The Reds have hired former Red Sox skipper John Farrell, though he won’t be joining the coaching staff of Cinci manager Bryan Price. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com first tweeted news of the hiring.
Farrell will function as a scout with the Cincinnati organization, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic (Twitter link). It seems the focus will be on pitching, with Farrell beginning his tenure by examining the Reds’ own system, as Peter Gammons explains on Twitter.
It certainly makes sense that Farrell will be focused on pitching, as he’s a former big league hurler who made his mark as a pitching coach. He went on to manage the Blue Jays and Red Sox.
Farrell’s tenure in Boston came to a close after 2017. Though he had guided the team to consecutive AL East crowns, in addition to a 2013 World Series title, Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski elected to fire Farrell and (eventually) replace him with Alex Cora. It stands to reason that Farrell will be considered for future managerial openings.
FIRE FARRELL
I’m a Yankees fan but I really respected the job he did with Boston. Felt he got the shaft when they let him go.
How about Tito?
As an Indians fan I owe the Red Sox a thank you for whatever happened with that situation
LOL
As a Yankees fan as well I have a ton of respect for Tito.
Tito was a mistake. Farrell lost the clubhouse if he ever had it and was simply a lousy manager. Don’t forget two last place finishes in 14 and 15. For a pitching coach he used the relief staff other than Kimbrel horribly.
I didn’t like Farrell’s managing generally and am glad he’s been replaced by Cora, but let’s be fair. Somehow, that bullpen had the second best ERA in the league last year despite having only one elite arm. Other than Kimbrel, they didn’t have anyone who should have been top 5 in the Yankees’ pen. You’ve got to give Farrell credit for using the right guy at the right time.
In spite of, not because of him. As a fan who usually watches at least part of every game, he was really bad. I’m talking about the last few years, not just 2017. The team’s surprise 2013 bought him the time to win the division the last two years as he deserved to be fired after 2015. Sadly he got sick then and the team rightfully then kept him on.
Absolutely loved having Tito in Boston. Great manager, great person. His best line about life as a manager: “you’re fired the day they hire you. They just don’t tell you when.”
He didnt. He was a chore to watch at times. I felt the same way about Girardi when the Yanks moved on but seeing as how I only see them play when its against the Sox, I took my yankees friends at their word when they said he had to go. I knew the feeling.
Really? Yankees screwed Joe Girardi. Red Sox were stupid to fire Tito but JF was one of the worst in fame managers in baseball..
“Yankees screwed Joe Girardi.”
They screwed him by not offering him a new contract? That’s pretty odd reasoning. How exactly did they “screw” him?
Probably worst Sox manager who had most talented teams to lead and cost them a pennant.. maybe 2 was the inept Don Zimmer of the late 70’s.
Farrel’s BP management would have looked genius compared to Zimmer’s and Zimmer was so wacko? He’d hold back his better starters for days to get them into games vs opponents. How that 1998 team won 99 with his looney leadership shows how much talent was there despite him
Zimmer? You mean Jimy Williams?
huge Sox fan, aren’t you John?
no, he means Zimmer and the 1978 Sox. They won 99 games with Zimmer. 1998 must’ve been a typo.
you’re no fun. 😀
As a Red Sox fan, I would say the same about Girardi, but didn’t see him everyday as most Yankees fans.
Might be Price’s replacement in waiting
Price won’t see May.
I’d be willing to bet Price was not happy nor on board with that hire
Price should have been fired 2 years ago. He is by far the worst on-field manager in the game. Even in a rebuilding phase, you need a competent manager and this is why the Reds rebuild is looking like it is going to take far longer than some other teams.
price has dealt with difficult circumstances for the duration of his managerial tenure and the front office knows it and appreciates it. I doubt Price will be fired so much as move into a different title within the organization, maybe a promotion of Farrell will coincide with that but I doubt it. I can think of several names out there that would make sense
I wouldn’t hire John Farrell to run a two-person picnic. Been enjoying getting to know Cora’s approach this spring – far more involved in the details of the game.
So…a micro-manager? After watching how unimpressively Brad Ausmus managed a Detroit team built to “win now”, I will be watching to see if other teams have success with inexperienced managers. Knowing analytics might have its value, but I doubt it has more value than people skills over a full season.
“Details of the game” means Cora is alert in the dugout, he’s thinking 2-3 outs ahead of the game, he thoughtfully uses his bench, he communicates with his players in-game, will know how and when to do a double-switch in an NL park, etc. “Details of the game” is a far cry from micro-managing – Cora is paying attention.
Yanks are screwed.
“I wouldn’t hire John Farrell to run a two-person picnic.”
So funny and so true.
It’s easy for us to say this manager sucks or that manager is great but for the most part a manager is only as good as the talent he has serving under him.
Yep. Virtually every HOF manager ever has had really good teams to manage, and teams that have kept them on long term.
Next red manger , sooner then later price is out after 20 games
Maybe Barry Larkins pitching coach after he’s hired as manager and Price hits the door.
Farrell will do a good job for the Reds, although he’s probably being under utilized as a scout. He was the director of player development for Cleveland before getting into coaching, and was responsible for designing their player development system, which has produced some pretty good players. While he was managing the Jays, he had quite a bit of input into the Jays efforts to do the same things.. Both teams are better for Farrell having been there.
Price has to be looking over his shoulder if Reds have a mediocre April
Exactly what April do you expect the reds to have? Lol
exactly.. if they were going to dump Price they would’ve done it earlier in the offseason. Next juncture would probably right before the all star break
A replacement for Price already?
When talking about terrible Boston skippers, how has Bobby Valentine’s name not come up?
Cincinnati Reds are lucky to have him he is a great coach will be back managing somewhere soon