VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Derek Lowe doesn’t want to talk about Boston any more, though many aspects of his seven-plus seasons with the Red Sox come up in conversation.

“No one’s asking me about this team, this year,” Lowe said Monday in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ clubhouse. “I’m sick and tired of talking about Boston and the Red Sox.

“I signed here two months ago. We’re two days away from starting spring training games. It’s time to get serious.”

Almost on cue, Lowe greeted a Rawlings representative with a smile, saying: “Dodger Blue here.”

Lowe knew he wasn’t going to return to Boston long before becoming a hero by winning the final game of all three postseason series as the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918.

He signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Dodgers.

“Obviously when you leave as a free agent, it’s not one of the best situations,” he said. “But there’s more positive (memories) – way more. It’s a whole new start here.

“Come Friday, you’ve got an opportunity to start pitching. A lot of these guys, they’ve never seen me pitch. You only get one chance to make a first impression.”

The 31-year-old right-hander, baseball’s second-winningest pitcher during the last three years, probably shouldn’t worry about such things.

“You see his ability in big situations – hopefully he can help us out in the same capacity,” starter Jeff Weaver said.

Lowe said he signed with the Dodgers because he believes they have a chance to win now and in the future.

“Their No. 1 goal is to win, not just stay afloat,” he said. “They put together a team they think can win the World Series. Nobody even knows who’s going to be the opening day starter. That’s a testament to how good we are.

“I’ll go back to Boston – they had five good starters. When you have that kind of thing, you don’t go on those dreaded long losing streaks. And eventually, you go on winning streaks. And they have the best closer (Eric Gagne) in baseball. If you can’t pitch, you can’t win.”

Lowe is one of several offseason acquisitions by a team that won the NL West last year, making the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

“A lot of these guys, I’ve never talked to before,” Lowe said. “You know of them. Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, I know those guys aren’t slackers.”

Showing his unfamiliarity with his new team, Lowe first referred to manager Jim Tracy as Paul Tracy before correcting himself. He also referred to outgoing second baseman Alex Cora as Joey, Cora’s older brother.

“That’s why spring training is so important for us. We have to get to know each other and we have to all be going in the right direction,” Lowe said. “It’s going to take time to jell together as a group. As far as coming together as a team, you’re looking realistically at May, June.”

Lowe points to last year’s Red Sox as a team that jelled.

“It was the best group of guys I’ve ever played with,” he said. “No one had an ego. We got on everybody. We had an unbelievable ability to forget yesterday’s game. That’s the only way you come back from 3-0.”

With his outgoing personality, Lowe figures to be a clubhouse leader – especially to younger guys such as Edwin Jackson, a 21-year-old right-hander battling for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

“He’s a cool dude, real down to earth – someone you’re not afraid to go ask for advice,” Jackson said.