One hundred years is a long time for anything. But in the era of luxury boxes and retractable roofs, 100 years of Major League Baseball at one stadium seems unthinkable.

But that’s exactly what Boston and all of New England will be celebrating this afternoon, as the Red Sox host the New York Yankees on the 100th anniversary of the opening of Fenway Park. On that same day in 1912, Tiger Stadium in Detroit opened, but only Fenway is left standing to mark the occasion.

The view from my seat at a Fenway Park game in 2007.

Just think for a second all of the game’s greats that have played at Fenway: Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle … it goes on and on and on to today’s greats.

And the best part about Fenway is you can feel that history the second you walk through the gate and into the stadium. Literally, you get goose bumps. If you don’t, then there’s something wrong with you.

I had the pleasure of attending a regular-season game at Fenway with my youngest brother back in 2007. The whole trip was amazing, but of course Fenway is what I best remember.

We had tickets to a July night game against the Kansas City Royals. Being as we were pretty much free from obligation all afternoon, we headed down to the Kenmare Square area early and took a tour of the monument to baseball’s past.

When you’re approaching the stadium, you’re immediately struck by the fact that the outside doesn’t look like a stadium at all. At least not the ones I’m used to seeing. The whole place just kind of jumps out at you when you’re next to it.

I remember vividly walking through that gate and heading up the concrete ramps that took you to the second level of the park, then walking through with the tour group until the field was right there in front of you, Green Monster and all. Green everywhere really. Green walls, green grass … you name it.

The tour was an education, but the game that night was where the fun really kicked into gear. The city blocks outside Fenway were hopping before that midseason game against the Royals. This was a whole ‘nother level of baseball fandom that I simply wasn’t used to yet.

A photo taken outside one of the gates at Fenway Park.

It was the first time I had attended a major league game outside of the Metrodome. And it was actually kind of odd at first to watch a big league game without a roof above you. Can you believe that? I imagine the reverse happened a lot when outsiders walked into the Metrodome, but it was true for me anyway.

Then you get that hot dog and beer, sit back in your seat – ours had been in the park since the 1930s – and watch the game just like fans had generations ago. Sure, there’s a pillar that obstructs your view a bit. But hey, it’s Fenway.

I remember the seventh-inning stretch, then the eighth-inning singing of “Sweet Caroline,” at the time not realizing that happens every single night at the park.

And when that game ended – the Royals won 9-3 (box score here) – I didn’t want to leave, knowing full well it could be a while before I get back there again.

I’ve been to a lot of great parks. Wrigley Field, the new Busch Stadium and Target Field to name a few. But Fenway is still my favorite. Why? I don’t know. Just felt like it.

I leave you with a video of the “Sweet Caroline” song I found on YouTube. Think it’s actually from the game I was at.

Francisco Liriano’s start to the season has been a familiar one. And that’s exactly what Twins fans were hoping not to see.

Due to be a free agent after the season, Liriano teased many baseball experts with a dominant spring training. In seven starts in Florida, the southpaw had a 2.33 ERA, posting a 33-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 27 innings.

Fast forward to the third inning Tuesday night in the Bronx, as Liriano leaves the mound during the third inning. His regular-season stats to date: 3 starts, 11.91 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 8 Ks, 9 BBs, OBA .407.

Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano. Associated Press photo

So what happened?

For myself, it wasn’t so much Liriano’s spring stats that had me believing that he could have a huge year this season. It was the way in which he was pitching.

A couple of his spring starts were on TV, either on Fox Sports North or MLB Network. And I was impressed with his propensity to throw first- and second-pitch strikes. He was constantly ahead in the count. I remember in one of his last spring starts, Liriano threw like 80 percent of all of his pitches in that start for strikes.

A closer look at his regular-season numbers shows that he is falling behind hitters now at a greater pace than he ever has. According to FanGraphs, his first-pitch strike percentage is just 42.9. That’s WAY too low for a major league pitcher. And it’s not hard to tell looking at Liriano’s numbers in that category that his success is tied to that number. In his dominant year of 2006, he threw 61 percent of first pitches for strikes. In his bounce-back year of 2010, that number was at 62 percent.

His swinging strike percentage is also way down, at just 9.5 percent. His career high in that number was 18.7 percent as a rookie. In 2010, he led the majors at 12.4 percent. Of course, it’s much more difficult to get swinging strikes when a starter falls behind in counts and is forced to throw fastballs.

So it’s not just the production that’s changed for Liriano since the Twins left spring training. Something about his make-up seems to be missing in the regular season, and he’d better find it soon if he wants to cash in when the offseason arrives.

RADIO PLUG

I will be joining host Dom Izzo on Dizzo’s Den from 6:30 to 7 p.m. tonight on 970-AM WDAY and www.wday.com. We’ll be talking Twins and everything Major League Baseball. Tune in!

Opening day took another step toward becoming reality on Sunday, as the Twins – for all intents and purposes – finalized their roster for Friday’s opener at Baltimore.

Reliever Casey Fien, catcher J.R. Towles, infielder Brian Dozier and outfielder Brian Dinkelman were the last players cut from Twins camp.

Their departures leave 27 players still on the roster. And with Scott Baker opening the season on the disabled list and Jason Marquis to be placed on a family emergency list, there are 25 active players remaining.

Here’s the roster barring injuries or trades before the opener (according to my running tally at home):

• Pitchers: Nick Blackburn, Liam Hendriks, Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano
• Relievers: Alex Burnett, Jared Burton, Matt Capps, Brian Duensing, Jeff Gray, Matt Maloney, Glen Perkins, Anthony Swarzak.
• Catchers: Joe Mauer, Ryan Doumit
• Infielders: Jeff Burroughs, Jamey Carroll, Alexi Casilla, Luke Hughes, Justin Morneau, Chris Parmelee, Danny Valencia
• Outfielders: Trevor Plouffe, Ben Revere, Denard Span, Josh Willingham

A few thoughts:

• Burton and Burroughs both make the team as non-roster invitees. That may have been a more common occurrence during the 1990s, but I don’t think there have been too many times in recent years that multiple NRIs made the team in spring training.
• The Twins won’t need a fifth starter the first time through the rotation thanks to an off-day. That’s why there are just four starters above. Baker is expected to be back in time for the fifth starter’s turn in mid-April.
• While the roster is set, there are still a couple of question marks, notably who will get the starts in right field. Revere would provide great range, but Doumit’s bat is far better. And there’s always the possibility that Doumit plays first and Parmelee goes to right, but my guess is that would go the other way around.