October 12, 2008

On watching the ALCS

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I’m a firm believer that any fan who blogs, or even posts on
a message board, should do so to express his or her own thoughts. And as a result, I’m sometimes hesitant to
comment even on the thoughts of people I know personally when I think they’re
out and out wrong. I find that October,
in addition to bringing pumpkins, bats (the flying kind) and the scent of
burning leaves in the air, seems to find me spending a lot of time biting my
tongue.

Allow me, then, to use my own blog for the purpose for which
it was intended.

I really respect the Rays.
And I’m sick of Boston
fans bashing them.

First of all, I’m tired of Boston fans complaining about Rays fans. You know what? The vast majority of Red Sox fans I know were
born into it. They’ve been following the
Sox for as long as they can remember; they had family members and friends to
nurture that commitment all along. Even
latecomers to Red Sox Nation had history to draw on, so much to know and
appreciate about the team before pledging undying devotion. Rays fans have never had that. They’re a relatively new franchise, and they
started under the cloud of an owner whom Jerry Remy just called, if I heard
correctly, “a despicable human being.” You
want to call Rays fans “bandwagon” fans, Red Sox Nation? You’re looking at a fan base pulling
themselves up by their bootstraps when you started off two thirds of the way up
the ladder.

And I don’t see how Sox fans, beneficiaries of two rings in
the preceding four seasons, can be so surprised that the rest of public
sentiment falls to the underdog Rays. If
you’ve ever spoken of the Yankees’ payroll, don’t be surprised that Tampa’s vs. Boston’s
comes up in the discussion!

The fight with Coco? Coco had a point, believe me–but if you don’t think the Red Sox don’t have passionate enforcers who would have taken some shots at another team’s hothead (I say that endearingly) who charged one of our pitchers, then you’re crazy.

Yeah, I don’t like the cowbells any more than you do; but in
the context of what’s done at parks across the nation to get the fans to make
noise, I’m not sure it’s as horrific as it seems.

I love Joe Maddon. I
believe in managers for teams. I think
Terry Francona is perfectly placed with his front office and his team. I think Joe Girardi may never find a better
match than his team of baby Marlins. And
I think Maddon is both a fascinating and delightful guy and an unsurpassed motivator
for a team that had to find a way to put it together to achieve.

And I really like the Rays themselves, which has been evident in my shooting!

Carlos Pena, of course

Aki Iwamura

After losing an argument–Pedie was safe, to Aki’s chagrin!

Playing Twister with J.D. Drew

Dioner Navarro

Andy Sonnanstine

Jonny Gomes

Scott Kazmir

Matt Garza

Cliff Floyd

Evan Longoria

After years in which facing the Yankees brought bad blood from all sides, it’s refreshing to me that this year we have two talented teams vying for the right to represent the American League in the World Series. Whoever wins will have earned it. I hope it’s my beloved Red Sox. But if the Rays should triumph, I’ll support them wholeheartedly, and I’ll hope they take home the biggest October prize of them all.

September 18, 2008

Something’s not right

And no, I don’t mean the recent struggles of the Red Sox!

Sure, September down-to-the-wire pennant races are exciting… in theory. In reality, they’re excruciating ulcer-provoking exercises in slow-motion surgical dissection of your hearts. And I would say that even if we hadn’t just lost a heartbreaker and a heartstomper in Tampa Bay.

So let’s take a look instead at a lighthearted rite of fall: rookie hazing!

I’d never had a chance to stake out the Red Sox before, and I suspect Cla Meredith

Josh Barfield

and Paul McAnulty

would be happy if I could say the same about the Padres! (those from September 2006.)

But this year I was prepared to stake out the buses for the Red Sox as they headed out for their last road trip! I expected, of course, to learn just a little more about our rookies–whether they could carry off spaghetti straps, for example. But who knew I would learn so much about High School Musical?

Pitcher Chris Smith. Really, if you went shopping for a dress for Chris I don’t think you could do better. Fit perfectly and showed off his legs to perfection!

That’s Jeff Bailey back behind Chris. Not sure the cheerleader outfit is what I would have chosen, but I always did like Jeff a little scruffy, so the hair works!

Blonde ringlets and hairy cleavage. Does it get better?

I had high hopes for Justin Masterson–surely, surely he’d be in a wig, yes?–and have to confess some disappointment with his outfit. I was greatly heartened when he expressed a similar sentiment–that the guys in skirts were having all the fun–to Dan Roche!

George Kottaras managed to hide behind security, but fortunately he couldn’t hide his face and his new chest at the same time!

Jonathan Van Every. When we first met Jonathan back at the PawSox Hot Stove Party, I can’t say I was aware of hiw much I’d enjoy seeing him in a skirt. Another tidbit from Dan Roche: JV himself realized he’d look better in the ponytail! I’m sure he’d have found better shoes if he’d been able, too.

Devern Hansack (and Dave Pauley, who had the same outfit) pretty much lucked out. On the other hand, Devern’s done this three times, so I think he earned the right to wear shorts!

Not so easy walking around with those things, huh, JV?

Jed Lowrie. It’s amazing to me how different he looks in this wig!

Speaking of wigs… Chris Carter makes a rather striking dark-rooted blonde!

Check out my LiveJournal post if you want to know who’s who in the world of High School Musical, thanks to my readers! And check out WBZ for video! (You might need to poke around a bit, but there are at least three clips.)

August 25, 2008

Looking back

Road trips and off days… in some ways they make me restless, since I can’t pick up the cameras. But since I’m always, always behind on editing, it does give me a chance to try to catch up! So if you will, let’s set the wayback machine for June 15, in Cincinnati…

A beautiful Sunday morning! Justin Masterson smiles at Daisuke Matsuzaka wielding a bat.

More smiling! Jacoby Ellsbury with some warmup throws.

It’s officially an epidemic! Sean Casey with a big grin. One of my favorite things about seeing the Red Sox on the road is actually what I’m documenting here: a full BP session, which usually starts with stretching and joking around.

Mike Lowell continues my theme.

Manny and Alex Gonzalez. I miss Gonzo.

… Does Gonzo miss me?

Well, he gave me my belly shot!

Looking at these then, I was nostalgic for these two as teammates; now there’s a different edge with Manny gone.

Bronson Arroyo inspects Coco’s cornrows. Sorry, Bronson, he’s got you beat there!

Justin fields a tough hop. (He seems to have a tough audience back there, but you’ll notice that they’re all far enough out not to have to do much!)

Whoops–looks like Justin’s got critics in the infield, too!

I can’t tell if Kevin Cash is laughing with Dustin Pedroia, or at him!

More nostalgia, since Brandon Moss now calls Pittsburgh home.

Bartolo Colon, not satisfied with three balls in hand, goes for a fourth.

Dusty Baker’s son threw out the first pitch. (Dusty tried to leave him out there too long, of course.)

Uh oh. The real action is starting, and Mike Timlin will not smile.

There’s a part of my heart reserved for players I ought not to have any connection to, like Homer Bailey. I just like the kid.

Ells with a successful slide into second. It’s hard to shoot anything else when he’s on base!

Josh Beckett on the mound.

Mmmmmmm… Jason Varitek samples his batting gloves.

Coco Crisp with a biiiig swing…

… followed by a nice lope around the bases…

… and a helmet skritchie from Tek.

Not to be outdone is Jacoby…

… with a big swing and a lope of his own!

Tek in his Father’s Day accented gear. I’m sure you’ve noticed the ribbons and the blue eye “black.”

Pedie has a big swing to end all big swings…

… but it won’t be quite enough this time.

Josh Beckett at the plate. I was hoping for a home run…

… but had to settle for Coco looking philosophical about being left on base.

More laughter! And here a little sympathy for Julio Lugo, despite my love for Jed Lowrie.

I admire many things about Jacoby Ellsbury’s game, but there just no point in denying that he’s alarmingly photogenic, too.

David Aardsma. Note that it gets a bit easier to shoot this angle when the fans thin out a bit.

A skip ahead to postgame; Manny attempts some unexpected therapeutic massage on Colon, with a baseball.

Have I been busted? Javy Lopez smirks, Gary Tuck smiles, Craig Hansen… well, hang in there, Craig, in six weeks you’ll be safe from me!

August 4, 2008

Jason Bay

Thursday, at the trade deadline, I could feel a whirlwind of emotions. Relief that there was resolution. Shock that there had really been a trade (my heart knew it had to happen, but my head thought the deal would never go through). Apprehension at a team without Manny. And anticipation to see what we had in Jason Bay.

I had a ticket for Friday night, and while I was a bit disappointed I hadn’t had one for what turned out to be Manny’s last game, I was very happy to have one for Jay Bay’s first!

I was delighted to see that there were already T-shirts for sale–and already people wearing them! Not to mention one young man in a Sox hat and a Bay Pirates jersey.

It had to be overwhelming for him, but he already seemed to take it in stride.

And I was very moved to be part of the first ovations for him. I’d been a little anxious about the fan response, but it was a magnificent showing of the best that Boston has to offer. And he himself looked both moved and a touch uncomfortable, in a very endearing way, to be receiving accolades before he’d even had a chance to show what he could do.

Accidentally shot with the shutter speed too slow, but I kinda liked the effect!

Oof! Well, it’s one way to get on base…

Of course, he went to score the first run–the one that looked like it might be enough, especially if we had good defense…

…like the kind he showed on a magnificent sliding catch, for which he’s getting a pat from Lowrie here. And it was at that moment that I realized I was smitten, in a baseball sense.

Perhaps it would have been the perfect capper if the ball he hit high off the Monster had cleared it, but as a longtime fan of Jed Lowrie, I guess I’m not sorry that they could both celebrate!

I couldn’t be at the park for Saturday’s heroics, though I did see Sean Casey that day and he was effusive in his praise of Jay Bay. But I was back at the park Sunday, in my brand new Bay 44 shirt!

Youk pointing something out. I’d like to think it’s the hawk. “And if you see that… just make sure it’s not carrying its lunch. Sometimes it likes to… share.”

Pregame warming up.

I took a shot like this Friday but he looks much better here; it could be a better seat and better light, but I’d like to think it’s my growing affection!

At the risk of undermining my baseball credibility, I have to note that Jay Bay’s got a very nice, er, stance.

Too late, Rob Bowen!

We’re no strangers to embracing new players midyear in Boston, of course; 2004 is enduring testimony to that! But I’m a little surprised myself by how happy I am to have Jay Bay in the fold. No, I don’t think we’re going to win out the rest of the way, of course. But it’s funny how a solid, capable, down-to-earth guy has made my Sox-loving heart soar again.

July 31, 2008

The Aftermath

now the radio stutters. snaps to life.
some sour song that sets it right.
and when London falls
he’d like to call
but the stars collide.
they’re beautiful and much maligned.
in a universe where you see the worst,
and it’s up to you to fix it.

I’ve written before of my mixed feelings about Manny Ramirez, but it certainly seemed to me that over the last few weeks the pendulum swung very, very far toward the “tired of Manny” end. And in the last days, I couldn’t envision any scenario in which the Sox didn’t trade Manny. So I battened down the hatches, said my prayers over the players I least wanted to lose in the collateral damage (including you, Mr. Masterson, and you, Mr. Bowden), and held my breath. As everyone knows, as the minutes ticked by it looked less and less likely that a deal would happen, but as with the Nomar trade in 2004, the word finally broke after the deadline, and Manny was gone.

What’s hard for me to understand is that no few media people reported that for the first part of this year, Manny was as happy as they’d ever seen him–and my photos seemed to bear that out.

Opening Day: why high five when you can touch fingertips? April 8, 2008.

Cavorting with Youk, pregame, April 13, 2008.

With the two teammates I think were best for him: Lugo and Papi.

Getting into it Manny-style with the Royals, May 22, 2008.

Home Run #500 in Baltimore, May 31, 2008.

June 3, 2008.

“What do you mean you got traded?” Cincinnati, June 14, 2008.

With Alex Gonzalez, Cincinnati, June 15, 2008.

After Youk’s grand slam, making light of their supposed issues, July 12, 2008.

I can’t help but think that Scott Boras had something to do with this relatively dramatic change. After all, Manny’s new agent wouldn’t have been in line for a payday if the Red Sox picked up Manny’s option, and what better way to make sure Manny made sure he wasn’t wanted than to make him think he was disrespected?

Regardless of why things broke down so irrevocably, it wasn’t just Manny who experienced the consequences. Manny’s off to Los Angeles, but two of my favorite youngsters are off to Pittsburgh.

If you’ve checked out sittingstill.net in the past, you’ve probably noticed that Craig Hansen has been a favorite photo target of mine. I couldn’t help it; I’m not sure I can think of another player where I think my snaps are so much better than anything out there from the pros!

September 25, 2005

March 15, 2006

With Paps, July 31, 2006.

March 3, 2007

May 30, 2008

July 9, 2008

I did shoot him pitching too, honest. But of course, he struggled a bit. He was probably brought up too fast in 2006, and it seemed to me that the resultant up-and-down year, plus some tweaking the Sox tried to do with his mechanics, left him not knowing which way was up. Spending all of 2007 in Pawtucket seemed to be the right plan, and he did pitch well, if inconsistently, for the Sox this year. My hope for him is that a fresh start and the National League work some Cla Meredith-like magic for him.

And we also lost Brandon Moss.

March 7, 2007.

Wreaking havoc with the Fenway scoreboard, September 2, 2007.

Defeating Mirabelli in rock-paper-scissors, September 11, 2007.

Collecting his World Series ring, April 19, 2008.

Evading man-monster Richie Sexson, June 8, 2008.

My hope for Mossy is that, like David Murphy, a new team will provide new opportunities, and he’ll stick on the major league roster. He’s been one of the nicest players I’ve ever had a chance to chat with; Dan Hoard, one of the PawSox radio guys, named him with Sean Casey, David Murphy, and David Pauley as members of the all-time list of nicest professional athletes. I know good character doesn’t always translate to success in the big leagues, but I hope that in this case he looks back at today as a positive turning point in solid career.

Jason Bay… better put your best face on tomorrow night. You’ve got a big role to fill, but I promise I’ll always try to catch you in good light.

July 24, 2008

Michael Bowden

Throughout the history of sittingstill.net there have been players who have played major roles in my photography and in the site’s character, though they’ll likely never know it. And as another July draws toward a trade deadline close, and I develop my yearly ulcer worrying about the names that get bandied about, I keep coming back to pitching prospect Michael Bowden.

March 9, 2007

The first time I saw Bowden pitch was my last day at Spring Training in 2007. There was no Sox game the day we flew out, so we decided to hit the minor league complex before heading to the airport. This was my first trip to the complex, and I had had no idea how much fun it would be. Players of all levels, everywhere! We watched some workouts, and then they called together a minigame where Clay Buchholz pitched against Michael Bowden. And I knew, instantly, that this would be a day I’d never forget.

By this time I had a full week under my belt with the new Canon, and the only challenge I had was finding clear shots through the openings in the chain link fence! Everything else was ideal–the bright sun, the chance to run around for different angles, the pitchers I’d read so much about and was dying to see.

While Bowden was on the mound I went to the far end of the “dugout” on the third base line. When he finished the inning, he and the pitching coach came right to where I was. It’s relatively rare that you get to see a pitcher up close right off the mound. I’ve never been so aware of what work pitching is as seeing Bowden walk in, in the Florida heat, flushed and breathing heavily–and unhappy with himself. The coach was telling him he was hitting his spots, but he was clearly not pleased with his results. It was at that point that both Bowden and the coach seemed to realize I was there. The coach shot me a look that said “I’m not sure you should be this close.” And Bowden shot me a look that said–well, “said” is the wrong word; you’d need a wordless visual, say, a volcano exploding in flaming lava. It suddenly seemed like a really good idea to shoot from the first base line. And perhaps to run to get there!

Terrified or no, I had a great day of shooting, and when I got home and posted photos, the minor league shots were so well received that I realized I had another calling. I’d already found that the sorts of photos I enjoyed taking of the major leaguers were the candids, the offbeat shots, the ones not being published in most media–but there was hardly anything being published of the minor leaguers at all. While I had fewer opportunities to see games in the minors, I tried harder to shoot when I went to Pawtucket, or when call-ups had their first looks at Fenway, either with the big club or at Futures at Fenway (where the starter for Portland in 2007 was none other than Michael Bowden!).

August 11, 2007

And this year at Spring Training I tried hard to document as many different players as I could–including young Mr. Bowden, of course!

With Kyle Snyder and Justin Masterson, March 2, 2008

March 3, 2008

With Justin Masterson, March 6, 2008

March 7, 2008

March 8, 2008

But over the offseason, I also had a few chances to encounter him in very different settings. First was at New Stars for Young Stars, at which he could not have been more charming and gave me no impression at all that he might possibly kill me with a look alone.

Next, he was one of the players tapped for the Rookie Development Program, all of whom signed for the adoring masses who filled the Team Store. And finally, he appeared at McCoy Stadium for the PawSox Hot Stove party, foreshadowing what we all supposed would be a midyear callup from Portland.

With Jed Lowrie, January 19, 2008

He put up terrific numbers with the Sea Dogs this year: an ERA of 2.33, K/9 rate of 8.71, K/BB 4.21, WHIP of 0.92 with batters hitting .192 against him. I suspect he was held in Portland until midseason in order to earn his All-Star selection and sort some things out with the PawSox roster. But as I expected, he got his mid-July call. His first start, sadly for me, was on the road (though we did get to see him in uniform on July 20).

July 20, 2008

And it may not have been the debut he’d hoped for, giving up 3 runs in 4 innings–but I suspect he’s glad to have it out of the way.

As I could have told you from my first encounter with him, Bowden’s extremely intense on the mound, and it’s hard to find a piece about him that doesn’t refer both to his competitive fire and to his love of baseball. The Sox sent him to API last offseason, and while I could never see where Clay Buchholz supposedly added those ten pounds, Bowden certainly looked more powerful this year. And his early struggles in Portland this year, followed by the hard work and breakthrough that led to a dazzling string of games, encourage me that he’ll make the adjustment to AAA and then to the majors. Like Justin Masterson, he’s a young pitcher I not only believe in but want to believe in. For now, I’m looking forward to seeing–and shooting!–him in Pawtucket!

April 16, 2008

Jed Lowrie

Remember this day, April 15, 2008: after getting called up last week, Jed Lowrie made his debut for the Boston Red Sox.

I’d read about him since he was drafted in 2005, but I first saw Jed in person in 2006, when I first went to Spring Training.

March 14, 2006

March 15, 2006: I captioned this “Jed Lowrie would be with the Sox right through April 2. Mark my words, he’ll be at Fenway in time!“

March 16, 2006

Seems we’ve seen that fellow to Jed’s right, too!

April 1, 2006

April 2, 2006

Jed had a bit of a tough year in 2006 in Wilmington; injuries wiped out a chunk of his summer, and he never quite seemed on track that year. But spring 2007 brought a fresh start…

March 2, 2007

Whoops!

March 9, 2007

He moved up to Portland for 2007, but the great state of Maine couldn’t hold him–by midsummer he’d been promoted to Pawtucket. And not incidentally, I could finally see him play in games that counted!

Did I mention that Jed obliged me by hitting two home runs, each with Jacoby on base, at the first PawSox game where I saw him?

August 5, 2007

Jed went on to earn Minor League Offensive Player of the Year honors for 2007.

September 26, 2007

In 2008 we saw a lot of Jed during the Rookie Development Program. He participated in New Stars for Young Stars

January 12, 2008

and in the signing at the Team Store

January 16, 2008

before participating in the PawSox Hot Stove Party.

January 19, 2008

And then it was off to Fort Myers again!

February 28, 2008, with Justin Masterson

March 5, 2008

March 6, 2008

I was sure Jed would get the call to Fenway this year, but didn’t think it would be so soon. I took advantage of the opportunity to shoot, if not on the field…

April 11, 2008

With Javier Lopez, April 13, 2008

Jed finally made his debut in Cleveland, getting his first hit, not to mention 3RBI. It’s only the very first step in what I’m sure will be a very exciting major league career. Can’t wait to shoot Jed on the field at Fenway. But in the meantime, congratulations, Jed!

April 9, 2008

Do you take this team?

My life as a baseball photographer started on April 11, 2005, when I brought my little Olympus digital to Opening Day in hopes of getting a few shots of the ring ceremony. It’s amazing what changes–and what doesn’t–in three years.

Tedy Bruschi was back

but this time he was followed by Curtis Leskanic, carrying the 2004 prize.

(Retirement seems to agree with him, doesn’t it?)

One more of Tedy…

Doug Mirabelli made a cameo to accept his ring and the thanks of an adoring crowd…

… and I very much wished that Kyle Snyder had done the same.

I was asked during last season if I wanted the Red Sox to win in 2007 as much as I wanted them to win in 2004, and I answered that while 2004 was a once-in-a-lifetime event, I still wanted the 2007 team to win one for themselves, and that one thing I very much wanted to see was Clay Buchholz gazing at his World Series ring.

Looks like a good fit to me.

Mike Timlin might have a fistful, but he doesn’t look any less delighted than Manny Delcarmen.

And it might be hard to tell who appreciates Jon Lester’s achievement more: Lester, or Terry Francona.

The Red Sox of 2007, like the Red Sox of 2004, were made up of many faces, many talents, many characters. But at heart, they were all our Red Sox, past, present and future.

I loved being back at Fenway. I loved the Fenway hawks showing that nature’s flyovers are as impressive as those by fighter jets. I loved the sun, the crowd, the banners, the baseball. I love our Red Sox.

(Tim Wakefield escorts Johnny Pesky back from the flag raising.)
More photos of mine from Opening Day can be found here.

April 1, 2008

Justin Masterson

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(Philippians 4:13)

On the way back from Fort Myers this spring, sitting at the airport waiting for our flight, my buddy and I started chatting with the couple at the next table. The conversation turned to the unwillingness of some players to give autographs, and they were delighted to relate a story about a generous and polite player who stood signing patiently for everyone who asked. And I knew from the instant they started the story that it was about Justin Masterson.

Masterson doesn’t blend into a crowd; standing 6’6″, shaved bald as a cue ball and sporting flashy high socks, he’s hard to miss. But more than that, he carries himself as a man with a much bigger responsibility than his employment in baseball. In an age when many ballplayers indulge themselves in the trappings of fame and fortune, when others search out drugs and doctors to keep them ahead of the game, Masterson’s devotion is clearly to God, before baseball, before any earthly pursuit. And that devotion in turn clearly guides his actions here, from his work to improve himself and his game to his influence on his teammates. Even as a fan, it’s hard to miss the joy and good will that radiate from him–even if he didn’t appear to be Mr. Clean incarnate, clean-scrubbed glowing aura and all.

Masterson’s pitching style–his heavy sinker, slider and changeup–has earned him comparisons to Derek Lowe, at least on the mound. Masterson was drafted by the Red Sox in 2006, pitching the rest of that summer in Lowell. He started 2007 in the winds of Lancaster but earned his promotion to Portland. It certainly seemed possible that Justin would start 2008 in Pawtucket, but for the moment he’s landed back atop Portland’s rotation. In any case, I’m sure it won’t be long before he finds himself on the mound at McCoy–and I hope it’s in the cards for him to pitch at Fenway sooner rather than later!

I managed a photo or two of Justin pitching at Futures at Fenway in 2006

but only caught him in the lineup in 2007.

In January 2008, Justin was part of the New Stars for Young Stars Jimmy Fund benefit.

He started the game in Fort Myers against Northeastern on February 28.

(I think Jed Lowrie is warning him that he could hurt his hamstrings dashing off the mound!)

Guess that one didn’t go where it was supposed to!

I’m thinking neither Justin nor Michael Bowden agrees with the call here…

On the railing with Craig Hansen.

With Coco Crisp and Joe Thurston, smiles all around!

Justin also pitched on March 7… in the sunlight this time, thanks!

By my last day in Florida, Justin had returned to the minor league camp, where I did get one last glimpse of him…

It’s a privilege to be able to root for a player who’s not only a talented pitcher but also a young man of great character. Any article on Justin I’ve read, any interview I’ve heard, any time I’ve seen him play or even just be around his teammates, I’ve been struck by his smile and by the way goodness and honor surround him. During the January events, Justin signed a few photos for me, always citing Philippians 4:13. But one can look a few verses earlier for a message equally appropriate:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be
any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and
heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

March 25, 2008

A quick sampling from Spring Training 2008!

The first real win is in the books, and my login here finally works again! Thought I’d celebrate by posting a few smiles I captured down in Fort Myers this spring…

Dave Pauley, cheerful even between laps.

Brandon Moss, one of today’s heroes, shares a laugh with one of the college players.

Manny Delcarmen.

Even Mike Timlin smiles!

Javier Lopez, Kyle Snyder, and Bryan Corey make light work of shagging BP flies.

Jacoby Ellsbury.

Jason Varitek–not an easy smile to catch!

Julian Tavarez, whose inclinations toward on-field massage will have to be chronicled separately, and an amused Hideki Okajima.

Kyle Snyder, deserving of a second look!

Clay Buchholz, who was laughing as MDC teased the fans with a ball.

Jed Lowrie. (I can’t put all my smiling photos of Jed here; I’d run out of room.)

Finding himself between two of the best smiles on the roster–Coco Crisp and Justin Masterson–I’m sure Joe Thurston had no chance at all to stay solemn.