Terry francona

[KeepTheFaith1229]

You're taking a pretty ignorant stand point since as I pointed out you aren't on the bench or in the clubhouse... so yeah...

 

And Lopez hasn't been used as a specialist this year. He has been facing lefties and righties a like... He's come into games here and there for one lefty out and is more likely to come in if there are a couple of lefties up in one inning but he has faced righties and done well against them and has proven he can get guys out no matter where they stand at the plate. So he didn't last night... not terry's fault, chief.

 

You just don't bring in a lefty when the next 8 batters up are righties. I don't need to be in the dugout to see that and you saw the result.

[TedWilliams101]

I hate tito. Always have, always will.

[RedSoxRooter]

I like Tito. He's the only Sox manager I can remember who's gotten better each year he's been in Boston. This is his best year yet in that the lineup isn't as loaded as '04 but the Sox are still one of the most consistently good teams in the league. Sticking with Lugo yesterday in the 8th is something only a manager with a 10 game lead would do (Tito wouldn't have done that with a 2 game lead) and I think it was the correct move. Lugo getting back on track is more important than winning yesterday's game. And even though it didn't pan out, I also agreed with the logic because Lugo had a really good at bat in his previous at bat. And getting him going is really the team's number 1 personnel issue.

 

Tito is a player's manager, which rubs people the wrong way sometimes, but in Boston you need a guy like that. See Mac, Williams and Houke to see what happens on the other side.

[Cityofchampions33]

I like Tito. He's the only Sox manager I can remember who's gotten better each year he's been in Boston. This is his best year yet in that the lineup isn't as loaded as '04 but the Sox are still one of the most consistently good teams in the league. Sticking with Lugo yesterday in the 8th is something only a manager with a 10 game lead would do (Tito wouldn't have done that with a 2 game lead) and I think it was the correct move. Lugo getting back on track is more important than winning yesterday's game. And even though it didn't pan out, I also agreed with the logic because Lugo had a really good at bat in his previous at bat. And getting him going is really the team's number 1 personnel issue.

 

Tito is a player's manager, which rubs people the wrong way sometimes, but in Boston you need a guy like that. See Mac, Williams and Houke to see what happens on the other side.

 

Agreed, he is a very good player's manager, yet he is smart as well. Besides bringing in Jovy lopez to intentionally walk the only lefty in Seattle's lineup the otehr night, I have no real "what a dumbass" comments about him this season. I lie how he does stick with players when others wouldn't, and it has payed off for him (Bellhorn in 04 playoffs, etc.), and he does a really good job keeping everyone fresh, though I ahet when he puts the entire bench in the starting lineup.

[SCM33]

I like Tito. He's the only Sox manager I can remember who's gotten better each year he's been in Boston. This is his best year yet in that the lineup isn't as loaded as '04 but the Sox are still one of the most consistently good teams in the league. Sticking with Lugo yesterday in the 8th is something only a manager with a 10 game lead would do (Tito wouldn't have done that with a 2 game lead) and I think it was the correct move. Lugo getting back on track is more important than winning yesterday's game. And even though it didn't pan out, I also agreed with the logic because Lugo had a really good at bat in his previous at bat. And getting him going is really the team's number 1 personnel issue.

 

Tito is a player's manager, which rubs people the wrong way sometimes, but in Boston you need a guy like that. See Mac, Williams and Houke to see what happens on the other side.

 

Agree also. I think he does a great job of getting guys in there unlike other managers like Torre who stick to their guns and wear out their players.

 

Baseball aspect aside.....it takes a special type of guy to manage the RedSox. Sox need someone who can tend to the needs of every player and their special needs and special treatment. Thats the nature of the beast in Boston. They go out and get the high paid divas, and they need a guy who can deal with them on a daily basis. In addition, Tito handles himself very well in the media. In Boston, if the media doesnt like you, you can be buried.

[zackredsox]

he might not be that great at the managing part but the players seem to like him and that always helps

 

i cant say im a fan but i like him better than grady

[example1]

I can guarantee you that the front office is happy with him. He is largely a puppet of their philosophy, so it comes down to whether you agree with the philosophy.

[scaffolds]

Wait, so 100% of the reason the reason the Sox have such a big lead is because of the Yankees play? You're clearly not the smartest poster on the board, are you? This may be news to you, but WE HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL. Our 11 game lead is not entirely because the Yanks have sucked; we have played great, as well.

 

Honestly, how the hell can you criticize Francona? I mean, in his fourth year as Sox manager, all he has done is brought home the first World Championship in 86 years, took us to the playoffs the following year, and after a woeful year in '06, has us poised for our first American League East Championship since 1995.

 

Yeah, he has made some mistakes, but get off his back. Quit whining every time we lose a series.

 

Just don't know how did I miss that the reason the Red Sox had the best record in baseball was because of francona being the manager, man You're really sharp, LOL, and you're right i am not very smart because if I was I wouldn't be talking to a MF JACKASS like you.

[TheKilo]

I'm a fan.

[SCM33]

I can guarantee you that the front office is happy with him. He is largely a puppet of their philosophy' date=' so it comes down to whether you agree with the philosophy.[/quote']

 

Agree. But his personal skills is what sells him...plus he really loves the game and seems really genuine about his team and players.

[Sox fan in Tex]

Just don't know how did I miss that the reason the Red Sox had the best record in baseball was because of francona being the manager, man You're really sharp, LOL, and you're right i am not very smart because if I was I wouldn't be talking to a MF JACKASS like you.

 

*YAWN* I have no idea what you just said (Maybe add a period or two). I do appreciate the comparison with Francona (we are both 'JACKASSES' -- in all caps), though. Being compared with such a brilliant manager is an honor.

[CrespoBlows]

Francona may make an occasional mistake here or there, but nothing too serious. He's pretty damn good with the players, and that's always valuable in Boston.

 

I'm a fan.

 

BTW, how many wins on average does a manager cost a team? Probably not a whole lot.

[BSN07]

I'm a fan. Yes he has his bad moments, but he is the perfect kind of manager for this team and city. He's our version of Joe Torre( completely different managers tho). I hope Tito is around for a long time. He's alot better then some of the garbage we have had sitting in there. Atleast every once in awhile hes good for a laugh as well. Not to sure how I feel about him quitting chewing( I dip, Copenhagen Long Cut) No on likes a quitter!

[CrespoBlows]

f*** you, Francona.

 

Lugo? In the leadoff spot? This f***er better have been juicing the last week.

[VA Sox Fan]

f*** you, Francona.

 

Lugo? In the leadoff spot? This f***er better have been juicing the last week.

 

Damn.

 

I like Tito.

[SCM33]

f*** you, Francona.

 

Lugo? In the leadoff spot? This f***er better have been juicing the last week.

 

Didnt have much of a choice. You see how valuable Youk is. When he is not in the lineup it really screws things up. I like Drew in the leadoff spot, but to do that you need Youk in the 5 spot and Lowell at 6. When Lowell hits 5 it makes the rest of our lineup pretty weak.

[CrespoBlows]

Didnt have much of a choice. You see how valuable Youk is. When he is not in the lineup it really screws things up. I like Drew in the leadoff spot' date=' but to do that you need Youk in the 5 spot and Lowell at 6. When Lowell hits 5 it makes the rest of our lineup pretty weak.[/quote']

 

Pedroia could have moved up a spot, Drew could have lead off, even Ellsbury could have done the trick. (HE'S FAZT LOL!)

 

Giving your worst hitter the most amount of at-bats in a game, is the worst possible strategy you could summon.

[SCM33]

Pedroia could have moved up a spot, Drew could have lead off, even Ellsbury could have done the trick. (HE'S FAZT LOL!)

 

Giving your worst hitter the most amount of at-bats in a game, is the worst possible strategy you could summon.

 

I agree, but I also think that Lugo will be bumped back down once the lineup is right. Its not like he had a bad game either from the leadoff spot. He walked twice and moved 2 runners into scoring position with a nice SAC bunt...all of which you expect from a leadoff hitter.

[VA Sox Fan]

Beckett deal a winner: Early signing pays off

By Rob Bradford

Friday, July 6, 2007 - Updated: 08:23 AM EST

 

It was exactly one year ago Terry Francona and the Red Sox [team stats] saw what turned out to be a golden opportunity standing at Tropicana Field.

 

Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett [stats] was wiling away the time during his team’s batting practice when the manager made his move.

 

“I said to (general manager) Theo (Epstein) when we were sitting in the dugout, ‘Do you want to sign this guy to a long-term contract?’ He said, ‘For the right number,’ ” Francona recalled last night. “I went out to shortstop, where Beckett was taking grounders, and said, ‘Do you want to stay here?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’

 

“I said, ‘Are you going to ask for crazy money?’ He said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘What are you worth?’ He said the number and I went back to Theo and said, ‘You better sign this guy.’

 

“I’m probably oversimplifying it, but basically that was my role. They obviously worked hard on getting it done. It was more that Beckett had a very mature way of going about it.”

 

After earning his 12th win of the season last night, Beckett offered some insight into why he took the Red Sox’ three-year, $30 million extension.

 

Along with having the peace of mind that went with knowing he would be earning $47 million by the time he was 30, and playing in a place he was confident would continue to be a winning environment, there was the issue of an insurance policy.

 

After missing his final start of the 2005 season with shoulder stiffness, Beckett’s insurance company informed him that it would insure every part of his body but his right shoulder. It was a problem that played a factor in approaching his future.

 

“I think if I had that insurance policy it would have been a little easier to go to (the Red Sox) with a hard number,” said Beckett, whose shoulder still isn’t insured but can be if he pitches approximately 600 innings (from the time he started with the Red Sox) without report of any shoulder ailment. “The way it happened was that we both sat down and hammered out something that made us both happy. I got that insurance with the contract.”

 

The idea to approach Beckett actually had been first discussed during the Red Sox’ previous series against the Florida Marlins. But it was the talk with Francona that really helped the process gain steam, with the result being the deal that was finalized by Beckett’s agent, Michael Moye, and signed on the morning of July 19.

 

At the time of the back-and-forth in St. Petersburg, Beckett was carrying a 4.59 ERA to go with 10 wins. By the time the deal was inked, his ERA had risen to 5.12.

 

“Given the circumstances, yeah,” said Beckett when asked if he was surprised Francona approached him with the idea. “Their job is to try and save money by getting guys when they aren’t on the pinnacle part of their performance. To me, it was all about getting that security and playing somewhere I wanted to play.”

Said Epstein: “It’s always a good time to sign a player when he decides he likes it here and his numbers aren’t quite as good as you think they are going to be. It was obviously an opportunity we wanted to take advantage of.”

 

One year later, however, Beckett is considered dramatically underpaid. Without the deal, he would have become a free agent after this season and been in line for what some industry insiders predict would be a deal worth between five and six years at around $18 million to $20 million per season. Part of that projection comes from the fact that his only competition for the title of most prized free agent pitcher would be the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano.

 

But in the eyes of both Beckett and the Red Sox, everyone came out winners.

 

“I have a chance to win every year,” the Sox ace said. “And I have security. That goes a long way.”

[BoSox21]

good call by Terry and Theo then, Beckett is probably worth $18-$20 million right now

[RobZombie]

I think Francona has done an excellent job.

 

Most moves that a manager makes don't make a difference over the course of a season. Don't pitch to Vidro with the game on the line? Who are you supposed to pitch to? Vidro sucks. You can't judge a manger by in-game strategy.

 

Where a manager can make a difference is in the use of his players. Use players too much, they wear out. Use them too little, you miss out on their resurgence.

 

The Red Sox despite not playing well of late are among the top teams in baseball. Francona is the only Red Sox manager to win the World Series or to take his team to the playoffs two years in a row. The Sox seem likely to make the playoffs this year, so he'll be the first to make it 3 of 4.

 

Its completely unfair to say that sweeping the Devil Rays is the players responsibility, but getting swept by Detroit is the managers fault.

 

But I think we know that the team would be worse if Scaff were the manager. If he were the manager, Hinske would be playing 1st all the time and Youkilis would be ridding the pine. Where would they be if that had happened?

[SCM33]

Boston Herald's Massaroti gives Francona a grade of A. Couldnt agree more with it.

[Khan]

Come on' date=' Well he gets my vote for ML JACKASS of the year.[/quote']

 

I'd give that to Theo remind me why we got Luggie and Nancy Drew again Epstein

[zackredsox]

I'd give that to Theo remind me why we got Luggie and Nancy Drew again Epstein

 

hey lugo might turn his season around he batting .300 in july so far and his last game he went 3 for 3, a double, a HR, and a stolen base

[schillingouttheks]

hey lugo might turn his season around he batting .300 in july so far and his last game he went 3 for 3' date=' a double, a HR, and a stolen base[/quote']

 

Lugo does look a lot better recently, but please don't use his .300 average from 7 games to back it up. It's too little.

[Khan]

Hopefully, Drew and Lugo will continue to look up. But I need to seem more before I call them ahything but failures. The decision to go after those two (and the high turn over at Short in the past few years) are Theo's issues not Tito's Theo is the problem here.

[BSN07]

Drew is short on HR's. Everything else is pretty close to his career avg.