Torey Lovullo: I’ve Learned To Respect John Farrell ‘On A Whole New Level’

BOSTON — Torey Lovullo became the Red Sox’s acting manager this season under some very unfortunate circumstances when John Farrell announced his lymphoma diagnosis Aug. 14.

But having Farrell’s old job has made the bench coach look at his skipper in a whole new light.

“There’s a lot of extra components that, until you’re sitting in this chair, you don’t realize what happens behind the scenes, such as sitting here right now talking to (the media), such as staying updated daily with the health of athletes,” Lovullo said Monday night, ahead of the Red Sox’s game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

“There’s a lot of moving parts to being the manager of a Major League Baseball team, and I think I can see it a little more clearly now. You think you know, you try to say you’re ready for everything, but this at times has been a challenge. We all know a lot was thrown at me early, but I’ve learned to respect John on a whole new level because of what his job means every single day.”

Lovullo actually has been pretty darn successful in his short time at the helm. The team has gone 10-6 since Lovullo stepped up and has yet to lose a series in that time. And Lovullo credits that to something a former Red Sox manager taught him.

“For me (communication is) probably one of the most important concepts,” Lovullo said. “It’s the most important thing, communicating with guys, being near them, understanding them prefessionally, personally and just letting them know you care about them.

“I’ve always maintained I learned this from (Terry Francona): The more you know about a player on and off the field, the easier your decision will be made on that guy, whether he’s playing that night or not, whether you’re deciding on keeping him in the organization or trading him. And it’s not a loaded question of communication for me. It’s a legitimate interest that I have in every player.”

With the way the Red Sox have been playing of late, let’s hope the communication continues.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@BostonGlobe