BOSTON -- Torey Lovullo never had a day like Friday.
In the morning, he woke up, having slept very little after being told Thursday night that his friend, John Farrell, had been diagnosed with Stage 1 lymphoma and wouldn't manage again for the rest of the season.
Lovullo woke up with two secrets few others knew: Farrell was very sick, and he, Lovullo, would be the Red Sox interim manager.
There was the shock of Farrell's illness and the concern for his friend. Then there was the task at hand of getting ready to manage Friday night's game against Seattle.
It was all too fast.
"It's been tough,'' said a reeling Lovullo after the Red Sox pasted the Mariners, 15-1. "It's been an emotional 18 hours, thinking about. I was up until three o'clock in the morning thinking about it, slept for 15 minutes and then was up, thought about it again. He told me (Thursday) and it's never the kind of information you're prepared for.''
The two met again Friday at Fenway, before Farrell broke the news to the players, and later, to the media. They went over some planning, some thoughts and then Lovullo got ready to work.
Boston Red Sox
Only a few days ago, Lovullo filled in in the dugout after Farrell arrived from Detroit, a day removed from the surgery to repair a hernia injury.
That was temporary, like taking over a few innings after a manager has been ejected. Lovullo has done that, too.
But Friday night had a different air to it.
Even if it's only for the rest the season, there was a sense of permanence to this.
Major league managers miss games every so often, because of deaths in the family, or more happy moments, like attending a son or daughter's graduation or wedding.
And, coaches sometimes take over when the manager is fired.
This was different. This was because of sickness, one that's potentially life-threatening.
"This is my friend, our manager, our leader,'' said a shaken Lovullo. "Personally, this is one of the hardest days I've ever have to endure. He's one of my closest friends and when you hear that type of news, It's not easy to work through. And I'm still working through it. I'm not quite where I want to be. I don't think any of us will be (for a while).
"But we've got to fight for John.''
Managing isn't new for Lovullo. He managed for nine seasons in the minors -- eight years in the Indians' organization, some under the employ of Farrell, who was the Indians' farm director; and one year at Pawtucket.
Lovullo has been a coach on Farrell's staff for the last 5 1/2 seasons. He was Toronto's first base coach for two seasons, then was named his bench coach when Farrell came to Boston.
He's been in contention for a number of major league managerial openings in Texas and Minnesota.
But there was nothing that could have prepared Lovullo for Friday night. He delayed getting to the dugout until 25 minutes before first pitch, spending time with Farrell in the clubhouse.
"Tonight was a difficult night,'' he admitted. "I found myself probably 250 times thinking about John. I tried to let that go and move off it. But he's one of my closest friends and it was difficult for me at times.''
The Red Sox made his night easy with three runs in the first, six more in the third, and runs in almost every inning thereafter. There were no tough decisions.
If Lovullo has the Red Sox playing competitively for the final six weeks, it will only burnish his resume and improve his chances of being hired to manage on his own.
But that's not foremost on his mind now. Lovullo is committed to merely doing his best, keeping Farrell informed.
"This is uncharted territory for all us,'' acknowledged Lovullo. "We don't know what's going to happen, especially in John's case... But my thoughts are to be, let these guys go out, play with the expectations that we've always had - to go out and represent the Boston Red Sox and take pride in the name across our chest and win as many games as possible.''
Having managed only a handful of innings here and there in the big leagues, Lovullo candidly said he couldn't even say what style of manager he is.
"I just expect a lot and have demands of these players,'' said Lovullo, at the end of what was likely the most challenging day he had ever experienced in baseball.