Why this year's Red Sox home opener is bittersweet — with a dash of hope

As the Red Sox play their first game at Fenway Park in 2024, they'll celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the team that broke the franchise's 86-year championship curse.

But that celebration will also come with sadness, as the team pays tribute to members of that team that have recently passed away. Former pitcher Tim Wakefield died of cancer in October. His wife, Stacy, lost her battle with the disease a few months later. And, former president Larry Lucchino died last week at age 78.

This, combined with two years in a row of finishing in last place and fan frustrations with the team's ownership, has this year's home opener feeling a bit more somber than years past.

Though there is some hope: This year's Sox might be better than we originally thought.

Howard Bryant, a senior writer for ESPN and author of several books about baseball, joins Radio Boston to discuss the home opener's mixed emotions and what to look forward to this season.