BOSTON -- Looking back at the season, there were two major storylines: David Ortiz’s final season and if John Farrell would make it through the season.
Without question, Ortiz left everyone wanting more.
While Farrell, is forced to weather a heavy storm of criticism, particularly for his “in-game” managing decisions -- which didn’t hurt the team throughout the ALDS.
In his closing press-conference, Ortiz spent time talking about his final game and moments that stood out. But he also took time talk about his manager.
“I had a great relationship with John, as being not just a manager, he’s been a mentor to a lot of us,” Ortiz said. “And I have to give him a lot of credit, because putting 25 different minds is something that is not an easy thing to do; 25 different mentalities, keep that clubhouse under control is something that is hard to do. It’s harder than what people think it is. And especially the way what John went throughout last year that we all know and coming back and having the year that we have, that is something that, to me, is very special.”
Ortiz’s comments further add to the theory that being a good “clubhouse” manager is just as important -- if not more important -- than just being a good “in-game” manager. Especially for those old enough to recall the Boston teams that had 25 cabs for 25 guys.
This team couldn’t have been further from that.
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“He got that good relationship with pretty much all the guys,” Ortiz said about his manager. “You never heard anything crazy that can break us apart. Everything this year basically went perfect. And I got to give John a lot of credit. John, he always stepped up when we needed him. He always had that meeting when we all were depressed. And that is something that, to me, as a player, it turned out to be special. And I’m very sure that all of those kinds in the locker room really appreciate that.”