Going All In With Farrell

With the disaster of 2012 behind them, the Red Sox and their fans are looking for any and all positive developments as the team heads into 2013.  Consider the first shot fired.

September 11, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher

(60) talks with starting pitcher

(31) during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

A glut of Red Sox pitchers, including Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, Craig Breslow, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Andrew Miller and Franklin Morales have already arrived in Fort Myers, FL well ahead of the pitchers and catchers first official report date of February 12.

Add catchers Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway to the mix and you’ve got yourself a motivated group that looks ready to go and will be the key to the Red Sox success or failure this season.

New manager John Farrell visited most of these players in the off season and although no one knows exactly what he said, it must have been one heck of a speech for all of these key players to report so early.

Oct 23, 2012; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox new manager

talks to the media during a press conference at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

This speaks very well of Farrell and of the expected focus and leadership he is expected to foster within this team.  He was hired partly because of his reputation for garnering respect and restoring order.

The early reporting of these players indicates to me that they are going all in with Farrell.  If true, fans are going to see a Red Sox team in 2013 that is the antithesis of the raggedy group from 2012.

It looks like Farrell has already gotten the players attention, so expect a well prepared, focused, and fundamentally sound team that follows their manager’s lead.

These are qualities this team needs if they are going to get back to winning big.  Many players have much to prove.  The earlier they get started, the better.

If this first piece of positive news is an indication of things to come, color me impressed.  The Red Sox already look committed, so the team we’ve grown to love may just be on their way back.