“Boston is the best city to play baseball in the entire nation,” Red Sox pitcher Kyle Snyder announced to a sea of feverish hometown fans gearing up for what they hope will be a long playoff season yesterday. The Red Sox clinched the American League East for the first time since 1995 this weekend, and Red Sox Nation celebrated in kind, flooding City Hall Plaza yesterday afternoon for Rally Monday — something that’s become almost an annual tradition for Boston sports fans in recent years. Boston officials doffed Red Sox gear to join the team in celebrating its fourth postseason appearance in the last five years, as well as acknowledging the tremendous support from fans before the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim invade Boston on Wednesday. “It’s great to see all the fans out on the road. Are we going to see you all in Anaheim?” asked relief pitcher Javy Lopez, eliciting a roar from the crowd. Though the 2004 and 2005 rallies took place at Fenway Park, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he was happy to stage the event downtown, where anyone could attend. A number of special guests from the 2007 AL East champs joined Menino, including principal owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino, Manager Terry Francona in addition to musical performances by the Dropkick Murphys and the Standells, whose songs blare over Fenway Park speakers at every home game. Team spokesman Dr. Charles Steinberg said that he hoped Rally Monday further excited fans who hung onto the regular season’s every pitch. “We are hoping that people are united in celebration as we look forward to the postseason and be behind the team, and root them on,” he said. “They’re just a baseball team by what they do. The fans put so much emotion into the team that we end up allowing the team to affect moods individually and civic culture collectively. “For every person, for every family, they have their own stories as to why they love the Boston Red Sox,” he continued. Clad head to toe in Sox attire, Nelson Zapata of Marywood said he supports the Sox through thick and thin. “I’m always a Red Sox fan,” he said. “We gotta stand for them. I’m here supporting the team that’s going all the way.” Susan Lovell of Derry, N.H., who said she has been a fan since the Sox’ 1967 “Impossible Dream” season, also said she hopes the Sox will be playing into late October. “They’ve come this far and have done this well,” Lovell said. “I absolutely think they’re going to win the World Championship.” “She does too,” she added, pointing to her samoyed husky who was sporting a Sox visor and handkerchief.
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