For the second time in three seasons, the Red Sox seem headed for a last-place finish. However, the circumstances are hardly the same. The 2012 group was managed by Bobby Valentine, who seemed totally unable to deal with the situation. He fought with players and coaches. His media relations were poor. His pitching coach was fired after three months. Dugout cameras seemed to show a man with a strange look on his face asking himself “what am I doing here?”.
John Farrell is a very different case. His team is coming off a surprise World Championship. He was runner-up for AL Manager of the Year. Fans and writers seem to be blaming front-office gaffes in the offseason for the team’s subpar performance, but Farrell appears immune. He has maintained his composure, never publicly criticizing a player or complaining, for example, about the John Lester situation. He has tried dozens of lineups, moving players in and out. Despite the weakest hitting team performance in 22 years (perhaps longer), he has not reacted negatively to the inability, for example, of guys like Jackie Bradley Jr, Will Midddlebrooks, and Xander Bogearts to even crack the .230 mark.
Because of last year’s performance, Farrell will probably get a free pass for this year. Yet, if you combine his two unsuccessful years in Toronto (154-170) with this season’s 54-65, you come up with a subpar .470. Only a 97-win performance in 2013 pushes his overall record above .500.
Farrell looks the part. His jut-jawed appearance suggest a man in charge, and comparisons have been made to John Wayne. He did not hesitate to jettison AJ Pierzynski and Felix Doubront when their clubhouse presence became a distraction.. However, Boston is not San Diego or Arizona, where bad seasons seem to be met with indifference or resignation. Fenway is still near-capacity and Red Sox Nation does not expect last-place finishes no matter what happens in-between. If 2015 does not begin well, the critics will definitely appear. Whether the skipper is Farrell, Valentine or Terry Francona, the team is expected to contend.
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