FORT MYERS, Fla. - When Bobby Valentine was watching Game 6 of the World Series last fall, he took note of Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis failing to execute a bunt in the second inning.

With runners on first and second and no outs, the Cardinals shifted their defense and had third baseman David Freese stand just a few feet off the plate. When Lewis bunted, Freese was in position to start a double play.

The Rangers, who needed one victory to claim the Series title, lost that game in extra innings. When the Cardinals went on to win the Series, Valentine couldn’t help but think that the failed bunt cost the Rangers a championship.

If only Lewis had shown bunt, then swung away, perhaps he might have advanced the runners. Or, at worst, caused Freese to back up a few steps.

Which explains why, on a sunny February morning during their first official workout of the new season, Red Sox pitchers were working on slashing at pitches in bunt situations.

Unconventional? You bet. But that’s the kind of thinking Valentine brings to the Red Sox.

“I think these guys want to be the world champions,’’ he said. “I just thought if they can work on a fundamental, a technique, now, of bunting and slashing, they can already have a foundation of what they might be asked to do.’’

The Red Sox pitchers will pick up a bat only a few times this spring. The larger point Valentine wanted to make was the need to be sound in all aspects of the game.

“He cares about the little things that can help you win the game,’’ righthander Clay Buchholz said. “We were pretty busy out there.’’

Valentine broke up the pitchers into groups, which meant less standing around and more repetitions. The groups also moved quickly from field to field, not quite at a full sprint but at a brisk pace.

Valentine was on the move himself, jogging from field to field to monitor the drills and occasionally offer advice. He seemed to take notice of everything.