Opinion

When you spend $217 million on a pitcher you expect to be an ace, you want him to at least make a strong first impression.

And Tuesday, that's exactly what David Price gave the Boston Red Sox.

I struggle with predictions the way some folks battle bad hair days and others wrestle with Snapchat.

In 2005, I picked the Chicago White Sox to finish last in the AL Central.

Of course, they won their first World Series in 88 years that summer.

This is a weird thing to say about a pitcher who dominated like a fiend en route to winning the National League Cy Young in 2015, but here goes:

Jake Arrieta appears to be just fine, thank you very much.

Everyone, say hello to the 2016 Major League Baseball season.

Following a practice run Sunday, Opening Day arrived for real Monday. And though rain washed away two games and delayed a third, the day's action still gave us plenty of things worthy of immediate discussion.

From some noteworthy home runs to an ace's surprising flop to the rise of a formidable lineup, let's take a look at the top nine takeaways from the season's first full day of baseball.

The first time the San Francisco Giants won the World Series, they scored the fewest runs of any team that made it to that postseason. They won the National League Division Series in October 2010 despite scoring just 11 runs in four games and won the National League Championship Series with just 19 runs in six games.

They were built on brilliant pitching, and it worked.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Here he comes, straight into 2016, streaming like water out of a faucet. Carlos Correa doesn't so much step into the picture as he pours forth, with force, both on time and ahead of his time.

Here he stands, perched on the ledge of his first full season, ready to take flight and lead the Houston Astros skyward once again. Take a good look; there is an excellent chance that these are the last few moments in the baseball world before he becomes a household name.

A revamped front office and busy offseason have the Boston Red Sox dreaming big in 2016, though their task will be difficult playing against a strong American League East. 

Opening Day will see the fruits of Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Mike Hazen's labor with new ace David Price stepping on the mound in Cleveland. 

After a playoff appearance last season, optimism is high for the New York Yankees heading into 2016. They start the year with a Wild Card Game rematch against reigning American League Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros. 

Originally slated for Monday, the Yankees announced the game will now take place on Tuesday.

An offseason of change has not altered expectations for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016. The three-time defending National League West champions are entering their second season with Andrew Friedman as president of baseball operations and first season under manager Dave Roberts. 

FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Price will be the third Opening Day starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in the past three seasons Monday in Cleveland.

Boston hopes Price will be the man for that job for the next seven years, and his biggest fan on the 2016 team may be one of his biggest former enemies, David Ortiz.