Some noteworthy stories from around the web for Red Sox fans:
- Of 929 matchups at Fenway since 1914, Monday’s was just the 33rd time the Orioles have shut out the Red Sox at home, and the first time since September 24, 2000. It’s a game best forgotten. Still, WEEI’s Alex Speier has some worthwhile thoughts about what that game can tell us about 2015.
- The 2015 Red Sox schedule was released this week. It’s a later start than usual, with Boston opening in a National League matchup vs the Phillies on April 6. It’s the first Opening Day between these two clubs since the Red Sox faced the then Philadelphia Athletics on April 19, 1949—a 3-2 Phillies win. Some other notes on the 2015 schedule. You can download a printable version of the 2015 Red Sox schedule, too.
- Even a New York newspaper paused to praise a 12-year-old Red Sox fan this week who did an unselfish thing: he decided he’d rather make a little girl happy than take home a ball from the game. “Well, I’ve seen people do it before and I thought it was a nice thing,” he said. “And it’s good to make people happy.”
And a bonus,
- MLB exec Joe Torre issued a memo to umpires and all 30 clubs clarifying Rule 7:13 on collisions at the plate. While the new rule for 2014 has not been without controversy, Torre noted that it has achieved its primary objective: “MLB has experienced virtually no collisions at the plate in 2014, and not one catcher has suffered a concussion or otherwise has been injured as a result of a collision.”