"Amidst the avalanche of text messages and well-wishes Dave Page received after being dismissed as Red Sox strength and conditioning coach, one stood out. It came from a Red Sox starting pitcher whom Page declined to identify. And it said, "I feel this is all my fault."

Whoever the pitcher, he may be right, because conditioning problems in the rotation helped doom the season, which in turn cost Page his job this week.

Born in Malden and a graduate of Southern Maine, Page is New England through and through. So when Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told him this week he wouldn't return, it was a blow.

"It was a shock," Page said by phone yesterday. "I don't think it was handled as respectfully as it could have been. There were four jobs open when the season ended and they waited 33 days to let me go. If they were going to make a change, I thought it would happen right away. Now most of those jobs are gone."

Indeed, the Marlins are the only team with an opening at the moment. The Dodgers, Pirates and Giants filled positions already, Page said.

Page reflected on his six-year Red Sox tenure and his relationship with much-maligned starter Josh Beckett, whom Page is clearly fond of, yet nonetheless did not let off the hook. Page said Beckett knew he needed to lose weight, but also described him as a good teammate who perhaps let his superstitions get the best of him."