Roman Anthony's debut a microcosm of Red Sox's season

Anthony's forgettable MLB debut mirrored Boston through its first 68 games. Despite making bold moves during the offseason, the Red Sox (32-36) have been mired in mediocrity.

In December, the Sox acquired pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, then followed that move in February by signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract.

Those splashy transactions signaled a concerted effort by the Red Sox to be a playoff contender in 2025 after missing the postseason for three consecutive seasons, but that hasn't materialized in the team's below-.500 start.

Expectations were also high for Anthony, who slashed .288/.423/.491 in 58 games at AAA Worcester this year before his major-league call-up.

In his last minor league game, Anthony blasted a 497-foot grand slam, further building anticipation for his promotion.

While Anthony will almost certainly have better days, his debut was a reminder that Boston probably shouldn't bank on a rookie being enough to lift it from its doldrums. 

Anyone expecting fireworks from the wunderkind left the lackluster debut disappointed. For Red Sox fans, that's a feeling they've experienced all season.