I Got My “Old” Guy
If Papi is happy so am I (Photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor and used with permission)
Well that was quick and painless.
The World Series hasn’t even started yet and the Red Sox have a new manager. I’d call that progress over last season.
Sean McAdam was the first to announce last night that the Red Sox and the Blue Jays came to an agreement and John Farrell would be the next manager for Boston. I’m not disappointed. I’m not sure there is anyone out there I think would do a better job than Farrell although my joking yesterday aside, I wouldn’t have minded seeing what Brad Ausmus could have done with the job. Bottom line for me is that the Red Sox knew who they wanted, went after him and got him and the post-season isn’t even over. This is exciting because it means the Red Sox can now move on to other issues they need to focus on for 2013. Who is their shortstop (now that we know the compensation for Farrell is Mike Aviles)? Who is their left fielder? Who is their right fielder? Who is their first baseman?
Holy cow, I’m giving my self an anxiety attack, I need to stop asking questions.
In less anxiety-stirring news, I was encouraged by the comments David Ortiz made about the Sox choosing Farrell. Papi didn’t mince words when describing the state of the team nor when expressing his excitement about his new (if he and Boston come to an agreement) manager:
“But I don’t know if it’s fair for him to walk into this situation that we are in right now. Hopefully everything goes well and he can change things around. He’s up for the challenge and what he’s going to bring to the table and hopefully everything goes great. I know things didn’t go the way he expected in Toronto; hopefully it works out for him here…We needed something different. I think you’re going to notice a difference. We need somebody to increase the way things are around here and John’s the guy. I’m excited.”
If Papi is happy, I’m happy. Especially if the stories of him bringing his coaches from Toronto (including Torey Lovullo) with him are true. I’m very eager for this team to move the hell on from this God-awful season and quickly getting through the hiring process…and coming out with the guy everyone in the organization seemed to want…feels like the best way to do this.
I was really curious about Brad Ausmus too, Cyn. It would’ve been tough on him, as a first-time manager, to have to deal with the barracuda media poopstorm of hysterical doom that thunders down upon the manager’s head around these parts after the first loss of. . .February. But he strikes me as a dude with the right stuff to deal and figure it out. Be that as it may, John Farrell does seem like a well-considered hire for this challenging juncture in Sox history. He does indeed and thoroughly know this gig–and all the personalities involved, from the minor leagues to the front office and everywhere in between. He knows how to do the media circus here with professional clarity and savvy. He has not been one to throw players under the bus in off the cuff remarks. He’s a very smart man. He knows pitchers. He IS a pitcher. And he looks formidable when he folds his arms. These are key skills :-)