When you have actual people on your bench and go with Steven Wright to pinch run how in the hell is that defensible? He's a pitcher. He's also a slow one at that. What the hell was he doing pinch running?Deven Marrero batted .291 with a 141 wRC+ against lefties this year. Citing his .200 (sic) overall BA is incredibly misleading in this context. I also disagreed with that choice, but sitting a 20 year old LHB against a tough lefty pitcher in the playoffs is justifiable whether you like it or not. And this is still anecdotal.
How do you get a hitter out of a slump? You get them out there and have them work things out. You might sit them for a few days to clear their head, but you have to get them back on the horse. Farrell had to either get Barnes to figure it out on the road or prove conclusively he couldn't before the season ended. Running him out there was necessary, even if it was maddening from a fan's point of view.
And the bullpen still managed to have some of the best results in the majors while the team won enough games to take the division. So he clearly didn't do this to an overwhelmingly detrimental degree. This doesn't really do much to move the needle. And it's anecdotal, so try harder.
Purely anecdotal and 100% speculative. This is worthless.
It's been debated a ton, but once again Wright had crashed back to Earth way before the injury and given the situation, the decision was absolutely defensible. This is one of those things that people like you love to wave around because the results look so ugly, but the chances that he would get hurt like that and to that degree were microscopic.
Yep, he was too slow on the hook. I'm not sure that's a fireable offense, though. And before you go there, Gump wasn't fired for that one decision alone. It was a nice exclamation point his season, but his dismissal was about his approach to managing more than anything else. By all accounts, the Sox front office and Farrell are on the same page with regard to prep, information processing and dissemination, strategy, the basics of lineup construction, how to utilize a bullpen, etc. So I wouldn't consider the two scenarios all that comparable.
No, I want you to provide data. All of this is anecdotal and plenty of it is you making assumptions that support your preconceived notions. This simply isn't a compelling argument.
And look, I'm not saying anecdotal evidence has no place in discussions. But when all you have is anecdotes, you might want to ask why that is.
The case for Farrell being a bad manager is a poor one. The case for his firing being imperative is simply ridiculous.
Matt Barnes pitched 33 games on the road and had an ERA of 5.28 theres a time and place for these players to work out their issues on the road. The 7th and 8th innings of close games is not one of them. You want to throw him on the road in the 6th when you have a 5 run lead I have no issues with having him work out issues that way.
I'm aware of what Marrero was hitting.against lefties. Still wasn't nearly as good as Devers. You play the guys who helped get you there. Devers hit .400 against lefties. .400. I don't really give a crap what numbers you pull from Marrero. Devers was still the play. If you want a defensive guy in the game like Marrero then by all means put him in during the 7th 8th and 9th innings where defense is crucial. Do not start him over one of your best young players.
"Yep, he was too slow on the hook. I'm not sure that's a fireable offense, though. And before you go there, Gump wasn't fired for that one decision alone. It was a nice exclamation point his season, but his dismissal was about his approach to managing more than anything else. By all accounts, the Sox front office and Farrell are on the same page with regard to prep, information processing and dissemination, strategy, the basics of lineup construction, how to utilize a bullpen, etc. So I wouldn't consider the two scenarios all that comparable."
So in a season where the clubhouse acted like a bunch of Jackasses with Farrell driving the bus. Coaches sending players they had no business sending. Starters having a playoff ERA of 11 over the last two seasons. DD having issues behind closed doors with Farrell according to McAdam thus not being on the same page. The lineup severely regressing and yes continuously throwing Barnes out there in the 8th on the road with no rhyme or reason and hoping for a different result. I think its closer to the Gump situation than you're acknowledging. Reed was the logical choice to start the 8th. If you want to go with splits Bregman was hitting .331 against lefties. So why in the holy hell would you keep Sale in when he was just murdered by this same guy a couple days prior when he was rested. Why expect a different result after throwing 60 + pitches.
These are all things that fall on Farrell AND his staff. I want to make it clear I'm not blaming him for everything but holy shit he takes the fall for at least some of this nonsense.