Matt Perrault is the general manager of and talk show host on ESPN NH 900-AM. He writes an occasional column for nashuatelegraph.com

Congrats Mr. Cherrington, you got me.

“I’ve picked up my Red Sox life jacket, placed it squarely around my neck, and jumped back on board the Beantown baseball bandwagon … or ship… or whatever, you get the analogy. I’m buying the 2013 Red Sox even before the big flag falls over the Green Monster on Monday afternoon.

I am choosing to believe in this group of B-level stars Boston GM Ben Cherrington assembled and doing so with the knowledge that this team most likely won’t be celebrating a title in October.

After last year, winning it all isn’t as important as playing the game the right way, by players who actually care, with a manager who ISN’T a circus act.

I started to come around during spring training after seeing the new faces gel together, especially the new arms in the bullpen. I even picked the Red Sox to win 90 games on my show on ESPN New Hampshire and to make the playoffs before Opening Day in New York.

Yet, I didn’t think I would LIKE this team as much as I do already.

This group takes pitches, runs hard to first, doesn’t make errors in the field, claps for each other when they do well, supports their manager when he gets boo’d by a rival crowd, and … get this – they smile. It’s almost like these super rich athletes have fun

playing this kid’s game. From Johnny Gomes running hard from second to score on an infield bobble to Jackie Bradley Jr. working Yankee ace CC Sabathia for a walk in his first at-bat in his big league career to Will Middlebrooks hitting three bombs in one

game, these guys are the polar opposite of last year.

They grind.

I fully understand they’ve only played six games, but they have all been on the road and only had the support of each other to get the momentum rolling in the right direction. What a difference a year makes, huh? I don’t know how much credit should go to new manager John Farrell but it’s so refreshing to just talk about who should play shortstop or how many homers will Mike Napoli hit this season.

Bobby Valentine’s craving of headlines was gasoline to the New England media’s engine for drama creation. It started early and continued all the way through a 69-win disaster of a season.

Could you image ANY Red Sox player saying this about Bobby V. if he were to be boo’d on the road; “Booing us?,” Jonny Gomes said postgame Friday. “That’s fine. These guys (Toronto fans) have been asleep 10 years, since ’93. We’re tight-knit. Go booing any of our guys, we’ve got your back. Go booing our manager, we’ve got your back too.”

Awesome.

I did not like the signing of Shane Victorino to a three-year, $39 million dollar deal but even I have to do admit that he adds an interesting addition to the top of the lineup. His approach is symbolic of what this team will be … a line drive hitting, hustling, aggressive, pain-in-the-butt group.

Yes, it’s early, but the best news so far this spring is that the Red Sox are a team you can follow closely without hating over half the guys wearing the uniform. It’s been a while since this team could play the underdog card and to be honest, it’s kind of refreshing to see this team picked to finish last by many baseball experts. It’s only fitting that the squad came out playing a fun brand of baseball.

And be honest, you felt bad for John Lackey when left the game with an arm injury on Saturday after missing 16 months. Did you think that would have been possible?

That’s because of his attitude change and the new guys around him. So, it’s Opening Day and the Red Sox are back in Fenway with the fans ready to welcome the new boys to Boston and see some familiar faces as well. Everything is better when you open the season 4-2 instead of 0-6. This rebuilt roster has my attention and if it hasn’t grabbed your yet, you owe to yourself to give them another

shot.

I’m telling you Sox fans, it’s safe to pull those hats out of the closet and wear the logo with pride again this summer. New England has a baseball team worth watching again. These guys are going to fight all the way to the 27th out every game.

The bandwagon has plenty of room right now but I have a feeling it’s going to fill up quickly this spring.

Happy Opening Day, New England.

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