WooSox open season Friday: '9 things you should know'
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For Worcester Red Sox fans, the winter might seem a little shorter, with the season's start date — March 31 — the earliest in team history, dating to the Pawtucket days.
WooSox vs. Syracuse Mets
The first pitch of the season's first game at Polar Park will be at 4:05 p.m. Friday, March 31. The Syracuse Mets are in the city for three games, with another 4:05 start on Saturday and a 1:05 first pitch on Sunday.
Looks like the starting pitcher will be Garrett Whitlock, a right-hander for the Boston Red Sox who had hip surgery last September. He figures to be part of the big-league rotation before long.
After a day off Monday, the WooSox will play a six-game series at Buffalo. The Bisons also open Friday, against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Warm up (but not in the bullpen)
Fans at games early in the season, when the ballpark can get a little chilly, will be able to warm up at hot spots throughout the park. It's a new feature this season.
Heaters have been added throughout the concourse and in several of the group venues, such as the Hanover Deck, Shaw's Home Bullpen Terrace and the new Fan Deck. The latter spot, beyond the outfield wall, includes four large canopies, providing shelter from rain and protection from summer sun.
Parking in the Canal District
The main parking garage on Green Island Boulevard, across Madison Street from the ballpark, is a good option, a long fly ball from the main gate. There are 350 spots. Cost is $20. About a dozen other parking lots are within a short walk of the ballpark.
More: Parking at Polar Park
Shuttle service in and around the Canal District has been expanded for this season. There are five Blue Woo shuttles, up from two a year ago, that will provide free lifts from outer parking lots.
The Madison Street Lot, just west of Southbridge Street, will have $10 parking this season, down from $15 a years ago, according to the WooSox. A free shuttle will be available.
Don't blame the ump!
The International League has adopted a few new rules this season, notably the automatic ball-strike system (ABS). The sytem uses tracking technology to determine if a pitch is in the strike zone.
In a nutshell, an umpire will continue to take his place behind the plate, but the ABS will be the one making the call. The information will be instantaneously relayed to the ump, and he'll motion whether the pitch was a ball or strike.
This setup will be used for games Monday through Thursday, according to the WooSox. On weekends, the old-school approach, with the ump making the call, will be used. However, the ABS will be in place, should a team want to formally challenge the ump's call.
Among other changes:
Larger bases: Each base will be bigger, from 15 to 18 square inches. The shorter distance will likely result in more offense, while also cutting down on collisions and injuries.
Defensive positioning: The traditional defensive shift is no longer allowed. Team are now required to have two infielders on each side of second base.
If you can't make it
All 150 games this season will be broadcast on 98.9 FM radio, while the 75 home games will be shown on NESN+ or NESN. Some road games will be delivered on television.
Tyler Murray and Jim Cain handle the radio duties, with Mike Antonellis, Jay Burnham and Cooper Boardman, as well as Murray and Cain, sharing duties on the television side.
For radio, the flagship is Nash Icon, 98.9, with the network including 100.1 FM, 830 AM and 1380 AM (Rhode Island).
Meantime, if you're at the park and don't like to miss a pitch, the team has installed large-screen television monitors in the main restrooms.
A great day
The Throwback Thursdays event will begin April 13 with an appearance by Orlando Cabrera. Boston Red Sox fans will recall Cabrera was the shortstop on the curse-breaking team that captured the 2004 World Series.
Lou Merloni will be the guest on Thursday, April 27, which happens to be Framingham Night at Polar Park. Merloni, who played for the Red Sox from 1998 to 2003, grew up in Framingham and is now a color analyst for NESN.
Food for thought
The team is pushing its roster of new food items, notably clam chowder and lobster rolls. Tacos are also part of the added offerings. On Tuesdays, of course.
After getting feedback from fans (kids?), chicken tenders and french fries have been added to the in-seat service menu.
The week of May 14 will be peanut-free week at the ballpark, for those with allergies. No peanuts or peanut products will be provided.
See when your town takes over the ballpark
Twenty-three communities will be in the spotlight this season as part of the team's Town Takeover promotion. Here's the lineup:
April 12: Spencer Night vs. Columbus (Guardians)
April 26: Shrewsbury Night vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees)
April 27: Framingham Night vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees)
April 30: Grafton Day vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees)
May 3: Princeton Night vs. Buffalo (Blue Jays)
May 7: Boylston Day vs. Buffalo (Blue Jays)
May 16: Clinton Night vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies)
May 19: Natick Day vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies)
June 21: Auburn Night vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies)
June 22: Oxford Night vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies)
July 8: Springfield Day vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees)
July 27: Rutland Night vs. Rochester (Nationals)
Aug. 10: Charlton Night vs. Buffalo (Blue Jays)
Aug. 11: Southbridge Night vs. Buffalo (Blue Jays)
Aug. 15: Sturbridge Night vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees)
Sept. 3: Paxton Day vs. Norfolk (Orioles)
Berlin: Date TBD
Fitchburg: Date TBD
Holden: Date TBD
Leicester: Date TBD
Leominster: Date TBD
Millbury: Date TBD
Uxbridge: Date TBD
Fireworks after the game
There are 14 postgame fireworks shows slated for this season. Each show, sponsored by UniBank, has a theme:
March 31: Modern Millennial Classics
April 14: Caribbean and Beyond
April 28: Surfin’ in Margaritaville
May 5: Hollywood’s Greatest Hits
May 19: Sparks Fly at Polar Park
June 9: Classic Rock
June 23: Motown & More
July 4: Patriotic UniBank Fireworks
July 7: Oh So ’80s
July 28: Get Jiggy with the ’90s
Aug. 11: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Best of the British Invasion
Aug. 18: ’70s Serenade
Sept. 1: Country Classics
Sept. 15: Love is All You Need
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WooSox open season Friday: '9 things you should know'
