Following an epic collapse in 2011, the Boston Red Sox hired veteran manager Bobby Valentine to lead them in 2012. From the day he rode into town (on his bicycle) for Spring Training, he was expected to change the culture of the team and reverse the slide. He was very visible in camp, as well as in the community, but his enthusiasm did not carry over onto the field. The team opened the season with a loss in Detroit, and it soon became apparent that the experiment was not working, and following an even worse season than 2011, he was fired after the team finished with a record of 69-93, good for last place in the American League East.