After crushing Northeastern and BC yesterday, the Red Sox take the field tonight against their first Grapefruit League foe of the 2010 Spring Training. Tonight the Red Sox will take on their Spring Training rival and fellow Fort Myers resident, the Minnesota Twins. It will be the first of 7 meetings between these two clubs, both with a focus on winning the coveted Major’s Cup. Or not.
The winner of the Major’s Cup is declared the best team in Fort Myers, FL and has bragging rights for an entire season. The entirely symbolic award has been won by the Red Sox for the past 3 years and the team is hoping to continue the streak at all costs this year. Or not. The Cup is fun for the fans and players to joke about and adds a layer of intrigue to Spring Training games that is often missing this time of the year.
Unless you are a minor league baseball follower, by the time most Spring Training games reach the 4th inning, there isn’t a single recognizable name in the lineup. Giving these players the chance work on their game on the field and show the organization their ability is fantastic for scouts and team management, but creates little excitement for the fans. Hence, the creation of the Major’s Cup.
Ok, I’m just messing around, but there is a certain sense of momentum and pride that comes from taking home the hardware before the season even begins. All baseball players are by nature competitive people who are driven to win. In Spring Training, some players are competing for roster spots, but most are lacking the push to compete at the highest level. The Mayor’s Cup provides that push, even if it is a joke.
Whether you feel it is just a joke with no significance, or you are rooting hard for the Sox to kill the Twins, the Mayor’s Cup is great for Spring Training. The quest for 4 straight begins tonight under the lights at City of Palms Park. Let the real exhibition games begin.
Tonight’s Lineup – City of Palms Park, 7:05pm (lineups courtesy of Boston.com)
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 1B
Beltre 3B
Scutaro SS
Hermida RF
Reddick CF
Brown C
Pitching: Josh Beckett followed by Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard, Ramon Ramirez, Brian Shouse, Scott Atchison and Joe Nelson.
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