Unlock the Secret Twist That Will Change Everything You Thought About This Story

Remember when baseball needed a real jolt after that nail-biting ‘94-’95 strike? Well, I’m not waxin’ nostalgic about 2022 — I’m diving headfirst into 1996, the first full season post-strike, when hope buzzed through Seattle’s Opening Day air like electricity. But here’s a kicker: that season, packed with big names and sky-high expectations, ended up as a colossal letdown. Ever wonder what it feels like to watch legends like Randy Johnson take the mound, Ken Griffey Jr. in his prime, and a young Alex Rodriguez struggling to prove himself, only to have the season fizzle out? Join Kevin Chroust and Chris de Salvo as they unravel this rollercoaster of anticipation and disappointment — and yes, Jay Buhner makes an appearance that even Frank Costanza wouldn’t let slip by! Curious how one of baseball’s most talked-about seasons turned sour so fast? Take a seat and let’s dig in. LEARN MORE.

Not long after a stoppage in play, baseball needed a lift. But we aren’t talking about 2022 here. Oh no, instead, it’s 1996 – the first full season after the 1994-95 strike – we have in mind for the latest episode of ‘The Box Score Show’ with a particular focus on the anticipation of Seattle’s Opening Day and the ultimate letdown of the season that followed.

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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The post Big Unit, Big Hurt, Big Opening Day appeared first on Opta Analyst.