Worthy of our interest
So far, millennial Sox earn their keep
We’re long past the days when the traditional Fenway Park openah was an unofficial “holiday” throughout New England, with kids and codgers alike skipping off to Kenmore Square for a firstglance examination of the Red Sox.
Times being what they are, and moving forward, the Red Sox must earn their keep.
So far, they have earned their keep.
So far, they are deserving of your hard-earned entertainment dollar.
So far, it’s good to be a fly on the wall to see flies off The Wall.
It’s not just the seasonopening 5-1 Florida spring that’ll make for a light and festive mood this afternoon when, at 2:05, the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays at spruced-up Fenway. The Sox always play with house money in Game No. 1 in their house, the fans caught up in the wafting of optimism mixed with nostalgia mixed, in many cases, with holiday brew.
But while wins in April are just as important as wins in September, as every manager of every team has been reminding us since the days of the Boston Beaneaters and Brooklyn Bridegrooms, it’s going to take more than W’s to inspire fans to keep showing up.
Last year’s Red Sox, despite a second straight American League East title, carried themselves as though auditioning for a remake of “The Shawshank Redemption.”
They kept saying everything was fine, but then, as spring training for the 2018 season began, several of them admitted that, um, no, everything was not fine last season.
It’s interesting to note that the pregame show on NESN Tuesday night, leading into the Sox’ series finale against the Miami Marlins, seemed mostly to be an informercial aimed at getting people, especially kids, to c’mon out to Fenway. For now, this isn’t a criticism; it shows that the Red Sox know they have a challenge ahead of them, what with the Bruins and Celtics positioning themselves for deep playoff runs and the Patriots continuing to make big, big news, be it because of the Brandin Cooks trade or Rob Gronkowski sending out for a pizza.
But bobblehead nights and tempting new items at the concession stands aren’t enough to bolster the economy in Red Sox Nation. What the Sox need to do is what they want you to do: Have fun. Not just hey-wejust-won-and-isn’t-that-fun fun, but the kind of passion, camaraderie, joie de vivre, that you can see, or not see if it ain’t there, from the very last row of the center-field bleachers.
A lot of this is going to be on David Price’s shoulders. Like or not, the talented lefty runs the Red Sox clubhouse and has it in his power to bring 1) joy, or 2) jaundice, to this season. Based on his easy, carefree demeanor during spring training and his willingness to engage in daily, impromptu gabfests with the writers, he appears to have chosen Door No. 1.
Price is on the hill today. If he duplicates what he did to the Rays last Friday at Tropicana Field — seven shutout innings in the Sox’ 1-0 victory, the first in the Alex Cora Era — the place will go nuts. Price will then be asked about that after the game; if he reaches back out to the fans by acknowledging the applause, it’ll be a promising sign. You’ll recall how last autumn, during the Sox’ Division Series belly flop against the Houston Astros, Price pitched superbly in relief, was cheered wildly, and then, speaking postgame, was unable or unwilling to extend an olive branch to the fans.
Price aside, this is a very young team. Take Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers and Christian Vazquez away from Fenway and they’d look just as comfortable catching an indy flick at Kendall Square Cinema and then walking over to the Loyal Nine for coffee and grub.
The veteran players, from Price on down, need to let the kids be kids.
Then again, check out this Opening Day Fun Fact: Statistically speaking, every member on the current Red Sox roster falls within the age range of being a millennial. And you’ve probably heard that it’s the millennials who’ll be entrusted with saving the world.
That’s all later on.
For now, Benintendi, Bradley, Bogaerts and the rest are preoccupied with saving Red Sox Nation.