It’s opening day ? when the prevailing mood is optimism and every day promises to be sunny and warm.Only it never turns out that way ? and it won’t this year either.It’s kind of tough to be optimistic when the Red Sox spend a winter as if they’ve just been handed the Kansas City Royals’ budget. And it’s tough to be too hopeful when the closer they traded for ? the one they had to trade for because, in all the confusion over the Terry Francona departure, and the general manager (and then manager) search, they managed to let Jonathan Papelbon ride out of town ? is now out for three or four months.I’m kind of with them on the money. They backed up the trucks last winter and what did they get to show for it?Well fool me once, shame on you ? you know the rest.Ergo, no lavish free agent spending, and no headline-grabbing trades.And there will be no playoffs. If the Red Sox win 85 games it’ll be a miracle. They’re top-heavy again with offense, but sent the best defensive player they have (Jose Iglesias) to Pawtucket. All this means is that manager Bobby Valentine, a connoisseur of everything (just ask him), would rather win a lot of 9-8 games than give his pitchers – who are going to need all the help they can get – any help at all.They’re relying on two pitchers (Josh Beckett and Jon Lester) who threw down chicken wings and beer better than they threw the ball; and a third (Clay Buchholz) who was out half of last season with a broken back. This doesn’t inspire confidence.It’s going to be a long and tumultuous season. Let’s just hope Valentine can make it an entertaining one.Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].