Farrell, Lovullo, Beyeler, DiSarcina connect for one goal

When Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell was building his coaching staff last winter, he was looking for trustworthy candidates that he already had a comfortable and natural relationship with both on and off the field.      

He wanted his coaching staff to have consistency, and the ability to work together in order to help the Red Sox return to postseason supremacy. So, it was no surprise when he named two former Pawtucket Red Sox managers - Torey Lovullo and Arnie Beyeler - to his new staff.   

Lovullo will serve as Farrell's bench coach in Boston, while Beyeler makes his big-league debut as the Sox' first-base coach in 2013. Farrell also helped in the organization's decision to name Gary DiSarcina as new PawSox manager.

Farrell's staff is built on strong relationships. The new Red Sox manager has known Lovullo and DiSarcina since their playing days in the majors. In fact, they were all teammates with the California Angels in 1993. 

After their playing days ended, Farrell and Lovullo later worked together in the Cleveland Indians' minor league system as farm director and Triple-A manager respectively. Farrell eventually returned to coaching and served as the Red Sox pitching coach from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, Lovullo was hired to manage the PawSox, but he would last only one season.    

Farrell was named manager of the Toronto Blue Jays before the 2011 season and he hired Lovullo as his first-base coach. When the Red Sox reacquired Farrell in a trade and named him manager last October, it didn't take him long to hire Lovullo.   

"It's important to know Torey's track record as a staff member and as a manager, he has the ability to stand alone in his own right," Farrell said. "There are some things that quickly jump out to me and that's his knowledge of the game that he has, and that comes from playing, coaching and managing experience. It became even more clear over the last two years working in Toronto that his ability to communicate with players is a strong one."   

Despite only one season in the Red Sox system in 2010, Lovullo quickly learned a lot about the organization and he's thrilled to be back.     

"I learned that it's a pretty unique place, a pretty spectacular place," Lovullo said. "In a lot of ways, for those of us who have worked here before, it's Ground Zero for baseball. There is a great structure in place from ownership, on down to the front office and they have outlined their expectations and they won't settle for anything less than winning the World Series."   

Lovullo's communication skills will be a valuable asset for Farrell, especially given the fact that the bench coach already has a strong relationship with many of the Red Sox players.  

"I know what makes a lot of these younger players tick because I have had them," Lovullo said. "When you're in the minors, they'll share a little more with you, and give a little more of themselves, so I know what a lot of these younger players are built on. The younger players who are in the big leagues are in the big leagues because they deserve to be there. I've established a little bit of a relationship with them and I'll be able to find out what their thought process is and where they're at, and how I can help the player and put the player in the right position to be successful."
   

Like Farrell, it's only a matter of time before Lovullo is managing in the big leagues. He has the background, knowledge and respect to handle that role and that was on display during his time in Pawtucket in 2010.  

For now, he's back in the organization at the big-league level.    

"Excited is probably an understatement," Lovullo said. "I'm part of a great Red Sox family. I had a short time there [in 2010] and I got to experience and work with some incredible people and develop some strong relationships. Moving forward, and now getting this opportunity to be in the dugout is exciting for me. I'm ready for this challenge and I'm grateful for the opportunity."    

On November 20, 2012, Farrell informed Beyeler of his promotion.    

Arnie spent nine seasons as a minor-minor league manager in the Red Sox system, including the last two with the PawSox. The new first-base coach was genuinely grateful for the opportunity to work in the majors. After 26 years in the minors as a player, coach and manager, Beyeler could finally call himself a big leaguer.     

"I was speechless when he called," Beyeler said. "All the memories of the last 26 years came back. When I started out, the goal was to get to the big leagues. Then, when I started coaching, the goal really wasn't to get to the big leagues anymore because it was all about player development and enjoying the time around the players."   

Still, Beyeler never let go of his dream to reach the majors. He took the mentality of if it happens, it happens because he was always so focused on the task at hand, helping develop the Red Sox' prospects.  

"Yeah, it was still a goal, but when you get to Double-A or Triple-A, it's an opportunity to work with the best players in the world every day and try to get them better and get them to the major leagues," he said. "That was true satisfaction and I was fortunate, and now to be blessed with an opportunity to work in Boston is just icing on the cake."   

For Beyeler, that player development buffer is gone from his job description. He has a new goal as a member of Farrell's coaching staff.   

"It's all about winning now," Beyeler said. "Maybe we can win some games and I can try to keep a job and keep it going."   

During the offseason, as he prepared for spring training, Beyeler took the time to reflect on his minor-league career as a manager. It didn't take long to figure out his top moment in the minors occurred when the PawSox won the Governors' Cup in 2012.    

Prior to that championship last September, Beyeler and the PawSox sent a total of 23 players to Boston last season. Even though his lineup in Pawtucket was depleted, the players still found that winning chemistry.       

"It was the top - without a doubt," Beyeler said of winning the IL title. "The day I got the opportunity to get the job there, it was cool. I'd never won a championship managing before. I won one as a player, but never managing. That was pretty special. The guys, just the way they all came together after facing adversity all year long and losing a lot of guys. The fun part about it was seeing all the guys go to the big leagues, and to be able to still do what we did at the end of the season made it a pretty special season. It was a lot of fun."     

After three decades as a player, coach and manager at every minor-league level, all the lessons he learned helped him earn a spot in the big leagues. Beyeler's progression with the Red Sox organization has been similar to a player's development. In fact, his contributions are just as important.    

"When I first came over here, Todd Claus told me that I was getting one of the best jobs in baseball by going to Portland, and he was right about that," Beyeler said. "It just keeps getting better and better with the way things have progressed from Pawtucket to Boston. It's definitely been a great experience and hopefully that will continue."  

Even though Beyeler never played in the majors, big-league players don't intimidate him. He's known for his relentless work ethic and is well respected by the players.    

Being the first-base coach in Boston, Beyeler will also be reunited with Lovullo. When the current Red Sox bench coach was the manager in Pawtucket in 2010, Beyeler was the skipper in Portland and the two would always be in communication. Now, they're both working in the big leagues for the Red Sox.  

"It's been great," Beyeler said. "I told John when I was up at the interview, if there was ever a staff that I was a fit for, this was it. These guys are all teachers. There are no big egos here. It's all about the players and it's been that way all throughout spring training, too."     

When Farrell hired Beyeler as the Sox' first-base coach, that left a vacancy in Pawtucket and that opened the door for DiSarcina's return to the organization.    

The 45-year-old Billerica, Mass., native spent 12 seasons in the big leagues with the California and Anaheim Angels. After his career ended in 2002 as a player with the PawSox, it didn't take long for the Red Sox to hire DiSarcina and he eventually became manager of the Single-A Lowell Spinners for three seasons (2007-2009).   

During his time with the Spinners, DiSarcina helped develop the likes of current Red Sox third baseman and former PawSox, Will Middlebrooks. He led the Spinners to a 125-99 record and that's where he realized he wanted to someday manage in the big leagues. He also knew he had to learn the entire baseball operation's system in order to be successful as a manager, so he returned to the Angels organization in 2010 as a minor league field coordinator and was promoted last year to special assistant to Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto.
   

At one point last summer, he was asked to fill in and manage four games for the Angels Double-A team and that's when the managing bug bit him again.    

"I missed it," DiSarcina said. "I thought, 'This is where I'm supposed to be.' I had a great time being around the players, and I missed it. I missed the grind of being out there. So, when the Red Sox came calling with this opportunity in hand, I couldn't pass it up."    

From the day he left the organization, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington was trying to figure out a way to bring DiSarcina back.   

"He's a guy we have a lot of respect for," Cherington said. "It was hard for him because he has loyalty to both organizations. He was a player in the Angels' organization and he has loyalty to that organization. I think he's loyal to the Red Sox, too, because this is where he started his post-playing career, and obviously he's local."  

He dealt with a number of injuries in the latter stages of the pro career and played two years at the Triple-A level in the Angels' organization. Being a Massachusetts native and growing up a Red Sox fan, DiSarcina wanted one last shot at playing for the hometown team, so Boston signed him as a minor-league free agent in 2002.  

Ironically, DiSarcina ended his playing career with the PawSox when he decided to hang up his spikes in the clubhouse on July 15, 2002 at McCoy Stadium. Now, he's back to manage the storied franchise.       

"It means a lot," he said. "Growing up here, and knowing about the 'Longest Game' and then you hear some of the names that played here and the traditions. I was part of Red Sox Nation growing up, and when I left to play with the Angels, I still always had that little pull for Red Sox Nation. Now, this is an extension, and Lowell was the same way. You really don't understand it until you go to another organization.   

"When you go to Lowell, Portland or Pawtucket, especially at McCoy with the unique setup with the autograph buckets coming down, you've got to love it. You've got to stay focused on your job, but love all the stuff that comes with it."

DiSarcina's predecessor believes he's the right guy for the job in Pawtucket.  

"He'll do fine," Beyeler said. "He's been there. He's played there and he understands player development. I think he'll step right in and keep the wheels spinning. He's a perfect fit for a guy with his background, credentials and his experience. How many times do you get a big league All-Star to come in and lead these guys to the next level? I think it's a great fit."    

With the Red Sox and PawSox' 2013 seasons officially under way, it's already quite evident Farrell's coaching staff at the big-level, and the organization's development staff in the minors, are all working together towards the same goal of winning another World Series title. It's also no coincidence that both past and present PawSox managers will make important contributions, too.    

"It's a great opportunity for everybody and a great atmosphere. It's all about the players and that's the way it should be," Beyeler said. "The players still have to play. You can only do so much, and the players have to go out there and perform, but the atmosphere and the coaching staff John has put together here with his leadership is pretty special. He gave me a big-league job, so he's a pretty special guy in my book, and all we want to do is go out there and ultimately do our job, make him look good and do the best we can for him. Again, the players have to go out there and perform, but from a staff standpoint, it's a lot of fun every day."