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John Farrell’s legacy defined by a series of yeah-buts

Dave Dombrowski had valid reasons for firing John Farrell.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

I can’t think of another coach or executive in the 40 years I’ve been hooked on Boston sports whose legacy is more defined by yeah-buts than John Farrell, former Red Sox manager.

Know what I mean? There’s a counter to everything, no matter whether you’re praising him for a prudent decision or blasting him for a bewildering one. To discuss his five-year run as Red Sox manager, which ended with his firing Wednesday morning, is to get caught in a maelstrom of rebuttals, most of which are valid and none of which settle a thing.