Do the Red Sox Win by Bringing Back John Farrell?

I received a text message at 12:37 a.m. Sunday morning. Text messages at that time of the night fall in to two categories: good news or very bad news. Luck was with me, as I read the message from my friend Andy Gould who let me know that the the Boston Red Sox followed through on Ben Cherinton’s wish (some may say Freudian slip, as Bobby V. was still under contract when he made the comment) and got the man they wanted to manage the Red Sox for the 2013 season before the 2012 World Series had even begun. They acquired John Farrell, and the cost was not insignificant, as they had to send Mike Aviles, who is an above-average MLB shortstop to the Blue Jays as compensation . I had a conversation with my friend Mike with regard to this ‘trade’, and he made an excellent point: the Sox were likely going to lose Aviles because he would cost them too much money in arbitration. I countered that the Jays were in the same position with Farrell, except they were already on the hook to pay him for the 2013 season. Once everyone got past the posturing (and the outright lies with regard to Adam Lind joining the Sox), it’s a deal that actually makes sense for both clubs. The Jays didn’t really want to bring Farrell back for the 2013 season, and the Sox were going to likely lose Aviles in any event. Both teams got someone that they believe will improve their franchise.

The question that has to be asked is whether or not Farrell is a tremendous improvement over the Bobby V. Experiment. Strictly by the record, the answer is not really. Sure, Bobby V. took the Red Sox to their worst finish in over a half century (1965: 62-100), but he could easily put the blame squarely on his players hatred of him (as much as it may have been deserved) or all the injuries or the sniping he had to deal with. True, Farrell had nearly as many devastating injuries, but at least he didn’t have his most productive player literally quit on him and his team. Bobby V. could say that, and in fact, he did:

He (Ortiz) realized that this trade meant that we’re not going to run this race and we’re not even going to finish the race properly and he decided not to play anymore. I think at that time it was all downhill from there.

Now, I don’t have any insider information on the full extent of Ortiz’s injury, and I don’t know whether or not his doctors actually told him that rest would be the best course of action as his agent Fernando Cuza has said. I do know that Ortiz didn’t from July 17-August 23, came back for a single game (he went 2-4, getting hits in his first two at-bats), and then never played again the rest of the way. That’s a big deal.

Ortiz’s attitude towards John Farrell coming back to Boston was overwhelmingly positive, saying:

I’m pretty sure he’ll walk in and handle his business. He’ll be in a situation where he doesn’t have to come in and learn the program. He can just do his thing.

Given his free agent status, that vote of confidence counts as a huge win for Farrell before he even has to make a single decision. With the Red Sox likely in rebuild mode (though their ‘found’ money may speed the process up), it’s important that Farrell has the support of one of the main clubhouse guys. I would suspect that everyone else will fall in line with that thought, and every effort will be given to make Farrell a success. The Sox players who return from 2012 know that many fans will be watching their every move given the franchise’s performance the last two seasons. If the players that are leftover from 2011 are not able to turn the team around in 2013, the blame will fall squarely on their shoulders (3 managers in 3 seasons leaves only the players that can be to blame.) Most of those guys do care about their performance, and how they are viewed by fans. I expect big things out of that group of players, and hope that Farrell is able to right the ship quicker than expected. His return will bring back memories of the Sox recent success (was it really only 2007 that they were World Series champs? It feels like a lifetime ago.)

Whether the Sox ‘won’ the deal with the Jays, or whether it was simply break-even for both franchises, in the grand scheme, it is a first positive step for a franchise that has gone many days since its last one. The next step is to not sign any player to a ridiculous free agent contract, simply because they have the money to do so. It is important that they rebuild the roster the proper way, and bring in players that are not only talented, but will have a positive attitude even in the toughest of times. Without that, Farrell may find himself on the same path as Bobby V. and Terry Francona.

How’s your team handling its off-season? Are you satisfied?

Let me know:

tbone.kline@gmail.com, @tbone44444444, like More Than A Fan on facebook, and follow More Than a Fan on Twitter @MTAFSports

Matthew Kline (140 Posts)

Growing up a Red Sox fan, life was never as easy as it could have been. Of course, that all changed after The Steal. I have previously contributed to The Valley Advocate, and currently co-host a weekly sports talk show with MTAF's own Mike Pellegrino on Wednesday evenings from 6-8. Listen in at www.ustream.tv/channel/wcch-103-5