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 and he ended -- picture. Must've been from the late sixties or seventies and follow Joseph to Maggio. Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams Justine in the middle and it just came a great WH TH a morning show broadcaster. And I think there's a devil resembles where your visual guys in ours between John Ferrell and Ted Williams a young Ted Williams and John Farrell. First -- -- first hold of my game doesn't belong in the same sentence for the -- that you just -- off so. But now I can see the picture here -- I thought your -- or you're betting -- Robert. Didn't know enjoy and look on the ground -- plus I'd say luck based on the reception of their reaction you're getting here at Fenway Park. You may be the most popular. Person in the organization since steadily is because let's face it. You are you are John Wayne come and 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 had to -- first and foremost they're really gonna. I'm not we're gonna have good players. And they'll be the focal point call list. I am and how they perform we'll certainly. Get this organization. Bounced back from a year ago. I am confident and we're all confident in his hand and 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 you know we've got a lot of work to do what we're. We're gonna do what people that were the facts and I enjoy doing in this city and I have a region in the ballpark -- Here at home win in Boston I'd like -- -- this one had an opportunity everybody knows how close to you went straight home. They always choose the places in the -- -- for playing Toronto when you mentioned Toronto like you guys went out to dinner. Now the only shot he did Francona -- 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 it downwind maybe stretching in the off season will. But during the season and -- entrenched in your own routine and your own team. And you focus on that and I consume -- takeaways. Any kind of the first time you might have on the with the family but it's I respect feel mentally -- -- 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 the kids from the dugout summon your star pupils like. Lester 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 some things that you get better tangible and -- -- things take place there a little bit differently than what you've seen. When you were that close you guys feel good to know them so familiar Leah and so close to the pitcher. Again you can see the 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 week -- go. There was the discussion for people who were what we're privy to not a dynamic for me. Bet TO might have been a player's manager for you were not necessarily. A player's pitching coach that you definitely true blue line in the sand. You're more quick disciplinarian type of taskmaster is that true. I don't know why you know all all I know is that my approaches to be consistent players. -- to praise them and we'll let them when they do well but also provide season. -- -- -- Maybe you're in need of adjustment in the world things that I look back in this part of the 2007 season and I've told Curt Schilling as the number time. He was the first player I call. After coming you know being -- -- pitching coach Mike called Kurds he would very candid with me and was so hopefully -- listen I don't need a friend I don't -- cheerleaders political. And that opened the door. To walk through with -- could be. Playing with him to be upfront it's been very direct and not help you deal with the other players as well because regardless of this stage -- -- player's career. I think they all want direction in some form or fashion. And you establish that. Framework to provide that 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 -- -- said that use of radio. I never felt that when I was working with -- he said that while I know what I know what you 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 see -- every player you want to bring out the best of them. 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 a -- coach Phillips -- and when you go to spring training. Finally -- everything you had just spent some time on history here and what happened with the chicken in the gear 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 a consistent very is that. Whether we need to control the running game the better proficiency. How we're gonna run the bases things that are. The characteristic that I see. As good as a manager and I what I think works well and it comes from my time pitching coach preparing against teams that more the first drive of the one dimensional. -- station to station. I think we can set that tone that aggressiveness that carry over into every aspect of the game me ask -- -- -- -- mention pitching coach in that last response. One of the things that has been discussed while the Red Sox were so we -- was. Well historically. Bad 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 so 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 -- And that's where you're relying on coaching staff has been for the those two years but it's not whether or not it's because how you do. Maybe not having the Patriots is to drawn. Position player's perspective that's for to be again over the last few years getting to know the mindset of a position player when they needed they don't. -- 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 generate club. Toronto and to be doing well you know really he really didn't didn't really have a great success and Toronto. Would you do if course it must make you feel good now they go make all these major deals and just talking me now aren't they had a hell forever and tires -- What did you learn from Toronto that's gonna make you different here. Well -- going back to last point made you know you go from handling twelve pitchers and our 25 man roster understanding the needs -- 25 guys and not just focusing on those twelve pitchers. 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 moved out of the bullpen lately -- where I was at the pitching coach sometimes maybe -- think with your heart a little bit too much -- -- your head and you've got to deal with the you definitely have to be more decisive. In those matches -- game. So you know those who think that sometimes we'll back clearly humbled but looking back the most cheers get a 103 different players two years. What people witnessed here last year Boston the number of injuries. And sustain 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 instead from your perspective north of the border. Who would have ever expected. Daniel Bard is completely fall apart could be psychologically for your 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 -- 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 and he tried to pitch well -- 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 sink the ball a little bit more I think that caused his arm action from various times and saw a number of pitches he left out of the strike zone 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 goes shorter that she didn't have portage 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 -- game in terms of their psyche. Forget about them more frequently shorter stints. Europeans have success along the way we feel like we can rebuild then -- About a seven so -- certainly volatile personality who say the least has versatility. -- you think you're using next year well. 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 to him -- things have been. Laid out talked about already. But we can't look past the talent that he has this and so -- that does some things in the game that are very unique. Not only the versatility in the role the frequency to which you can pitch the number of pitches to be given out and -- it. Can be a very good reliever. That could be a multi inning guy he can be -- one inning late. Inning guy if the need arise to for all of the help is available -- other. So he he's clearly an asset and a guy that we can use to our benefit to pitching coach. Would you prefer. Only is it easier to fix a mental issue psychologically assure. Today's kids who cares if the pin one of -- with the and that's not to say someone in the cycle of the world who might argue that you know that the mental side of it is it definitely. Confidence and stuffing out but I think when you're looking at a fundamental issue for the little adjustments you made you have to over. 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's it would take longer. I think I've been -- the fundamental side. You had a pretty good home run hitter -- Toronto last couple years if you have a keeper Josh Hamilton to come 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 national has in store for everyone including ourselves and and I -- Minnesota. A boatload of conversations with the guys that are on the market and I'm -- a lot right now. Labor. Some guys individually in Nashville but. It becomes much into the ads -- the truth. You -- this roster but how involved are you actually said -- is that you win then as a partnership. I was a break out all these certainly in the lead. Right there's no doubt about it and what might -- Zambrano. Were all kept up to date on happenings that are. As their unfolded 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 -- certainly and be able to provide that feedback have you been in touch and -- Some of the quote unquote leaders on the reds are. Florio at 30 absolutely yeah I had a good record David Newhan dozens. -- had a chance to meet them here a couple of times. In person. You know talk to doesn't interest. His last night so yeah. It's critical to start that. That conversation. Long in advance of spring training or did they give you some additions that just so -- I don't know -- I don't know what that I'd say this I imagine you see that yeah there are a lot of people happy to -- -- today John Carroll congratulations on the hire and success deposition. We -- a huge challenge in front of us but. When things are right I don't know that there's a better place in the we're good enough right now well. We're we're job at the bit to -- the -- again thanks a -- John Johnny Farrell and manager of the Boston Red Sox have Sports Radio WEEI.