The Boston Red Sox had their fair share of dysfunction during the 2016-17 season.
They managed to fight their way to the top of the AL East, but not without their issues, Xander Bogaerts said during a press conference Thursday.
“It’s a long season,” Bogaerts said on an NBC Sports Boston broadcast. “Whenever there are a lot of men in a room there will always be some kind of headbutts, disagreements. But in the end we came out on top, division leaders, division champs, so we had to be doing something right. As grown men we get past all those issues, problems and move forward. We’re all grown men. I definitely believe we all learn from last year. We had a lot of stuff going on last year, to be honest. We all live learn and move forward.”
Bogaerts was asked for more details on those squabbles, but wouldn't give them.
There were a number of incidents that came into the public eye. Dennis Eckersley, in particular, seemed to draw out the Sox' emotions. David Price swore at Eckersley on the team plane over some of the broadcaster's analysis of pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, according to The Boston Globe. Eckersley's analysis didn't sit well with Price, and when Price ripped into Eckersley on the plane, many Red Sox cheered.
Dustin Pedroia, one of the team's leaders, also had a strange exchange with Manny Machado after Matt Barnes tried to bean the Orioles shortstop. The headshot attempt came after Machado spiked Pedroia earlier in the season. After Barnes' high pitch, Pedroia was caught telling Machado on the TV broadcast saying, "It's not me. It's them." Essentially, Pedroia alienated his teammate, Barnes.
The Sox wouldn't refer specifically to any of these events -- nor any events which were not in the public eye.
“I think just tension in the locker room as far as if things are down,” Betts told reporters, via the Boston Herald. “We have to find a way to smile and go out and refocus on the game now vs. kinda what's been going on. I think this year will be a little different. I'm going to approach things a little differently as far as, if I'm not playing well or if we're losing or whatnot, I can do my best to try and find a way to get everybody back happy, smiling, excited and going to play."