RICH SHERTENLIEB: What would you say to someone who maybe has lost faith in the Red Sox, somebody who has stepped away and maybe has become a doubter? What would you say to get their faith back in baseball?

DAN ROCHE: I would say one thing. The game is going to be at a much quicker pace. It’s going to be much more fun to go to a ball game. Take your scorecard with you. Kind of introduce yourself to the game that way. Design your style and then just appreciate what you see. It’s back. It’s good to see. We saw a taste of it in the WBC, so the Red Sox have some hope and then just, you know, welcome the game back with open arms, because the best part of opening day is you take it out and then you get to put it in your pocket every day and take it out through October until it’s over. So that to me is the beauty of the game. You know, in the confrontation, we saw that with Ohtani and Trout in the WBC final. So you’re seeing things that make the game special. So why not just continue that way?

And I’ll wrap it up by saying:

• Opening day is finally here.

  Man, It’s been a while.

  The Sox and baseball are back.

  That’ll make you smile.

  At a tough off season for Henry and Sam.

  To whom Sox fans scream, You don’t give a damn.

• 

  Is he the biggest reason the Sox are where they are? No. But he’s been a factor. Hunter Renfroe has been a true find. Christian Arroyo has a .769 OPS since being claimed off waivers last year. Martin Perez has been solid for two seasons now and the Red Sox are getting something (or more) out of Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, Adam Ottavino and Hirokazu Sawamura, among others. Next up: the annual trading deadline and the No. 4 pick in the amateur draft. Big month for the next boy wonder.

• And you have to feel for GM, Chaim Bloom.

  He hears nothing but doom, doom and gloom.

  Have you seen Masataka Yoshida?

  He’s got pretty good range.

  And how about his WBC?

  When he turned on that change?

• 

  Mar 28, 2023; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

• Watch Devers, Turner and Duvall about 100 times this year. They’ll touch them all itching.

  On pitching, Kluber and Sale won’t fail.

  And they could just stay healthy. That will help.

  And with Houck it Whit and Bello.

  The staff could be healthy.

• 

  BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 3: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox follows through on the go ahead RBI sacrifice fly during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on October 3, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

• So don’t worry about Wallach the eagle as he continues to pout.

  Just like Felgerr and Mazz.

  I’ll tune them out.

  So as we begin, all I have to say.

  Enjoy yourself.

  It’s opening day.

• 

  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• LISTEN HERE:

• Nick Gemelli is a Producer for the Toucher and Rich program and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. you can follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.

  Follow @Toucherandrich on Twitter, @Toucherandrichofficial and @fredtoucher on Instagram to keep up with the show!

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