Fenway 100th

When the Red Sox begin their weekend series against the Yankees on Friday night, the team will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park.  The long time home of the Red Sox has become a monument to baseball history and one of the league's most beloved ball parks.  It's rich history fills each game with a nostalgic sense for long time fans, while landmarks from the Green Monster in left to the Pesky Pole in right field make Fenway one of the league's most unique parks. 

For many Sox fans, there's no better event than a summer afternoon at Fenway.  While it may be the smallest ball park in the league, each game is packed to capacity inside it's cozy confines.  Combine a limited seating capacity with a rabid fan base and it's no wonder the Sox have the longest active sell out streak in the majors.  Can't get tickets to the game?  The atmosphere all around the park is electric on game day.  Bouncing around between the endless string of bars along Landsdown Street (hello, Cask N Flagon!) can be an equally enjoyable way of catching a game.  Either way, count me in for catching the Green Line on the T down to the Fenway area a few times every summer.

The current ownership group deserves a lot of credit for the improvements they've made around the ball park, including adding seats in the concourse area and on top of the Green Monster (easily the most unique view of a game that any park in the league has to offer).  While it may not have the shine of some of the new state of the art ball parks, it's not nearly the dump that the Luke Scott's of the world would have you believe.

Fenway Park has been the site of many memories - both good and bad ones.  During a long 86 year title-less draught, it was mostly bad.  A couple of Championships in the past decade have turned things around a bit, but as we prepare to celebrate Fenway's 100th anniversary, we do so at a time when a demanding fan base finds itself frustrated with the team's performance.  Following a historic collapse last September that caused them to miss out on their spot in the postseason in dramatic style on the final day of the season, Sox fans have little patience for the slow start the team has gotten off to this year.

Injuries have already become an issue that has factored into their 4-8 start to the season.  2/5ths of their starting rotation began the year on the disabled list, with John Lackey set to miss the entire year and Dice-K likely to miss at least half of it while they each recover from Tommy John surgery.  Carl Crawford's sore wrist has kept him on the sidelines thus far, while numerous setbacks have made the time table for his return hazy at best.  The predictable loss to injury-prone closer Andrew Bailey has thrown the entire bullpen into disarray.  Alfredo Aceves has gone from one time hopeful for a spot in the rotation to the back of the bullpen as the team's new closer, despite no prior experience in the role.  Newly acquired set up man Mark Melancon was so abysmal (49.50 ERA over 4 appearances) he's already been shipped off to Pawtucket to get his head straight.  Then came the biggest blow of all.  Jacoby Ellsbury, last year's runner up in the MVP race, separated his shoulder sliding into second base last week and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

The uneasy transition to the managerial style of new skipper Bobby Valentine hasn't helped ease concerns.  Particularly when he's already taken heat for calling out some of his own players in the media by questioning their effort (nobody should be questioning Youkilis for his heart or effort.  He just happens to be a 32 year old declining veteran with eroding skills that happens to be in a slump.  He will get better, but we had to expect a drop off in production to some extent anyway).  Bobby V is getting desperate for a spark that ignites a winning streak to take the pressure of this team before he loses this clubhouse.

Given the franchise's long history of being a hard luck loser, combined with their recent woes, Red Sox Nation is left pondering what else could possibly go wrong.  While we celebrate the storied history of this franchise in the past 100 years played at Fenway Park we should do so while reminiscing about the fond memories we have of our visits to Fenway.

Dave Roberts' steal.  Carlton Fisk's home run.  Jason Varitek beating up A-Rod.  Plus those World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.  Those are the moments that I'll be thinking about during the celebration of the history of this field over the past century.  This event is meant to celebrate the past.

As for the future?  Well, it's still early in the season.  There's still plenty of time for this team to turn things around and add more memories for this great ball park.