No matter what happens in the World Series, John Farrell is probably a shoe-in for AL Manager of the Year. But his route to being a World Series skipper has been an unusual one, not lacking in controversy.
Not many Sox fans remember that Farrell, who began his major league career at age 25, was considered an up-ancd-coming star on a mediocre Indians team in the 1980's. After a 5-1 mark in an 87 late-season callup, he blossomed to 14-10 the following year with a fair ERA of 4.24. His record fell to 9-14 in 89, but he managed 7 complete games and 2 shutouts with a 3.63 ERA. In midyear of 1990, however, elbow problems struck, forcing him to miss 2 1/2 seasons. When he returned with the Angels in 93, he wasn't the same. He drifted to the Tigers, last pitching in 96 with an ERA over 14.
When the Sox hired him as pitching coach in October 06, it caused a little stir. Unlike most such men, Farell had never served in the position either in the minors or majors. His only coaching experience had been at Oklahoma State. He had appeared headed for a front-office job with the Indians, where he had been an outstanding farm director. Terry Francona, an 88 teammate in Cleveland, brought him to Boston. Francona praised Farrell as a classy guy with whom both he and the front office would be comfortable.
Following the 04 campaign, the Sox pitching staff had begun to crumble. In 05, despite a 95-67 record and a wild-card spot, the team's ERA balloooned to 4.74-only Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and Texas staffs did worse. In the ALDS, first game starter Matt Clement was touched for 5 in the first inning in a 14-2 rout at Fenway. David Wells and Tim Wakefield did little better, as Chicago swept the Sox on the way to a World Championship. Things got even worse the following year. Boston fell to 86 wins and missed the playoffs; pitching coach Dave Wallace was out most of the season with illness and bullpen man Al Nipper had to fill in. The result was 4.96, 26th in the majors. Clement was at 6.61 when he was jettisoned, and Wakefield and Josh Beckett were both ineffective. Curt Schilling at 15-7 and 3.97 was the only salvation.
Farrell's presence yielded immediate results- 3.87, tops in the league. The foursome of Schilling, Wakefield, Beckett and rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka led the team to a division title and eventually a World Championship. Farrell got some credit, but let his skipper take most of the accolades. Though the staff figures dropped a bit in 08, 09, and 10, Farrell had established himself as managerial material. The Blue Jays would scoop him up.
When Ben Cherington hired him to bring the Sox out of the ruins of 2012, his choice raised a few eyebrows. First, his two years in Toronto had been subpar and controversial. Second, the adage still remains that pitching coaches make poor managers, because they don't deal with the team as a whole. But Farrell was different. Not only had he coached '12 underachivers like Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, but he knew that John Lackey had pitched through injuries in 2010 and 2011, injuries that the Sox apparently did not reveal. Also, his front office work in Cleveland gave him a more complete view of things. It has shown this year, as his tough-but-quiet approach has melded well with a never-say-die bunch assembled by Ben Cherington, who should also get a lot of credit.
From this view, the main difference in Farrell's squad from past seasons is that the Sox go onto the field expecting to win. If they fall behind 5-0, no problem- they'll just find a way to come back.
Farrell and Pats mentor Bill Belichick are different in many ways, but they share an important trait. Win or lose, there is little difference in their postgame demeanor. If John can continue in this way, will he be as successful as Belichick has been? It's possible.
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