Q&A with new Red Sox manager John Farrell

Farrell: A Man from Elsewhere and Here.

Potential lineups:

“If guys play to their abilities . . . I think [everybody] looks at Jacoby Ellsbury . . . [as] a leadoff guy with [the] kind of ability, not only to steal bases but to drive the ball with some consistency . . . The one variation to look at, against a left-handed pitcher we could see [Shane] Victorino in the 2 hole [but then] see him down in the 5, 6 hole [against right-handers] . . . But I think the one thing that stands out is with [Stephen] Drew’s addition, [and] now [Mike] Napoli, it gives us that complement, that balance,  left-right all the way through the lineup.

“[Victorino has moved around] in the past. it’s something we’ve talked about with him and he’s comfortable with it, as he’s done it, so that switching back and forth in the lineup for him wouldn’t be out of the norm.”

On the current roster:

“Balanced, professional, successful individual track records. Guys that have come from winning, playoff teams and World Series teams and to bring those ingredients, those individuals here, we’re looking forward to bringing everyone together in spring training. We have a pretty good challenge ahead of us. Nine new players projected on a 25-man roster. That’s a lot to integrate, to understand that we’re coming together and sacrificing for one another towards a team approach and that’s where I think the people above and beyond the talents that there are have that reputation.”