It’s time for John Farrell to step up. The boat is springing some leaks. After the disastrous Detroit series, the Sox had lost 4 in a row for the first time in Farrell’s tenure. They had also dropped 5 of 6 and their 20-24 record placed them closer to the last-place Rays than the first-place Yankees.
The problem is obvious-the hitting has disappeared. Following Sunday’s contest, the team ranked 12th of 15 AL teams in total bases and slugging percentage and were 10th in hitting with a depressing .243.. Of last year’s heroes, only David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have hit with real consistency. Many of the reliable 2013 batters (Daniel Nava, Ryan Lavarnway, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Stephen Drew) are in the minors or were not re-signed. Others, like Shane Victorino, who was expected steal some bases in Ellsbury’s absence, have been plagued with injuries. Mike Carp has simply failed to produce. Their well-documented failures in the clutch could be attributed to pressing or simple bad luck, such as Grady Sizemore’s bases-loaded liner Sunday which was gloved on the mound by Anibel Sanchez and turned into a discouraging double play.
When a team takes clutch hitting all the way to a World Series championship, the expectations are that it will generally continue. But the Bosox have gone from a loose collection of overachievers to a seemingly tense and tight group of players.
Farrell has yet to totally prove himself as a manager. His years in Toronto were mediocre and in ’13 it seemed that everything he touched turned to gold. But given the Sox’ present state, he should make himself heard. One statement might be that despite the overachievement of some players last year, the team is still in the race and will work hard to stay there. He should put an end to some of the negativity by stating that the youngsters will get every chance- Jackie Bradley Jr, Xander Bogearts and Will Middlebrooks (when healthy) will be in the lineup every day for the time being.
It has been said that some veterans may grumble, given the anemic averages of Bradley and Middlebrooks. If that happens, these players must be told in no uncertain terms that Farrell-not them- is running the team and will do what he wishes to keep the Sox in the race.
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