Rick Porcello's Red Sox debut -- and his grandfather

One unfortunate pitch cost him the game.  But what we saw is about what we can expect - how the Red Sox offense performs in his games is going to make the difference.  After yesterday's game he has a 4.50 ERA with the Red Sox. He pitched from 2009 through 2014 for the Tigers, with a 76-63 (4.30 ERA) record, three years in a row pitching in the postseason (2011-13), with a similar 4.41 ERA and a record of 0-2. 

It's of some note that he now joins the list of Red Sox players who also had relatives who played for the Sox.  Sam Dente (1947) was his grandfather.  

oh, yeah - they lose games, too

Sadly, the wind kept Hanley's ball down.  That would have made for a spectacular finish for tonight's game.  The Red Sox hadn't lost a game since September 28 last year!  But now they have, and reality starts to settle in.  There are 160 games left to play.

Mookie Betts = MLB

One of things I love about Mookie Betts is that his initials are MLB.  And that this was an intentional choice of his parents!

waiting for Game Two - the longest wait

Waiting for the second game of the season is always the longest wait.  First we wait six months for a game that counts (five months in good years, like 2004, 2007, and 2013) -- then we get a game, but then there's always a day off and we have to wait maybe 48 hours until the next game.  One of the great things about baseball is that there's a game (almost) every day, and you can organize your life around it (maybe that's pathetic, but I suspect most of us don't feel that way!

It took Hanley Ramirez 10 years, but he finally got his first hit for the Red Sox!

The young phenom had two plate appearances in 2005 and struck out both times. After the season, he was a big part of the trade that got Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox.

Now he's back with Boston.  And what a re-debut.

One might also assume that Dustin Pedroia's wrist problem has gone away.

Quite a day!  Five home runs. (Did someone say this team had improved offensively over last year?)  And a nearly-unhittable Clay Buchholz.  Yes, quite a day.

Opening Day stats - what does a win or loss portend?

I really should do a study of wins or losses versus rankings in the standings, but why bother?

The Sox are 55-58-1 all-time on Opening Day (excluding G2 of twinbills in 1903, 1948, 1982).

Now, what I was really curious about: in the years the Red Sox have won the pennant:

1903 - it was a doubleheader. Boston won first game, lost second.
1904 - lost
1912 - won (first three games)
1915 - lost
1916 - won (first four games)
1918 - won (first six games)
1946 - won (first five games)
1967 - won
1975 - won
1986 - lost (first two games)
2004 - lost
2007 - lost
2013 - won (first two games)

As I expected, ya can't draw conclusions from a win or a loss in the first game of the season.

That said, I'd rather have a win than a loss.  It still keeps alive the possibility of going 162-0!

Opening Day - and where's Cole Hamels?

Somewhat ironic, after all the rumors over the winter, that Cole Hamels is starting AGAINST the Red Sox on Opening Day.

The new season is upon us.  It's been a long winter, always longer if your team finished in last place.  The Patriots didn't finish last, of course. But the Red Sox need another "worst to first" season - wouldn't that be special?