Hoist a glass for Farrell

TORONTO - J.P. Arencibia is a big supporter of John Farrell, but not one of a potential ban on beer in major league clubhouses.

The Toronto Blue Jays catcher — in town Monday to help promote the launch of Xbox Kinect Sports: Season Two — said although recent reports of out of Boston suggest the Red Sox have discussed the possibility of pursuing Farrell to manage the team, he’s not concerning himself with it.

"I really don’t care about rumours or speculation," said Arencibia. "You learn real quick all you can control is what you can control and I don’t control any of that stuff. Whatever happens (in the media), you know it’s there, but you don’t pay attention to it."

What the 25-year-old is certain of however, is the impact Farrell had on his development in 2011 — his first full season in the big leagues.

"He was huge," Arencibia said. "At the start of the year I was learning, learning and when he thought I was capable, he gave me the opportunity to be the everyday guy. It’s been great. He’s been huge for my development. Wakamatsu’s been big, the whole coaching staff."

The report in Sunday’s Boston Globe linking Farrell to the Red Sox managerial opening suggested Farrell was a key influence on the development of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz into top-tier pitchers.

Lester is one of the three Red Sox pitchers — along with Josh Beckett and John Lackey — reported to have taken to drinking beer, eating fried chicken and playing video games in the clubhouse during games in which they weren’t scheduled to pitch.

During an interview last week with Boston radio station WEEI, Buchholz acknowledged a more "laid-back" approach developed under Farrell’s successor Curt Young, and he admitted he was "scared of him" to approach the 6-foot-4 Farrell. Conversely, Arencibia found Farrell to be just the opposite.

"His communication is unbelievable, you can talk to him," he said. "He’s a guy you can go up to and talk about anything in any situation. You’re not intimidated to go talk to him and you know he’s going to tell you the honest truth. You may not want to hear it but he’s going to communicate with you.

"He has an open-door policy. He’s a guy that you respect, he’s well-spoken. He does a lot of things that you respect and when you respect guys how we respect him all it does it make you want to go out there and play your butts off for him everyday."

In addition to the Farrell rumours, on Sunday the Boston Globe also reported that MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre is planning to investigate the reports of clubhouse drinking during games in Boston and may even ban the practice entirely.

"If we do happen to bar alcohol from the clubhouses, you have to understand the intent of this thing and what it looks like," Torre told the paper. "We're up there and we're role models, or we should be role models for the youngsters and how they behave."

According the Globe, 13 MLB teams allow beer in the clubhouse — the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox among them. Arencibia said on Monday a league-wide ban on beer in clubhouses would be an overreaction.

"We’re making a big deal out of nothing," he explained. "The stuff about (Red Sox players) drinking beer during the game... that stuff is just blown out of proportion. You might go in there and somebody who’s not playing that day or is already out of the game already, in the ninth inning you might take a rally shot of a beer. You’re not drinking."

Arencibia added he wasn’t suggesting the practice occurred in the Blue Jays clubhouse.

"But I’m saying it’s known," he explained. "It’s happened in the game. I just think we’re making a big thing about it because the Red Sox didn’t make the playoffs.

"We’re professionals and we know how to handle ourselves. That’s it and that’s the bottom line."