ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David Price stood in front of his locker Thursday, telling a mass of media this was the best he had ever felt coming out of a spring training. A smile was on his face, and an occasional laugh was mixed into the back-and-forth.
That finished, and then came the next wave. One after another, additional one-on-ones were asked for and permitted. No fewer than five, maybe more.
When it was all said and done one reporter quipped, "If the season was over today Price might win the 'Good Guy Award' at the writers' dinner."
How did we get here?
The about-face with the media is one thing. Price has admitted that he was "mad at the world" last season, contributing to the chaos that included two notable blow-ups. He isn't mad at the world anymore, which is why there were moments like the ones he offered before the season opener.
But that's really not the most notable transformation.
There are actually signs that the 32-year-old, who was thought to be pitching with a John Lackey-esque elbow ligament, might be able to become the kind of pitcher who might actually have a few more years of dominance in him. At least, as we sit here, that's how it feels.
"I don't think about my elbow anymore and that's good," Price said.
Did he have the same doubts a year ago we were all harboring?
"Last year? Absolutely," he added. "For sure."
But now? Is there actually a chance he is back on a track that will lead past just one season, making at least a chunk of his remaining five years palatable?
"Oh yeah," Price insisted. "I don't expect to go back to the DL."
One of the bizarre pieces of this equation is why the reversal -- on and off the field -- is absolutely a chief storyline heading into Price's first start of the season, the pitcher's teammates think otherwise. They are fiercely protective of their teammate while viewing him as just another injured player who put the time in to rediscover his health.
"He hasn't (expletive) thrown the ball bad since he's got here," said Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, "(Expletive) 17 wins and 240 innings his first year. Last year he battled through it, came back and was arguably our best pitcher in the postseason. As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been anything that has changed one way or another."
OK. But from the outsiders perspective, there certainly has been some alterations. There had to be. And, according to Price, there were. The perceived attitude adjustment was one thing, but actually being able to uncover a healthy pitching arm was the biggest change. When you're heading into a potential contract year while trying to prove the pitcher the Red Sox signed still exists it has to be.
"I probably started playing catch three weeks earlier than I usually start to play catch. It was good," said Price when asked about his biggest adjustment. "It was something I always talked about trying. I gave myself a couple of weeks and then played a lot of catch at 40 feet twice a week. And then I would go Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a week or two. Then I did five days a week for a couple of weeks. Then I got into a normal catch routine.
"Making sure everything in there was strong. Elbow, shoulder, grip strength. Everything. All my numbers were increased. Just making sure I was strong. Making sure my shoulder is strong so my elbow doesn't have to take any extra wear or tear or anything like that. I feel like the one thing I really changed up was playing catch."
Playing catch. That was it? Whatever works.
So far, so good. Who would have thought?
"Honestly, no because he's the same guy," said Porcello when asked if there was a moment he noticed Price's turnaround. "He has always worked hard. He has always gotten his work in. If he's hurting he's not going to tell anybody. If he feels good, he's the same. For me, it's kind of what you look for. At the end of the day he's been battling through a lot and he's been the same the whole time. There's not been that moment where a light was shining down and there was a turning point."
