AP Blog: New sights at old Fenway

America's pastime is back and AP sportswriters will be filing periodic, behind-the-scenes reports from major league cities:

MONDAY, April 10:

BOSTON -- There were plenty of new sights at Fenway Park on Monday as workmen put the finishing touches on the old ballpark in preparation for the Boston Red Sox home opener Tuesday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.

New ads were posted on the left-field wall. Seats behind home plate that had been enclosed by glass as premium seating are now open-air. And fans who usually doze off during a boring game now can stay awake with Dunkin Donuts coffee and other products that have been added to the fare at concessions stands.

There also was something old -- team president Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein sitting side-by-side at a news conference where David Ortiz's contract extension was announced. A strain in their relationship had contributed to Epstein's decision to step down on Oct. 31. He resumed his old job on Jan. 24 after discussions among Red Sox owners and management personnel.

But on Monday they were very close. At one point, Epstein even draped his left arm over Lucchino's chair. Both men smiled and were cheerful at the announcement, although they didn't address each other directly.

Principal owner John Henry even noted the rarity of Boston's brain trust -- owner Tom Werner also was there -- all being together in one spot. That's how important signing Ortiz is to the franchise.

"The significance is evident," Henry said. "You don't see the four of us sitting with anybody ever."

The signing of one of baseball's best hitters was a very happy day for the Red Sox. And Lucchino and Epstein shared in the joy.

--AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman

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FRIDAY, April 7:

BALTIMORE -- Covering baseball in April means bringing a heavy coat, an umbrella and a wool cap to the ballpark. Then you don't know if you'll use any of them or all of them.

Opening day at Camden Yards Monday was chilly. Opening night was downright freezing on Wednesday. Today, a cold rain pelted Baltimore for much of the day, leading me to believe tonight's game between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox might be postponed.

So, naturally it turned out to be a warm night. My winter coat remains hanging over the back of my chair while I watch a game the Orioles wish never began. Starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera issued six walks in the first inning, allowing Boston to score four runs on one hit.

It became 7-0 in the second inning. Not much of a game, but at least the weather's nice -- for now.

--AP Sports Writer Dave Ginsburg

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THURSDAY, April 6:

PEARL, Miss. -- This probably wasn't what injured Milwaukee Brewers ace Ben Sheets was expecting. Making a rehab start tonight for Double-A Huntsville, Sheets gave up one first-inning run after allowing hits to two of the Mississippi Braves' first three hitters, a result bound to get the attention of fantasy leaguers and Brewers fans alike.

Sheets settled down and had two strikeouts, showcasing excellent velocity on his fastball. He consistently reached the mid-90s and hit 96 mph once.

He threw 11 of his 14 second-inning pitches for strikes, with most hitting 93-94 mph, and has thrown 37 pitches through two innings. He's on about a 50-pitch limit.

So how'd the Braves manage a run against the two-time All-Star? The second hitter, Martin Prado, singled up the middle, stole second and scored when Yunel Escobar doubled down the right field line.

Sheets is rehabbing a strained muscle in his upper back, an injury he suffered in a spring training game March 9. He's expected to make another rehab start in the minors before joining Milwaukee.

--AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary

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TUESDAY, April 4:

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers made a few changes to further fancy up Miller Park in the offseason.

They might have made it a little too fancy.

After hearing grumbling that the new electronic out-of-town scoreboard on the left field wall can be distracting, Brewers manager Ned Yost said the team might ask to have the signs' wattage turned down slightly.

"We're still feeling some of these things out, trying to see if we need to make an adjustment," Yost said.

But Yost said he doesn't consider the new scoreboard a major problem -- heck, he says, it might even work out to the Brewers' advantage.

"Some of the stuff, if you get used to it, you can play (it) into a home field advantage," Yost said.

The Brewers also added a ribbon of LED advertising displays around the park's seating bowl, and there was speculation during Monday's season opener that Brewers left fielder Carlos Lee might have lost track of a fly ball because of the new signage.

But Lee said after the game that he instead lost the ball in the sunlight that peeks through transparent panels in the park's retractable roof.

Overall, Yost said he likes the improvements the team had made to the five-year-old park.

"It's beautiful," Yost said. "We've just got to get used to it, that's all."

--AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins

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SAN DIEGO -- Barry Bonds must not know what time zone he's in. Or maybe he forgot to read the TV listings in the paper.

While his reality show "Bonds on Bonds" was making its debut Tuesday on ESPN2, Bonds stretched out on a couch in the visiting clubhouse at Petco Park and watched the Red Sox-Rangers game.

An hour came and went. There were three major league games on various TVs, plus the women's national basketball championship. But no "Bonds on Bonds."

Asked why he didn't watch his own show, the slugger was his usual charming self.

"Did you see it on in here?" he replied.

Told that his manager, Felipe Alou, managed to find it on the TV in his office, Bonds repeated his question then offered this gem: "I thought it was on tonight."

Alou flipped through channels while talking to reporters some two hours before game time.

"I don't even know where ESPN is," the 70-year-old Alou said before stumbling across women in a hot tub on MTV2.

"I don't see Barry there," Alou said. "What is that? It's pretty good."

Alou finally found "Bonds on Bonds" on ESPN2 and watched for a minute before resuming baseball talk.

--AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson

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MONDAY, April 3:

BALTIMORE -- After watching about 20 spring training games that didn't really mean anything, I'm enjoying the change of pace known as opening day at Camden Yards.

The Baltimore Orioles aren't expected to do much this season, so this is probably their biggest game of the year. The game is officially a sellout, but there are plenty of empty seats in the upper deck because it's a bit chilly and there is a threat of rain.

The press box is jammed, though, filled with so-called news reporters who almost assuredly won't be back in 2006. Which is why I enjoy the second game of the season more than this one. That's the game that separates the real sports writers from those looking to do little more than spend the afternoon at the ballpark.

--AP Sports Writer Dave Ginsburg

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ARLINGTON, Texas -- While taking my 8-year-old son to school this morning, I mentioned that today is my favorite day of the sports calendar: Opening Day in baseball.

Zac isn't much of a sports fan, so he didn't understand. He asked why and I gave a general answer about the many neat things that make the day special.

Midway through the Rangers-Red Sox game -- and wishing Zac was here today -- I've come up with a few things I would've pointed out:

-- The "SOX WIN" license plate on the car in front of me belonged to a long-suffering Red Sox fan. Above it on the back windshield was a sticker that read: "Boston Red Sox, World Series Champions, 1918 2004"

-- That guy singing the national anthem was former country star Charley Pride, a longtime Rangers fan who curiously was wearing jersey No. 05 for the '06 opener. We only heard about the first verse of the anthem, though, because someone goofed on the timing and the flyover by four military planes ended up drowning out most of the rest of the song. (Too bad that didn't happen when two teenagers poorly sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch.)

-- The best sign that it's Opening Day: The pregame introduction of every player on both teams. The Rangers did something nice to honor hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who is away from the team while battling prostate cancer. His name was announced like everyone else and the big screen showed his jersey hanging in the dugout.

-- Cool things for a dad to teach his kid about: That C on the front of Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek's jersey means he's the team captain. And the reason Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler got a standing ovation for a simple single to right field was because it was the first hit of his career. And it came in his first at-bat, which is cool. That's why he got a standing ovation and why the ball was thrown into the dugout.

-- Zac's favorite color, red, was nearly lapped in the dot race. But, thanks to a silly new gimmick -- fans cheering each color to determine the winner -- red ended up charging from behind for the victory.

I'll tell him about it all tonight.

And then maybe we'll start planning on being in the stands together for next year's opener.

--AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron

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MILWAUKEE -- Sometimes it's hard to tell just what role Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio plays.

He isn't a towering, stoic presence in the locker room. He isn't loud or loquacious. He doesn't even look confident when answering questions, instead relying on a nervous smile.

But he's made every right move since taking over the Brewers before the start of the 2005 season. Sports Illustrated even recently tabbed him "The Savior" of the franchise.

That's not Attanasio, he insists.

He's just as happy staying behind the scenes and talking to fans about the team. Moreover, the Bronx-born Los Angeles investment banker who bought the club for $223 million from the Selig family has made all the right moves.

Attanasio truly loves Milwaukee, and compared it to a trip to Shea Stadium last year to watch the New York Mets with his wife, Debbie, where fans heckled the players so bad that she asked they be removed. That doesn't happen in the Brew City.

Attanasio is superstitious too.

He had his father sing the national anthem for the second straight season at their first home game because they won last year's home opener.

Attanasio says he has no desire to be more involved with the day-to-day operations of the club. Instead, he's left it in the hands of general manager Doug Melvin.

Melvin's patience and reluctance to pursue big name free agents who might result in bad contracts has allowed Attanasio to keep the role he's cherished the most -- fan.

--AP Sports Writer Colin Fly