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Red Sox: 5 questions to follow this season

By Jake Perelmuter

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the national anthem before game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the national anthem before game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 1, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell (53) and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski talk prior to their spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell (53) and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski talk prior to their spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The short answer to this question is yes. It will take a minor disaster for Red Sox manager John Farrell to be fired before the end of the season, but how far will the #FireFarrell movement go?

Farrell’s in-game management has been horrendous the past few seasons. His decisions regarding the bullpen, pinch hitting and pinch running have riled up angry Red Sox fans who want nothing more than to see Farrell out of a job. For example, Farrell has taken the blame for Steven Wright‘s season-ending injury sustained last season on the base paths after Farrell decided to use Wright – an inexperienced baserunner – as a pinch runner.

While much of the flack Farrell receives is deserved, and a change at the manager position would not be the worst thing for the team, Farrell will not be fired this season. Firstly, if he has not been fired by now, it is evident that the front office has enough trust in him to retain him through the worst. This trust was evident when the Red Sox picked up Farrell’s option for 2018.

Secondly, if Farrell were to be fired, there is no clear second-in-command anymore with the departure of ex-Bench Coach Torey Lovullo. Lovullo served as the interim manager for the Red Sox for the end of the 2015 season when Farrell was fighting cancer, and his success was the primary reason for the calls for the Red Sox to fire Farrell. Lovullo has since been hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks as manager, so he is no longer the Sox’ safety net that he had been the past few years.

Farrell will be the Red Sox’ manager through this season, but how often will we hear the calls to #FireFarrell?

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