First of all: These "talking heads" of sports don't know anything about baseball, let alone running a team. THAT'S why they're not in baseball. John Lester's people pulled an old PR stunt saying they'd take a "home town discount." But they never mentioned a dollar figure. When th Sox made the same offer to him that they had made to the last #1 pitcher who uttered those same words...THEY were insulted, but still never mentioned a figure of their own. The fact of the matter was, and I'm sure the Sox already knew it, that "Back door Theo" had already made the deal for his best friend to come to the Cubs. It was so obvious that not even Las Vegas would make book on it.
Secondly: Pitching is not the whole game. You still win games by SCORING MORE RUNS than the other team. The pitchers they picked up in the off season all had good track records. The most important is not games won but innings pitched and ERA. Right now they have perhaps the best overall lineup since the 1975, or even '78 Sox. AND they have depth as well as youth and athleticism.
Thirdly: The mal-contents are out of the clubhouse and leadership is back. Hopefully David Ortiz will not start moaning about his contract again. Pedroia is healthy so he'll get back to the leadership
role he occupied before last season.
Lastly: Clay Bucholtz gave a big indication of how good he can be with his shutout performance against the Phillies. Three hits, no runs, only one walk and 94 pitches in seven all-star innings. Sure looks like a good start for our #1 pitcher. Maybe the brass knew something the talk shows didn't. AND, best of all, John Lester lost his opener giving up three runs in four inning for the Cubs. Gee, he became the Cubs #1 pitcher and couldn't go more than FOUR innings. Don't tell me that Theo may have made another mistake spending somebody elses millions on an exorbitant contract??
Pardon my sarcasm but I'm a lifelong Sox fan and remember the days when the talk shows weren't on a "doom and gloom" kick. Wish Johnny Most were still around and doing baseball. (By the way Johnny DID baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers before he came to the Celtics. In a later edition of "Boston Sports Stories" I'll give you some instances of how great he was at baseball, too.
And starting the season off with a display of both power hitting AND pitching sure puts a smile on your face and a bounce in your step for THIS baseball season.
NOTE and a great memory:---Mookie Betts is the third youngest Sox player to hit a home run on opening day for the Sox. The youngest Sox rookie to do it, as everyone over 50 knows, was the great TONY CONIGLIARO. I was at that game and it's always been one of my most cherished memories.
If Tony had been able to play an entire career he would definitely be in the Hall of Fame today and would occupy a space in Boston sports history along with Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird as well as Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. ("If not for Cousy there IS no Boston Celtics": Walter Brown.) Look in the archives (of this site) for the story, "Bob Cousy, the NBA's first super star."
Back to the Red Sox---I picked them to win the world series four weeks ago.....Stay tuned.......