"What in the world is going on here?" outfielder J.D. Drew muttered as he spotted the hundreds of fans lined up along low fences for a glimpse of the defending World Series champions.
Thanks for asking, J.D. Let us share a few scenes of a morning become electric because the Olde Towne Team, freshly turned out for another season, was back in business.
"For me," said newcomer Sean Casey, whose day included fielding ground balls hit by bench coach Brad Mills while on his knees at first base, "this is like being the new kid in a new school. Not just a kid in a new grade, but a kid in a new school."
Casey is 33. The Red Sox are his fourth team in the last four seasons. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and now Boston. It helps, he said, to have played with, and against, so many guys here. Such as Manny Ramírez.
Ramírez was already an established star in Cleveland when Casey, who was drafted in the second round by the Indians in 1995, was called up to the big leagues in the summer of '97. The Indians were playing in Chicago.
"Got to Comiskey," Casey said, "and my stuff didn't get there. I was wearing Tony Fernandez's helmet, Jeff Manto's batting gloves, and I had to borrow a bat. Manny used the same T141s I did. Louisville Slugger, 34 inches, 32 ounces.
"So I asked him, 'Can I use one?' He said, 'Yeah, go ahead.' First hit I ever got was with Manny's bat. Do I remember the pitcher? Yeah, yeah. Jeff Darwin, 1-and-2 pitch, first hit I ever got, a single to right field, with Manny's bat.
"Three days later, I went to get it, and Manny already had taped it up and was using it. I was scared to ask him for it. Me a kid, him the best hitter in baseball. I got the ball from my first hit, but I always wanted that bat. I don't know if he even knows."
"Look at my hands - they're soft," complained Luis Tiant, who had been taking return throws from shortstops Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie while Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson hit them ground balls.
