Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
It’s hard to believe that in the span of just 15 months, Red Sox fans have gone from inconsolably lamenting the Mookie Betts trade to canceling their October travel plans.
Not many would have predicted the franchise’s fortunes could change so quickly after what Red Sox fans viewed as a “once-in-a-generation mistake” in trading the former MVP to the Dodgers. But six weeks into the 2021 season, Boston suddenly has the look of a true-blue title contender—seemingly by accident.