A homecoming bash

In the end, the big scoreboard on the Wall showed the Red Sox winning the 96th Fenway opener, 14-3, as 35,847 frozen fans filed into Back Bay taverns in search of 100-proof antifreeze.

"It was fun," said general manager Theo Epstein, the man who assembled this $143 million Sox edition. "To get out fast like that allows you to enjoy it. It was great to see Josh like that, and the offense broke out. It had a little bit of everything, and I'm glad the fans go home happy."

Oh, and for those of you who've perhaps been traveling abroad with no Internet/cellphone access, Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his first appearance on the Fenway mound tonight.

As home openers go, this was not your father's Toyota. The media dining room featured sushi on the menu and a new trio of wall clocks -- one set for Boston time, one fixed on Seattle time, and one set for Tokyo time. It looked like the lobby of a five-star hotel. Nice touch.

The Sox also unveiled new seats upstairs down the right-field line. The metallic bleacher section is dedicated to Tony Conigliaro, and ticket-holders reportedly each get a personal Sherpa guide. There is, however, no truth to the rumor that the Sox may post a Fuji Film sign on the back of the new section and invite fans to "climb Mount Fuji."

There were no boos for the locals during pregame introductions. Coco Crisp's reception was tepid, but none of the cold fans were in much of a mood to be harsh. The loudest ovations were awarded to David Ortiz, Dice-K, Jonathan Papelbon (he's been awarded the coveted Yaz locker), and Johnny Pesky. Manny got the usual Lindbergh treatment and Dice-K's interpreter, Masa Hoshino, also got a nice hand.