Red Sox Look to Forget

With an epic collapse to end the 2011 season the Red Sox felt there was truly nothing they could do but clean house.  The Sox Former GM Theo Epstein left for the Chicago Cubs as well as the Sox firing the team's manager Terry Francona.  The Red Sox brought in Bobby Valentine to try and steer the franchise. 

With many people saying Francona was soft at the end of the season, many felt something needed to be done.  Their were talks that players were drinking in the clubhouse on their days off during games.  Many people felt Francona's easy-going mentality could have been partially the reason for the downfall and hoped that a firecracker like Bobby Valentine could be the answer.

The Red Sox also attempted to re-vamp their bullpen a bit to try and steer themselves in a new direction.  First, the team let free-agent closer Jonathon Papelbon go.  Papelbon who struggled down the stretch of last season found himself as one of the main culprits of blame.  The team went on to add two closers from last season in Andrew Bailey (A's former closer) and Mark Melancon (Astros' former closer). 

The Red Sox hope to start the season off strong to silence the critics and questions early on.  Otherwise, they could be a team that must rebuild and restaff completely within the next few years.  Between injuries and the downfall the Mets have been a perfect example of what a collapse can do to a team.  The Red Sox will do their best to avoid this fate.