Tito Interview

[Cairns_Sox]

Anyone catch this yesterday?

 

http://audio.weei.com/device/mobile/a/46707100/terry-francona-speaks-publicly-with-the-big-show-for-the-first-time-since-leaving-the-red-sox.htm

 

First off, I can totally understand that as the manager he was responsible for things that he could no longer control - which in the end was his downfall. But how the hell is he still defending these players (his ex players) who decided they didn't respect him after 8 years.

 

To this day he still defends the guys that let him down and cost him his job. That's obviously just the kinda guy he is but geez it makes me furious to hear him say in a nutshell that veteran guys tuned him out. Obviously they don't respect him as much as he does them. Found it funny how he said he wouldn't have resisted the option.

[Palodios]

Anyone catch this yesterday?

 

http://audio.weei.com/device/mobile/a/46707100/terry-francona-speaks-publicly-with-the-big-show-for-the-first-time-since-leaving-the-red-sox.htm

 

First off, I can totally understand that as the manager he was responsible for things that he could no longer control - which in the end was his downfall. But how the hell is he still defending these players (his ex players) who decided they didn't respect him after 8 years.

 

To this day he still defends the guys that let him down and cost him his job. That's obviously just the kinda guy he is but geez it makes me furious to hear him say in a nutshell that veteran guys tuned him out. Obviously they don't respect him as much as he does them. Found it funny how he said he wouldn't have resisted the option.

 

I think it is admirable. This is a guy who defended his guys to the very end. Plus, if he wants another job, it is probably in his best interest to stick to his better traits.

[Cairns_Sox]

I think it is admirable. This is a guy who defended his guys to the very end. Plus' date=' if he wants another job, it is probably in his best interest to stick to his better traits.[/quote']

 

I get that and I can appreciate it. To be fair though, Ozzie didn't seem to have any trouble finding a new job and look how he handled his players. I just think the players deserve a bit more of the blame.

[Palodios]

I get that and I can appreciate it. To be fair though' date=' Ozzie didn't seem to have any trouble finding a new job and look how he handled his players. I just think the players deserve a bit more of the blame.[/quote']

 

Well, let me put it like this: If Ozzie decided he needed to calm down, and stopped doing crazy things, would he still be same kind of manager? If Tito lost his calm demeanor, he wouldn't be the same manager who won so many games.

[SoxSport]

Tito is very smooth with his words--I hope he doesn't get trapped during games at Fox--talking about the Red Sox. That could affect his ability to get another managing job. He has to be careful.

 

The Red Sox FO is a smart group--they watch the games, too. They could see Tito's game shortcomings, but they also valued his people strengths, too. The latter came into question, however, this season, with the clubhouse issues and underachieving players. When a guy's strengths become weaknesses (too lax with the players), that's when he's in trouble with the FO.

 

Tito is a "soft" manager. That's his style. Ultimately, it did not work in Boston.

[Dojji]

Ultimately it worked in Boston. 2 rings, remember?

 

However, any schtick gets old, and Francona's time had finally come.

[Reck]

How do you want him to react? Like a child?

 

The guy is a professional. Just because you're no longer with an organization doesn't mean you get to bash them and be an *******.

 

Francona handled it the right way.

[3rdManOut]

You know (with the exception of the teams performance in September) This could have gone alot worse for Tito. I think he held his head high until the end. But this is old news now. I find the comments very interesting about how maybe the players played so that Tito would get fired. However if that (could of) been the case. Wouldnt the players expect some backlash themselves for the way the team ended the season. I guess what I mean is they couldnt have been that stupid to kind of blow games, try to blame it all on the manager and expect to to walk away clean comming back next season, in the middle of their contracts or not? Its just a question.

[Gringo]

Anyone catch this yesterday?

 

http://audio.weei.com/device/mobile/a/46707100/terry-francona-speaks-publicly-with-the-big-show-for-the-first-time-since-leaving-the-red-sox.htm

 

First off, I can totally understand that as the manager he was responsible for things that he could no longer control - which in the end was his downfall. But how the hell is he still defending these players (his ex players) who decided they didn't respect him after 8 years.

 

To this day he still defends the guys that let him down and cost him his job. That's obviously just the kinda guy he is but geez it makes me furious to hear him say in a nutshell that veteran guys tuned him out. Obviously they don't respect him as much as he does them. Found it funny how he said he wouldn't have resisted the option.

 

It's his strength and weakness at the same time...the players initially liked playing for him, because he's not a whip cracker, he allows them to drink beer in the locker room, he always defends them to the press....but ultimately his easy going, "Aw Shucks" approach was seen as weak, and even his veterans were tuning him out.

 

Tito managed us to two championships, he's by far the best modern era manager we've had. He'll always be respected for what he achieved. But it's probably the right time for him to move on. But he'll be missed, nonetheless.

[Gringo]

How do you want him to react? Like a child?

 

The guy is a professional. Just because you're no longer with an organization doesn't mean you get to bash them and be an *******.

 

Francona handled it the right way.

 

Yep, class act even when he got s*** canned

[randywatson]

fantastic interview by Tito there,

 

honest, articulate, and very humble.

 

as he said in the interview, sometimes things just run their course.

 

i wish him all the best in the future, a good honest man, and for that he deserves our respect

[jacksonianmarch]

He's gonna get another job even if he goes Tom cruise level crazy. The guy has 2 rings in Boston. No other living manager can claim that.

[a700hitter]

He's gonna get another job even if he goes Tom cruise level crazy. The guy has 2 rings in Boston. No other living manager can claim that.

No dead manager could claim it either.

[VA Sox Fan]

No dead manager could claim it either.

 

 

I always have loved Tito. I admire how he still protects his former players. And I wouldn't expect anything else. Class act. Go out there and win another WS for some team. He will always be admired by (most) Red Sox fans.

 

Says a lot when he could, for the most part, handle Manny. But not the current team.

[SoxSport]

Other groups are posting Tito rumors linked with Heidi Watney and that fortune cookie on MLB.com,

Hazel Mae. The word is maybe it was a factor in Tito's firing.

 

I know Heidi was linked to Tek a year ago. I don't know about these rumors.

 

Hazel was let go from Millar's show a week ago. The cameras kept running when she threw her notes in the air at the end, and stormed off the set in her final show.

 

As I say, I don't know whether there's any substance here. I do know there's a lot of TV cuties out there

these days behind mikes at the ballparks and on the fields. Doin' what comes naturally, maybe.

[italstallianion]

I just wish that Francona would dish out the juicy gossip on the players. But that said, he's a class act and I respect him. It's a nasty world for managers/coaches, even if you're good there isn't much patience during a bad year, so there's no room for error and that's why it's called a "coaching carousel"

[SoxSport]

Ultimately it worked in Boston. 2 rings, remember?

 

However, any schtick gets old, and Francona's time had finally come.

 

The "2 rings" thing is a bit overworked. No players, no rings. The last one is 3 years old.

 

Agreed. 8 years is a long time for a manager. Maybe Epstein finally gave him a team where laissez faire didn't work.

[Reck]

 

I always have loved Tito. I admire how he still protects his former players. And I wouldn't expect anything else. Class act. Go out there and win another WS for some team. He will always be admired by (most) Red Sox fans.

 

Says a lot when he could, for the most part, handle Manny. But not the current team.

 

White Sox are looking aren't they?

 

But my vote for another WS for that hack team is a no.

[jacksonianmarch]

No dead manager could claim it either.

 

Bill Carrigan, 1915 and 1916

[La Munson]

Other groups are posting Tito rumors linked with Heidi Watney and that fortune cookie on MLB.com,

Hazel Mae. The word is maybe it was a factor in Tito's firing.

 

I know Heidi was linked to Tek a year ago. I don't know about these rumors.

 

Hazel was let go from Millar's show a week ago. The cameras kept running when she threw her notes in the air at the end, and stormed off the set in her final show.

 

As I say, I don't know whether there's any substance here. I do know there's a lot of TV cuties out there

these days behind mikes at the ballparks and on the fields. Doin' what comes naturally, maybe.

 

how did I possibly miss this when I watch Intentional Talk almost every day

[Palodios]

If I was a gorgeous 30 year old woman, I'd probably go after 50 year old bald men who sound like Elmer Fudd too.

[SoxSport]

how did I possibly miss this when I watch Intentional Talk almost every day

 

I saw it. I said to myself, what's that all about? Millar said something about good luck in Toronto. She then threw her notes up in the air, and stormed off the set. It was last Tuesday nite's show.

 

Now I hear rumors from other groups that Millar set Tito up with her. Who knows what to believe these days. If so, Tito is a lucky guy.:thumbsup:

[a700hitter]

Bill Carrigan' date=' 1915 and 1916[/quote']He's dead. How can he make the claim?

[SoxSport]

White Sox are looking aren't they?

 

But my vote for another WS for that hack team is a no.

 

Robbie Ventura is the new White Sox manager. That helps the Red Sox. He wasn't on their list.

[TedWilliams101]

I don't understand how people are calling his weakness a "good trait". The guy couldn't handle his players, that's a BIG part of the job. Letting them ignore you is NOT an option. You have to find a way to get their attention and respect, that's your job! If they still refuse to listen, then you get their ass off the team. That's how you build and control a TEAM. I'm sick of this "oh, just let them do their thing, they'll show up and get in the batters box when their name is called". Either they are part of the team and respect/listen to the manager or they are gone. Period.

 

I'm glad Tito is gone. The guy had no balls. Good riddance. Time to get someone to lay down the law.

[SCM33]

Tito should have BLASTED the players/organization that he felt created this problem.

 

Tito would have no problem finding a job regardless. He was/is a good manager and an even better human being.

 

When I quit/retire from my job, I will walk out the door with both middle fingers in the air, challenge about 10 people to a fight, then I will pack a huge lip of grizzly mint and spit on the newly waxed floors....when I get to the parking lot, I will pour gasoline on the cement and roast my tires creating a blaze of glory, with the middle fingers still saluting my former bosses.

[TedWilliams101]

This is also a big problem with me about guaranteed contracts in MLB. If a player starts acting up and no longer even becomes tradeable, you can't really just kick them off the team (money wise). I just don't understand that. You should be able to cut problem players without having to still give them $50 million for future work they aren't going to do. It's ridiculous.

 

As is now, I'm still inclined to either trade or flat out cut any and all of these problem players. I don't care if that's half the payroll, this team's identity needs to change and there needs to be 100% involvement from everyone, from the core to the expanded roster pitcher who throws 2 innings in September.

 

Back to the Tito interview: One quote that really stood out to me was this: Tito talking about the work ethic/passion of his players (Some just want to show up late, play hard, then turn it off and go home, some have immense passion, some just take it as a job, etc) he said: "the more guys who have the care, care deeply, probably the better off you are". We don't need guys who just want to show up, take their AB and go home. We need more Pedroia's. Not necessarily as intense, but guys who live for the game and have passion and respect for management. I don't have too much of a problem for the guys like Rolan who give 125% when they are with the team and perform, but the passion is what unites teams and makes the difference.

[Gringo]

Other groups are posting Tito rumors linked with Heidi Watney and that fortune cookie on MLB.com,

Hazel Mae. The word is maybe it was a factor in Tito's firing.

 

I know Heidi was linked to Tek a year ago. I don't know about these rumors.

 

Hazel was let go from Millar's show a week ago. The cameras kept running when she threw her notes in the air at the end, and stormed off the set in her final show.

 

As I say, I don't know whether there's any substance here. I do know there's a lot of TV cuties out there

these days behind mikes at the ballparks and on the fields. Doin' what comes naturally, maybe.

 

Hazel Mae has a face like a catcher's mitt. Nice body, by my God, that face is scary...

[Gringo]

This is also a big problem with me about guaranteed contracts in MLB. If a player starts acting up and no longer even becomes tradeable, you can't really just kick them off the team (money wise). I just don't understand that. You should be able to cut problem players without having to still give them $50 million for future work they aren't going to do. It's ridiculous.

 

As is now, I'm still inclined to either trade or flat out cut any and all of these problem players. I don't care if that's half the payroll, this team's identity needs to change and there needs to be 100% involvement from everyone, from the core to the expanded roster pitcher who throws 2 innings in September.

 

Back to the Tito interview: One quote that really stood out to me was this: Tito talking about the work ethic/passion of his players (Some just want to show up late, play hard, then turn it off and go home, some have immense passion, some just take it as a job, etc) he said: "the more guys who have the care, care deeply, probably the better off you are". We don't need guys who just want to show up, take their AB and go home. We need more Pedroia's. Not necessarily as intense, but guys who live for the game and have passion and respect for management. I don't have too much of a problem for the guys like Rolan who give 125% when they are with the team and perform, but the passion is what unites teams and makes the difference.

 

That could be a subtle dig at players like JD Drew, and maybe even Beckett.

[SoxSport]

Abraham said yesterday at the Globe that Tito has some "personal issues" that also entered into the manager decision. The rumors are those issues related to Watney and Mae.

 

In another article about the next manager, Abraham wants each candidate available to the media when they come to town for an interview. He says they shouldn't hire a candidate who "can't deal with the media."

 

I think Abraham is overstepping a bit here. The media isn't doing the hiring.