It’s impossible for anyone to engage in a conversation about John Farrell’s future as manager of the Red Sox without first submitting a lot of disclaimers.
You want to talk John Farrell? Fine. But not until you make with the if-I-offended-anybody apologies and preemptive set-ups that begin with, “Look, I’m not trying to be disrespectful.”
The issue is threefold:
• John Farrell has stepped aside from his managerial duties for the remainder of this season to combat Stage 1 lymphoma.
• The Red Sox are in last place.
• Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox’ newly-installed president of baseball operations, has apparently been given the power to rip the whole thing apart and start over.