Boston Red Sox: Worst to First Under Farrell

 

The Boston Red Sox have come very far since their 2012 season. After Terry Francona left as manager, Bobby Valentine stepped in for the 2012 season. The Red Sox finished the 2012 season in last place in the AL East.

American League East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	95	67	0.586	-	51-30	44-37
Baltimore Orioles	93	69	0.574	2	47-34	46-35
Tampa Bay Rays	90	72	0.556	5	46-35	44-37
Toronto Blue Jays	73	89	0.451	22	41-40	32-49
Boston Red Sox	69	93	0.426	26	34-47	35-46

The Red Sox did not even have a winning season that year. So, following that season, Bobby Valentine was "asked to leave" and the Red Sox hired John Farrell, the Red Sox's Pitching Coach from 2007-2010.

In the offseason between the 2012 and 2013 seasons, the Red Sox were very active in free agency. They signed Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, Koji Uehara, Mike Napoli, Ryan Dempster, David Ross, and Stephen Drew. Without all of them, the Red Sox probably wouldn't have ended up as successful as they did in the 2013 season.

As most people know, the Red Sox won the World Series this season. But without all of those additions, including John Farrell, they would not be.

“Most importantly, because I have been here before, there will be no taking for granted that relationships exist. I will work my butt off to earn their trust, earn their respect and create an environment in the clubhouse that is just that — it’s a trusting one, it will be a learning one and yes, it will be a competitive one and hopefully a very successful one at the same time,’’ Farrell told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. “So, if that’s being described as a players’ manager, then maybe that’s what I am. That’s still forming, I’m still learning.’’ John Farrell was ready to take on being the manager of the Red Sox. He said that he was familiar with the Fenway Park and the Boston atmosphere. So, he was a very good choice for the position.

Even though the Red Sox won the World Series after finishing in last place, Red Sox manager, John Farrell, did not win American League Manager of the Year. Ironically, Terry Francona won the award.

I thought John Farrell should have won, anyway. Not just because I am a Red Sox fan, but as a baseball fan.

It takes a lot of skill and determination to take a team from "Worst to First". In fact, John Farrell was the projected winner, not Francona, manager of the Cleveland Indians, one of the AL Wild Card winners. Along with Francona and Farrell was Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics manager, also 2012 AL Manager of the Year Winner.

"The Red Sox’ John Farrell was as surely the American League Manager of the Year as the sky is blue." said Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe writer.

So, congratulations to Terry Francona, I guess. In my opinion, Farrell should have won, but that was not my choice.

Though, it would be important to say that the votes for Manager of the Year had to be in before playoffs start. So, no one voting knew that the Red Sox would win the World Series.
But, they did finish with the best record in the MLB. So, obviously, they performed well under John Farrell anyway. It will be interesting to see the Red Sox's performance in the 2014 season.