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Red Sox Spring Training Blog: Beckett, Lester Take Responsibility

FORT MYERS (CBS) - WBZ-TV's Dan Roche is down in sunny Florida as Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.

Follow his blog from Fort Myers here:

1:30 PM - Full Workout on Day 1

The Red Sox put in a full day of work on Sunday...a day that is usually just the first day to report that you're in Fort Myers.

Beckett threw a side session and looked fine. He talked at length afterwards with new pitching coach Bob McClure.

Watch Ben Cherington Discuss How The Sox Are Moving On From Last Year: 

Of the players, Beckett and Lester were the center of attention. Both met with the media and both were asked about beer and chicken in the clubhouse, and their roles in the September collapse. Both were pretty good about owning up to it.

Also, we talked with Clay Buchholz about it. You'll see that tonight on Sports Final at 11:35 p.m. on WBZ-TV.

11:30 AM - Beckett: "I Didn't Pitch Well"

Here's some of what Beckett had to say...

"I didn't pitch well."

"We did make mistakes in the clubhouse."

"(The) biggest mistake I made was not pitching well against Baltimore (over the final two starts)."

"I had lapses in judgment."

"I'm upset with myself for the lapses in judgement."

"I had things going on. I got distracted – the biggest thing for me."

"It sucks the way things ended."

Watch Buccholz Tell Dan Roche That The Sox Have Learned From Their Mistakes: 

11:15 AM - Lester: "We Stunk"

Lester seemed to hold himself accountable for his role in last September's collapse.

"I stunk. We stunk."

"Tampa Bay was better. That's basically what it was."

"Last spring everyone was ready to give us the World Series. This year I think we come in underdogs, and that's going to be fun."

10:45 AM - Some Sleepless Nights

Josh Beckett threw off the mound for a few minutes and looked fine.

Beckett told me he's had some sleepless nights down here due to his 4-month-old daughter.

Beckett also said that one big difference between this camp and the past ones: stretching. The players have stretched more than ever, maybe three times as much as before.

10 AM - Valentine Excited

New manager Bobby Valentine was excited for his team's "fresh start" after last season's collapse.

Read more of what he had to say here.

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