GaryMrMets
06-26-2004, 02:16 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s062604b.htm
Fenway, `Monster' hot topic among Phils
Saturday, June 26, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
BOSTON
From the Green Monster to what lay inside it, Fenway Park inspired plenty of conversation among the Phillies as they prepared to begin a three-game interleague series with the Red Sox Friday.
A sizeable amount of the crowd that attended Friday's game sported Phillies colors, while the team debated how to deal with the park's quirks - not to mention the home team itself.
"There's definitely a home-field advantage (for the Red Sox)," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "Against a team like that, you can't make mistakes.
"If you give up a home run, you'd like for it to be solo."
The Red Sox, one of the major league's top hitting teams last year, entered Friday's game ranked seventh in the American League in batting average (.271) and fourth in home runs (88).
Of nearly as much concern to the Phillies was the Monster, an inviting target for right-handed hitters.
"Right-handed hitters probably try to hook it more," left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier said. "Left-handers try to pitch away more. One thing you've got to do, though, is pitch your own game and not worry about it."
The Phillies last played at Fenway during the 2001 season. Since then, Major League Baseball has deemed the Red Sox an interleague rival of the Phillies, along with the Orioles. So starting last year, the Phillies have alternated home series with both teams.
Last season, the Red Sox visited Veterans Stadium, and thanks in part to two bobblehead giveaways, more than 157,000 fans attended the three games, a significant chunk of whom were Sox fans.
Judging by the number of Phillies fans seen arriving at Boston's Logan Airport and milling around downtown Friday, the visiting team figures to have plenty of supporters this weekend.
"Here and Yankee Stadium are the two places, with their rabid fans, that are noted for being good places to watch a game," Bowa said. "It's a great place for the fans to come see a game.
"I'm sure the fans like the idea of traveling up here, especially on the weekend."
Cormier, who pitched for the Red Sox for two seasons before signing with the Phillies as a free agent before the 2001 season, spent much of the trip from Montreal to Boston telling his younger teammates about Fenway's charm.
Included in that description was a wall on the inside of the Monster where past players have left their signatures.
"It's such a great city, and the ballpark has such a great history," Cormier said.
Phillies fodder: Jim Thome started Friday's game as the designated hitter, and Bowa said Thome would play there again today. Chase Utley started at first base. . . . Rookie right-hander Elizardo Ramirez finally rejoined the Phillies Friday after being unable to travel to Montreal because of visa problems entering Canada.
He spent the three days of exile playing catch with clubhouse personnel at Citizens Bank Park.
Fenway, `Monster' hot topic among Phils
Saturday, June 26, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
BOSTON
From the Green Monster to what lay inside it, Fenway Park inspired plenty of conversation among the Phillies as they prepared to begin a three-game interleague series with the Red Sox Friday.
A sizeable amount of the crowd that attended Friday's game sported Phillies colors, while the team debated how to deal with the park's quirks - not to mention the home team itself.
"There's definitely a home-field advantage (for the Red Sox)," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "Against a team like that, you can't make mistakes.
"If you give up a home run, you'd like for it to be solo."
The Red Sox, one of the major league's top hitting teams last year, entered Friday's game ranked seventh in the American League in batting average (.271) and fourth in home runs (88).
Of nearly as much concern to the Phillies was the Monster, an inviting target for right-handed hitters.
"Right-handed hitters probably try to hook it more," left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier said. "Left-handers try to pitch away more. One thing you've got to do, though, is pitch your own game and not worry about it."
The Phillies last played at Fenway during the 2001 season. Since then, Major League Baseball has deemed the Red Sox an interleague rival of the Phillies, along with the Orioles. So starting last year, the Phillies have alternated home series with both teams.
Last season, the Red Sox visited Veterans Stadium, and thanks in part to two bobblehead giveaways, more than 157,000 fans attended the three games, a significant chunk of whom were Sox fans.
Judging by the number of Phillies fans seen arriving at Boston's Logan Airport and milling around downtown Friday, the visiting team figures to have plenty of supporters this weekend.
"Here and Yankee Stadium are the two places, with their rabid fans, that are noted for being good places to watch a game," Bowa said. "It's a great place for the fans to come see a game.
"I'm sure the fans like the idea of traveling up here, especially on the weekend."
Cormier, who pitched for the Red Sox for two seasons before signing with the Phillies as a free agent before the 2001 season, spent much of the trip from Montreal to Boston telling his younger teammates about Fenway's charm.
Included in that description was a wall on the inside of the Monster where past players have left their signatures.
"It's such a great city, and the ballpark has such a great history," Cormier said.
Phillies fodder: Jim Thome started Friday's game as the designated hitter, and Bowa said Thome would play there again today. Chase Utley started at first base. . . . Rookie right-hander Elizardo Ramirez finally rejoined the Phillies Friday after being unable to travel to Montreal because of visa problems entering Canada.
He spent the three days of exile playing catch with clubhouse personnel at Citizens Bank Park.