FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In his own words, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said he's "jacked" and ready to go for 2012.

Of course, every player feels that way at the start of spring training, but Pedroia seems genuine when he deems himself pumped up.

He wasn't happy with the way the season ended in 2011, saying it lingered during the winter, but he wants to turn the page.

"I'm excited to go play," he said. "Last year, the end was tough, but we've got to regroup together and come out and play good baseball and do it all year long."

Pedroia and former Red Sox manager Terry Francona were close friends and they remain that way even with a new sheriff in town.

"I've met (Bobby Valentine) a couple of times,” Pedroia said. “We'll find out more once camp goes, but from what I hear he's thinking about baseball nonstop, thinking about fundamentals and trying to get this team to where it needs to be, so it's going to be exciting.

"It's different (not having Tito here). That's all I've known. Things change. It's tough to him see him go, especially the way it ended for us last year. He'll always be a close friend of mine and whatever he chooses to do going forward, I'm pulling for him."

Pedroia was asked what are the keys were to a fresh start: "Play the game the right way," he said. "That's basically it. I don't have answers for what went on last year, it's over. It was tough, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it. You've got to try to turn the page, come out and play well and play for your teammates. That's what I'm going to try to do."

As of right now, with the status of Jason Varitek still in question but in all likelihood not returning, Pedroia was asked if he would like to be captain moving forward.

"I don't even think about any of that stuff," he said. "This is Day 1 for me, so I'm just trying to come out, have a good practice and help my team."

During his five years in the big leagues, Pedroia has had a number of double-play partners. There will be a new one again this season with three players -- Mike Aviles, Nick Punto and Jose Iglesias -- battling it out at shortstop.

"It's going to be fine," Pedroia said. "(Marco Scutaro) did a great job for us, but we'll have Mike and Nick step up and play good ball for us and we'll be fine."

There are a lot of new faces and changes to this year's club and Pedroia knows it'll be a while before they figure out the type of chemistry that exists.

"It takes time," he said. "I don't know some of these guys that well, but we'll stick together and the relationship will be that much stronger. We'll be fine."