How One Giant Opening Day Performance Shattered Expectations and Left Fans Stunned
Not long after baseball’s own “time-out” — no, not the recent ones stirring up headlines — but the real shake-up that followed the 1994-95 strike, the 1996 season strutted in with swagger and hope. Yet, here’s a question worth chewing on: can you remember a season where the buzz of Opening Day felt this electric, only to be followed by a collective shrug of “That’s it?” Grab your glove and dust off those memories because “The Box Score Show” is diving headfirst into Seattle’s much-hyped Opening Day, the era of Randy Johnson’s fierce pitching, and a Mariners lineup that had Ken Griffey Jr. doing his thing — a high-octane mix that promised fireworks but fizzled in the end. Meanwhile, across the diamond, Frank Thomas and a White Sox squad were still nursing wounds from 1994’s “what if.” You might not think of Alex Rodriguez batting ninth or Jay Buhner’s overlooked impact, but trust me, you’ll want to hear why they all matter. Intrigued yet? Let’s rewind and uncover the highs, lows, and unexpected tales from a season that’s anything but forgotten.
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It might not sound like the most likeliest of picks for a game to look back on, but bear with Kevin Chroust and Chris de Salvo as they journey back into an era when Randy Johnson toed the mound for the offensively prolific Mariners, and Frank Thomas was driving in runs for a White Sox team still getting over what could have been in ’94. A shortstop sensation by the name of Alex Rodriguez was still proving himself and hit ninth on this opening day, while Ken Griffey Jr. was in the prime of Seattle primes. And Frank Costanza would not be thrilled if we forgot to mention Jay Buhner.
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Not long after a stoppage in play, baseball needed a lift. But we aren’t talking about 2022 here. Oh no, instead, itâs 1996 â the first full season after the 1994-95 strike â we have in mind for the latest episode of âThe Box Score Showâ with a particular focus on the anticipation of Seattle’s Opening Day and the ultimate letdown of the season that followed.
The post Big Unit, Big Hurt, Big Opening Day appeared first on Opta Analyst.
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