In fact, as I write this, the former Beatle is probably rocking out to Hey Jude or Back in the USSR or wooing the crowd with another sublime version of Yesterday. Not that I'm bitter about not being there.
But after playing a legendary show at Shea Stadium back in 1965 with John, George and Ringo, McCartney has returned to the baseball stadium theme this time around, selling out the Mets' Citi Field last month before heading to the Hub.
In fact, Sir Paul spoke to the Boston Herald recently about playing America's Most Beloved Ballpark and his appreciation of baseball.
"(Saturday Night Live producer) Lorne Michaels took me to my first game years ago," he said. "It was a Yankees game, so I became a Yankees fan."
Ooooh, not quite the answer we were looking for.
"I know, man. But you killed them last year. Oh, wait. OK, I'm a Red Sox fan. That didn't sound too creepy did it? (Laughs)"
We'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
But his Fenway shows got me thinking … maybe there's a deeper baseball meaning to 10 of his hit songs, especially with regard to the Red Sox and the upcoming series at the new Yankee Stadium in New York.
10. We Can Work It Out
"Try to see it my way," Yankees manager Joe Girardi tells Red Sox first-base coach Tim Bogar. "Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?"
"Life is very short," Kevin Youkilis says to Joba Chamberlain, "and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend."
"While you see it your way," Jason Varitek informs Alex Rodriguez, "there's a chance that we might fall apart before too long."
Or can they work it out? Not likely.
9. Hello Goodbye
With Josh Beckett (sixth in the AL with 132 K's) set to start against the Yankees at the new Stadium on Friday and Jon Lester (third in the AL with 158) taking to the hill on Sunday, let's hope this is their approach to many of the Yankees batters.
"Hello, Derek Jeter."
Then after three strikes: "Goodbye."
8. Can't Buy Me Love
The Yankees have tried to buy themselves some love every offseason, and this one was no exception as they dropped $423.5 million to add CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett.
Say you don't need no diamond ring and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy.
Will their spending spree pay off in pinstriped postseason triumph? Can money buy King George another title? Only time will tell.
7. Let It Be
While the Red Sox went out and got slugging catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez at the trade deadline, the Yanks remained mostly quiet, adding only Jerry Hairston Jr. GM Brian Cashman obviously "whispered words of wisdom" and felt that letting his roster be was the wise move heading into the stretch run.
6. Blackbird
OK, this song is really for the Orioles (orioles are black birds, right?), from whom the Red Sox swept three games in Baltimore last weekend. But still, these lyrics are very appropriate, especially for young O's up-and-comers like Adam Jones and Matt Wieters:
Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly.
With things looking rather black for the Birds at 45-62 after Wednesday's loss to the Tigers, good luck learning to fly this season.
5. Get Back
With Andy Pettitte's amazing pickoff move, this will be Bogar's constant reminder to runners when the veteran lefty takes to the mound in the series finale on Sunday.
4. Band on the Run
On the flip side, with Jason Varitek's inability to throw out base stealers this season (he's caught just 13 of 82 so far), you'd have to think the Yankees will be taking off left and right on the 39-year-old backstop.
3. Carry That Weight
If ever there were a song perfect for David Ortiz, this would be it.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.
Not only does Big Papi occasionally have some trouble lugging around his 230-pound (cough) frame, but thanks to last week's revelations in the New York Times, he now has an emotional burden, a far heavier one, weighing him down.
2. Maybe I'm Amazed
While Papi has been under pressure to explain how he tested positive for PEDs back in 2003, the situation has seemed a lot less stressful for former Sox slugger Manny Ramirez.
Baby I'm a man and maybe I'm a lonely man
Who's in the middle of something
That he doesn't really understand.
And whether Manny understands what's going on or not, he's done a remarkable job of feigning ignorance and staying out of the negative spotlight. Of course, hitting .310 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in just 54 games helps with the fans.
1. Say Say Say
Before the Sox won it all in 2004, it had been 86 years since their last World Series title.
Through the years how can you stand to hear
My pleading for you, dear?
Now after Boston championships in '04 and '07, it's the Yankees who have the long drought, not having added to their record 26 crowns since 2000.
And as the 2009 season has progressed, both teams have shown signs of contending for another title.
Say, say, say what you want
But don't play games with my affection.
Sadly, I think that's just what the last eight weeks of the regular season are going to do.
