The Sun (Lowell)

Another virus victim: Seeing Fenway Park

- By Bruce Castleberr­y

Right-hander Ryan Weber

It was Aug. 1, 2001, a sunny, intends to secure his place in warm Wednesday at Fenway the Red Sox starting rotation

Park for an ESPN game between through a very simplistic apthe hometown Sox and the visitproac­h. ing Anaheim Angels. Weber got his first audition

It was my first trip to Fenway since the suspension of spring

… it was my first trip to Boston, training in March during Satactuall­y. Fenway was the reason urday afternoon’s intrasquad my (eventual) wife and I drove scrimmage at Fenway Park. down from Montreal, where she “I think I can be a starter and lived. I can go through a whole sea

Going to Fenway is for a baseson and make 30 some-odd ball fan a “checklist” experience. starts for a major league team

It’s probably a sacred rite of pasand be effective,” said Weber. sage here, and that is complete“I plan on getting better and ly understand­able. Fenway is better and sharper and sharpthe FIRST house that Ruth er. I’m learning my body now built. and how it’s going to react and

Sports fans have things they how my pitches are going to rewanna see. The stadiums are act. part of the experience, although “It’s a 60-game season now. initially that experience didn’t But I’m going out there every include luxury suites. The expefive days and feeling what my Sox, Weber was a journeyman rience then did include obbody gives me and how my trying to find a spot on the structed-view seats and trough pitches are going to work and staff, most likely in middle relief.urinals,though.howamigoin­gtobeeffec­tive

But every sport has its that day.” Weber saw his fortunes shrines masqueradi­ng as stadiBefor­e arriving at his second change drasticall­y when the

spring training with the Red

Ryan Weber believes the right mix of his five pitches will allow him to break through in the

Red Sox rotation this season.

 ?? FILE PHOTO ?? The opening of Fenway Park is seen in 1912, with a current view seen below. It is disappoint­ing that fans likely won’t be able to make memories at the historic park this year due to the coronaviru­s.
FILE PHOTO The opening of Fenway Park is seen in 1912, with a current view seen below. It is disappoint­ing that fans likely won’t be able to make memories at the historic park this year due to the coronaviru­s.
 ?? MATT STONE / BOSTON HERALD ??
MATT STONE / BOSTON HERALD
 ?? MATT STONE / BOSTON HERALD FILE ??
MATT STONE / BOSTON HERALD FILE

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