Let's Go Fishing - a childhood fave for me and thousands of other kids

Playing “Let’s Go Fishing” with my favorite four-year-old (a cousin of my fiance’s) this New Year’s Day with the dull portion of the Winter Classic flickering in the background, the topic of conversation turned from what kindergarten would be like next year to the Boston Red Sox. Favorite Four-Year-Old, like every child born and raised in the Greater Boston area, understood that he was a Red Sox fan prior to understanding that hands were for picking things up, not chewing on.

Over the summer, Favorite-Four-Year-Old and I had played “Big Papi” and “Jason BAAAYYY” in his backyard – a catch-tag megamix named after his two favorite members of the Red Sox roster. This afternoon, I wondered if he knew what had conspired a few days before.

We held our faux primary colored fishing rods over the faux thrashing primary colored fish. I sighed, and asked the question that had to be asked. “Who is your favorite Red Sox player?”

Favorite Four Year Old’s head snapped up, forgetting about the fish. “Jason BAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!” he exclaimed, proudly, with a giant grin on his face. He quickly returned to faux-fishing.

I was left with a dilemma. Was I susposed to be the one to have the “free agency” talk with Favorite Four-Year-Old, or was this a talk that his father or grandfather needed to have with him? This was an important talk in the life of a young sports fan, and I felt that it needed to come from a close relative, and not just little ol’ me.

I looked around, trying to find Favorite Four-Year-Old’s father. He was busy in another room eating. His grandfather was no where in my sightline either. Favorite Four-Year-Old didn’t seem to sense the turmoil within me.

So I said nothing and set to not lose too poorly in “Let’s Go Fishing.” In that four-year-old’s world, Jason Bay could still be his favorite Red Sox player. If only just for one more day.

Last Monday was my birthday, and Gabe Kapler, my favorite baseball player of all time, unknowingly gave me a birthday gift.  How? Because on that day, without much fanfare,  Kapler signed with the defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays. I wasn’t sure if he would stay in baseball this year, so his signing with the Rays is a mighty fine birthday present.

The Rays added Kapler as insurance for center fielder BJ Upton, who some sportswriters speculate may not be ready for Opening Day due to his recovery from shoulder surgery. Kapler signed a one year, one million dollar contract with the Rays.

This is a great move for multiple reasons. One, because the Rays are a divisional opponent and thus will play the Boston Red Sox multiple times. Red Sox outfielder and my favorite Canadian baseball player Jason Bay and Gabe Kapler on the field at Fenway at the same time? That might be too much for me to handle. You will literally see my brain on favorite baseball player overload.  Sparks may actually shoot from my ears.

Additionally, the move allows Kapler, who is a California native, to play in a warm climate.  While he coached in a warm weather climate with Greenville in 2007, he hasn’t played in a warm weather climate for several years.

Will this allow for more shirtless photo ops, by chance?

Either way, this move by Kapler means that I will have to add to my ever-growing “Gabe Kapler T-Shirt Collection.”

My Gabe Kapler T-Shirt Collection. I'll soon add a Rays shirt to the mix.

I really think my fiance is sick of buying me a new Kapler shirt every year.  (Truth be told, I bought the first one myself.) Although, it does mean he doesn’t have to think that hard about an anniversary gift.

See, this is a win-win-win situation for all involved: Kapler extends his career for another year and gets to play someplace where he won’t worry about games in 40 degree weather. I get more opportunities to see Kapler play. And my fiance has his anniversary gift to me predetermined for another year.

That is, until this afternoon, when Manny Ramirez was involved in a three-way trade for everyone’s favorite Canadian baseball player.

Jason Bay, welcome to the Red Sox. I finally have another hottie outfielder to drool over. And, did I mention that he’s CANADIAN?!

Yes, I knew of Bay’s existence before today. It’s been a running joke between my boyfriend and those in my fantasy baseball league for a good two years that Bay is my second favorite baseball player solely based on the fact that he is Canadian. (In case you haven’t noticed from knowing me/reading previous entries, I’m obsessed with Canadian things. All born-and-bred Western New Yorkers are.) Never mind the fact that he’s not too shabby of an actual baseball player – 22 home runs already this year – what really matters is that he’s Canadian and somewhat pleasing on the eyes.

Times like these I am happy I work a few blocks away from Fenway Park, because I will be traveling down there early next week to procure a Jason Bay Red Sox shirt. It’s a rare occasion when a player you like ends up going to the team you root for – for example, the only time Steve Young was ever in a Bills uniform is whenever I use the “create a player” feature on older versions of Madden, and Hot Forward Who Cannot Be Named will probably never play for the Sabres, Bruins or Amerks. Therefore I’m going to milk this Bay-to-the-Sox for all its worth. He’s hot, he’s good, and he’s Canadian – what else do you want?!