Opening day

So here we are at Fenway Park for the first time (at least for a game) since Game 2 of the World Series. It's a bit of a different feeling than that October day, though the temperature might not be all that far off.

Though a bit chilly, it's beautiful and sunny for the ring ceremony and the tangle with the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers are now on the field taking batting practice, and the Sox have finished theirs. It was a very quiet pregame clubhouse, with few players coming through.

But you can bet they are excited to start the season at Fenway, as well as to get all this pageantry over. Baseball players are certainly creatures of habit, and all the ceremonies have taken a little bit out of their routines. Terry Francona, for instance, cited Friday's ceremony at Rogers Centre as being a slight inconvenience. Both teams were kept in the dark (literally) for about 20 minutes while the Blue Jays honored Robby Alomar.

That won't be a problem at Fenway, where, as I mentioned, the sun is streaming into the park. And a ceremony at home, honoring you, is always much easier to take. But they'll be happy to have it all done.