It's time for the annual "describe this blog" game for all the people arriving here for the first time on Opening Day. Existing readers: I'll give you a topic to discuss while you wait: Sentences with two colons are freaks, much like humans with two colons. Discuss.

New readers: My name is Jere Smith. I live in Providence, Rhode Island. I've been writing this blog on my own time since March of 2004. I also write for Baseball Digest's site, and I have a book out, which I co-wrote with my author mom, Mary-Ann Tirone Smith, called Dirty Water: A Red Sox Mystery.

I've been a Red Sox fan since birth--1975--as my parents and 3/4 of their parents were also Sox fans. However, I grew up among Yankee fans in Ridgefield, Connecticut, steps from the New York state border. My house and all the other houses and trees there have since been replaced by one giant mansion, I'm pretty sure. Except for when I went to college in Lincoln, Nebraska for two years, I was in Ridgefield, and then neighboring Danbury (formerly the "next Seattle") until 2005. These towns are in Fairfield County, the one county in New England that doesn't get NESN--so I spent a lot of time listening to the Sox on radio, while rooting against the Yanks on channel 11. My Danbury years saw me playing bass in a punk rock band called The Pac-Men. After the band broke up, I moved to Manhattan with my friend since high school named Chan. I had the "I Love NY, It's the Yankees I Hate" bumper sticker as a kid, and those are still words I live by. While in New York, I met Kim. But she lived up in Somerville, Massachusetts, so I moved in with her in 2007. My NYC apartment had been 3.3 miles from Yankee Stadium, and my new place in Somerville was 3.3 miles from Fenway. It was fun being able to go to Red Sox games by taking a short T or car ride. Last year, we got a house here in Providence, so I'm finally back in in-between land, but now it's mainly Red Sox country instead of mainly Yankee land. And all along, I've been describing all the action here at A Red Sox Fan From Pinstripe Territory, formerly A Red Sox Fan In Pinstripe Territory, and briefly at the beginning, A Red Sox Fan In Yankee Territory.

So what actually goes on here? Thanks for asking, chief. The main point of this blog is to give my opinions about whatever I feel like, but mainly the Red Sox. I feel like most sports sites you read online are just rehashed opinions and sexist bullcrap. I'm just not your average baseball fan, or American for that matter. Left-wing, straight edge, vegetarian, feminist, cats over dogs, water over coffee. That kind of thing. Maybe that's what happens when you grow up a Red Sox fan in the New York area. If you are the opposite of me in any or all these areas, I welcome your comments, as long as they're, you know, not prick-ish.

Regardless of all that, I go to lots and lots of Red Sox games (All face value! Follow my teachings and you can do it, too!) and always come back with plenty of pictures/videos/stories. So watch for that. Here's my "best of 2008" post for a little taste--but, of course, this place doesn't stop when the season does.

As for the Red Sox in 2009: I think they're gonna go 162-0 and sweep through the playoffs, like I have every year of my life, of course. I was never that negative Sox fan you've heard so much about. But seriously, watch for us to dominate in '09--the pitching is so good from top to bottom, that we don't even have to worry about the lineup--which, please note, we have no reason to worry about anyway!

Check out all my friends' blogs on the right, and my photo galleries and archives. I try to make it fun, is basically what I'm saying. Stay tuned. Thank you!

Okay, enough of this crap. Baseball starts now!!!!!!!

[previous "about this blog"]

Watch it here. Fun stuff.


Also, check out this timeline of the AL East. It's cool--except that they snub the Blue Jays, giving them third place in 2006 when they actually finished ahead of the Red Sox in second. But newspapers don't check facts like bloggers do--I know they're very busy thinking of new ways to make ads pop up and float right on top of the page, covering the entire thing.

Sometimes people write things that make me feel like they're just not paying attention. It's even weirder when those people are paid to pay attention. I saw this article on a Tampa newspaper site which contained the following line:

"Memo to Major League Baseball: The defending American League champions deserve to celebrate opening day in their home ballpark."

This is written as if it's some kind of tradition to honor league champs in the following year's schedule. And that the Rays got snubbed. I didn't need to look it up, but I did just to get the exact numbers, and found that nine of the last 14 AL champs have opened the following season on the road. Do the Rays deserve to open at home? No. They, like everybody else, deserve to open at home roughly half the time, with southern teams maybe playing a little more often at home in cold weather months. The schedule-makers don't go out of their way to do something stupid, like have a solid month of games in Cleveland in April, but then again, doing what seems like the cool or "deserved" thing can never trump the fairness of the schedule. It's as if every year people look at the schedule like it's the first one they've ever seen. They should realize it's never gonna look exactly like they want it to.

That was yesterday. Then today on Joy of Sox, Allan noted a similar thing from ProJo, where Joe MacDonald acts like the schedule-makers are idiots for letting the Red Sox open at home. Like Allan said, bad weather could happen any time. There's usually an off-day after Opening Day for just that reason. The Red Sox should be allowed to open at home sometimes. This year, they do, they have the off-day after, and look, it works, as we move the game to the off-day. No problem. We get to see our team open at home for the fourth time since I was fourteen years old. (I'm now 33.) And Joe MacDonald complains about it as if he's the first to think of how it's sometimes rainy in April....

Another trend that has kind of died down is criticizing the exact positioning of the six Sox-Yanks series. As long as all six are there, and they don't play two series in a row, whatever they wanna do is fine with me. I'm not gonna complain because I feel like it would be cool if they played on July 4th. They're just trying to make it fair for all teams every year. It's a tough job. Google Henry and Holly Stephenson. I just did some searching, and came up with even more articles saying things like "boo the schedule maker." It just seems so high and mighty to do that. What if the Red Sox played on the road the first week and at home the second, and it snowed all week long? Would these people be less pissed? How about we just move all the teams to the south, and lay the season only in June? And every team can win every game, too.

And another thing! When are people going to realize that March is always 31 days long? Last year it was "oh, these Japan games are too early--I can't get into baseball yet." This year it's "I've had enough of these craaaazy spring training games, please let real baseball start!" It's like the first snow, when everybody forgets how to drive in it, as if it's never snowed before. I don't know, maybe I've just been doing this too long, but I always know exactly when the season's gonna start each year well ahead of time and I base my anticipation level on that. Of course, I'm always anxious for it to start, but it's almost like people forget that the season isn't gonna just start prematurely (or late) because they reeeeally want it to, or that's what it "feels" like will happen. Anyway, 3.5 hours till game one. Right on time. Except for the rain-out.

Name: CC
ERA: XII.XLVI

It could have been higher, too, had any of the three runners he left on base scored. Instead, the O's tried to make a game of it, almost giving back all of their five-run lead. But thanks to the anti-Jeffrey Maier, they pulled away. Here's to a season of "almosts" for the Yanks. CC "DeVille Played Guitar, But Not For" Sabath-ia didn't look too comfy out there. My big prediction for '09 is that Posada has some kind of fight and/or just doesn't click with at least one of the new pitchers, and chaos ensues. Great job by the O's fans booing the crap out of Anthony Greed-is. (If you're just joining us, I've always felt Teixeira looks like Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis.)

So the Yanks are all alone in the cellar, while the O's and Jays lead the powerful AL East. Red Sox and Rays go Tuesday at 4:05. I (still) can't wait.

I've added a scoreboard to the contest post. A link is now on the right so you can keep up. I'm not gonna update it every day, but I will every once in a while, and I'll definitely say something when teams start getting close the finish line. Everyone whose team has played is tied for first at this point. Nice job by Toronto and Florida getting a twelve out of the way early. Congrats, Liza and Mickey. In the meantime, we've still got two questions left in the annual Kwiz season, which is supposed to take place in the baseball off-season, but always seems to run over. So watch for those. I also might add more pics from my NYC stadiums trip--if you missed the ones I've already posted, scroll down....

Part 1 is here. Now we move on to the game itself:

The first pitch of a Red Sox game for me in 2009--Oliver Perez pitches to Rocco Baldelli. One major design flaw at Citi Field: See that lady at the right? Guess where she--and everyone else coming into the section--is gonna stand for ten seconds with a dumb look on her face trying to figure out where her seat is? Yup, right on that little landing between me and home plate. They have this in front of each section of the upper deck. The glass itself is bad enough, blocking my view of the Sox dugout/on deck hitters, just imagine when people are standing there--and that also includes people who go to just stand in that spot to take pictures. I did like how the seats were slightly angled toward the plate within the section.

Papi at bat. Here's my biggest complaint about this park, which overall was better than Yankee Stadium and of course far better than Shea: I couldn't hear ANYTHING coming out of the PA. After hearing smatterings of applause, we finally figured out that they were announcing the lineups. A few times I listened very closely and was able to hear a hitter announced. When we got downstairs to better seats later in the game, I was surprised that the sound was still pretty bad from down there. They need to do some serious speaker re-aiming.

A close-up of one of the speakers (?) behind home plate. Anybody know why these are here? So the batters can hear their on deck music? So the anthem singer can hear him/herself? Put those things in the upper deck where we need 'em! (And where catchers can't end their career by smashing into them.)

We saw a similar crew to the night before's sniper brigade at Yankee Stadium, aka Ode To Toilet--here are a few of them on the roof.

Jed Lowrie with a grand slam, the first home run at Citi Field. Perez was horrible and got taken out in the first inning.

Thanks to all the walks, the Sox had six runs on two hits.

The plane-watching is even better than at Shea--we saw a lot of Deltas and AAs and Aer Linguses approaching LGA.

Dice-K started for Boston.

Ellsbury came into the game after a few innings.

I noticed from our seats that people were walking behind the bullpens. (And also that that must be where the "old" apple was, as I could see the hat with "HOME RUN" on it. That's where I wanted to go. After Jim came back from visiting a relative in the good seats, he told us nobody was guarding the field seats. So we headed to that bullpen area before looking for a seat upgrade.

Here's the view from behind the bullpens. The Mets' one is in front of the visitors', so if you're going to see your team play at Citi, go back here to see your team's pitchers. There are two fences between you and them, but it's still really cool. Here's Justin Masterson.

Looking to my right from that same spot, the old apple.

Looking out to the street from inside the Bullpen Gate. This is the back, un-spiffy, side of the stadium.

And as we arrive in the good seats (they were only blocking the theater-style seats right behind home), Masterson arrives on the mound.

Justin pitching to our boy Alex Cora.

I hate wind the way some people hate...other people. It turns a 55-degree day into arctic winter. And puts garbage all over the field. Note Luis Alicea, now the Mets' first base coach.

Now the young'ns are in. Above, Lars Anderson.

Josh Reddick.

Daniel Bard on the mound.

The fancy seats behind home plate. There were so many empty seats for this game and Yanks-Cubs the night before. I don't know why people weren't more excited about thee games. But I do have a feeling if tickets were easier to get, more seats would've been filled. Instead, brokers buy up all the seats which were sold cheaply by the team (I paid 6 bucks for this game and ONE the night before), and put them on sale for ridiculous prices, and then nobody buys them. This is going to be more noticeable this year in the bad economy.

Bobby Kielty!

Mets sidewinder Darren O'Day pitches to Gil Velazquez.

Mark Wagner.

Zach Daeges.

Red Sox pitcher Chris Province.

The Red Sox won, 9-3. I liked Citi Field. The whole "weird outfield wall" thing gives it so much more personality than the very static Yankee Stadium. The walkways underneath felt lived in, as opposed to Yankee Stadium's museum-like quality. The only downside is that they were very crowded, and this was a sparsely attended game. I didn't even bother getting food at either park--it's all just too expensive. I'd rather have a big meal before or after. But I think Mets fans finally have a nice place to watch a game, and they should be happy that their place beats Yankee Stadium easily.

So weird--I looked at the sked on redsox.com which I know so well, only to see a red square with a 7 in it instead of a gray one. That's how I found out opening day is rained out..... Tuesday, 4 PM, baseball begins for us....

Yanks/Balty should be a go at 4, though.

Click each pic to enlarge:
On the subway to Citi Field for the Red Sox-Mets exhibition game, Saturday, April 4th, 2009. I like how you see the graffiti in Queens with the Manhattan skyline across the river in the background, as the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building point out 34th Street and 42 Street. (Nice tribute to Frosty Freeze, too.)

Citi Field from the subway platform.

Another shot of Citi Field--the outside of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. It was hold-your-hat windy, making it even less comfortable than it was the night before at Yankee Stadium.

The third base side of Citi Field. The spot where Shea Stadium stood is to the right.

Like with Shea, one gate (left field) opens 2.5 hours before games. We went straight to it, and were the first ones in--it was me and two of my Yankee fan friends again, Chan and Jim, with Mighty Quinn arriving a little later.

Inside Citi Field. Immediately, we all liked the look of it better than the new Yankee Stadium.

Looking down the aisle at the field--don't know why all the seats are puke green, but, whatever.

I went right down to the field--unlike YS, they allowed it. Looked over at the dugout, and there was Tito. It's about 10:30 AM.

Better shot of Terry.

Left field foul pole and fancy glassed-in section.

Left field.

Another field shot from the left field seats. I love how almost every home run ball will be caught by a fan--you have to leave room for a batter's eye and bullpens, but other than that, there are seats all along the outfield fences. The opposite of Shea.

Another outfield shot.

Looking into the left field corner.

Looking toward center from the left field seats.

Shake Shack and the old skyline from Shea, out beyond center field.

The right field corner.

Looking toward center.

Right field is weird...I like it.

Looking toward center again.

Now the Sox are taking BP, so I'm back at the dugout. Above, Dustin Pedroia--he was buddying up with Rocco, who seems to be about twice as tall as Dustin.

Russian dance?

Mikey Lowell!

Masterson, my favorite 2009 Red Sock, does something weird. At right, Beckett.

So psyched to see Cora. Here he is with Big Papi.

Another Papi shot.

View of right field from top of third base dugout.

Julio Lugo flips the double European bird.

Youk checking out the new place.

Tito was smiling at something....

Then he told Dustin and Jacoby about it.

The Sox on the field at Citi.

Youkilis rounds third.

Papi's about to flip a ball to a fan, and after he does...

...he gets scolded by "supervisor"! He laughs it off (what with the whole "ability to buy and sell the man" thing).

Rocco Baldelli, and the new apple. You'll see the old apple in part 2.

Jon Papelbon.

Chris Carter.

Youk says hi.

Jon Wicked Lester holding a ball bucket.

High numbers = high comedy. Kinda. Not really.

First "Tek goes to bullpen" shot of 2009.

Papelbon again.

The back of the Citi Field sign from inside--we're now walking around the park as BP is over.

In the food court behind the plate, a woman with a Phillies jersey--dangerous move.

View from right field.

Now at our seats--beyond left field is the Whitestone Bridge. Or the Throgsneck. They look the same. You tell me.

Seats behind home and first.

The scoreboard sign, with token plane landing beyond it. The game's about to start now--and I'll save those pics for part 2. And I'll talk more about the place. I'll just tell you we ended up in some pretty sweet seats.

Twelve hours till (real) Red Sox baseball! Unless it's snowed out....