Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Farrell regroups after sleep-deprived night

ST. LOUIS -- Game 3 of the World Series was the type of contest that makes sleep a bit of a challenge for the losing manager.

"Who slept?" quipped Red Sox manager John Farrell as he met with Red Sox beat reporters on Sunday afternoon. "No, I didn't sleep worth a damn last night. I did [get some sleep], yeah. Until they struck up the band at 7 a.m. on the square this morning."

And once that band started playing in anticipation of the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in downtown St. Louis, Farrell again was left to wonder if letting Brandon Workman hit in the ninth inning was the right call.

While most wondered why Farrell didn't pinch-hit Mike Napoli for Workman in the ninth, the manager reiterated that his big miss was not double-switching with catcher David Ross when Workman entered the game in the bottom of the eighth.

Under that scenario, Ross would have batted second in the ninth.

"I mean, the move, the double-switch was the one that was missed," Farrell said. "What I find unknowing is if any other position player is in that spot, is it a guarantee of a home run, which some people think is a given?"

Once he missed the original double-switch, Farrell is still secure in why he didn't bat Napoli for Workman in the ninth.

"Well, I was looking at getting three innings combined out of Workman and Koji [Uehara]. And I felt like, in a tie game, even on the road, I'm not reluctant to use a closer, obviously," said Farrell. "Felt like those were our best two relievers. I felt like, after [Trevor] Rosenthal was out of the game, that the advantage swung back to our side with those two guys available.

"That was my reasoning. Setting aside the double-switch, at that point, I wasn't going to pinch-hit because it felt like there was still the need to get three innings combined out of the two."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne.
Read More: Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Mike Napoli, Koji Uehara