every smith
  • MS: Max Smith's blog
  • History to the Defeated
  • every smith: independent creative consultants
  • Words: Max - a brief bio
  • Sites to see

Lettres d’Uzès #36: So far, so good! so good!

15/7/2013

20 Comments

 
Picture
The catalyst
I told you so.

Back in March, the Nation seemed pretty much resigned to another indifferent season. Not, perhaps, as bad as the paltry 69 Ws of the Valentine hegemony, but the consensus – from Baseball Prospectus and ESPN to the most insignificant contributions to the blogosphere – was a season in which the Sox would be fortunate to raise itself out of the basement of the American League East.

My view was the opposite. I predicted (Season’s Greetings 28.03) that we would make the play-offs, although it would take some luck and maybe a couple of trades to take the Series.

At the All-Star break, 97 games into the season, we sit at .598 – the best record in the American League. What’s more, we have emerged from a tough road trip to the West Coast with a 5-5 record which could easily have been a winning trip had it not been for a couple of unfortunate events in Anaheim (about as bizarre a 9th inning loss as I’ve ever seen) and Oakland.

These things happen. That’s why we play 162 games in each regular season. Over the stretch, the cream rises to the top.

And right now, we’re top. With the Yankees 6 games back and Toronto, a majority choice for the ALE, 11.5 games back.

Collectively and individually, these Sox have confounded the critics and the pundits. How?

There are individual performances which are noteworthy: the new look Lackey, for example, the offence of Iglesias, the clutch performances of Gomes, the extraordinary work of Pedroia, the day-in-day-out work of the self-made Nava, the closing of Koji Uehara, and many others. These have compensated for the problems of Lester, the implosion of Bailey, the injuries to Drew, Ross, Buckholz and Miller – the latter just when he was looking assured in his role.

And there you have it. This Sox team is not a collection of individuals. It is a team. They work for each other. They give the impression of liking each other as much as we like them. There is a chemistry here which is reminiscent of the idiots of ’04. This is not a 25 cabs team; these guys eat together, play together.

That’s why it is invidious to single out any individual in this club. But I’m going to, anyway.

And that individual is John Farrell.

I was worried about his appointment. I was concerned about his experience and record at Toronto. And I thought he might be too close to the ancien régime of Tito and Theo.

I was wrong. Totally. Fundamentally.

I believe that he is responsible for the way in which these guys are performing. His calm, professional style of management is the reason why these Sox are genuine contenders this year. If there is chemistry in the park, he is the catalyst.

As we say in France, chapeau!


Today from the everysmith vault: the Dead, jamming with David Crosby and John Cippolina in Mickey Hart's barn in August 1971.

20 Comments
Louis
15/7/2013 08:47:58

Made some smart calls too!

Reply
Max
16/7/2013 09:30:24

He's smart. Still can't get my head round a deliberate walk to load the bases with Prince Fielder up next though!

Reply
CJ
15/7/2013 08:52:07

I have that tape! Long listen for a few gems but Cippolina is unmistakeable. And that cowboy jam is fun.

Reply
Max
16/7/2013 09:33:54

It's good stuff. Wall song > jam > wall song and the tuning jam stand out for me.

Reply
MattS
15/7/2013 08:55:53

So England win first Ashes test. Froome wins Mont Ventoux stage. And you post about a break in the baseball season. Contrary?

Reply
Max
16/7/2013 09:35:47

Not deliberately so. Had always scheduled state of the nation blog on Bastille Day. Great weekend for sport.

Reply
Ephron
15/7/2013 09:10:46

Hi Max! Greetings from Kenmore! Love your blog BUT you don't mention Cherington. He put these guys together. And on a budget. You should tip your cap to Ben for creating a team which Farrell could work with and mould into something greater than the sum of its parts. You over this year?

Reply
Max
16/7/2013 09:39:05

Hey! Great to hear from you. No plans to come over this year - daughter's wedding takes financial priority. But it will happen. Of course Cherington did a great job, better than most of us thought at the time. A plus. X

Reply
Max
19/7/2013 00:28:31

There's a good piece in this morning's (Friday 19th) Herald on Cherigton and what he has achieved. Also a scary piece on what could go wrong between now and October.

Jack
16/7/2013 00:30:12

Not my game. But interested in the role of the coach in a sports team. In football, usually, the 'manager' has control over the playing activities - buying the players. Ferguson ran everything, for example. But there is a trend towards a Director of Football putting together a squad from which the manager creates a team for each game. How much influence did/does Farrell have over the choice of players?

Reply
Mark
16/7/2013 01:04:01

How much control does Farrell have? Is he a Ferguson who runs everything on the playing side? Or does he merely pick the team and chose tactics? I mean, does he have an influence over signings? Or work with what he is given?

Reply
Max
18/7/2013 00:56:31

Don't know. He is certainly not a Ferguson. My guess is that he and Cherington work together and all every day.

Reply
Sean
16/7/2013 02:37:45

I'm tipping my hat to you, Max. I struggled to be as upbeat before the start of the season as you were, and saw huge issues in the rotation, in the bullpen and all over the field. Pleased I was so wrong and I too enjoy seeing the way Farrell handles this team. Whatever the reasons, he has helped create a team that fight for every out and are all in it together. The difference between now and this time last year is stark. However, of course, I am still fearful we'll hit a slump and miss out.
The home stand immediately after the All Star break (and what a pointless exercise that is) against the Y*****s and those rampant Rays looks key. Come out blazing and take fistful of those games and I'll be more confident.
Anyway, here's hoping this is only the halfway mark in a memorable season for all the right reasons. That would be rather nice.

Reply
Max
18/7/2013 00:59:30

Keep the faith. I would be surprised, but delighted,if we continued this record and ended with 97 wins. Nd more than half our games are against plus .500 teams. But we'll do it. Soy ones optimiste!

Reply
Luke P
16/7/2013 08:19:00

I think Boston has surprised almost everyone this year, maybe even you. But as you point out, it's 162 games and there is still a long way to go. Not sure Sox has the depth to handle any more injuries in the second half. You expecting a trade or two shortly? Suspect you will need at least a relief pitcher - Thornton's not good enough - and maybe some help in left. Hope you make the play-offs anyway. Best from San Francisco.

Reply
Max
18/7/2013 01:03:49

Thanks. Reserving judgement on Thornton. We have more depth than you think, and guys who are really versatile as we've seen in the first half. I'm going for ALE. Weird season for the Giants so far. Hope it comes good for you.

Reply
myers
16/7/2013 16:04:32

Dead on Max
JFK - John Farrell is King
Big Papi - record breaker
If the pitching holds fast so can we and as its past Bastille day I will put my head on the line and say we can win the lot!

ps
I think its great that some cricket ground sponsors now pay out a £1,000 pound to every member of the public who catches a boundary 6 at 20/20 games! JH over to you!

Reply
Max
18/7/2013 01:07:44

Papi's hits record really puts Jeter et al into perspective doesn't it. You're right - it's all about the pitching. Still no definite news on Buckholz but Lester last timeout looked good. He was unlucky. Win the lot? A consummation devoutly to be wished. Soon, bro.

Reply
Rick Hough
21/7/2013 15:49:43

Nicely put, as always. I shared your concern about Farrell, based mostly on bent-twig sort of stuff from Toronto.
Naturally, the concern for the moment is how much baseball remains in front of a team whose combined effect often relies on guys playing improbably better than their projections. We know too well that when Lady Luck bats her eyes in another direction, career batting averages start to ring truer than hot streak batting averages.
No matter. These guys are fun and hugely likable and most importantly, apparently among themselves as well.
One thing: if I'm Napoli, I trim a little off the beard and see if contact improves. If so, I cut a little more. And keep doing so 'til the effect gives out.
Cippolina and the Dead? Whoa yeah!

Reply
Max
24/7/2013 00:34:32

Thanks Rick. His Toronto record made me think that maybe he was a great #2. Wong. The beard thing is weird. Notice Napoli has had a slight trim! Did you see Reddick's?! Dn't gettoo excited about Dead and Cippolina. A lot of noodling. "Nothing, nothing, to turn off".

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father, grandfather and son. Resident in Warwick, England.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Baseball
    Books
    Film
    Food + Drink
    French Letters
    Leamington Letters
    Media
    Music
    People
    Personal
    Politics
    Sport