Apr 6, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
(11) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning on opening day at Citizens bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5) Opening Day
Evidence, as if it was needed, that you should probably wait a few weeks or so before making any rash judgments and/or bragging on the internet about a team’s worth.
The Red Sox won 8-0 with two homers from Dustin Pedroia, a homer and a Grand Slam from Hanley Ramirez and another homer from Mookie Betts. Clay Buchholz threw seven innings of three hit ball and the bullpen came in and finished the job. That’s a pretty good start right there. OK so it was against the Phillies and honestly, Johnny Gomes would fancy his chances pitching a shutout inning or two. On top of that, Cole Hamels was having a shaky, to say the least, start to the season and was going to show the susceptibility to the long ball in more outings thereafter. Even so, at the time we didn’t know this at all.
The Phillies tanking quite so majestically as they did was a surprise to many, their owners included, despite the downward trend they’ve sleepwalked into over recent years. This really did seem like justification for all the moves made by now former Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington and his front office made over the offseason. We had power bats that would make it rain at the drop of a helmet (Hanley ended up doing much of the latter, though not so much the former), a lights out bullpen and a rotation that was at least capable enough behind such enormous offensive potential.
We look back now, chuckle at the naivety and marvel at just how different and indeed older that Opening Day line-up was. But back then, the excitement was all the more so tangible.
Next: Brock Holt hits for the cycle