John Farrell News Conference Live Blog: ‘This Is Somewhat of a Dream Come True’

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Oct 23, 2012

John Farrell News Conference Live Blog: 'This Is Somewhat of a Dream Come True'12:49 p.m.: Farrell on how players can succeed in Boston: “It’s a playoff atmosphere here in May and June and that attracts players to here. If players come out here and give 100 percent and hustle, they’ll be just fine. I think it will come back when we win and it will come back with an attitude and relentless with in which we play.”

12:45 p.m.: More on Bard from the NESN interview: “There’s no reason to think right now that he couldn’t regain that form. I think in Daniel’s case, those one-inning stints, the more frequent one-inning stints really worked well with his mindset.”

12:42 p.m.: “This is somewhat of a dream come true,” Farrell tells Tom Caron and Jerry Remy moments after the news conference ends.

12:40 p.m.: That ends up being the final question in Farrell’s first news conference as manager of the Boston Red Sox.

12:40 p.m.: Farrell on the first-inning issues: “To me, everything goes back to how you prepare and how you work.”

He also says that “This can be a very simple game if you make it a game of firsts,” in reference to throwing first-pitch strikes, scoring the first run, getting the leadoff hitter out, etc.

12:37 p.m.: Farrell says he’s spoken with Daniel Bard via texts and voicemails, but he hasn’t been able to speak with him enough to get to the bottom of the reliever’s issues yet.

Farrell did emphasize, though, that Bard isn’t hurt, so Farrell is confident that Bard can regain his form as “one of the best eighth-inning relievers in baseball.”

12:35 p.m.: Farrell on the rebuild process: “There’s a list of to-dos, no doubt about it. There’s a core group you can build around. … There’s no communication barriers.”

12:34 p.m.: Farrell: “This is a very rare opportunity and one I’m grateful for.”

12:30 p.m.: Farrell: “I still think that there’s a very good core of players here.”

He also says that he was impressed with the Boston rotation, but did add that “We do need some work in the rotation. … We’ll be able to tap back into those experiences previously to get it right.”

12:27 p.m.: Farrell: “This is arguably the best place in the game. If there weren’t some recent challenges, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Farrell also said that John Henry asked him during the interview process the question of “With all the issues, why would you want to come here?”

Farrell says he responded with “This is the place I’d love to take on the challenge. It’s an incredible city, an incredible baseball market.”

12:24 p.m.: Farrell acknowledged the importance of pitching and helping to revitalize the Red Sox staff. 

“We all recognize how important pitching is,” he said, “especially starting pitching.”

He also says that he did notice certain mechanical things from the other side of the diamond when facing the Red Sox, looking at their pitchers.

“There were some very obvious things [mechanically] with Jon [Lester] that we already talked about.”

12:22 p.m.: Farrell: “We won’t be judged by whether or not we get to the postseason, but how far we advance in the postseason.”

12:20 p.m.: Cherington: “We think he’s the right person to lead the team moving forward. It’s important that I have a relationship with the manager that’s strong that you can disagree and be candid with one another knowing that relationship is still intact.”

More Cherington: “I’ve never worked with John as GM and manager, so that relationship will evolve.”

12:19 p.m.: Farrell on Boston and familiarity of Red Sox: “I think Boston is, in my mind, this is the epicenter of the game. So to come in and have at least four years of experience, not having sat in this seat, but having been close to it, and seeing the demands of this position … I
think to a certain extent that energy and what people expect holds our players
accountable with the effort that they put out every single night.

“There’s familiarity, but it will be my approach to go back in — and it’s already began — to start to earn that trust and regain and re-establish those relationships.”

12:16 p.m.: Cherington: “John and I have started talking about the staff. We’re making progress. He needs the guys who allow him to create the cohesive unit he’s looking for and ultimately we’re all looking for. … He has a really broad network in the game.

“We’ll work together, but he’s gotta get the people who he wants.”

12:14 p.m.: “If you treat [the players] like men, that will come back to you tenfold,” Farrell says.

He was also asked about the unceremonious end to his tenure in Toronto, saying that “I was very candid and honest with [the Blue Jays].”

12:10 p.m.: Farrell says he hopes to use an “up-tempo, aggressive style of play.”

“To play that style of game, it does create an attitude with I think is critical to win at the major league level.”

He also says that he’s expecting full effort and hustle every day.

“That is non-negotiable. Our effort is controlled. It’s controlled every night, and that is a minimum. I expect professionalism at the major league level and in this organization.”

He also says he’ll work hard to earn the players’ trust.

“I will work my butt off to earn their trust, to earn their respect. … If that’s being described as a players’ manager, then that’s what I am.”

12:09 p.m.: Farrell is excited to rejoin the Red Sox, saying they are an organization that is “First class, in professionalism and ultimately success.” 

He also says the club “will get 100 percent every single day.”

12:05 p.m.: “Ben, you said an awful lot of nice things, but it’s gonna come down to the quality of players [you can get],” Farrell jokes upon taking the podium.

12:04 p.m.: “His integrity, honesty and leadership skills” are what sets Farrell apart and make him “such a unique person and the right person for this job,” Cherington says.

12:02 p.m.: Ben Cherington thanks the other candidates (and their teams) for their time and cooperation. He also thanks the Blue Jays for what he calls a “difficult situation” in reference to the process to get Farrell out of Toronto.

12:01 p.m.: We’re under way with Ben Cherington at the podium.

12 p.m.: We’re just moments away from John Farrell being introduced as the 46th manager of the Boston Red Sox.

11:30 a.m.: These quotes were just released by the team, with about 30 minutes until the news conference is set to begin.

Red Sox owner John Henry: “We are extremely happy to have John Farrell back in our organization. Ben Cherington and John will form a very strong partnership in leading this club back to where it needs to be. John knows our club and division well. His baseball knowledge is unsurpassed and his background is diverse and rich. John is an articulate leader who has always had the respect of everyone who dealt with him at the Boston Red Sox.”

Chairman Tom Werner: “Ben Cherington led a thoughtful, thorough, and detailed process. We examined some excellent candidates, any one of whom will be a good manager. With John Farrell, we have someone with a great track record in our organization, someone who has great relationships in our organization. We believe he will play a key role in restoring our club to the levels of success we have enjoyed over the past decade. We are elated to have him back.”

9:30 a.m. ET: The Red Sox are set to introduce a new manager for the second time in as many years on Tuesday. And while the 2011 hire of Bobby Valentine came with plenty of uncertainty, the Red Sox certainly think they know what they’re getting this time around.

The Sox will (re)introduce John Farrell on Tuesday afternoon, this time as the new manager of the ballclub. It’s a return to the organization for Farrell, who served as Terry Francona’s pitching coach from 2007-10 before taking the Toronto Blue Jays’ managerial job prior to the 2011 season.

Farrell will be introduced to fans and the media at 12 p.m. ET from Fenway Park, which will be broadcast live on NESN.

NESN.com will also have you covered with this live blog, as well as a live stream.

You can have your thoughts heard, too, by using the #FarrellNESN hashtag. The best tweets will be shown on a special telecast of NESN Daily on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. and then again at 10 p.m.

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