David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia share shock, support after John Farrell’s lymphoma diagnosis
David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have stepped up for John Farrell in plenty of key moments. Facing a fight with stakes higher than any baseball game, Farrell again had the support the longtime Red Sox stars on Friday.
Both players were present at an emotional pre-game press conference when Farrell announced that he has been diagnosed with Stage 1 lymphoma and is stepping away from the team for the remainder of the 2015 season.
Ortiz and Pedroia, Boston stalwarts who first shared a clubhouse with Farrell when he was a pitching coach under then-manager Terry Francona in 2007, had already heard the news that their skipper was about to deliver before the team faced off against the visiting Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.
“I’ve been around John for a long time,’’ Ortiz said after Farrell’s announcement, via WEEI.com. “He first was a pitching coach, and the past couple of years he’s been our manager. John is an incredible human being. In our situation, you’ve got 25 men in the room, and he’s got to put up with each one of us, every situation. I think it’s time for us to give him back that support and that much love that he gives to all of us. We’re going to ride through this with him. We’re going to always ask God for a blessing, you know, and make sure he comes through this in the best way possible.’’
Pedroia expressed sentiments similar to those of his teammate.
“A lot of the guys were shocked, upset,’’ Pedroia said, via MLB.com. “I mean, it’s our manager, the leader of our team. We’re family. We’re together so much. When he starts out by telling us that, your heart just stops. Obviously, anybody in that room would do anything for John. We know he’s going to get through this, and we’ll all get through it together and do anything we can to help him out.’’
With Farrell stepping away from the team to undergo treatment, bench coach Torey Lovullo will assume managerial duties for the remainder of the 2015 campaign. The team’s record stood at 50-64 when Farrell announced his illness. Recounting the moment he learned of Farrell’s condition, Lovullo noted that he was the one who needed support from his longtime friend.
“When you hear something like that, you’re never prepared for it. You don’t know what to say. And I think he sensed that. I didn’t say much. I basically just listened. He had to kind of break up my silence by saying, ‘Hey, are you OK?’’’ Lovullo told NESN’s Tom Caron before the game on Friday. “Quickly, he kind of turned the corner a little bit. By the end of it, we were laughing and joking and trying to work through it the best that we could.’’
Asked if the Red Sox would dedicate the remainder of the 2015 campaign to Farrell, Lovullo responded affirmatively.
“From my standpoint absolutely, 100 percent,’’ Lovullo said. “And I think everyone else is going to feel the same way. Listening to Dustin and David talk, I think everybody is here for John and he’s in our prayers first and foremost.’’
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