Got to the ballpark a little later today due to the requisite breakfast stop at the Dunkin’ Donuts that’s around the corner from the ballpark. Living on the West Coast we’re isolated from DD, and there’s no that coffee tastes better. But we were clearly not the only Sox fans who needed their DD fix before the game…the place was packed with “B” hats. The scalpers have also figured this out. There were about four or five of them hanging out there waiting for the poor saps who show up without tickets. Good thing to remember if I’m one of those poor saps next time.

Not much was going on on the field when we got there, and since today’s game versus the Twins was a split-squad game, the clubhouse was pretty barren too. I heard that Bartolo Colon threw another side session today which I’d believe, he was walking around the clubhouse with an ice-pack on his shoulder.

As much fun as meeting some of the Sox players was yesterday, that can’t compare with today’s excitement. My Dad and I grabbed an open booth in the press box to watch the game and none other than the great Peter Gammons decided to join us in the booth to watch the game. He’s got to be the friendliest reporter I’ve ever met and was happy to talk baseball with us for six innings. The stories he’s got on people will just blow you away. I’ll even defer to his belief that following Dustin Pedroia around with a camera would make a better reality show than Clay Buchholz training at Josh Beckett’s house during the offseason.

But short of watching a game with my Dad, I can’t think of any better way to watch a game than with a running commentary from Gammons (and yes, I got both!). It’s like having the greatest color commentator of all time, but only for smart fans. For example, when Papelbon came into the game we were talking about his new $775k deal. Gammons give us this tidbit: Papelbon has the lowest ERA ever for a pitcher who’s pitched more than 150 innings. Funny how those types of interesting useful notes don’t come out of McCarver’s mouth. McCarver would have just reminded us that Papelbon looks mean when he pitches.

Because Gammons wasn’t cool enough for one game, Larry Lucchino came in to chat with Gammons. Lucchino seemed very friendly, and contrary to all the negative accounts you may read online, I’d be happy to be a character witness for him. (Sorry, nothing too funny or exciting from talking with him.)

As for the game itself, Buchholz looked bad from the first pitch when he nailed the batter with a fastball and gave up two home runs in two pitches later in the inning. Paps couldn’t care less about this game and didn’t seem to give a shit until he put runners at 1st and 3rd with one out. Okajima gave up one hit, but a bad error forced him to give up an unearned run. It’s a good thing they’ve got another month before the games count, because the pitching I’ve seen from the Sox so far has been less than impressive. On the flipside some guy name Liriano pitched to his first live batters since Tommy John surgery and looked GOOD.

Even though it means nothing, I can’t remember a game where I learned more. Sitting with your old man and possibly the biggest and most knowledgeable fan of the game is every dorky baseball nut’s dream.