BOSTON (CBS) — Baseball fans near and far are throwing their support behind Red Sox manager John Farrell, who on Friday revealed he is stepping away from the game for the rest of the season to battle Stage 1 Lymphoma.
On Monday night’s edition of Inside Baseball on the WBZ-TV News at 10 on myTV38, Dan Roche and Steve Buckley (filling in for Tony Massarotti), discussed Farrell’s road ahead, and a special relationship he still has with former Boston manager Terry Francona.
“He has always been that strong, baseball loving, family loving guy. The aggressive nature which he’s fighting this is keeping with everything I’ve ever known about John Farrell,” said Buckley. “We all support him and wish him the best.”
On Monday, we learned that Francona, a long-time friend of Farrell and in town with the Indians, will accompany Farrell to his first chemotherapy session on Tuesday.
“The thing I love is baseball is a family,” said Rochie. “Terry Francona personifies that. The fact he volunteered to go with Farrell on Tuesday to his chemotherapy treatment says a lot about the game.”
“It’s poetic,” added Buckley.
As for the game on the field, the duo also discussed the future of Boston’s outfield. Jackie Bradley Jr. has struggled at the plate throughout his career, but is in the middle of a hot streak at the moment, batting .432 (16-for-37) with three homers and 13 RBIs in his last 10 games.
Buckley would love to see Bradley Jr. roaming the Boston outfield for a long time, but admits that a trade could be coming with the Red Sox crop out outfielders.
“I don’t see [Rusney] Castillo going anywhere because of the money and I don’t see [Mookie] Betts going anywhere because the ceiling is so high. He hasn’t had that big dip that Jackie Bradley has had,” said Buckley. “I hope they don’t trade Jackie Bradley for pitching, because he is enormously entertaining. He is the best center fielder I’ve ever seen, and I saw Tris Speaker. He is really good, and I want to see him hit and I want to see him do it for the Red Sox.
“I want them to move Hanely [Ramirez] under any circumstance. He is the exact opposite of this kid and not entertaining,” he continued. “They may be stuck with him in left field until David Ortiz retires. I do not want to see him at first base.”
Buckely also touched on his upcoming Old Time Baseball game, which is free and open to the public.
Tune in to Inside Baseball every Monday night on the WBZ-TV News at 10 on myTV38!
