Farrell focused on solutions, not himself

BOSTON -- When a team that was expected to be in the thick of contention is in last place, there will be external discussions about the manager's job security, particularly in a place like Boston. But John Farrell is far more concerned about helping his team emerge from a funk than he is about what is being said about his status.

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"I don't know that I pay much attention to what's written or talked about. I know it's all part of every major sports city," said Farrell. "I also recognize that this is a bottom-sum game, a bottom-line game. You work in that environment. And yet it doesn't affect the way I deal with players individually, the way I deal with our team. No one likes where we are. That comes with the territory."

Farrell is controlling what he can. To that end, he held a team meeting before Monday's game against the Braves.

"What went on in there will stay in there," said Farrell. "The game is going to tell us what needs to be done inside the game, and that is to execute -- whether that's moving runners, whether that's making a pitch, whether it's a pitcher picking up a defender if a play has not been made. No one is pointing the fingers at one side or another. We collectively need to do better."

Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz, the club's two most prominent players, both supported Farrell in the last couple of days.

"It's our fault that we haven't been able to play better," Ortiz told WBZ Radio's Jon Miller. "John doesn't go hit for us. He doesn't pitch for us. He makes the lineup. He throws his best players out there and he hopes we win. If things aren't working out that way, I don't think it's fair to say he's doing things bad because he doesn't play."