FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — For the third time in as many years, the Boston Red Sox have opened spring training with a different manager. For the second time in as many years, they began with talk of changing the culture and turning the page.
Last-place finishes will do that to a team.
New manager John Farrell gets his chance this season, an at-bat that Bobby Valentine struck out with last season. Farrell met the media on Tuesday at JetBlue Park — the same day pitchers and catchers reported — and spoke about new beginnings and a new era in Red Sox baseball after the franchise missed the postseason for the third straight season last year.
“Certainly we can’t wipe away what’s taken place,” he said. “It’s important that we acknowledge it. But as I’ve talked to guys throughout the offseason, what we do going forward is where the focus has to be.”
The Red Sox open the Grapefruit League season on Feb. 23 vs. Tampa Bay.
