When the Red Sox open ALDS play against the Angels in Anaheim on Thursday night, one thing Terry Francona won't have to worry about is the mental state of pitching coach John Farrell.
After the Cleveland Indians fired manager Eric Wedge and his coaching staff, Farrell was rumored to be a potential candidate for the job. But Farrell shot down all such speculation.
"I'm committed to the Red Sox, and my whole focus right now is to prepare for the postseason," Farrell told MLB.com last week.
Farrell was drafted by the Indians in 1984 and pitched for Cleveland from 1987 to 1990. He joined Francona's coaching staff in Boston following the 2006 season when he was hired to replace Dave Wallace as pitching coach. But Farrell's associations with Francona go back even further. The two played together on the Indians in 1988.
After Farrell’s playing career ended, he was the Indians’ director of player development from 2001 to 2006. And since making the jump from the front office to the dugout, Farrell has been a valuable member of Francona's staff.
The Red Sox’ skipper, who is considered a calming influence on his players, is happy Farrell’s staying put. Francona relies heavily on his pitching coach to gauge a pitcher's readiness and health, and he will be counting on Farrell's expertise during this postseason.
“He handles all and more than he’s supposed to," Francona told The Boston Globe.
With Farrell's focus on the Red Sox — and not any future job openings — Francona and his coaches can focus on the matter of winning playoff games.
