L.A. pinball

We're still thawing from yesterday. It looks like there was a lot of fun in warmer Los Angeles, where the Red Sox and Dodgers re-enacted the mid-20th century when baseball was played in the Los Angeles Coliseum with a 60-foot net serving as the left field wall 200 feet from home plate.

The Globe explains the craziness:

The Dodgers didn't even bother with a left fielder. Torre went with a five-man infield. Francona had Bobby Kielty in left but when Rafael Furcal led with a double down the line, the ball was fielded in the corner by shortstop Julio Lugo. It really had the feel of backyard Wiffle ball. Kevin Youkilis dropped a 300-foot homer over the Screen Monster in the third. In the fourth, Jacoby Ellsbury was caught stealing, 2-8, center fielder Andruw Jones taking the throw. Pretty sure we had the largest crowd wave in baseball history, including players on both benches.

Other than the wave - how could my team participate in such a putrid activity? - sounds like good times. Proceeds went to charity. Even some old friends and foes made appearances:

The Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra addressed the crowd, then their manager, Joe Torre, took the mike and said, "There's not a better way to do this than against the Boston Red Sox ... excuse me, the world champion Boston Red Sox. For some reason, it doesn't bother me to say that anymore."

In Philly land: Phil Sheridan and Jim Salisbury have good reads that explain why I neither drink the Phillies Kool-Aid nor write off their chances of repeating. And the Inquirer's opening day countdown feature on Cole Hamels softens my stance on the outspoken punk:

Because Hamels has less than two years of big-league service and figures to become a multimillionaire very soon, his remarks drew negative comments from fans at a few of his exhibition appearances.

"That's over and done with," Hamels said of his contract snit. "I said what was on my mind early on, and that was it. Now I'm back to focusing on baseball and what I need to do to help this team get back to the postseason."