a message. It's just a move to get a guy going." Umm, it probably was a message to one Ramiro Mendoza, king of the blown lead, to get his butt in gear. :confused:

[ April 16, 2003, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

I have a feeling Mendoza's a double-agent. George is paying him under the table to sabotage the Sox.

Seriously, Mendoza's performance this year is not too surprising. I saw him blow a number of leads for the Yankees in recent years and I wasn't too upset to see him leave. He did a lot to help the Yankees to their championships, and was home-grown talent, but clearly, his time is done.

Question re: Sox. Did I hear correctly the other day that they had only their second 1-2-3 innings of the season just within the last couple of games?

I went to the Red Sox game yesterday, and while it was a rocky start, I believe Fossum had one 1-2-3 inning, Mendoza faced the minimum three batters with the help of a double play, and the final pitcher Timlin (?) pitched two 1-2-3 innings and earned the W.

It was cold.
The game was tied in the ninth.
I prayed for a HR so I could go home.
Nomar listens to me.


Appropriate to this thread, the final HR was a 'monster shot'

even as a yankee fan i am outraged that the upper level fellas that run the rhed sohx lost there collective minds and put seats on top of the monster. is nothing sacred? this had nothing to do with corporate sponsorship either. just another way to trash history to make a buck. god i hope the yankees never fall to such lunacy. and dont make any comment about george being looney. we all have our opinions about him.

This thread or Hot Jock Talk: Manny Ramirez?

The discussion is really about the new seats; Manny's incidental, so Baseball is the right forum. (Was that the question?)

Hey, redsoxbreath, I don't think Manny would appreciate you calling him "incidental." He's Dominican, ya know. wink

Seriously, rsb, you know I love ya. So...can you get me tickets atop the Monster? :cool:

Btw, I saw a guy nearly fall over the edge trying to grab a high double off the Monster last weekend. Is it true that there's no beer sales up there?

Also worth mentioning: Kevin Millar is woofy.

Meanwhile, the Sox bullpen is blowing yet another Pedro gem tonight...

Absolutely Seph, as soon as I find the answer to the question "Who do you have to blow to get tickets around here?"

Beer isn't sold in the stands anyway, you have to go into the concourse to buy it, and you're only allowed to buy two at a time. Other than that, there's no restriction on beer consumption in the monster seats that I'm aware of. If you manage to take a header over the wall, 37 feet is a long way down, no matter how many you've put away.



Monster seats

[ April 23, 2003, 07:33 AM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Actually, I think the stadium looks better with the new seats. Now instead of unsightly netting, there are seats. Furthermore, the seats don't have any impact on the game itself. When I first saw the green monster I thought that they should put seats up there. I figured they didn't because there wasn't enough room to bother. As it is now, there are only a few rows of seats with a generous rake.

It will be interesting to watch what happens with Fenway Park over the next few years. All the save Fenway Park people should be happy. It didn't take campaigning to save the park, just a recession.
frown

The brown structure in the linked picture is a concession stand. Getting to the regular concourse from the monster seats is not a simple task. I know that there is no connection to the 3rd base side of the stadium. I'm not sure if there is a convenient way to get to the bleachers. Oddly, I remember there being a sign on the concession stand listing its wares, but I do not see the sign in the picture. But I am fairly sure beer is sold at the monster concession stand.

I wonder where they stuck the bathrooms.

[ April 23, 2003, 08:07 AM: Message edited by: orsino4 ]

Thanks, Orsino, I stand corrected.

Anyone know how much the Monster seats are going for? You can't buy them on the website.

As far as I know, all the seats are sold out. To buy, one had to go to the box office and fork over (I think) fifty bucks a seat. I don't think monster seats were ever available online.

I happened across this terrific Website about Fenway's history called \"Gate B\". Check out the Images link, a wonderful collection of old photos. I knew the wall used to be covered with ads, but not that there was a whole bleacher section in front of the wall at one time. Wild!

The references to a "new Fenway Park", of course, are outdated, 'cause it seems to be off the table, and rightfully so. The new owners, Post, Henry and Lucchino, are looking more and more like they intend to Save Fenway Park. Bless their hearts.

[ May 08, 2003, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

I believe that you can't buy single seats on top of the monster. It's like luxury box pricing.

I think it would be a ball to sit in these seats! I've sat in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium and really enjoyed it despite, or perhaps because of, the lack of beer sales.

ESPN.com has a story about Monster Seats in Fenway.