The Official Terry Francona Thread

[noonanberg]

I thought Francona would be an alright manager. He was supposed to be similar to Grady, and Grady did alright except for his post- game interviews and that little game 7 blunder. Turns out though, Francona has less common sense than Little. He is no better at handling pitchers than Little and he's a much worse lineup coordinator (for lack of a better word). Bellhorn at third? Youk on the bench? Millar at first? 0-for-3 Terry. Where does he get these crazy ideas? Youk should be playing third. Bellhorn should be rotating with Reese at second and Millar should be sent to the grocery store for sunflower seeds. Millar of course is the most important. With him on the bench you have two solid options: 1) McCarty at first (he's a very good fielder and has potential at the plate) or 2) Ortiz at first with any number of options at DH (although I'd prefer Bellhorn if Reese is at second). Meanwhile, what is Francona doing with the pitching staff. He has no idea when to pull the starter (great example: Schilling's overstay early in the year that led to a granny) and often puts the wrong guy in from the pen. Why is Williamson getting almost no playing time? Whenever he plays he dominates. Rarely does Williamson get shelled. He also likes to bring in Foulke mighty early, as well as bring him in when there's not a save on the line. I know Foulke still needs playing time, but when Williamson hasn't pitched in five days and Foulke in three, let Williamson get some work. Terry is making me think it's not just the guys on the field that aren't doing there job.

[elsrbueno]

Terry definately has made some questionable calls.

 

I agree with pitching Foulke in tie-game situations in Fenway. Putting your "closer" in there in the 9th/10th etc gives you a chance to win. Torre does it with Rivera too.

 

That being said, there's no GOOD reason why Williamson shouldn't be pitching more. Obviously if the Sox are down 7-2, 10-3 or whatever, save him for a closer game (because he's one of the best out in the Sox bullpen) but he needs work just like the rest do.

 

Millar needs to ride the pine for a bit. Watch some videos of himself, pick his nose, do SOMETHING other than boot the ball at first. I'd rather see Ortiz out there than Millar right now.

[elsrbueno]

Terry needs to go!

 

This is the last straw!

[JMDurron]

What kind of brain cramp has you blaming Francona for this? Nomar and Ortiz screwed up. He pulled Wakefield when he should have. He went with Timlin instead of Embree, which was the safe play.

[elsrbueno]

It's the overall team attitude that needs to change. Not just today.

 

s***, if SOMEone hit the ball with the bases loaded we'd be in bed already. Now I won't sleep all night.

[JMDurron]

I say we should be blaming the players who didn't perform, AGAIN, as opposed to roasting the manager over it. It's not like a totally gassed pitcher was left in, or that we had anyone playing who shouldn't have been on the field.

[elsrbueno]

I guess you're right. With the exception of Nomar. He doesn't deserve to play tomorrow.

[Zenny]

Originally posted by JMDurron@Jun 30 2004, 10:48 PM

...or that we had anyone playing who shouldn't have been on the field.

Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek and Kevin Millar instantly come to mind.

[JMDurron]

Originally posted by Zenny+Jun 30 2004, 09:50 PM-->

QUOTE (Zenny @ Jun 30 2004, 09:50 PM)

[Zenny]

Originally posted by JMDurron@Jun 30 2004, 10:58 PM

Varitek didn't play until the 9th inning as a pinch hitter. Nomar is normally worth playing. Millar didn't screw anything up today.

 

And yes, I would have DHed Nomar, but that doesn't mean that it's totally unreasonable for Francona to play him.

I'm just being irrationally frustrated again. Although, I think Varitek should have pinch-hit one spot lower as the potential tying run.

[Old Hoss]

Enlighten me..........why was Nixon DH'ing and Millar playing RF?

[YanksHater213]

because he has no idea what to do...

[JMDurron]

Nixon to DH, Millar to RF, and Ortiz to 1B was apparently a last-second decision before the game started. I'm guessing Nixon said something to Francona about his injury still bothering him a little bit.

[elsrbueno]

I read on mlb.com that Nixon's quad tightened up on him.

 

That's why he was the DH for last nights game

[sarasoxfan]

time to pile on...get it out of system....on the plus side....well, enough said ab out that

Millar--2 ribi's in the last 23 games? I can see why he plays all the time...mccarty and kapler probably have about as many in about a total of 5 innings over that strecth. Dump this clown..

Nomar--I truly believe Nomar is a baby. You can get away with that intensity thing and stand offish crap when you play well. But in this town when you suck you should be a man and answer up to it. Sure it may all be coincidence but we werent doing too badly while Nomar was injured, and since he's been back we really have sucked......

Tek-I like Tek he goes in spurts and he is a great catcher. Keep him.

Lowe-is overated and over paid..Ta-ta.

Pedro- keep 'em.

Tony-get packing buddy, we dont have a chance with this guy.

 

Now--I'm, sick of the I love these guys we'll play through it crap. Come on people, we always say that and when we do snap out of it we're so far gone we barely claw back in to contention. One reason the yankess clobber us because when they have problems Georgie fixes it--fast!

 

Come on theo-Shake it up now!@

[sarasoxfan]

I can barely type I am so despondent. Nice clutch hitting by Nomar...as usual meaningless hits and then when we need him a double play.

 

Terribel managing. why the hell dso we have that martinez kid, he gets shelled every time he pitches.

 

Manny is a god.

 

bellhorn is terrible, awful...ridiculous. Millar plays the game like irene ryan.

 

At the very least please lets lose in 9 I need my sleep.

 

 

Time for a change...fire francona and trade Nomar he's a cancer,

 

Do it now

[yeszir]

Just merging some topics to keep things organized

[RedSoxRooter]

You know what's especially frustrating?

 

If the Sox hold on to the late lead and win in NY on Wednesday, if they hold the lead in extra innings on Thursday, and if they hold the lead Friday in extra innings in ATL - like they normally do - the sox would be only 3.5 games out of first place this morning.

[yagmaster]

I have to disagree with everyone saying Francona is our problem. Our players just aren't performing. Mueller hasn't done anything because of injury. Millar has been aweful. Our bullpen has struggled recently. And Nomar, who has been my favorite player for years, has flat out sucked. It's not the manager that's the problem, it's the players. Also, our pitching other than Schill hasn't been too good recently either. Other than Manny, Schilling, Foulke, and Ortiz, no one is doing as well as they did last year, which was probably our peak.

[JMDurron]

Originally posted by yagmaster@Jul 3 2004, 02:14 PM

I have to disagree with everyone saying Francona is our problem. Our players just aren't performing. Mueller hasn't done anything because of injury. Millar has been aweful. Our bullpen has struggled recently. And Nomar, who has been my favorite player for years, has flat out sucked. It's not the manager that's the problem, it's the players. Also, our pitching other than Schill hasn't been too good recently either. Other than Manny, Schilling, Foulke, and Ortiz, no one is doing as well as they did last year, which was probably our peak.

Amen! I totally agree. We even have two new additons (Pokey and Bellhorn) who have performed ABOVE expectations (when you look at career averages), and we can't get it done. Our guys from last year just need to get back to doing what they used to do so well - get the clutch hits, claw back from behind, and don't play in the field like they're blind and mired in quicksand.

[JMDurron]

Good news in the ESPN.com game notes from tonight's win.

 

"Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Kevin Youkilis and Mark Bellhorn would being taking ground balls at 1B to prepare for a possible start there."

 

This opens up some excellent possibilities for the lineup (Why choose between Mueller and Youk?) and defense (Why choose between Pokey's glove and Bellhorn's eye/bat?), if one or both of them can adapt to the position. The fact that they're considering moving Youk tells me that Terry is confident that Mueller is recovering well.

[elsrbueno]

I like it. Gives the team more late-game options if the players are more versatile. That would make Bellhorn capable of playing EVERY infield position!

[Ortiz34]

speaking of other positions, i remember Kapler playing 3rd base in spring training. He made some nice plays. I think he could fill in sometimes at 3rd base.

[sarasoxfan]

while I basically agree with everyone...personally I dont see what we gain with all this juggling. As if our defensive needs anything pulling it down.

 

billy seems to be back in stride. Youk and belllhorn can help out here and there, but neither is really starting material. Ditto for Gabe.

 

the set line-up projected at the beginnning of the year seems like the way to go.

Bill, nomar, pokey and DO....

 

The love affair with Youk, just is unrealistic at this time. I'll take a health Mueller written in pen at third base. Bellhorn, the K king. Pokey at second.

 

Do, mccarty and Tubby can share first...DHing along the way.

 

I read about them loking for a steady first basemen..and finding time for the Youk's and bellhorn of the world, puh-leeze............PITCHING HELP thats what we need.

[elsrbueno]

True, the Sox need pitching help most of all. But an upgrade over Millar at first certainly wouldn't be a BAD move (unless of course the Sox lose top prospects).

[yagmaster]

I am finally on the Fire the Franc bandwagon. After leaving Schilling in to rot after 100 pitches and a 7-1 lead, I have to say the guys in charge made a mistake.

[Zenny]

I'm just warming up to the guy. He's finally showing some balls with Lowe. To quote Tito in non-BS talk, "Lowe, you f***ing pussy, you suck and blew another game because your head was shoved up your ass! You want to bitch about the media calling you a headcase and blame it on getting too much of the plate? That's because you cannot focus on making good pitches, you stupid motherf***er! Pull your head out of your ass and be tough!"

 

That's basically what he said when it boils down to it. PS- Sorry for all the swearing, but that's what happens when Tito starts drinking.

[sarasoxfan]

Huh?

 

The fact that he keeps letting Lowe pitch and then leaves him to get clobbered when it obvious to everyone from Stevie Wonder on up that the guy doesnt have it.

He never seesm to use his bullpen wisely, or take out our starters at the right time.

 

He juggles the lineup all the time. What's with all this resting people.

 

He sticks with guys for too long.

 

I dont like him one bit.

 

But we won 3 and I dont want to be cranky---

[Zenny]

Yeah, but did you hear him subtley bashing Lowe after the game in Atlanta? It was awesome.

[elsrbueno]

I heard him, Zenny!

 

That's the first time he's bashed ANYONE.....