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TORONTO -- As written, the Official Rules of Baseball can occasionally be difficult to decipher, the language convoluted and the logic difficult to follow.

This was not one of those times. The rule is 5.09. The relevant subsection is (b). It states:

"The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out when (b) the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base or retire a runner on a pick-off play; runners may not advance."

What does all that have to do with Boston's 9-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays here Tuesday night? Plenty, as it turns out.

Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said that when he cocked his arm to make a bases-loaded throw to first base in the third inning, his elbow struck the mask of plate umpire Clint Fagan. The ball sailed well beyond the reach of Sox first baseman Mike Napoli, two runs scored on the play, and eventually so did a third.

The play did not decide the game. The Sox eventually wiped out that 4-0 deficit and took a 7-6 lead before falling 9-7 to the Blue Jays. But Saltalamacchia admitted afterward that had he known the rule, he wouldn't have let the play go unchallenged.

"My elbow hit the umpire's mask, which I've done in the past, but no one has ever said anything, so I didn't make a stink about it because I didn't really know the ruling on it," Saltalamacchia said. "Now I know, once it hits his mask it's got to be a dead ball.

"It definitely hit, but [that is] part of the game, apparently."

Saltalamacchia said he discussed the play with Fagan after manager John Farrell had gone out to discuss the play in between innings with the umpire. Farrell said he didn't realize immediately what had happened.

"Not immediately at the time," Farrell said. "It was a bang-bang play, a quick reaction play on his part, and then after thinking the direction of the ball, Salty's a little more accurate than that. And that's when, after the inning, I asked [Fagan] what he had on the play, and he said he thought his elbow hit him after [Saltalamacchia] threw the ball and he was recoiling. He didn't see it the way we saw it."

Farrell relayed to Saltalamacchia the umpire's version, that the Sox catcher had hit the mask on his follow through.

"Kind of impossible," Saltalamacchia said. "I tried to tell him that. He said, "Well, I thought you did.' I told him that when my arm is going back I felt it hit you. At that point, I was already getting ready to go forward, and I couldn't hold up."

Saltalamacchia said the same thing has happened in "spring training, big league games. Mainly it's the backpick to first. You jump up real quick. He's trying to see the pitch all the way in, and [the arm] hits his mask. Usually, I'm able to kind of stop. But at that point, I was trying to get the backpick and get an out for Jonny [Lester]."

The umpire didn't say anything immediately after the play, Saltalamacchia said; not that he was obliged to.

"I didn't hear anybody say anything. Like I said, if I had to do it all over again, I definitely would have made a stink about it and got us at least a try at it."

Making it even more aggravating for the Sox catcher, he thought the play had a chance to work, too. Jose Bautista, who was on first base, had taken a big lead.

"He was getting off pretty good," Saltalamacchia said. "He didn't start heading back until I was ready to throw it. So I think we probably had a good shot at him."

BOSTON -- John Farrell knows what’s coming.

Even with an early rise Monday for the Patriots’ Day start, the Red Sox manager woke to find his cellphone already buzzing with text messages about Tuesday’s game against Cleveland -- Boston's first against former manager Terry Francona.

“It’s always fun,” Farrell said of the prospect of managing against Francona, “whether it’s the conversation before or the game that takes place inside of it. I know one thing, they’ve got a very good lineup and they’ll be well-prepared.”

Farrell, who served as pitching coach for four seasons under Francona, reflected on their personal history before Monday’s matinee with the Tampa Bay Rays. He chronicled his initial move to Boston, which developed after a late-night, in-person pitch from Francona in a Florida hotel room. Farrell was then the director of player development for the Indians and Francona was intent on bringing him aboard.

“We sat in a hotel room, drank a couple of beers and talked about where it could possibly lead,” Farrell said.

The pitch worked and Farrell joined his former Indians teammate in Boston.

Yet, as persuasive as Francona was in luring Farrell into the fold, he was equally as supportive when Farrell was ready to take the next step in his career. Following the tumult that cost Francona his job in 2010, he remained a source of council and a listening ear to Farrell.

“As opportunities emerged prior to finally making the move, he was always curious as to why, why not now? What are you waiting for?” Farrell recalled. “That to me, not to be over-presumptuous about anything, but that’s what made it a special place to work.”

It was also during that 2010 season that Jon Lester last found All-Star form.

Lester described his working relationship with Francona as good, but the two shared an extra element during Tito’s tenure in Boston. After Lester was on the mound for the deciding Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, Francona characterized his emotions watching Lester -- considering his comeback from lymphoma earlier that year -- as what a father would have for a son.

“If I ever needed anything, just needed a place to talk or vent or whatever, he always had an ear or shoulder to lean on or whatever,” Lester said before Monday’s game. “I think the biggest thing, and you can kind of see it with all the other homegrown guys, I think he had a different, special place for those guys than guys who were free agents who were brought in. Guys like that -- like [Dustin Pedroia], [Jacoby Ellsbury] and me and [Clay Buchholz] -- seems like he had a little extra niche, feeling, whatever it was for us, just because we had been in this organization and come up and succeeded.”

That connection was evident, even to Lester’s teammates. One day after Buchholz nearly spun the second no-hitter of his career, he called to mind the image of Francona looking on proudly as Lester worked his no-no. It not only was a marker of a special player-manager relationship, but a testament to Tito’s connection to his players.

“It made you feel good about the guy who was in charge of your team,” Buchholz added.

Despite the way his tenure in Boston ended, that is very much a part of the legacy Francona imparted on his players and staff.

“He had a knack and such a way to connect with so many different people and bring them all to a common point,” Farrell said. “Players all loved playing for him, they ran through the wall for him. He had a way of making every player know or feel that he was behind them and supported them, and if there were any issues -- which there were -- it was handled in an appropriate way.”

BOSTON -- There wasn't a lot of offense Saturday at Fenway Park. A perfect game for Red Sox manager John Farrell to push the envelope the moment he had the opportunity.

A contest that saw both Farrell and Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon make their fair share of maneuvers came down to a situation perfectly designed for Farrell to uphold his insistence on aggressive baseball.

A litany of options opened up the moment Jacoby Ellsbury reached on a single with one out in the bottom of the 10th and the score tied 1-1. With Shane Victorino at the plate, Ellsbury stole second and easily raced to third when the throw by catcher Jose Lobaton sailed into center field. Lobaton had replaced starting catcher Jose Molina that inning and is not known to have the arm of his elder, which prompted Farrell to salivate over the possibilities.

Ellsbury figured even without the error the Sox were set up nicely.

"I knew if we got to second we had a pretty good shot at winning that game," he said.

And from third? Even with Maddon electing to utilize his drawn-in, five-man infield, the next move was a no-brainer for Farrell.

"The contact play is something we use consistently," he said of instructing Ellsbury to take off on contact.

Having hit second behind Jimmy Rollins hundreds of times in Philadelphia, Victorino knew how to manage the situation. The Sox right fielder waited for the speedster to move up and then focused on avoiding, at all costs, a strikeout. Victorino admitted he had no clue what Ellsbury had been instructed to do at third base, but understood his only role.

"That's the game right there," Victorino said. "Just trying not to strike out, put the ball in play."

Once Victorino grounded one to a spot that ruled out any play at home, the Sox poured from the dugout with their first walk-off win of the year.

"That's the type of game we want to play. Force the defense to make a play," Farrell said.

Ellsbury knew that his speed severely impacts that play-making capability.

"It almost has to be hit right at them and they have to execute a perfect throw home," he said.

They didn't, and the Sox had justification for pushing the envelope.

BOSTON -- A day after Joel Hanrahan blew a ninth-inning lead in explosive fashion, Red Sox manager John Farrell continued to support his hard-throwing righty.

“He’s our closer,” Farrell stressed in the hours before the Sox were to play the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

Hanrahan gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning in Boston’s 8-5 loss Wednesday night, serving up a pair of homers that ran his total in that category to three in just 4 2/3 innings this season. It’s been an auspicious beginning to his Red Sox career for Hanrahan, who also limped to the finish line in 2012 with Pittsburgh, where he had an ERA of 5.00 and 10 walks in nine innings last September.

That is far too small a sample size for Farrell to make any rash decisions.

“I think Joel is well aware of what took place last night,” Farrell said, before stressing the confidence he has in those who will fill in while Hanrahan sits following a 32-pitch outing. “Yeah, we do [have a lot of options]. With Andrew Bailey, with [Koji] Uehara, [Junichi] Tazawa, obviously [Andrew] Miller ready to go tonight, [Clayton] Mortensen is available. We’ve got a full complement behind Alfredo [Aceves]. If in fact we need to stay away from Joel tonight just to give him some recovery, we feel confident we can build back to a guy that’s had a lot of closing experience in the past.”

Hanrahan’s implosion Wednesday denied him of his 100th career save. All but three of those were recorded with a bad Washington team or in Pittsburgh, where losing was a habit and the pressure of the ninth-inning shutdown may not have been the same as it is under the bright lights of Fenway Park (even on a night when the sellout streak comes to an end).

Hanrahan did have three scoreless innings on the road before the Orioles tagged him for six runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings in two appearances at home.

Farrell recognizes the difference in market size from Pittsburgh to Boston. He also recognizes a ninth-inning mentality that exists no matter where the save opportunity arises and can, at times, contribute to an unhealthy uptick in adrenaline.

“I think it points more toward aggressiveness,” he said when asked what contributed to the blown save. “Any time you overthrow a little bit you’re going to sacrifice some location for velocity. By no means would we ask Joel to try to throw with less velocity, but prioritizing location is really any pitcher’s goal going in. We recognize that those ninth innings, there’s a lot of adrenaline to harness. He’s had a lot of success doing that. Last night was a game that unfortunately got away from him.”

In addition to harnessing that adrenaline, Hanrahan may be going through an adjustment period that has hindered countless pitchers who move from the National League to the American League. Farrell called AL lineups “a different animal” than those in the senior circuit, and the early home run rate against Hanrahan suggest as much.

In other news:

* There is no specific pitch count on Alfredo Aceves, who threw 56 in relief of John Lackey on Saturday and maxed out at 36 in spring training.

“I think the way the game unfolds and the stress with the pitches that he throws will have a lot to do with when his night is over,” Farrell said. “Hopefully that’s later rather than sooner. But we’re confident with him going to the mound here. ... Without giving a hard number, we’re hoping he’s walking out for the sixth inning or beyond.”

Aceves has not started since June 21, 2011. He threw a career-high 98 pitches in that game.

* The Red Sox are aiming to win their third straight series to start the season for the first time since 1952. The last time the club won that many series in a row at any time was -- remarkably -- last season, when it took five straight in June.

* Boston has struck out at least 10 batters in five straight games, matching the longest streak in franchise history. Not a coincidence, says Farrell.

“I think it’s a reflection of the type of stuff we have,” he said. “I think overall it’s a matter of the talent that our pitching staff has, the swing-and-miss ability, and very good secondary pitches that they have.”

BOSTON -- John Farrell has worn the Red Sox uniform hundreds of times and knows every inch of Fenway Park from his time here as pitching coach.

Still, his first game in the hallowed park as Boston’s manager is something he intends on cherishing.

“This is a great day,” he said Monday in the hours before being introduced along the first-base line as Red Sox skipper.

Farrell indicated that he never allowed himself to think of this day during his time as a pitching coach for the Sox. He felt as if Terry Francona would last forever in the managerial role. Now that Farrell has his hands on the reins and the responsibility of upholding the hopes and dreams of thousands of fans, he is eager to soak it all in.

“Probably as much as guys who signed here in the offseason,” he said of his excitement level. “Everybody that’s come in here as a visiting player understands what the atmosphere is. I think guys like [David] Ross, [Jonny] Gomes, [Shane] Victorino, [Ryan] Dempster, all the guys that signed as free agents, today is the first day they get to taste that in a Red Sox uniform and heck, I’m no different.”

Gomes has played 31 games in Boston in his career, most of those while a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. He said that once the game starts it is business as usual, but until then he is just like a lot of newcomers.

“Soak in the history of this ballpark, the history of those fans and to be able to stand on that same line that many legends have,” he said.

Ross drew the start in the home opener with a left-hander on the mound, which adds a little extra pizzazz to his return to Fenway Park. He appeared in five games off the bench at Fenway while with the Sox in 2008, but never caught that first pitch.

“Where do I start?” he said when asked what makes Fenway special. “You’ve got the Green Monster, which is just an iconic symbol, and Fenway itself and being in Boston, a huge market and a great fan base. Just being home.”

“Today will definitely be a huge memory in my life.”

TORONTO -- Good afternoon from the Rogers Centre, where I walked in this a.m. with the Blue Jays' team chaplain. After Friday night's hatefest for John Farrell, I checked to see if he was wearing earplugs.

Maybe he just prayed that the crowd would be on its best behavior this afternoon, instead of resorting to conduct that rivaled Fenway at its worst, but seldom if ever makes an appearance north of the border. And for a visiting manager? Unprecedented anywhere, although this morning's column in the Globe and Mail by longtime baseball writer Jeff Blair mirrored the prevailing sentiment around here.

"This is a unique situation for this city," Blair wrote, "which has seen athletes quit on a team (Vince Carter) and ballplayers who never lived up to expectations (A.J. Burnett) and has never let them forget it. Having a manager quit for a lateral move to a detested rival is something else, especially to a rival whose boozy, self-important fans tend to make jackasses of themselves when it comes to town."

Well, now. Sounds like this may have a shelf life lasting more than just one night. The great news, for baseball fans, is that L'Affaire Farrell appears to have added an intensity to a rivalry that had grown moribund in recent years. This place was rocking last night, and both teams combined for a spirited night of hardball. We're only four games in, of course, but the early returns on these Sox suggest this is their m.o., that Farrell's theme of relentlessness dovetails perfectly with the types of players Ben Cherington brought in this winter.

How many wins that translates to remains to be seen, of course, but whether it was Jose Iglesias turning an acrobatic play from the hole with his right arm practically useless after being hit by a pitch, or an adrenaline-fueled Joel Hanrahan pumping 16 consecutive fastballs, topping out at 99.2 mph according to brooksbaseball.net, the Sox played with passion and energy. Yes, they managed just two hits in 19 at-bats with runners in scoring position, but the Jays were 0-for-10 in the same situation.

Iglesias was not in Saturday's starting lineup; Pedro Ciriaco was in at shortstop, batting ninth. Farrell said he was planning to start Ciriaco, anyway, to get him into a game, and that Iglesias came in this morning saying he was available and lobbying to play.

"Hit me right on the elbow," Iglesias said Saturday. "It was sore. But I'm OK."

John Lackey will be making his first start since Sept. 25, 2011. It has been just over 17 months since Lackey underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. He made seven starts in the spring, including two minor league games and a minor league intrasquad game last Sunday, and suffered no physical setbacks.

"I would hope, and I'm sure he will, [Lackey] takes a moment to reflect back on what the last 16 months have been," Farrell said Friday afternoon. "We all feel John has the ability to impact our team in a positive way as much as anyone in our clubhouse.

"Not just from the stuff he took to the mound every day, but the consistency of his command throughout spring training. You're going to see guys go through some arm strength fluctuations that can lead to inconsistent command or stuff, but I think that's a tribute to what he's done with his body in reshaping it. It's given him more consistent body control that's led to more consistent strike-throwing."

The Jays will not be an easy task. They've been tough on Lackey since he came to the Sox; he is 2-4 with a 9.14 ERA against Toronto since coming to Boston, allowing 44 earned runs in 43 1/3 innings. But Jose Bautista, who has two home runs off Lackey, will be missing from the lineup again Saturday after sitting out last night with a jammed right ankle.

There is another new component to this budding rivalry that makes the Jays considerably more formidable than recent editions. Shortstop Jose Reyes had four hits Friday night, including a game-tying home run, and demonstrated what a disruptive force he can be right from the outset, when he bluffed going home on a ground ball to third, then dived back into the bag before third baseman Will Middlebrooks could apply the tag.

"He can do so many different things," Farrell said. "We saw early when he disrupted at third base, just with the threat of speed down the line, drive a ball out of the ballpark, extra-base hits -- he's probably as electric a player as the game has today. He can put a lot of pressure on the defense. He's someone who we're obviously going to have to contend with, probably too many times."

Farrell said that if Middlebrooks had thrown to first, Reyes would have scored. If the Sox third baseman had run straight at Reyes, he probably still would have beaten Middlebrooks' tag. "Just a good baserunning play," Farrell said.

TORONTO -- If Harold Ballard was still alive, he would have suggested that John Farrell show up with a paper bag over his head Friday night in Rogers Centre.

Old hockey fans remember the story. Ballard, the former Toronto Maple Leafs owner who was as bombastic and impulsive as Steinbrenner, once fired his coach, Roger Neilson, but when that decision was met with outrage by everyone, including his players, Ballard relented, but not without making a bizarre request of his reinstated coach. He wanted Neilson to show up at the next game with a paper bag over his head, as the "mystery" coach. Neilson got his job back, but balked at the bag.

The circumstances surrounding Farrell's departure from Toronto as manager of the Blue Jays were far different from that 1979 episode, of course. He wasn't fired. He had a year left on his contract when the Sox asked for permission last October to hire him, and the Jays eventually let him go, with the Sox giving up infielder Mike Aviles as compensation.

Farrell's defection to the Red Sox was widely seen as an act ranging between blatant disloyalty and treason in Jays circles, where some interpreted Farrell's two years as manager in Toronto as little more than an apprenticeship for the Sox position. That interpretation was reinforced when Farrell referred to Boston as a "dream job."

That's why the TV cameras were lined up three deep outside the visitors' clubhouse, where Farrell spent 10 minutes addressing his return to the scene of the crime, as it were. The session fell short of being a Canadian inquisition; Farrell didn't break a sweat during the 10 minutes of questioning. Nothing like this tweet from a Toronto sportscaster named Sid Seixeiro, who wrote:

"In honour of 'John Farrell Day' banks in Ontario will now allow you to break a previously agreed to mortgage after only two years."

(As if it was novel for a coach or manager in sports to get out of a contract.)

"It's good to be back," Farrell said. "I fully expected this [media attention], as it has been reported by a number of people leading up to this. It's good to be back in Toronto, for sure."

When asked what message he had for Jays fans regarding his departure, he said: "This is a great city. Unfortunately, some things the past couple of years didn't play out the way we hoped, we planned, we intended, but I will say when I walked in today from the hotel, a 45-minute walk, I had a chance to meet up and talk to people on the streets coming in here, and you know what? Surprisingly, a number of people welcomed me back, and to have pleasant conversations on the way in was a good way to come to the ballpark."

Shocked by that?

"Not really, no," he said. "Again I can fully respect and understand the sentiment, the questions and what might transpire here tonight."

Judging by the response he got this spring in Dunedin, the Florida home of the Jays, Farrell could expect to be booed any time he popped his head out of the dugout this weekend. He was when he was introduced, and the boos grew even louder when he brought the lineup card to home plate. Farrell tipped his cap on the way back to the dugout.

Reporters covering the Jays said there was more ballpark security than usual during batting practice, although the place remained partially filled until just before game time.

"That to me shows that there's a lot of passion here for baseball," Farrell said of the anticipated reaction. "And certainly, I fully respect all the changes that have gone on this offseason with the Blue Jays. I thoroughly enjoyed my time. To work with Alex [Anthopoulos, the GM] and Paul Beeston [CEO] was a great opportunity."

The "dream job" comment was then resurrected, attached to an inquiry of how it had measured up to date. Farrell was at his diplomatic smoothest in his response.

"I think if you were to ask anybody who's got an ambition to manage in the big leagues, they'd probably give you the same response," Farrell said. "How honored and fortunate you are to have one of these positions, to work towards achieving that professional goal.

"So this is a rare opportunity, and a unique set of circumstances."

Would Farrell have done anything differently?

"That question came up repeatedly throughout the second half of last year," he said, "and to look back, I know I can look myself in the mirror and know that I gave this organization, the Blue Jays organization, everything I had on a given day. To work as diligently, as thoroughly as possible, to win the game on a given night, and we had to deal with a lot of things along the way."

The Blue Jays regressed slightly in 2011, Farrell's first season in Toronto, going 81-81 after finishing 85-77 the year before under Cito Gaston. Beset by a plague of injuries reminiscent of what Bobby Valentine endured last season in Boston, the Jays under Farrell in 2012 went 73-89, and Farrell heard griping about sloppy play and a less than fully invested group of players. There was the embarrassing episode in which shortstop Yunel Escobar, since traded away, took the field with an anti-gay slur written on his face in eye black.

The Jays went back to the future and replaced Farrell with John Gibbons, who managed the team with 50 games left in 2004 (replacing Carlos Tosca), until he was fired and replaced by Gaston in midseason 2008.

"I'm sure there are going to be some boos tonight," Farrell said. "I think that goes back to how much people care. That's a good thing. It's a good thing for the Blue Jays, and they have a lot to be excited about. This is a darn good team that we're going up against, and we've got our hands full."

SARASOTA, Fla. -- This was supposed to be a light day for the Red Sox, with prospects originally scheduled to make the trip to Sarasota, but things changed this morning when several regulars convinced manager John Farrell to let them make the trip. This demonstrates a shift in mentality and approach from a year ago.

Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli and Will Middlebrooks were in the starting lineup against the Orioles along with Lyle Overbay, Ryan Sweeney and Jose Iglesias. The rest of the lineup was comprised of Brock Holt at second and Christian Vazquez at catcher, with Graham Godfrey as the starting pitcher.

“They felt, if they’re going to get in a game, they’d much rather do it here on the road,” Farrell said. “We gave them the option of not traveling, but we’re getting to that point in camp where guys want to start going every day. A couple of guys were talking about how they’re starting to find their rhythm and their daily routine, so that’s at play here.”

* Jacoby Ellsbury felt sore after rolling his right ankle in Sunday’s contest against the Phillies, according to Farrell. Ellsbury will take the day off, and after the off-day tomorrow, the center fielder will most likely resume baseball activities on Wednesday.

“Taking him out of yesterday’s game was as much precautionary as anything, so we’re hoping today and tomorrow gets him ahead of it a little bit,” Farrell said. “We’re going to keep him off his feet and not take any (batting practice) today, so Wednesday would be ideal that he gets back on the field.”

Ellsbury jammed his heel into the base and rolled the ankle on a pick-off attempt by Phillies starter Cliff Lee. The Red Sox training staff checked on him, but Ellsbury stayed in the game and was thrown out trying to steal second.

He played in center in the top half of the second, but was pinch-hit for in the bottom half.

* Stephen Drew (concussion) took 50 ground balls at shortstop Monday and felt fine after the session, according to Farrell. He also continued his regimen of agility and conditioning exercises, along with batting practice.

“After we get through today, we’ll hopefully get a better read on what we can get accomplished before camp breaks,” Farrell said.

* David Ortiz (heel inflammation) continues to do an extensive routine of baseball activities, including agility, conditioning and hitting in the cage.

* Farrell said that John Lackey is scheduled to pitch tomorrow in a minor league game and will stay in Fort Myers to pitch again on Sunday. Because both the major league and minor league clubs break camp on Saturday, Lackey will throw in an intra-squad contest Sunday and then join the team in New York.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Boston's big-league infield remained back in the Fort on Monday to attend coach Brian Butterfield’s tutorial on how the Sox plan to align their shift against left-handed hitters, which will impact third baseman Will Middlebrooks and second baseman Dustin Pedroia the most.

Manager John Farrell explained the team’s approach.

“With nobody on and we’re in a shift, Will will be where the second baseman is. Pedey will be in short right field," he said.

There will be times, Farrell said, that Pedroia will be deployed deeper in short right than he’s ever been.

“Depends," Farrell said, “but it will take advantage of whatever range a given player has. Pedey probably doesn’t feel comfortable that far out, so it’s something he’s got to work through."

With a runner on base, Middlebrooks will be deployed between second baseman Pedroia and the first baseman, who will be Mike Napoli much of the time.

“We don’t want [Middlebrooks] anywhere near the bag," said Farrell, citing a third baseman’s unfamiliarity with accepting feeds at second.

Last year in Toronto, Farrell used third baseman Brett Lawrie in short right field in shift situations, because of his range and strong arm -- attributes he shares with Pedroia.

Farrell believes in shifts. There were even occasions, Farrell said, when the Jays shifted against right-handed hitters, the way Tampa Bay’s Joe Maddon did, for example, against Kevin Youkilis when he was with the Sox. On Saturday, the Sox shifted against Wil Myers, the Rays’ top positional prospect who bats from the right side.

“I remember reading one [study] that said we saved like 38 runs because of the shift," Farrell said. “Is that an arbitrary thing? I don’t know, it’s not something we came up with, it was an independent [study].

“I still think it goes back to the players you have. Was that kid [Lawrie] that much more athletic than other third basemen to allow us to do that? There were a few games where we had him in straight center field, in shallow center field, especially against a guy like Adrian Gonzalez. He hit a lot of balls up the middle, so we would basically play a short field, and there were a couple times we threw him out."

ESPN Stats & Information reported earlier this spring that the Blue Jays were among the most frequent users of defensive shifts in 2012. Baseball Info Solutions, the study cited by the ESPN Stats folks, credited them with 12 Defensive Runs Saved due to shift usage last season, the highest such total in the majors.

Lawrie led major league third basemen last season with 20 Defensive Runs Saved.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Quick hits from Red Sox manager John Farrell Thursday morning:

* Outfielder Bryce Brentz, whose self-inflicted gunshot wound in the leg cost him an invitation to his first big-league camp, will be summoned from the minors and start in right field against the Orioles on Friday. First baseman Travis Shaw, the 6-foot-4, 22-year-old son of former big-league pitcher Jeff Shaw who put up big numbers in Class A Salem last year (16 HRs, .305/.411/.545), also will make the trip to Sarasota, along with last year’s No. 1 pick, shortstop Deven Marrero.

* Farrell confirmed that left-hander Franklin Morales had his back checked in Boston, because he hasn’t shown the results they’d hoped for from the treatment he has been receiving for lower-back inflammation. He said he did not have a detailed update as of yet.

* With Craig Breslow making “very slow progress” from his shoulder discomfort, the Sox increasingly face the likelihood of having just one healthy lefty in the bullpen, Andrew Miller, when the season starts. Farrell noted that Koji Uehara has been particularly effective against left-handed batters, which will help in the absence of Breslow and Morales. Breslow was throwing from 90 feet today.

* Shortstop Stephen Drew is still displaying symptoms from last week’s concussion and will undergo more on-line testing today. Farrell had said they hoped Drew would have a workday today, but the ongoing symptoms eliminated that possibility.

* Clayton Mortensen is starting the split-squad game Friday in Sarasota, but Farrell said the club has no plans of stretching him out beyond three innings as a potential emergency starter. The sixth starter in camp right now is Alfredo Aceves, who will face the Rays on Saturday.

* Farrell cited the work of catchers Daniel Butler and Christian Vazquez as players who have made a strong impression in camp, and again noted the progress shortstop Jose Iglesias is making in his plate approach.

* And yes, Farrell saw the Terry Francona “Harlem Shake” video.

“We were talking about as players develop, he hasn’t developed anymore as a dancer," he said.

“I just hope it’s all a product of video, a product of technology, that none of that was real."

When will Farrell be shooting his video?

“Don’t blink," he said.

Tim Kurkjian interviews Red Sox manager John Farrell about his return to Boston, the Sox pitching staff, Mike Napoli's hip and more.

Some takeaways from Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, where the Red Sox earned a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays.

* While John Farrell may dismiss facing his former team as “just another game,” fans have a different opinion. During batting practice and team introductions, a large contingent of the Toronto faithful in the crowd of 4,824 booed vociferously. Then, following the game, while Farrell was conducting his media session with reporters just outside the visitors' clubhouse, a fan who was exiting the stadium shouted: “You suck Farrell.”

Farrell didn’t initially acknowledge the man, but toward the end of the interview, the Red Sox skipper jokingly said, “OK, you’ll have to excuse me. I have to go meet up with my friend.”

Before the contest, Farrell had dismissed any notion of animosity over his signing to manage the Red Sox as part of an agreement that saw the Blue Jays trade RHP David Carpenter to Boston in exchange for infielder Mike Aviles.

“Well, if memory serves me correct, I was traded,” Farrell said when asked if he had any regrets leaving a team that made waves in the offseason with major acquisitions, including knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and shortstop Jose Reyes. “These questions were raised during the winter meetings, and I spent quite a bit of time talking about it at that time. To go back, my focus is on what the Red Sox need to do to get ready for this season.”

Farrell said he wanted to make the trip with the split squad of players -- the other half went to Port Charlotte to face the Rays -- so he could see knuckleball righty Steven Wright and the hard-throwing right-hander Allen Webster pitch.

“April will get here when it does,” Farrell said in reference to a rivalry brewing. “We’ve got a lot of work to do right now. I’m certainly not looking too far ahead. How that unfolds -- we’ll see. I fully respect that team. They’ve got a darn good team, and I look forward to competing against them.”

* Farrell used the word “impressive” several times in discussing Webster’s performance against the Blue Jays.

“Impressive arm strength with the ability to put away batters with a deceptive change-up,” Farrell said. “Very impressive. The finishing action on his fastball is as good as advertised. At times, they have a sink. And to have such deception with it, along with an impressive change-up, is very encouraging.”

Webster hit 96 mph consistently, topping out at 98, over two innings in which the 23-year-old right-hander allowed one run on two hits while striking out four, including Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie.

“Those are definitely the toughest hitters I’ve faced,” said Webster, who is being looked at for a rotation spot.

Webster, who was one of the players acquired in Boston's mega-deal with the Dodgers, allowed just two homers in 130 2/3 innings last year in 29 outings (24 starts) with the Double-A and Triple-A affiliates of Los Angeles. He finished with 129 strikeouts while posting a 3.86 ERA.

“As the spring moves along and if he ends up starting the season in Triple-A, we will determine how things are, needs-wise,” Farrell said. “But his performance is very encouraging.”

* Farrell was also impressed with Wright, who is being considered for a rotation spot as well.

“The thing I liked the most is he didn’t take too long in between pitches to make decisions,” Farrell said. “That’s the sign of a pitcher understanding how to do things on the mound.”

Farrell said he is looking forward to Wright working with Tim Wakefield, who has been hired by the organization to work as a mentor to Wright.

“With every pitch thrown there will be the ability to see his delivery,” Farrell said. “One of the checkpoints Wake used so much was where his head position was in relation to where the ball was being released. I'm sure he'll be able to lock into the basic checkpoints he used. I think they are ones that are pretty common for most, if not all, knuckleballers. It will also give them something to discuss when they get into their side session on Wednesday.”

* Jackie Bradley Jr. continues to turn heads, going 3-for-3 and reaching base five times. The centerfield prospect scored in the first inning after reaching with a single to center, was hit by a pitch in the third, doubled in the fifth, walked in the seventh, and had a run-scoring single in the ninth. In doing so, he raised his on-base percentage to .750.

“He looks impressive at the plate and he also has shown the ability to run down balls in the outfield,” Farrell said.

The 22-year-old, who was drafted in the supplemental first round, batted .359 with a .480 on-base percentage in 67 games at Class-A Salem last year before being promoted. With Double-A Portland, he batted .271 in 61 games.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Rubby De La Rosa meandered out of the away team’s shower and quietly dressed. He looks nothing like a former Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the Year, nor does anything about his 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame imply he can throw a 100-mph fastball.

But it was the 23-year-old Dominican who caught the eye of Red Sox manager John Farrell in the Red Sox 5-3 win Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals here in Jupiter. De La Rosa hit the 100-mph mark several times over his two flawless innings and needed only three pitches to close out Boston’s win in the ninth.

“Three pitches for strikes, confidence on the mound -- a lot of good things,” Farrell said of De La Rosa. “It’s electric stuff. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, time will tell what role he settles into.”

De La Rosa, acquired by the Red Sox as part of the massive trade that sent Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers, debuted with the Dodgers as a 22-year-old reliever in 2011, striking out two. He eventually made 10 starts that season for Los Angeles, going 4-5 with a 3.71 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 60-plus innings.

Then he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing shoulder in his final start of the 2011 season, an injury that required Tommy John surgery. A year later, he made one appearance for the Dodgers in the big leagues.

Now here he is, some five months into his time with the Red Sox. Farrell implied Sunday that his goal is finding some kind of role for De La Rosa in the Red Sox organization, and he’d like to see De La Rosa as a starter.

De La Rosa, in his hushed voice, said his first outing of 2013 felt comfortable, despite coming in as a late-inning reliever.

“I felt good,” said De La Rosa. “(My arm) feels better than before the surgery.”

Comfortable’s good enough for Farrell, who was blown away by De La Rosa’s two innings, even though they’re just that. Farrell spent some two minutes of his five-minute postgame interview with media talking about De La Rosa, even with veteran lefty Jon Lester making a strong spring-training debut.

“Physically ahead of what a realistic plan would be for him,” Farrell said. “It’s two innings in spring training, but a very impressive two.”

JUPITER, Fla. -- Red Sox manager John Farrell chatted with the media for more than 20 minutes ahead of Boston’s Sunday afternoon Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here are some of the highlights:

* Offseason acquisition Mike Napoli (hip) ran the bases Sunday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers as the Red Sox traveling squad unpacked its bus in Jupiter. Prior to running on Sunday, Napoli could only take batting practice and perform fielding drills.

“Our time frame has been the latter portion of this week to get him A-game at-bats,” Farrell said. “We’re still well within our projection there.”

* David Ortiz is still about a week away from running the bases. He takes regular batting practice now, so the Red Sox aren’t overly worried about him getting on the base paths.

“He’s at least getting that baseline in,” Farrell said. “The sheer volume of swinging the bat and being able to track certain pitches, those repetitions are key for him. We’re not just pinned into our A-game schedule, either. We can use our minor-league games to get him five or six at-bats in one day.”

* Red Sox righthander Clay Buchholz will throw a simulated game again on Tuesday after a successful sim game on Saturday. He’ll throw 35 pitches, essentially two innings, in that setting.

Buchholz, who strained his hamstring nearly two weeks ago, will then throw a light side session on Tuesday and be ready to start Saturday against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers.

“He’s still going to get his six appearances,” Farrell said. “He’s still on pace for the 95-pitch target. You just don’t want to fall prey to a false sense of security that we have all the time in the world.”

* Pitchers Felix Doubront and Craig Breslow, who’ve both experienced shoulder discomfort in the early stages of spring training, are making slow-but-steady progress, Farrell said.

Doubront will throw live batting practice Monday and Wednesday and is projected to pitch in his first game on Monday.

Breslow is feeling better and more symptom-free, Farrell said, but the Red Sox would like to see more strength gains before they begin their pitching plan for Breslow.

* Farrell’s excited to see righthanded knuckleballer Steven Wright pitch against Toronto on Monday in Dunedin. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will catch Wright, 28, who’s been working with former Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Wright’s biggest challenges, Farrell said, will be throwing the knuckler when he’s behind in the count and controlling the running game.

“It’s a pretty violent pitch for him,” Farrell said. “He’s a sharp guy. He’s got a pretty good understanding of the game. He’s more in tune with the check points he has to go through to throw that pitch.”

* Interesting note on Farrell’s philosophy on infield shifts: He’ll utilize them as much as he did in Toronto, though the Red Sox aren’t as comfortable with moving around third baseman Will Middlebrooks as the Blue Jays were with third baseman Brett Lawrie.

Farrell said he’d like to keep his third baseman away from having to turn double plays, and they’ll start the learning process with Middlebrooks in the coming weeks.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Some very quick hits from Red Sox manager John Farrell. Expanded version shortly.

* Mike Napoli should start running the bases early next week, and see game action by the end of the week.

* No word yet on either activity for David Ortiz. Still going through agility drills.

* New first baseman-outfield candidate Mike Carp ran into some weather-related flight delays coming from California, and will be in camp Friday. First order of business is to undergo a physical. Non-roster invitee Mitch Maier, the former No. 1 Royals draft pick, is out of the first base mix. He’ll play in the outfield exclusively.

* Farrell sees some improvement in Jose Iglesias offensively, notes that he’s standing more upright at the plate.

* Farrell’s plan for now is that Jacoby Ellsbury will be his leadoff hitter. If he has another monster season like 2011, he could see some time in the 3-spot, but the plan at the moment is leadoff.

* Ryan Lavarnway will catch knuckleballer Steven Wright when he pitches Monday.