Francona Apparently Leaving Sox

[Hawkguy]

Bobby Valentine?????? Now I want to go on a bender.

 

Torre is done with this s***. He won't have any interest.

 

I actually think Tito is pushing this to happen this way and more power to him. I am repeating myself but they changed this team around him and he now has a bunch of spoiled petulant children to manage.

 

The look on his face in the press conference was "f*** you and horse you rode in on John Henry, I am so outta' here".

 

That is what the rumor is...... I hate to see him go out like this but I said this earlier, he has lost control of his clubhouse. When Tito said today that he saw this happening after a win in Toronto. And that he spoke to the players about giving a s*** about the guys you play with. I knew he had lost control. For how protective he is with the players, for him to come out and say this I think is a good indicator that he will not be back. I'd give anything to be a fly on the wall to find out who the cancerous attitudes are in the clubhouse.

[yankees228]

I'm sad to hear Tito is going... in spite of his shortcomings, he helped to deliver two WS titles to a team that hadn't won any in 86 years.

 

But if he does end up leaving as all signs seem to indicate, I'm not sure who I'd want to succeed him in the position.

 

I'd probably be okay with either of these two, but I suspect there will be more candidates that come up here soon...

 

Sandy Alomar Jr - 1B coach Cleveland

Dave Martinez - Bench coach Tampa Bay

 

This is who I would want.

[jung]

I think Martinez might be an interesting choice as well.

 

I do think Jim Rice deserves an interview and a peek at a resume. This should turn out to be a process for this position as it is one of the most high profile managerial jobs there is.

 

Hey if Rice ends up topping out the field out of a process (which better not take much time) then so be it.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I've always loved baseball since I was a baby, but I really became a fan in the 07 season(from the start). Francona has always been a really cool manager and that won't go unnoticed. I love what he did for the team. Regardless of what happened in September I'm still pretty bummed about him leaving. It probably has to happen though. Poor guy must be getting pounded by the media. It'll be tough watching the Sox next year without him but it's just something I have to accept. Even though his management can make my head explode, it was a pleasure watching. Thank you Terry Francona.

[redsoxbeatz]

...I'd give anything to be a fly on the wall to find out who the cancerous attitudes are in the clubhouse.

 

Me too... all we can do is speculate.

[Spitball]

I like the Phillies' bench coach Pete Mackanin. He is a highly respected baseball mind and did an excellent job taking over in an interim role in 2008 for the Reds. He deserved the job but Dusty Baker was given the job.

 

Another thought would be Jason Varitek. I think he might need a few seasons as a coach first, but he will make a good one someday. Former catchers tend to make the best managers.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Dennis. Eckersley.

 

I'm serious man. He's my sleeper in this decision. The guy knows baseball as good as anyone else, and doesn't sugarcoat s*** like other managers.

 

He won't say "Youk, did you get a little workout in today?". No way. Eck would say "Youk, you're fat as s*** man. You're going to be spending time on the DL if you don't get your s*** together. So put down the beer and get on the treadmill, fatass"

 

Eck wouldn't pat Lackey on the back after giving up 8 ER in 3.1 IP, and staring him down when he gives him the ball. He wouldn't tell the media "I didn't notice the look". Eck would be the guy who goes up to him in the clubhouse and says "John, if you ever give me that f***ing look again, I'll send your ass to the DL and make you pitch 5 months of bus-riding AA starts for 'rehab'"

 

He won't take this s***. He will enforce the idea that this team needs to be in shape. He will get the team going out of the gate in Spring Training. And he would never let it get to a 7-20, missed the post season September.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Anyone but Bobby Valentine. Seriously.

 

I'd be on board with either Rice or Eckersley. Players have grown too accustomed to Francona's soft touch.

[yeszir]

Hopefully this doesn't end poorly. Tito seems like a genuinely nice guy and I'd hate to see a typical post Red Sox back and forth smear campaign.

[wyo-sox]

I do think it's time for both Terry and the team to move on and apart. However I do think they should send Terry out as a hero. Not just a knee jerk negative thing.

[Cairns_Sox]

Firstish Post....New York Daily declaring Tito has been fired. Wonder if its official?

[Palodios]

I was all for getting rid of him, but I agree, he needs to be sent off for who he is. A guy who brought the Red Sox wins and championships.

[wyo-sox]

How important is past managerial experience?

[wyo-sox]

Maybe I'll put my name in the hat. I look good in red. I would work cheap for the pro baseball world. With very limited baseball knowledge I've not only finished third place in my fantasy league but my 8 and 11 year old boys dominated t ball ( which means I come from a baseball family). And finally I can do either bubble gum or sun flower seeds. I'll need to discuss it with my family before making any decisions. Please don't leake this to the media yet.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I would like to see a former pitcher be our manager. I think former pitchers have a better feel for how to use a bullpen, which was one of Francona's biggest weaknesses.

 

We need someone who is up to date with the new strategies. One of the biggest reasons that the Rays won 91 games and the Red Sox won 90 was because Maddon doesn't use his LOOGY to throw 1.1 IP and face 4 right handed hitters.Maddon throws his LHP against LHH, and then changes the pitcher. He employs the shift against lefties who pull the ball more than 75 or 80% of the time.

 

Maddon does his homework and it paid off. Francona didn't do his homework, and tried to let the talent of the team win him games. We need someone who is more like Maddon, someone who gives us that extra edge.

[SoxSport]

The Globe has dramatically changed its tone this morning.Even the sports editor, Joe Sullivan, is saying the Sox need a tougher manager. I hope that happens. I heard the name Bobby Valentine.

 

I'm thinking Joe Maddon, after the Rays have been eased out of the playoffs. He is the guy best equipped to revive Crawford--and that will be a major priority next season. Don't know what his contract situation is in Tampa Bay.

 

Seems like the media is pretty sure Francona is out. Option not renewed. The real question now is Epstein.

Lucchino may cut him loose. But they have to have an equivalent type to replace him. Maybe Hoyer.

Maybe Billy Beane, who has to be champing at the bit in Oakland. Or Brad Pitt, if Billy isn't available.

What the hell. All the world's a stage.

[SoxSport]

Oh man... Joe Torre as manager would be epic. Talk about a huge f*** you to the Yankees organization though. Think he's made peace with them now... heard him talk very favorably about going back to the oldtimers game and donning the Yanks uni again.

 

Yeah..., I thought about Joe. He has a soft ML job now--I don't know if he'd want it--coming back against his old team.

 

Torre was never successful managing until he came to the Yankees-- a good team.

Kind of like Tito. I don't know if he's that much different from Tito.

[Palodios]

Brad Pitt taking over for Theo... hmm...

[SoxFanForsyth]

I would love for Billy Beane to get another shot with the Sox.

[SoxSport]

I think Bobby Valentine would provide a personality for the clubhouse to rally around. I would think he would stress fundamentals. If Terrys personality is a 1 and Ozzy Gs is a 10..... Bobby V. To me would be a 5' date=' just what we need.[/quote']

 

Good point, if true. Bowa is another guy. But he would be more like a 7 on your scale.

Though I think he's mellowed some with age.

 

You have to be careful about going too far offscale to turn off the players. they have been used to a pretty lax environment for sometime now. Clearly, they have been basking in it--from their support of Francona.

 

You also have to have somebody who can deal with the media. That's more important to the FO than meets the eye.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Beane would be interesting. Let's hope he doesn't turn out like Ricciardi though, and go nuts when he actually has money to play with.

[Palodios]

Beane would be interesting. Let's hope he doesn't turn out like Ricciardi though' date=' and go nuts when he actually has money to play with.[/quote']

 

That's the beauty of it. He won't have much money to play with for 2012.

[yeszir]

Johnny Pesky?

[Dojji]

Bravo, Tito! You had a fine Red Sox career no matter how it ended. Best of luck in the next step in your career.

 

As to who we bring in? We need a disciplinarian. Badly. One who can get the team thinking like a team again. Tito's grandfatherly approach was fine when the team had internal leadership to keep them focused, this squad clearly doesn't, so they need a manager to do that.

 

How would you feel about Bobby Cox?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Johnny Pesky?

 

Haha. He's in his prime at 92.

 

He'd be in the video room all day, but he'd spend the whole time trying to figure out where the VHS tapes were.

[SoxSport]

Beane would be interesting. Let's hope he doesn't turn out like Ricciardi though' date=' and go nuts when he actually has money to play with.[/quote']

 

Did you see that Costas interview with Beane and Brad Pitt? They said Beane wasn't so successful nowadays because everybody is doing it--including the big money teams.

Beane has got to be thinking about going to the Cubs or even the Red Sox at this point.

Oakland is a dead end for him.

 

Beane had actually taken the Red Sox job before Epstein, and then reconsidered. That could happen. He was their first choice.

[Dojji]

This is just a complete off the wall idea, but what about Curt Schilling?

 

Seriously, we might just need a guy with an ego to face down all the egos, and that's Curt's thing. And Schill was a leader on and off the field in both 04 and 07. It's a crazy idea, but there's crazier ones in this very thread (Valentine? Seriously?)

[SoxFanForsyth]

This is just a complete off the wall idea, but what about Curt Schilling?

 

Seriously, we might just need a guy with an ego to face down all the egos, and that's Curt's thing. And Schill was a leader on and off the field in both 04 and 07.

 

At least the team would have good video games to play in the clubhouse :thumbsup:

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Did you see that Costas interview with Beane and Brad Pitt? They said Beane wasn't so successful nowadays because everybody is doing it--including the big money teams.

Beane has got to be thinking about going to the Cubs or even the Red Sox at this point.

Oakland is a dead end for him.

 

Beane had actually taken the Red Sox job before Epstein, and then reconsidered. That could happen. He was their first choice.

Well yeah.

 

In retrospect, Moneyball (the book) coming out is probably the worst thing that happened to him.

[Palodios]

This is just a complete off the wall idea, but what about Curt Schilling?

 

Seriously, we might just need a guy with an ego to face down all the egos, and that's Curt's thing. And Schill was a leader on and off the field in both 04 and 07. It's a crazy idea, but there's crazier ones in this very thread (Valentine? Seriously?)

 

Honestly, I think this team is best off getting rid of as many players from 2007 as they can. Replace them with guys who are hungry. How many times have we seen the old heroes of this team go out and bitch publicly? It has happened frequently. Ortiz, Wakefield, Varitek, Papelbon, and maybe even Youkilis should go, as a changing of the guard.

 

And in that light, I think hiring Schilling as a manager may be too soon.