When bench coach Torey’s Lovullo’s chance came to manage the Boston Red Sox, it wasn’t the situation he wanted.
Not only were the Red Sox 51-64 and 12.5 games behind their rivals, the New York Yankees, for the AL East division title that many experts predicted Boston to win, but Lovullo’s chance to manage came paired with the unfortunate announcement that current manager John Farrell, and Lovullo’s long time friend, was diagnosed with Stage 1 Lymphona. Farrell said he wished to focus on his health and stepped down for the remainder of the season, leaving the team in the hands of Torey Lovullo, who had never managed at the big-league level. Though Farrell, termed the cancer as ‘very treatable’, it was still a sad situation.
However, even if it wasn’t the situation he wanted to take over in, Lovullo, who coached with Farrell with the Toronto Blue Jays for a few years, wasn’t going to waste his opportunity.
Lovullo has managed the Red Sox to a 78-82 record with two games remaining in the MLB season. While they were realistically out of playoff contention for several months, Lovullo kept the Red Sox mathematically alive for a postseason berth into the final week of the season before they were finally eliminated.
During his stint as interim manager, Lovullo has seen the Red Sox go 27-18. That 45-game record is equivalent to a 162-game record of 97-65. That record would have clinched the A.L East and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for any A.L. team. As it is, Lovullo has re-energized the Red Sox, who are battling for third-place in the division after sitting in dead last for most of the season.
Yet another positive thing that has happened under Lovullo’s command is the the blossoming of outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Whether it’s connected or not, Bradley has sizzled since Lovullo took over as interim manager. The day after Lovullo took over, Bradley put together a two-home run, five-hit, 7-RBI performance and hasn’t looked back since. He has ripped six home runs and driven in 25 runs since that monster game and his batting average has risen from .203 on August 14 to his current respectable mark of .248.
All this means no disrespect to John Farrell who is expected to return to the helm in 2016 but Lovullo may not be available to be his bench coach.
After Lovullo finished runner-up in managing positions interviews with the Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins this year, Lovullo has only proved himself more than capable of managing a big-league squad. Plenty of teams could be firing their managers. The Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals are both among teams that will probably be searching for a new manager.
The Red Sox aren’t going to fire John Farrell just because his bench coach led the Red Sox to a great record over a stretch of 47 meaningless games. But that that doesn't mean Lovullo will be going back to the unheralded position of bench coach either.
Don't expect to see Lovullo in Boston next season.
Expect that he’ll be pitting his managing skills against those of his long-time friend, should his recovery continue to go smoothly and quickly, John Farrell.