FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ruben Amaro Jr. stood in center field on Sunday morning, appearing to be as far as possible from his past life. The former Phillies general manager wore a uniform and carried a bat as the Red Sox finished batting practice at JetBlue Park, continuing his transition from the front office to the first base coach's box.
Amaro wanted to stay in baseball when the Phillies fired him in September. He latched on a month later with Boston. And Sunday was his first encounter with his former team. Amaro said he had been looking forward to the Grapefruit League game, which the Red Sox won, 5-1.