Despite winning a World Series title in 2013 and three AL East titles including back to back titles in 2016 and 2017 and having a year remaining on his contract, Farrell was never accepted by Red Sox Nation. He was a frequent target for derision in social media and by the Boston sports media who cannot discern between a team that wins 93 games and one that loses 93 games.
Honestly, it was a miracle the Red Sox won the division given David Price was gone most of the season, third base was an uncertainty and Dustin Pedroia was plagued with injuries. Farrell adapted and overcame and very nearly did against the Houston Astros.
I think the Red Sox and its fans will soon rue the day John Farrell was fired. Farrell was a father figure to the players. There was no clubhouse dissension unlike under his predecessor Bobby Valentine in 2012.
As to Farrell's successor certain names are already being bandied about. Within the organization there's bench coach Gary DiSarcina, hitting coach Chili Davis, third base coach Bryan Butterfield and Jason Varitek, the former team captain who won World Series rings in 2004 and 2007, who is now a special assistant to Dombrowski. Also mentioned is recently dismissed Detroit Tigers Brad Ausmus who was hired by Dombrowski when he was the president of that organization in 2014. But at the moment Dombrowski is keeping those names to himself.
I wish Farrell's successor well whoever it might be, but I believe that he, the Red Sox, Red Sox Nation will be in for a rude awakening. Frankly, Farrell was fired for the sake of being fired. No doubt many Sox fans will be delighted at this turn of events. But should the Sox start 2018 with a 2-10 record they will soon call for the new manager's head. Red Sox fans don't know what they have and they won't know until long after he's gone.
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