Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox’s president of baseball operations, can play the “Fire John Farrell” card at any time.
That time might have come Monday, if the Red Sox had not avoided getting swept four straight in Oakland by winning the final game of the series.
It might come next week, if the Sox fail to ignite during a six-game homestand against the Rangers and Mariners.
Or it might never come, if the Sox play well enough to ensure Farrell’s job security through the rest of the season.
The latter possibility seems remote with the Sox sitting at 22-21, but the season is barely one-fourth complete and problems exist with any “Fire Farrell” scenario.