Focus On: The Red Sox Rolling Rally--Papelbon Included!

Bostonist saw today's "Rolling Rally," featuring the players riding duck boats across the city and relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon dancing to the Dropkick Murphys, from two different vantage points--near the Common and at the Hynes Convention Center. Everyone clearly enjoyed themselves, especially Papelbon:

Wherever you were along the parade route, it was simply madness. Of course, the Red Sox faithful turned out in their jerseys. Hundreds of little kids skipped school. College students sat down on the sidewalk to scrawl out illegible messages on posterboard.

Plenty of those who had to work managed to sneak out or stare from their windows over Boylston Street. A few clever suits were busy packing in ten-martini lunches at the bistros along the sidewalk and gazing out at the rabble. Construction workers at the Suffolk building site took a break and stood on their equipment to get a better view of the action.

When people weren't yelling "Yankees suck!" all conversation was about the players, particularly Jacoby Ellsbury. Straight women were raving about him. Bostonist overheard one college student tell a friend, "We should draw a picture of a taco and put Ellsbury on it with the words 'We want to eat you!'" Another woman told a friend, "I hope Jacoby remembered it's our wedding day."

But the loudest chant of all was the following: "RE-SIGN LOWELL!"

The chant was at its loudest when general manager Theo Epstein passed by in his duck boat. Perhaps he'll get the message.

What Red Sox Rally Wrapup would be complete without a mention of Manny Ramirez' fashion choices? He chose not to go with the obvious Red Sox gear, Bostonist must admit that his beige jumpsuit getup was actually kind of cool:

Photos of Jonathan Papelbon getting his groove on and Manny Ramirez firing up the crowd by C. Fernsebner. Photos of Jacoby Ellsbury and of Julio Lugo, an unidentified woman, and Mike Lowell by Caroline Roberts. You can see all of Fernsebner's Rally photos here. Keep checking Bostonist because we'll have more photos to come.