http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/221974/20110929/terry-francona-boston-red-sox-theo-epstein.htm
Thursday, September 29, 2011 7:45 AM EDT
It's Time for Terry Francona to Go
By John Talty
The worst collapse in baseball history has opened the door wide open for the Red Sox to dump manager Terry Francona.
Francona, affectionately known as "Tito," was unable to motivate his players to finish September strong and allowed his team to finish off the season with a horrendous 7-20 record -- causing the Red Sox to lose the Wild Card on the last day to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Francona's beloved by most Sox fans for leading the team to two World Series titles within the last decade, but the magic is gone and now it's time for Francona to seek employment elsewhere.
Once upon a time Francona made positive history when he led the Red Sox out of a three game hole in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees. There was something special about those Red Sox -- you knew the team would be working hard and having fun doing it.
But the lifeless, listless performance by the team in the month of September suggests Francona just might not have it anymore, at least not for this Boston team. Perhaps Francona could benefit from a year off or a change of scenery to get those creative juices flowing again.
Some Red Sox players have already come to the defense of Francona, including the team's biggest off-season acquisition.
"It's not Tito's fault," Adrian Gonzalez told the Boston Herald. "He's not on the field playing. You can't blame the manager who has kept an even keel the whole time. That's what he's supposed to do. He did his job, and us as players just didn't get it done."
But he didn't do his job.
In a season in which 33 out of 45 ESPN experts picked the Red Sox to win the World Series and all 45 picked them to win the AL East -- Francona failed across the board.
He managed to take one of the most talented teams in baseball and led them to an early off-season. Injuries to pitchers, like Clay Buchholz, sure didn't help, but there's no one that can convince this writer that those injuries wash away the blame.
The Red Sox, namely Theo Epstein, have 10 days to decide whether to pick up Francona's two-year option or let him go elsewhere. Is there any way that Epstein can truly rationalize keeping Francona when this epic collapse will still be seared into the minds of all Red Sox fans?
"It shouldn't have been this way,'' general manager Theo Epstein told the Boston Globe after the game. "Seven and 20 in September. If we go 9-18, we were where we want to go [playoffs]. That's a third of our games. The worst teams in baseball win a third of their games. There are no excuses.'
Sports are an ugly business that is largely based on what have you done for me lately. It doesn't take long after a championship for fans to demand more and then the pressure starts to build. And when you miss the playoffs two years in a row for such a high-priced team like the Red Sox -- the pressure is going to build and eventually you have to move on.
Take former Yankees manager Joe Torre as an example. Torre, one of the greatest managers in Yankees history, led the team to four World Series titles but after a slump Torre was gently forced out.
Now the Yankees did offer Torre a contract -- an insulting one according to Torre -- and gently implied to Torre he might be better suited to seek employment elsewhere.
The Red Sox could do the same to win the PR battle. Decline Francona's option, offer him a lowball contract, and if he rejects it then you let him walk. A win-win for the Red Sox.
But one thing is abundantly clear based on this epic, historic collapse -- Terry Francona needs to go.
Thursday, September 29, 2011 7:45 AM EDT
It's Time for Terry Francona to Go
By John Talty
The worst collapse in baseball history has opened the door wide open for the Red Sox to dump manager Terry Francona.
Francona, affectionately known as "Tito," was unable to motivate his players to finish September strong and allowed his team to finish off the season with a horrendous 7-20 record -- causing the Red Sox to lose the Wild Card on the last day to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Francona's beloved by most Sox fans for leading the team to two World Series titles within the last decade, but the magic is gone and now it's time for Francona to seek employment elsewhere.
Once upon a time Francona made positive history when he led the Red Sox out of a three game hole in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees. There was something special about those Red Sox -- you knew the team would be working hard and having fun doing it.
But the lifeless, listless performance by the team in the month of September suggests Francona just might not have it anymore, at least not for this Boston team. Perhaps Francona could benefit from a year off or a change of scenery to get those creative juices flowing again.
Some Red Sox players have already come to the defense of Francona, including the team's biggest off-season acquisition.
"It's not Tito's fault," Adrian Gonzalez told the Boston Herald. "He's not on the field playing. You can't blame the manager who has kept an even keel the whole time. That's what he's supposed to do. He did his job, and us as players just didn't get it done."
But he didn't do his job.
In a season in which 33 out of 45 ESPN experts picked the Red Sox to win the World Series and all 45 picked them to win the AL East -- Francona failed across the board.
He managed to take one of the most talented teams in baseball and led them to an early off-season. Injuries to pitchers, like Clay Buchholz, sure didn't help, but there's no one that can convince this writer that those injuries wash away the blame.
The Red Sox, namely Theo Epstein, have 10 days to decide whether to pick up Francona's two-year option or let him go elsewhere. Is there any way that Epstein can truly rationalize keeping Francona when this epic collapse will still be seared into the minds of all Red Sox fans?
"It shouldn't have been this way,'' general manager Theo Epstein told the Boston Globe after the game. "Seven and 20 in September. If we go 9-18, we were where we want to go [playoffs]. That's a third of our games. The worst teams in baseball win a third of their games. There are no excuses.'
Sports are an ugly business that is largely based on what have you done for me lately. It doesn't take long after a championship for fans to demand more and then the pressure starts to build. And when you miss the playoffs two years in a row for such a high-priced team like the Red Sox -- the pressure is going to build and eventually you have to move on.
Take former Yankees manager Joe Torre as an example. Torre, one of the greatest managers in Yankees history, led the team to four World Series titles but after a slump Torre was gently forced out.
Now the Yankees did offer Torre a contract -- an insulting one according to Torre -- and gently implied to Torre he might be better suited to seek employment elsewhere.
The Red Sox could do the same to win the PR battle. Decline Francona's option, offer him a lowball contract, and if he rejects it then you let him walk. A win-win for the Red Sox.
But one thing is abundantly clear based on this epic, historic collapse -- Terry Francona needs to go.
Ridiculous. Francona is a good manager. Guillen is a greedy shit who doesn't care about winning. He said so himself. He's either a liar or he doesn't care about winning. Either way, the only reason to hire him is for sound bites on the news to generate interest in the team. Makes sense for Florida since no one cares there. Boston? No way.
He's a very good fit there, but I've been 'reading between the lines' all season, I believe Francona is exhausted, also I believe the passion he had for the game is gone as a result.
I think he *wants* to either retire, or take a few years off.
I am not a Red Sox apologist, not really a fan, but even though you can't blame injuries, because all teams get them, look at his team injuries this year, what he did with what he had was solid.
I think the worst thing any organization can do is have a kneejerk reaction right after the event. Tito has had an option hanging out there that for whatever reason, the Sox did not pick up during the season - and this is before the meltdown. The fact that they didn't pick up his option sooner makes me wonder if there is geniune conflict between the GM and the manager. In many ways, I think it woud be a shame for Tito to get booted out of Boston, but even the best of managers don't get listend to after awhile. A change in location might be the best thing for everyone - Tito will certainly get some offers. Also, very hard to come back and manage effectively after a collapse like that.
Day by day percentages of the Red Sox's chances of making the postseason...just hold your mouse somewhere over the graph to get that day's odds.
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/MLB/American/ALEastern/Boston_ChanceWillMakePlayoffs.html
Pretty amazing. They were at 99.9% at one point.
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/MLB/American/ALEastern/Boston_ChanceWillMakePlayoffs.html
Pretty amazing. They were at 99.9% at one point.
by no means is he a terrible coach. maybe he was exhausted and needs time away who knows. Im just saying when u put this kind of team together you cant have a coach who gives them tea and nap times. You need a coach who will shove his foot up their ass. As far as ozzie being greedy take a look at this team and its payroll. These players are all imports due to greed. Welcome to our world.
Report just coming out that Franconia won't get a new contract... Reported on ESPN right now, via Fox Sports. This is bullshit and is why I dislike the Sox organization and fans... Tito is manager of the year last season for getting so much out of an injury-plagued team, and this year he's a bum??? Fuck that. The players lost it. Carl Crawford, JD Drew, Papelbon.. They lost it.
