John Farrell, Red Sox Pitching Coach

Talk a little baseball let's talk pitching in fact. As we always like to do when we talked pitching we -- talked to John Ferrell pitching coach of the Boston Red Sox. John joins us on the AT&T hotline AT&T a better three G experience hey John how are. Michael are. Great. Doing very well. I think that at at you know like October and of October 1 and November. You probably worn out you're probably ready for the season to be over I always think you -- about January 15. And -- little anxious to get started again is that right.

Yeah about December for exactly what. I think -- I'm here everybody is looking forward. Spring training and some warmer weather. We we -- what sub zero. Ers subfreezing temperature blog about.

I tell people about the of the week you had last week at you you're sitting next to Tito. Loses ripping you for getting a good guy award think about that you don't you forget the award from the baseball writers. And then you're on the same stage as rod Johnson who distract everybody up. This talk about that that week at the baseball writers in the wake of the baseball writers' dinner.

it's a chance -- bring a lot of things in the into the forefront. Is maybe grab some headlines not only purveyor of the signing that we've had but recognized some economic gain that. -- had outstanding years -- right. I think any -- we're talking baseball is a good thing and be able to spend some time within those. Even that much more of Obama's.

What what -- said he knew he is that he was giving your hard time. In your speech I'm saying.

You know what Michael I think when this was first made known among -- You know the the inside. I think it was a quick peck and a phone call flight like how do you go about -- go -- and win this war which. I I don't know I don't know what the criteria is. It could be present at -- what. I think any opportunity for two goats that he would get a laugh or throw a -- go to effect.

Couple weeks ago Gordon needs -- on ESPN boston.com. Had had made contact with Jonathan Papelbon and he was talking to Papelbon and and Papelbon didn't know that Mike Cameron was here and didn't hold that -- John Lackey had signed and I thought there's no way in the world he can actually not know this stuff. Is there could be actually not know what.

Well I'm not in dispute what his responses -- you know the one thing that makes -- so effective above and beyond. An elite performer you know physical abilities that we all know. Is his ability to move not dwell on yesterday and it while -- and performed today.

Other -- criteria for good closers have short term memory so in this case that might be applying to Detroit.

You got Jonathan Papelbon donned the contract is done the team avoided arbitration -- Is he a guy who you expect kind of hit the ground running when you get to Fort Myers here and a few weeks.

Without a doubt and that's the case ever you're that he can in the spring training I think the fact that -- Manny and Ramon a ball got there -- deals done about the way it. It's one less distraction that they have to contend with -- spring training again but. Pat. You know I know through conversations with them after the season included. Is motivated. Last. Outing that he had I think there's -- you know a strong learning experience for him his game awareness I think in this its selection will continue to grow from that standpoint. And because of that you know use of the driving force struck when Turk not so much to. It -- he's gonna make up for. You know his last -- the first -- training. But it to be a driver -- and he hold himself such a high standard that it you'll continue to do what needs there's not only adjusts. But to be a quote everyone which is they have.

John talk about his game awareness of this it's selection. -- over rating this letter in the slider that he used to have -- that -- don't see him throw it anymore and I always wondered. Why not.

now the consistency which he told us what her strikes. It needs to improve there's there's no doubt about that because what we've seen a lot of aren't those. Because he likes the buried at its all the strikes on a lot of -- that it'll read about all right out of the air and because he's become so. Predominantly a fastball pitcher. Any any itself has is that different release toward different purpose -- to what -- are typically going to take it. That's where we came in a slider become a little bit more of a weapon Fordham. -- and there are overtimes and burn this past season when he didn't feel like he has all the part that's what he did go to. But when we look back and magnify the game against the angels. You know there was a little bit of emotion and where those some adrenaline that he continued to thrive on it because of it. Most importantly back out over the plate against left and her clothes look great you are far. That ended up. Allowing him to score those three rounds to go ahead but. I think that experience in and of itself -- will allow that game awareness to continue to improve and inside that. Game situation could selection follows.

John what happened with with command of the plate for Papelbon last year. It was the one thing that was amazing about his career record prior to last year he has never walked anybody and last year walks came back and -- Camelot what happened to.

I think you have to look at last year's two separate. Two separate seasons inside of one. There was an adjustment with the delivery in spring training to get it like morn ball that it takes some work or to distribute the work load in the stressed throughout the body more evenly which it did. It happened to take away from a little from his overall fastball command around the mid season point mid June lot of latter part of June. There was a readjustment with a hand position that took him back -- deliveries similar to 08. And we saw his command. Improve. I think pretty much pretty dramatically. That's where we saw more swing and miss -- called strikes were better location goes out -- take over. We didn't make the change because he was feeling something initial. Went back to a delivery that was pretty evident in 07 early on. But these adjustments are. I I think are somewhat commonplace for guys always looking to get the edge always looking to stay one step -- their opponent but in this. The MacBook and the first ever -- wasn't sharp the second half. Which he got back.

A lot of people seem to think that Daniel Bard is the clothes are waiting. How close is he to being that type of pitcher who you can rely on at the end of the game and and what do you think the next step is for Daniel Bard in his development.

Well he's still a work in progress as strong as he was last year in the flash of the dominant that he had four pretty good stretches and he went through for the six weeks for humans. You know strike out weapon a dominant power arm of the fact the bullpen. Then and you're the first 23 weeks of August. A conference call up I'm a little bit he was challenged and a couple of situations -- and how well. But I think the most encouraging thing is he showed resilience from a mental standpoint -- go back out. And and right. These -- sort of speak with. Performance and that work. Very strong effort some cup outings so. I think -- world overall weren't such a good position to have both in Papelbon got back and to have the ability to strike people out. To shut down a threat late in the game.

As we sit here on January 20. Deal -- and and Tito in this case having your mind a plan for how Tim Wakefield is going to be used.

We do we we have an idea of going in the spring training that I don't wanna say is they completely. Seat. Approach what given the surgery that -- Nazis and what she's recovered. Very favorably is -- patrol program that about slaughter wanted a 150 feet which charter which is where all of our pitchers are describing -- We wanted to ensure that we can get on the mound he's able to take those open sessions and ultimately being. Assignments without any -- extra rest need it. And I think that we that was when training war have an idea of of -- inspects not he has -- lovable and in the past obviously we can't discount. The poll numbers and and a very strong performances at forest. We all know that as we planned for a full season we're gonna need seven -- eight starters get through the year so. I have six bought by big league starters altered the points are.

John obviously you have some history with the Cleveland Indians you played there you're an executive there have some friends built that organization. -- there was some talk god toward the end of last year going into the post season. That the you know the Indians needed a manager and John Farrell could be that guy. How serious did those talks become where you ever attempted to. Take up the pitching coach had input on the manager's hat and another city.

Michael it's it's a situation like this. I think everyone who is the coach of the Major League level has. Aspirations and and desires to have. The move. To take on greater responsibility. I have those. But it became a very. It's simple responsibly I I have agreed to it contract that -- some provisions and that has forbidden the net. And when I gave my word and and signed that contract I -- it's important to elect commitment. And I do what a guy into -- every night that. That we we think a lot of -- about the game we share a lot of the same guy -- as far as life and game itself. I and I am also very aware that. You know the Red Sox in the very unique opportunity to be involved in this is something that'll take lightly and I'm honored could be here. I am hopeful that other team we'll have that kind of interest but. There might come a point I'm in the future but. I think for multiple reasons one. Committing to the Red Sox will not depart.

I'm assuming that when baseball ops at least started contemplating the possibility of adding John Lackey to the staff you were one of the opinions they sought. If that's true and if they sought your opinion what did you say about.

I think we felt to bolster our rotation was -- mean all of -- in the offseason and John certainly the head of the class. As far as starting pitchers on the market. I and the fact that we -- the modified. Big league pitcher. With a tremendous amount successive very consistent track record postseason experience World Series experience you know if that. For a lot of obvious reasons but I think in pop and I was gone on here in the off season. And giving that know him through phone conversations one on one sit down conversations. -- in Boston last week. His competitive nature of work ethic is gonna sit in. Very well the guys we have on the team and particularly on our pitching staff so. This has been a great addiction and really deepens our rotation. One through five. And you know the fact that we concerned at top of the rotation out of the mound on a most if not every night. It is certainly a luxury and a strong point -- the sport.

You know early in his career Johnny had a reputation of being a guy who couldn't pitch at Fenway Park that's no longer an issue. Anymore is it.

No it's not and you know he spoke openly about that warmly when we've had a chance to talk in I think. Early on in his career he tried to change his approach to attacking hitters taking into account the green monster. And when he finally you know. I think it to the realization like of the act without wall being right there over my right shoulder I've just got a lot attack hitters are by governor and at a ballpark. That's what -- seen its success and satellite. Come to what it's been over the past couple years and all a learning experience. It. Are unique and different environment particularly for visiting pitcher. But the fact remains that he can't change his approach that the successful -- ballparks is because it's here --

That's an interesting -- before you got here. Curt Schilling had to be convinced wouldn't in the -- try to get them to go from Arizona at a Boston had a convinced that. The Fenway is not really a home run park like yeah some pitchers may thank have you found yourself. Having conversations. With pictures about Fenway Park and trying to explain to them what it is and what is what it is that and what the proper approach is when you pitch here.

You know. It's a great point and -- kind of build right on you know what. John liked it talked about in coming into the position had a conversation with -- you know that was. I think. To the person who doesn't experience many games and then what you would think that would commit quite but even -- We've talked openly that you know we can't change our approach is because -- Got a lot of little -- ever feel that right center field to use your manager and certainly to straightaway right field. About the wind drives that could be -- not a ball parks yes -- your. You benefit from it from that it being held to a single. But I think as long as you stay committed and focused on X it's getting from its approach. It's the pictures that. Don't maintain that mental focus. That it affects them more than the other guys I think that's what work. All -- with new people coming into the subway into the Red Sox that you learn that. It can be it must have an advantage at the visit that's.

A year ago the Red Sox were in the running in and tried to sign Mark Teixeira in the offseason and got beaten up by the Yankees in that regard. All we know that in the offseason they made an attempt to re sign. Jason Bay and maybe even made an attempt during the season to re signed Jason Bay and it didn't work out. They have sense it seems almost changed plans here and now its its pitching and defense as opposed to beat the way that they were at least trying to go one point. Is this a philosophical change within the organization in your mind.

Ought to I don't think so I think it's every intent is to put the best team on the field day in and day out as we have. Because Jason Bay is with the Mets in the country did not sign Teixeira I would not say that our offense. Is going to be average or below average and quite the contrary to -- you look at the additions of Marcos who -- who's of solid big league player was I think air. A solid average to above average offensive performer shortstop. If we can get a little bounce back at a Beltre and from what he's had in the sit in its history to go along with the Victor Martinez -- for full season. We've got some very good offensive performer with you -- first and Pedroia. This is a very solid lineup top to bottom. And I think you know when you combine that with an improved defense and as long as we bought our -- like we're capable of pitching standpoint. It should be a very exciting year boss.

This is probably the best defensive team at least going into the season in my Red Sox lifetime what does that mean to the pitching staff.

But you don't have to necessarily put a strikeout all -- And not the same regard cylinder that mindset but I think there were -- regards Philip they'd that you have to get a strikeout. Maybe otherwise they don't. That can be a little bit of catch 22 ultimately the pitcher feels like he's got to do more than capable of and and you know when that happened. Good things don't happen. So from the standpoint I think -- playing some some -- for ball games we're not just a lopsided offensive. Game on a given night. I think you're seeing a more complete player come back in the vote. An eighteen that it is more. Solid in all three areas offense defense and on abound that being the one that wins out over the long --

John it's always fun to talk baseball way idea I know it's just couple weeks left on your winter vacation and then it's back to work big time thank you for taken a few minutes. -- appreciate it reported Singapore mark you take care John thanks that is John Ferrell pitching coach for the Boston red sock on. We're going to Fort Myers John Ferrell does have one for -- I was wait for you to tell me because you're always the guy who makes these pronouncement last year.