David Price looks to put his recent past behind in Fenway opener

It's somehow perfectly fitting, as the Red  Sox begin the home portion of the 2018 schedule, that David Price will be on the mound for them Thursday.

A year ago, when the Red Sox struggled to connect with their fan base, Price seemed to come to personify some of the team's image issues. A mid-season clash with broadcaster Dennis Eckersley in which Price carefully planned a verbal confrontation on a team charter flight, epitomized the behavior of a roster that, despite its regular season achievement, carried an air of unlikability.

When he wasn't confronting an iconic Hall of Famer and popular broadcaster, Price was often referring to John Farrell with the passive-aggressive moniker of "Manager John,'' further damaging the former manager's image as someone whom the players neither respected nor enjoyed playing for.

In singling out Eckersley for some rather benign commentary about a teammate, Price came off as thin-skinned and entitled. It didn't help when he doubled-down in defense of his actions, claiming that what appeared boorish to most was instead a demonstration of his clubhouse leadership.

Moreover, through no fault of his own, Price spent two long stretches on the disabled list -- from the start of the season through the end of May, and again, critically, from late July until September - with elbow and forearm issues. When he returned as a reliever for the final weeks and the postseason, he pitched brilliantly, which should have helped salvage his season.

But right to the end, Price seemed be pitching angrily. When he contributed four scoreless innings in Game 3, the Red Sox' only win in their ALDS matchup with the Houston Astros, he walked off the mound and steadfastly refused to acknowledge the crowd's rapturous applause. The fans' offer of a truce was summarily rejected.

And so, it's symbolic that Price will be the first pitcher on the Fenway mound Thursday afternoon. No better symbol of a team's -- and a player's -- redemption can be found.

When Price addressed the media for the first time this spring in Fort Myers, he readily acknowledged -- without offering much in the way of specifics -- that he could have and should have handled some things differently a year ago. It was the closest thing to an apology that he would offer, but it was at least a public concession that he was interested in a fresh start.

In manager Alex Cora, Price has perhaps the perfect vessel for his image do-over. Right from his introductory press conference last November, Cora said he was uncertain about the details from a season ago while Cora was a member of the Astros' bench coach. He has no theories -- nor, frankly, interest -- as to why Price and Farrell seemed to hold one another at arm's length.

"All the conversations we've had (since the start of spring training) have been about this year,'' said Cora on Tuesday. "I said it at the first press conference: whatever happened here in the past, I can't talk about it. It's not fair for John and the people who were here. We just have to concentrate on the future. ... Everything started fresh from Day One.''

Instead, Cora went about building a relationship with Price. He visited with him in Fort Myers over the offseason and conveyed the message that he didn't know what transpired a year ago, but was intent on starting fresh. That was a welcome bit of news for Price.

Another idea from Cora was similarly well-received: the pitchers -- both starters and relievers -- would be put on a new spring schedule, with the focus on gradually building arm strength to better preserve the pitchers over the course of the season and an emphasis on shorter, more efficient work sessions.

Price repeatedly endorsed the program and raved about its effects, and if his first start a week ago is any measuring stick, the benefits are already being reaped. Price tossed seven shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over the same Tampa Bay Rays he'll face again today.

"I'm glad that he's pitching Thursday, the home opener,'' said Cora. "I think he turned the page in October with the way he pitched. He was amazing. He was the best (Red Sox) pitcher in the playoffs. He proved to everyone who he is when he's healthy. We're very happy with where he's at.''

More to the point, Price seems happy with where he is - more relaxed, less defensive, and above all else, healthy.

Starting Thursday, he can demonstrate that fully to a fan base that hopes that this season bears little resemblance to the last.