Ron Roenicke

HOUSTON — If ever there was a sign of how much things can change in one year, it was the sight of Ron Roenicke, perched in the stands from behind the backstop netting, talking to Alex Cora, who was standing on the field and about to manage the Red Sox at Minute Maid Park.

Ron Roenicke was a good soldier in 2020, and though he’s no longer a manager and off to a different organization, he remains a supporter of the Boston Red Sox. With Alex Cora and the Red Sox parting ways prior to the campaign, Roenicke was left to steer the ship, guiding a roster that was in the middle of an overhaul and dealing with injuries to key players pretty much wire-to-wire.

Shortly after pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back a familiar face in Ron Roenicke, who accepted a special assistant position within the front office. He most recently served as manager of the Boston Red Sox last season. Roenicke’s ties to the Dodgers date...

BOSTON -- For the first time in 11 games, a Red Sox starter did not last five innings Saturday afternoon. Luckily for the Red Sox, the bullpen stepped in and saved the day. Nick Pivetta lasted just 3 ⅔ innings against the White Sox, allowing two runs and walking four in the shortest outing by a Red Sox starter since Garrett Richards’ disastrous debut against the Orioles on April 4. But four Red Sox relievers -- Josh Taylor, Matt Andriese, Adam Ottavino and Matt Barnes -- kept Chicago’s offense in check, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 ⅓ innings in a 7-4 Red Sox win.

In addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers having free agents leave the team during the offseason, there also were departures within the front office and coaching staff. The first to do so was former Dodgers first base coach George Lombard, who earned a promotion the Detroit Tigers as bench coach to new manager AJ Hinch. Lombard was among the original members of Dave Roberts’ staff and spent the past five seasons with the Dodgers as first base coach. His duties also included coaching the outfielders and baserunning.

The Dodgers were one of the lucky teams that got the opportunity to draft Ron Roenicke back in the 1970s. He was selected every year from 1974-76, but did not sign with a team until Los Angeles picked him up in the first round in 1977. Roenicke’s playing career didn’t...

It appears Ron Roenicke has found a new home. The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly have brought the former Boston Red Sox manager aboard as a special assistant, The Boston Globe's Tara Sullivan reported Wednesday. Roenicke told Sullivan he already is in Arizona and ready for spring training to begin Thursday.

RED SOX Ex-Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke joins Dodgers staff as special assistant Ron Roenicke isn't ready to hang it up. After managing the Red Sox during last year's disappointing, COVID-shortened season, he was not retained as manager, but has found a new job. Roenicke told the Globe Wednesday that he has joined the Dodgers as a special assistant to the general manager, a role that includes working with players on the field during spring training.

With the Dodgers' first workout for pitchers and catchers set for later today, here's a palate cleanser of links, news, and notes from this week. Clayton Kershaw was a guest, along with Brad Paisley, on The Artist and The Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak podcast, during which Kershaw said "I Believe I Can Fly" as his encore song if he was a musician. Links & news The Dodgers play the Royals in Surprise on Friday, March 5, a noon PT start.

The Red Sox are off to Florida, happy to put the Massachusetts snow and cold in their rear-view mirror, ready to turn the page on a terrible 2020. They take their first sun-drenched steps into what they hope is a better 2021 with a World Series-winning manager back in the dugout. As Alex Cora opened spring by sharing his optimism for a return to championship form, the backdrop of a new baseball order was drawn.