One of the best things about living close to Fenway--and I'll still consider myself in that league when we move to Providence next month--is that when you learn something special is gonna happen, you can just go and buy a ticket on short notice.

Charlie Zink, the knuckleballer we've been hearing about for years (I remember my mom pointing me to a NYT article in, I don't know, 2003 or something, about the guy), has been called up and will make his MLB debut tonight. So I just went to redsox.com and tickets for tonight are available. All I wanted was a standing room ticket, just to get in. THey had those, but they also had my favorite--the LF pavilion standing room, for 5 bucks more. Great view, under cover, a little shelf, shorter lines (even though, honestly, I haven't left my seat or standing spot to get food mid-game in years--I get my pizza slice or whatever in the space between batting practice and game, and I'm set for the next four hours). So I'll see the debut of our "other" knuckle-head. And if it's rained out and they play two tomorrow--well, I already had tix to that game so it'll be a sweet doubleheader...

[Bonus nerd talk: I wonder what number he'll wear. He wore 16 at Pawtucket, which is worn by Luis Alicea. The other teens are taken, except 11, but those low numbers seem to be frowned upon if you're a pitcher. The backwards theory goes nowhere, as 61 is taken. The other numbers ending in 6 are tough to come by--except 56, which had been used by Hansen. So that's my guess. 56. Although 66 would look cool.]