Last week, Red Sox manager John Farrell took stock of the club’s woefully underperforming starting rotation by explaining that he typically withholds judgment on a struggling pitcher until after the sixth, sometimes the eighth, start of the season.
Apparently, it doesn’t take as long to evaluate a pitching coach.
The Red Sox fired Juan Nieves yesterday, with Farrell and general manager Ben Cherington citing the need for a “different voice” to get through to five starting pitchers who have combined for a 5.54 ERA, worst among American League rotations.
Two things Cherington and Farrell did not do: Name a new pitching coach or suggest any of the starters are in danger of being replaced.