CLEVELAND -- Let's be perfectly clear: One game doesn't prove David Price was worth $217 million any more than it defines the 2016 Boston Red Sox as a full-fledged playoff contender.
On both counts, though, it sure was a good start.
As anticipated Red Sox pitching debuts go, this was up there with Pedro Martinez in 1998 in Oakland, Curt Schilling in 2004 in Baltimore and Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007 in Kansas City. In December, Price signed the largest contract ever for a pitcher, and now, here he was, walking to the mound on the coldest Opening Day in Cleveland in 99 years (34 degrees, 8-mph wind) and representing something the Sox have lacked since they traded Jon Lester 20 months ago: A true ace.