Who is to blame for the slow start?

[Youk Of The Nation]

It's been what, 15 years? Since a Sox manager was fired mid-season? Williams, I think. There was no one after that, right? Little, Francona, Valentine, and Farrell are the only guys who came afterwards?

 

I really don't think the Sox would fire a manager mid-season. If they didn't fire him in 2014 or 2015, they won't do it now, they'll wait until the end of this season.

Edited April 20, 2016 by Youk Of The Nation

[User Name]

No one here knows exactly what Sox brass wil dol if the team keeps struggling. The manager can't hit or pitch for 'em, but he sure can help the team's cause by not doing stupid s*** like leaving Koji to get destroyed out there when it was clear he had nothing the other day.

[mvp 78]

Red Sox history matters less than DUMBrowski history. He's dumped managers in April before.

[User Name]

And the contract he signed here gives him full control over baseball ops. Past history means jack s*** here right now.

[Kimmi]

As Kimmi said, this team is better than a .500 team, at least on paper, IMO. They do need a fire lit under them, and unfortunately for John Farrell, that means that he needs to be shown the door. Sooner rather than later.

 

I said coming into this season that I was on the fence about Farrell, and that I would hold off my opinion of him until after this season. He may not last the season, but IMO, he certainly deserves more than a couple of months.

 

That said, he sure does have me scratching my head a lot so far.

[Kimmi]

There is no reason to fire John Farrell that wasn't true when pitchers and catchers reported. If they didn't fire him by then, they won't fire him before June. Count on it.

 

I would normally agree with that, but not with Dombrowski running the show.

[mvp 78]

And the contract he signed here gives him full control over baseball ops. Past history means jack s*** here right now.

 

The 2015 Sox have more in common with the 2002 Tigers than the 2003 Red Sox right now.

[mvp 78]

I would normally agree with that, but not with Dombrowski running the show.

 

AKA Chainsaw Charlie

[Kimmi]

AKA Chainsaw Charlie

 

AKA Panic Master

[User Name]

Oh, so DD is panic master already? He doesn't get the benefit of the doubt like everyone else?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Interesting stat I stumbled across when I was looking up Sox managers. Farrell is 1 game under .500 with the Sox (220-221), so if he wins tonight, he breaks even! This is excluding the 49 games last season when he was sick, obviously.

[Dojji]

It's been what, 15 years? Since a Sox manager was fired mid-season? Williams, I think. There was no one after that, right? Little, Francona, Valentine, and Farrell are the only guys who came afterwards?

 

I really don't think the Sox would fire a manager mid-season. If they didn't fire him in 2014 or 2015, they won't do it now, they'll wait until the end of this season.

 

Yep. 100% agree.

[Kimmi]

Oh, so DD is panic master already? He doesn't get the benefit of the doubt like everyone else?

 

Absolutely he gets the chance to prove himself. I have not stated or suggested that I wanted him fired. It will take years to fully assess the job he's doing. That doesn't mean I can't voice my concerns about what the ramifications of his aggressiveness might be on long term outlook of the team.

 

I questioned Farrell in the very same post that I said he deserves a longer look than 2 weeks.

[mvp 78]

Absolutely he gets the chance to prove himself. I have not stated or suggested that I wanted him fired. It will take years to fully assess the job he's doing. That doesn't mean I can't voice my concerns about what the ramifications of his aggressiveness might be on long term outlook of the team.

 

I questioned Farrell in the very same post that I said he deserves a longer look than 2 weeks.

He's been manager for longer than 2 weeks...

[cp176]

I just wished that farrell approached these games as though he truly felt that they were as important as the ones played later in the season. It is a fact. They are John. You should have things figured out already. Nothing about panic - nothing about being patient! Play to win.

[Bellhorn04]

I hate to say it, but as a manager Farrell just seems to be a loser. Can't take away a championship season from him, but he's finished last in his other 4 seasons. And he keeps doing things and saying things that don't make much sense.

[mvp 78]

It could always be worse. At least the Sox are better than the Yanks right now.

[User Name]

That doesn't make Farrell suck any less.

[FredLynn]

Farrell has the personnel to win right now, but for whatever reason the players are not performing for him. Its time (past time, actually) to give someone else a chance. I do not think that Henry is going to accept mediocrity this year.

[sk7326]

Farrell has the personnel to win right now, but for whatever reason the players are not performing for him. Its time (past time, actually) to give someone else a chance. I do not think that Henry is going to accept mediocrity this year.

 

The players are playing hard - the makeup and character are sound. On those fronts, I think we can defend Farrell safely. But the tactical decisions are odd - not Matt Williams 2015 horrendous, but there is a lot that is suboptimal.

 

Their sub .500-ness is really a result of the starting pitching - with two losses tied directly to the $200M man.

[FredLynn]

The players are playing hard - the makeup and character are sound. On those fronts, I think we can defend Farrell safely. But the tactical decisions are odd - not Matt Williams 2015 horrendous, but there is a lot that is suboptimal.

 

Their sub .500-ness is really a result of the starting pitching - with two losses tied directly to the $200M man.

 

I disagree about the "the players are playing hard" part, at least in part. The pitching has been horrendous, and I think another manager would be able to get more out of this staff, which on paper at least, is pretty good. And yes, Farrell is a horrible in game tactician. One of the worst.

[User Name]

I disagree about the "the players are playing hard" part, at least in part. The pitching has been horrendous, and I think another manager would be able to get more out of this staff, which on paper at least, is pretty good. And yes, Farrell is a horrible in game tactician. One of the worst.

 

It's been horrendous in large part due to Farrell's tactical decision making, and we're back at square one.

[sk7326]

I disagree about the "the players are playing hard" part, at least in part. The pitching has been horrendous, and I think another manager would be able to get more out of this staff, which on paper at least, is pretty good. And yes, Farrell is a horrible in game tactician. One of the worst.

 

I think it's clear they are getting effort from all of the positions. The staff has struggled because Buchholz has struggled and Price has been terrible in two of his four starts. The other guys are actually doing more or less what you could have expected.

[FredLynn]

I think it's clear they are getting effort from all of the positions. The staff has struggled because Buchholz has struggled and Price has been terrible in two of his four starts. The other guys are actually doing more or less what you could have expected.

 

Farrell created an environment where Kelly didn't feel obliged to inform him that he was injured. This is an example of the culture John Farrell has made in the clubhouse.

[Bellhorn04]

The head-scratching stuff with Farrell started early when he gave everyone the impression that JBJ was going to be platooning with Young. Then the weird stuff with the early pinch-hitting for Shaw.

 

Hard to escape the feeling that the man is a little 'muddled' in his thinking.

[sk7326]

Farrell created an environment where Kelly didn't feel obliged to inform him that he was injured. This is an example of the culture John Farrell has made in the clubhouse.

 

That Kelly wanted to take the ball too badly?

[FredLynn]

That Kelly wanted to take the ball too badly?

 

That Kelly didn't think it was important to inform his manager that he may be injured. Perhaps Farrell is trying to get his team to toughen up...I don't know. I do know that Kelly should have felt compelled to tell his manager if he didn't feel right.

[mvp 78]

That Kelly didn't think it was important to inform his manager that he may be injured. Perhaps Farrell is trying to get his team to toughen up...I don't know. I do know that Kelly should have felt compelled to tell his manager if he didn't feel right.

 

I think he struggles managing younger players because he gives everyone too much leeway. He did fine with the veterans in 2013, because they all came together and had bounce back seasons. Younger players need more direction, but he doesn't seem to provide it.

[SoxHop]

That Kelly didn't think it was important to inform his manager that he may be injured. Perhaps Farrell is trying to get his team to toughen up...I don't know. I do know that Kelly should have felt compelled to tell his manager if he didn't feel right.

 

This is a tough one. These guys mostly aren't playing at %100 percent almost every start. I just read somewhere that one pitcher felt better pitching with general soreness, so I can imagine more do too.

 

There's a fine line between thinking you are going to be able to perform, and being someone that can't play all the time due to not feeling %100.

 

I can't blame Farrell for this one without more info.

[Elktonnick]

Lyons and Remy felt free to criticize Farrell's decisionmaking twice in the last three or four games. I think the word is out among the insiders at Fenway that the manager is on very shaky ground. I believe the next two series are crucial for Farrell. The Astros aren't playing well and the Braves are awful. If the Sox lose two out three to Houston and then three out of the four to the Braves Farrell is gone. DD has fired a manager early in the year when he was in Detroit.