Can the Red Sox climb into the playoffs with managerial incompetence? We may find out, but a better option exists.
Why is John Farrell still the manager of the Boston Red Sox?
Is some perverse sense of loyalty or sympathy in play? I have concluded that this is like gravity and represents a mystery. A natural phenomenon that is unexplainable unless there is some insight not being provided by ownership or Dave Drombowski.
Management has no problems fortifying the team for a run at the playoffs with a series of bold and not so bold moves all designed to address a weakness. Drew Pomeranz was acquired to solidify the rotation. Aaron Hill to provide depth for the infield. Fernando Abad to upgrade the portside bullpen depth. The Red Sox even promoted prospect Andrew Benintendi and handed left field to him.
All over baseball, the hunt is on and the end of July saw a Marrakesh type trading market set up so buyers and sellers could negotiate transactions. Teams “In the hunt” certainly looked to strengthen themselves just as Boston did, but why ignore the one issue that has plagued this team from the outset – poor game management.
"“Are you better off with or without him?” – Dear Abby"
Is there a baseball rule in the collective bargaining agreement that prevents the dismissal of a manager when a team is in playoff contention? Why is Farrell still around? At least with Carl Willis the senior management admitted to the necessity of bringing in a new look and Brian Bannister was transferred from his data management hovel to assistant pitching coach. That has certainly helped the starters.
More from BoSox Injection
- Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
- Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
- Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Why Red Sox fans should be rooting for Carlos Correa’s Mets deal to go through
- Red Sox exec claims Mookie Betts loss changed management style, but actions say otherwise
There are two camps surrounding Farrell and I have switched my allegiance at the All-Star break. You either unequivocally support the manager or simply feel he should join the ranks of ex-employees. I switched. I could no longer reasonably defend managerial moves that simply seemed illogical. Attempting to justify the unjustifiable could no longer wash. I’ve had it.
Managers don’t make the play – the players do, but managers are supposed to place players in a position that gives them the best opportunity to succeed. Bringing in a Junichi Tazawa into a situation that had disaster spelled out does not meet that standard. That is just one recent nugget since to provide a laundry list of game decisions, questionable bullpen decisions and the post-game repartee with the questioning press would certainly take a few servers.
Fire him!
If a team has no roadblocks to adding and subtracting players late in the season why not apply the same standard to a manager? Why keep a manager around who costs games – just think Steven Wright – and does not win games that need to be won? Make the switch.
Such a move would be bold and unprecedented with a manager that apparently has the respect of the players since no discord has surfaced. The team is in the playoffs if the season ended today. They have suddenly gone on a mini-surge and survived one extended road trip and are in a good position to survive this 11-game trip. Make the switch.
In 2015 the switch was already made when Farrell had to leave for medical reasons. The team was dreadful and the only shred of likeability was watching the younger players mature. Torey Lovullo took the reins and the team won. Of course, it was the end of the season and they were going nowhere, but the precedent had been set.
Next: Boston Red Sox Reliever Brad Ziegler only goes to extremes
Lovullo signed with Boston as bench coach and just sits while our baseball Nero spins post-game yarns on how and why – enough! Dombrowski hired Lovullo for a reason and that reason is now. You add players to strengthen the team and you can also add managerial skill to strengthen the team.