Red Sox Notes: John Farrell Is ‘Part Of The Solution,’ Ben Cherington Says

Before Wednesday’s loss to the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington conducted a 20-plus-minute meeting with reporters in the visitors’ dugout at Minute Maid Park.

We brought you part of that discussion here, but here are some additional Cherington thoughts, courtesy of a transcript provided by WEEI.com:

— Despite the Red Sox’s ongoing struggles — Wednesday’s 4-2 loss dropped them to 42-53 on the season — Cherington remains in manager John Farrell’s corner:

“I don’€™t have that concern. I think we’€™re dealing with a number of things, but I don’€™t feel like that’€™s one of the things. We can all be better. Everybody on the field. Everybody in the front office. That’€™s what it’€™s going to take. But I fully support John. He’€™s part of the solution.”

— Cherington believes first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig one day will escape Triple-A:

“I think you’€™ll see him in the big leagues again at some point. I don’€™t know when that will happen. He’€™s handled it like a pro. He’€™s obviously mature. He’€™s a smart guy, accountable. It hasn’€™t been an easy situation for him, but he’€™s handled it as well as he can handle it.”

— Rusney Castillo’s relatively slow development isn’t concerning the Red Sox yet:

“I think he has had a handful of minor physical issues that has made it a little bit harder for him to get on a (roll). So, that’€™s been an issue. There’€™s been a transition for him. New country. New style of baseball. That sort of stuff. We have to get him playing every day and inevitably there will be another opportunity at some point.

“He still has all the qualities that we saw when he signed and every time someone goes into see him — I’€™m hearing the same thing. His tools are there. He’€™s accountable. He’€™s working hard. He wants to be a good player. So, we’€™re going to give him some more time.”

— The Sox remain committed to playing Hanley Ramirez in left field despite his severe struggles defensively:

“I mentioned this the other day. We’€™re trying to take a step back. We knew there’€™s some level of risk anytime you ask a player to move and it’€™s something you really want to do. We’€™ve seen his defense on the road look fine, honestly. Start to stabilize. At home, there have been challenges at home. I think you try and isolate those things where maybe we can continue to try to improve a little bit.

“Look, I’€™m sure Hanley is capable of playing another position at some point if that was best for the team. But right now, we’€™re committed to him in left field and trying to help him be the best left fielder he can be.”

— Cherington said “there’s been interest” in some of the team’s veteran players in trade discussions.

And here are a few notes from the game itself:

— After going hitless in his first 20 at-bats following his stint on the disabled list, Dustin Pedroia finally came through, doubling to drive in one run and later scoring as the Sox plated two in the sixth inning.

“He stayed on the ball good,” Farrell told reporters after the game, as aired on “Red Sox Extra Innings LIVE.” “The double into right-center field was the same type of (ball) that he’s been hitting on this road trip, with the exception of maybe the first game that he came back. But he gives us a spark, gives us a chance to double home a run, but I’m not seeing huge changes in the timing with him at the plate.”

— Farrell explained his controversial decision to have catcher Blake Swihart attempt a sacrifice bunt with two men on and no outs in the seventh.

Swihart had laid down just two sac bunts in his professional career, and the Red Sox, who trailed 4-2 at the time, had notched six hits in their last nine plate appearances against Astros starter Collin McHugh.

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“We’re in a first-and-second situation with Blake up,” Farrell explained. “We’ve been scuffling to score some runs, trying to get two men into scoring position — to the tying run at second base. (Shane Victorino) takes a shot with bunting for a base hit (to lead off the inning), rolls foul. But yeah, trying to move runners up.”

McHugh scooped up Swihart’s bunt attempt and retired the lead runner at third, and the Red Sox failed to score a run the rest of the ballgame.

Thumbnail photo via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images