Nothing Boosts Our Spirits Quite Like Truck Day [OPINION]

The Boston Bruins are on fire. The Celtics are holding their own in the Eastern Conference. The Patriots – well that's a hot mess in need of sorting out still. But spring is coming and the Red Sox are gearing up for the pre-season.

For New England baseball fans, nothing signifies the start of the new campaign quite like Truck Day. Truck Day is the day that the Red Sox equipment truck departs Fenway Park for JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida and the start of spring training.

Truck Day is Monday, February 3r and in case you can't tell I am excited about it. Pitchers and catchers are due in camp by February 12 and within days, the preseason schedule begins.

The home team certainly has its issues to deal with both on and off the field as the 2020 quest for the World Series begins. There are always questions about pitching, Dustin Pedroia's status, salary caps, etc. But this year, more serious questions need to be addressed such as who will lead the team following Alex Cora being dumped in the sign-stealing scandal and whether the Sox cheated in 2018 to win the championship.

These are all stressful things for fans to worry about but for now, let's just enjoy Truck Day and the knowledge that before long, winter will be a distant memory and the call of balls and strikes will be drowned out only by the voice of Joe Castiglione broadcasting the games on WBSM.

On Truck Day, all things are even. Hope springs eternal. The world is our oyster as we prepare to slow down for the dog days of summer and another season of baseball.

Happy Truck Day, everyone!

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.