A new contract, a new organization and a new fan base aren’t enough to change David Price.
Price has been big on Twitter since joining the party in 2009, and although Boston is a tough market that can chew you up and spit you out, the left-hander plans to continue his same social media habits as a member of the Red Sox.
“I’m not going to change,” Price said Monday in Fort Myers, Florida, while appearing on WEEI’s “Bradfo Show” podcast. “That’s one of my sayings: ‘Times change, but I don’t.’
“I’m going to play this game the same way. I’m going to have the same smile on my face in the clubhouse, in the dugout and out there on the field. I want to enjoy this. Baseball isn’t always going to be here, so I have to make sure I have fun doing it and try and put as many smiles on peoples’ faces while I’m doing it.”
The idea is nice in theory. Price has had plenty of success in his Major League Baseball career while doubling as an avid Twitter user, so why should he suddenly abandon ship just because he’s wearing a different uniform? If anything, Price’s social media use makes him more relatable to fans.
The problem is when Price’s competitive nature gets the best of him and it spills into his social media interactions, resulting in Twitter beef that has the potential to reflect poorly on him and his team. It’s happened before, and it might happen again given the passion of Red Sox Nation.
As such, Price is prepared to take the bad with the good.
“Just think before you hit send,” Price told WEEI’s Rob Bradford on the podcast. “Re-read it because people are probably going to crush you for grammar and punctuation mistakes and stuff like that. Just keep it light. Have fun, have a sense of humor and be yourself.
“The fan base is so big, it’s so vocal. That’s something I’m looking forward to being a part of,” the five-time All-Star added. “Getting to know this fan base. Getting to know the history of Boston sports in general. It’s something I look forward to and something I’m well aware of before I signed, and I’m ready for that challenge.”
In other words, Price isn’t going anywhere. Pop on over to Twitter and say “Hi” sometime.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/The Associated Press
