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The skipper of Boston Strong needs to dip into his reserve of personal strength.
The Red Sox won yesterday by a very wide margin. They clobbered the Mariners 15-1. And there was much to celebrate in the win.
Mookie Betts is back in the lineup and hitting. Rusney Castillo has found his stroke and Brock Holt drove in 3. Travis Shaw had another multi homer day. Even Jackie Bradley Jr has an OPS of .957 in the last 2 weeks.
Boston is having a bad season but a win like yesterday’s should be a bright spot.
Instead the news about John Farrell put the disappointing 2015 Red Sox season in sobering perspective.
The skipper of the Red Sox has been diagnosed with lymphoma. The cancer was found early during a hernia surgery and has been called “highly curable.”
His condition is similar to what Jon Lester fought before returning to help the Sox win the 2007 World Series. Farrell was Lester’s pitching coach that year.
Farrell is aiming for spring training as his time to return. Torey Lovullo is taking over the team, although with Farrell not resigning, Lovullo’s wins and losses will go on Farrell’s record.
I hope Farrell returns. As it has been stated over and over in the articles about Farrell that he has a good chance of beating it.
I also know “highly curable” cancer is still cancer. The road back is still brutal. And this form of cancer claimed one of the closest friends of the Sullivan family.
What I am saying is this. I wish John Farrell a full recovery and hope to see him in the dugout with a young and exciting Red Sox team. I want to see the Castillos, Betts, Shaws and Bradleys playing as a contender under Farrell’s direction.
But I also know there is a possibility that it won’t happen. If that is the case, now is the time to salute the man who piloted the title the city of Boston needed and gave Red Sox fans a Fenway Park celebration that we all dreamed of.
Get well, my manager. Bring even more meaning to #BostonStrong.
Sully Baseball 