John Farrell, Red Sox Manager, With Mustard and Johnson at "Christmas at Fenway"

Anyway it's funny because. Larry I beat John -- The listener came homer -- handed a picture. Plus the men from the late sixties or seventies and follow Joseph to Maggio. Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams Justine in the middle and it just came the great WH TH a morning show broadcaster. And I think there's a -- resemblance where your visual guys in ours between John Ferrell and Ted Williams a young Ted Williams and John Farrell. First of all first look -- my game doesn't belong in the same sentence for the names that you just read off so. But now I can see the picture here -- I thought your -- your -- -- -- Didn't know enjoy the amount of Tel plus I'll tell -- -- based on the reception of their reaction that you're getting here at Fenway Park. You may be the most popular. Person in the organization since deadliest because let's face it. You are you are John -- company and on your wars. You are gonna clean up this town then you're gonna make things right it's still a Fenway Park well I -- -- you first and foremost they're really gonna. I'm not we're gonna have good players. And they'll be the focal point -- list. I am and how they perform we'll certainly. Give disorganization. Bounced back from a year ago. I am confident and we're all confident and then his staff could certainly use the resources that John Tom and Larry are always providing the this is incredible opportunities as I look at it -- we've got a lot of work to do what we're. We're gonna do what people that were the facts and to do within the city in the region in the ballpark -- Here at home win in Boston I'd like you said this -- one -- Everybody knows how close to you went straight home. They always -- -- places in the red card for playing Toronto when you mentioned Toronto like you guys went out to dinner hour. Now the only shot he did frank -- give you look like -- -- and say well how the defensive guys can. Actually as close as we are we we never did go out to dinner -- -- those two years you know I'd see -- downwind maybe stretching in the off season will. But during the season here at Princeton bureau routine in your own team. And you focus on night and they consume and take -- Any kind of the first time you might have a live with the family but it's I respect feel -- Extremely fortunate. The fact I was catching him. Just perform on area right now for you know we. We think that's completely but could you tell watching their kids from the dugout -- -- -- pupils like. -- in the light -- you must have been able to detect something that. Get -- tomorrow and you don't want him shortly being successful against your team but she's still must have seen them. I think there's something that you get better tangible in the delivery when things take place there a little bit differently than what you've seen. When you look at that closely guys -- to know them so familiarly and so close to the pitcher. Again you could see -- big. You know what that's tough for us to figure out. Right they ask you this since we're talking about Tito Ortiz spent. So long working -- -- go. There was the discussion for people who were what we're privy to about the dynamic for me. That TO might have been -- player's manager for you were not necessarily. A -- pitching coach that you definitely true blue line in the sand. You're more right disciplinarian type of task -- is that true. I don't know why you know all all I know is that my approaches to be consistent with the players. -- to praise them and well we'll let them when they do well but also provide -- -- -- -- Maybe you're in need of adjustment in the world things and I look back in this part of the 2007 season and I've told Curt Schilling is -- -- He was the first player I called. After coming you know being -- -- pitching coach Mike called Kurds he would very candid with me and was so hopefully solicit I don't need a friend I don't -- -- -- political. And that opened the door. To walk through with -- to be. Playing with him to be up front as he's very direct and I help you deal with the other players as well because regardless of this stayed -- the player's career. I think they all want direction in some form or fashion. And you establish that. Framework to provide a direction for consistency. Day in and day out. I think it also puts in the system of accountability that we all hold one another through this thing with the part -- said that use of radio. I never felt that when I was working with them he said that while I know what I know what he said but I think. Hopefully you can develop respects the -- And that means you've got to balance out not always being all good and and a friend for the but I think it. You see talent in them and you can see count every player you want to bring us faster. So yes your positive for the same time you. He -- some things that you. Moved them in the process to see their growth as well. That's that's how you learned that tell you that's how I would hope that dealt with the coach -- -- -- and when you go to spring training. Finally got everything you had just spent some time on history here and what happened with the chicken in the beer in the hole finishing in last place. You already have in mind when you go to spring training your philosophy. You gonna do well absolutely. It starts with a broader framework of how we wanna play the game as a team. How we wanna go about our work day in day out there that's gonna become more refined to be inconsistent very is that. Whether we will need to control the running game -- better proficiency. How we're gonna run the bases things that are. The characteristic that I see. As good as a manager and I have what I think works well and it comes from my town to host preparing against teams that -- more diversity rather than one dimensional. -- station to station. I think we can set that tone that aggressiveness and carry over into every aspect of the game -- ask citizenship mentioned pitching coach -- that last response. One of the things that is been discussed while the Red Sox were showing you was. Well historically. You were -- the last two years obviously but historically. They have been precious few pitches coaches who made that transition. Out of the bullpen into the dugout. Why do you think that's the case why is it difficult historically for pitching coaches. To really be great hands well there's only 24 former pitchers that have been probably managers itself to that number nationally is going to be less to begin. We see the game differently. We we come up on the defensive side of the game. Which I will tell you the last two years have been incredible learning experience for me in creating -- and finding ways to to exploit given. Starting pitcher given T. And that's where you're relying on coaching staff have been for the those two years but. Whether or not it's because how you do. Maybe not having the experiences to drawn. Position players perspective that's great to be again over the last few years getting -- the mindset of a position player when they needed they go. You blow when they got to come out of the game when what hitters like this one of those guys like to manipulate the bat more than others. Those are things that you've become a student of the game about and you look to apply them inside the -- all kind of generated club. Toronto and something as well you know really he really didn't didn't really have a greatest success in Toronto. What you do -- -- course -- -- make you feel good now they go make all these major the only thing in this document how well -- and a well revenues and higher Zell. What did you learn from Toronto that's gonna make you different here. Well going back to last point -- you know you go from handling twelve pitchers about 25 man roster understanding the needs of 25 guys and not just focusing on those twelve pitches. Having those informal interactions weathered from BP your early in the clubhouse for the position players getting to know that side of understanding. The urgency of moves out of the bullpen -- -- where I was at the pitching coach sometimes maybe -- think with your heart a little bit too much rather than your head and you've got to deal with -- you definitely have to be more decisive. In those matches -- game. So you know those who think that sometimes we'll back clearly homelessness but looking back -- we'll -- is -- a 103 different players two years. What people witnessed here last year Boston the number of injuries. And -- something very similar and that's constant change. It is something we all have to contend that but certain stability continuity who will lead to success so long -- I'm thinking as we're talking about. Since they would pitchers for a little bit. Just think you can guard. As you know arguably is that from your perspective north of the border. We've ever expected. Daniel market completely fall apart could be psychologically -- -- physical how do you look at Daniel Bard as a reclamation project for. Well there's there's two things they mentioned earlier you finish your health issues you were ten. Those are two main ingredient for him to be successful. There are some changes that you know watching video already of Daniel there's some things could clearly took place with the I think when he went into the starting rotation he tried to pitch quote unquote pitch more than uses raw stuff but he did as a true believer. He moved from the third base side for the first base side of the -- And try to -- the ball a little bit more I think that causes arm action -- various times and saw a number of pitches left out of the strike killed up to the front side. When you try to back down to the intensity level sometimes that causes that release points to be very. Ultimately consistent strike zone is also going to be very -- it's important to it's like to get him back to. Not only aggressive mindset and it's -- shorter that she didn't have -- but thank you -- And I think allows him to build confidence more readily more frequently used to -- that the mental side. Players don't have success it's a great -- per game in terms of their psyche. So forget about them more frequently shorter stints. -- into the success along the way we feel like we can rebuild then go to him. About a asset base extremely volatile personality say police has versatility. What do you think you're using next year well it. First and foremost to establish. Consistent communication with him let him know what is acceptable what is not I had this doesn't come as a surprise him is that things have been. Laid out talked about already. But we can't look past the talent that he has this and so when that does some things in the game that are very unique. Not only the versatility in the role the frequency which you can pitch the number of pitches in the given out -- -- Can be a very good reliever. That could be a multi inning guy he can be wanted in late. Inning guy if the need -- to the health and availability of other. So he he's clearly an asset and a guy that we can use -- benefits of pitching coach. Would you prefer. Only is it easier to fix a mental issue psychologically sure. It's -- within -- within one -- And that's not to -- someone in the cycle of the world who might argue that you know that the mental side of it is a -- Confidence and stuffing out but I think what you're looking at a fundamental issue for the little adjustments you made you have children. Go back over. You can gather video of what they performed well how that was done so there's your constant visual reminder I think most players are visual arts. So it's good to walk through way. A confidence issue that's gonna come from. Performing the act doing well in that back in and ultimately building on the intention that it would take longer. I think then the the fundamental side. And you had a pretty good home run erupt in Toronto last couple years if you have -- -- Josh Hamilton -- it and typically don't want to tell that you want a job I'd -- like you know there there's a number of players very good players that are on the market right now. If the university was nationalized in store for everyone including ourselves and and I -- business -- a boat load of conversation with the guys that are on the market and after a lot right now. Labor. Some guys individually in Nashville but. We -- confident widgets and add to the troops. You -- this roster but how involved are you actually said -- is that you win then as a partnership. House of break out all these certainly in the lead. Right there's no doubt about it and what Mike Hazen drive. Were all kept up to date on the happenings that are. As they're unfolding and then the debate comes internally if thirteen -- to be made how would this player. His position. Affect other needs as well so certainly -- is the lead. On all of that. Whether it's great to be kept in the loop certainly and be able to provide that feedback have you been in touch and -- Some of the quote unquote leaders from the red card. -- thirteen oh absolutely yeah I had a good record David and dozens. -- had a chance to meet them here a couple of times. In person. You talk to doesn't interest. His last night so yeah. Critical to start that. That conversation. Long in advance of spring training they give you said it dishes the physical evidence. I America. I don't know what that I'd say this I imagine you see that yeah there are a lot of people happy to -- you today John Carol congratulations on the higher and successes deposition. We -- a -- children criminals but. When things are right I don't know that there's a better place in the the -- -- enough right now well. We're we're job at the bit to give -- -- starter again thanks for watching on Johnny Farrell and manager of the Boston Red Sox and Sports Radio WEEI.