No Red Sox Home Opener Expected But Yet Another Bad Sign

Yesterday was supposed to be, at least here in New England, the true sign that spring has arrived -Baseball returning to Fenway Park. Optimism runs wild. But this year is unlike any before. Obviously, the Red Sox home opener did not take place. And, ironically, that home opener would not have taken place anyway as, appropriately enough, rain and cold dominated yesterday’s local weather.

If the world’s landscape was not being altered by the dangerous coronavirus and the weather had cooperated, what would yesterday’s Red Sox home opener have looked like? First off, you can bet that despite this year’s low expectations, all of Boston’s big wigs would still have shown up as much to be seen as to watch this year’s edition of the Red Sox. They would have been surprised.

If baseball was happening, the Red Sox would have already played seven games, four in Toronto, three in Baltimore. Let’s say they split their four games in Toronto and took two out of three from perennial AL East last place finisher Baltimore. The Red Sox would already be trailing the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in the standings. Realistic Red Sox fans know that this could get worse, since last year with Mookie Betts and David Price the Red Sox finished 19 games behind the Yankees.

Had there been a home opener, the Fenway faithful would have probably gotten their first in-person look at new acquisition Martin Perez. Perez, who turns 29 tomorrow, is a left-handed, starting pitcher from Venezuela, who last season had a 10 win/7 loss record for the Minnesota Twins. Perez may have been the Red Sox biggest off season acquisition. He comes with a payroll friendly contract of $5.5 million with a club option for $6 million in 2021.

Red Sox fans would have also gotten their first look at another Venezuela product, second baseman Jose Peraza. Signed in this Red Sox off season of ‘payroll cutback’ philosophy, Peraza is on the books for just $3 million in 2020. The Red Sox hope the 26-year-old Peraza, who played for the Cincinnati Reds last year, will return to his 2018 form when he hit .288.

The other newcomer Red Sox fans would have gotten their first in-person look at is 31-year-old right fielder Kevin Pillar, who last year hit .259 for Toronto and San Francisco. Pillar will be keeping right field warm for Alex Verdugo, who is recovering from a stress fracture in his back. Verdugo, who is another Venezuelan product (do you see a trend here?), is all the Red Sox have to show, so far anyway, in the Mookie Betts/David Price deal with the Dodgers.

These new right fielders will be the toughest transition by far for Red Sox fans to make. You don’t just move on from a former MVP in Mookie Betts, who most people agree is one of the five best players in the game. This will take years for Red Sox nation to adjust to – a lot of years!

The Red Sox almost always build in a day off after their home opener as a potential raindate if the home opener is rained out, which brings us to today. It is raining even more today here in New England with temperatures in the 40’s once again. This would lead us to a possible doubleheader on Saturday. That actually sounds exciting.

The reality of it all is that we will not see Major League Baseball for at least two more months. We all know that there are many more important things to concern ourselves with right now. Baseball would be a nice diversion and still can be as we discuss what might happen. In the meantime, stay safe and at home as you think about what hopefully will be more pleasant times ahead.