SEATTLE -- So a guy by the name of Joey Meadows quit his job in England to come watch 162 big league baseball games. He goes by the name of "Baseball Brit" on Twitter, with the identification of "Cheerful British chap on a 162-game mission to grow European interest in baseball."
Thursday he came to T-Mobile Ballpark to watch the 2018 World Series champion Red Sox start the defense of their crown.
Towards the end of an excruciating 12-4 loss to the Mariners, Meadows addressed if this miserable slog actually made him like baseball. (For a complete recap, click here.)
The first thing he pointed out was that any complaint regarding pace of game should be put in perspective.
"A slow game? This is nothing compared to cricket, mate," he wrote. "Those (matches) last five days."
And then there was what unfolded in this series of unfortunate events for the Red Sox.
"I've loved it," Meadows wrote. "My section has been Party Central. Lots of groups in. Some girls behind me started a Mexican Wave that went round the ballpark several times. (I was too focused on the game to get involved). Also, a lot of people seem to be politely smashed. The whole section just sang Happy Birthday to a random bloke. The Mariners played a 'No Doubt' song when Mallex Smith hit a triple. I've loved every minute."
The moral of the story: It's all how you want to look at it.
Chris Sale lasted three innings and gave up seven runs in one of his worst outings as a member of the Red Sox. His fastball started at 94 mph and trended down with each inning, ultimately averaging 92 mph in the midst of giving up three home runs.
"The only thing that was different was that his velocity was a little bit low, but everything else was the same," said Edwin Encarnacion, who hit one of the homers against Sale. "His breaking ball. His changeup. His slider. He’s still got great stuff. It’s only the first start of the season."
"I feel like I should be able to go out there and throw strikes, I mean this is the big leagues, man," Sale said. "I don't feel like I need a whole lot of practice. Command has never really been a big issue of mine, so it's frustrating when it becomes an issue. I should be able to throw the ball over the plate, that's my job, and I just wasn't able to."
Rafael Devers made an error, as did Eduardo Nunez at shortstop. Other than two runs in the first two innings, the Red Sox bats could do little against soft-throwing lefty Marco Gonzales. Two uncertain members of the bullpen only fed the uneasiness, with Heath Hembree walking in a run and Tyler Thornburg giving up one of Seattle's five homers.
It felt like a team that wasn't quite ready for prime time, hardly offering the image of the club we last saw celebrating at Dodger Stadium.
Then there is the reality that comes with this one game.
In 2004, the Red Sox suffered a 7-2 loss to the Orioles.
Curt Schilling gave up five runs over four innings in a 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Royals in 2007.
And of course, there was last season when Joe Kelly's eighth-inning meltdown negated a six-inning, one-hit gem from Sale.
In true Baseball Brit fashion, Red Sox fans could focus on the fact the American League is made for Alex Cora's team to roll out of bed and win 95 games, going with the theory that Sale just needs time to build himself up before really getting going.
Or one could pick apart what didn't go as planned -- Sale, defense, bullpen -- and head into game 2 of 162 flush with anxiety that things aren't as they may have seemed.
Day 1 was up for interpretation. Really uncomfortable interpretation.
Sale did not record a quality start for the first time in 10 career starts against the Mariners. Did not pitch into at least the seventh inning for the first time in 10 career starts against the Mariners. Allowed at least seven earned runs for the eighth time in his career (last: 8/1/17 vs. CLE).