Francona: The Red Sox Years

[Divinity]

Francona just released a book on Tuesday.

 

"It's essentially a biography of Francona with an emphasis on his time with the Sox. Along the way you will learn how difficult it was to manage Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez. You'll hear about the time David Wells threatened to punch the manager.

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka was a diva and the end of Nomar Garciaparra's tenure in Boston was difficult. No surprises there. But even a few selfish moments from David Ortiz are detailed.

 

Reading the book will give you a new-found appreciation for Francona and all the personalities he had to contend with."

 

Anyone plan on giving it a read?

 

http://bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2013/01/22/book-review-francona-the-red-sox-years-terry-francona-and-dan-shaughnessy/e9Idw1ShtCp7FVG9WGO4pL/story.html

[Northern Star]

 

Reading the book will give you a new-found appreciation for Francona and all the personalities he had to contend with."

 

 

Or a new-found dislike for publishing a tell-all. I feel like those kinds of books should either be done by a third party, or at least after much more time has passed. Torre couldn't wait to get his jab in with The Yankees Years.

 

Then there's the thought that maybe what happens in the clubhouse should stay in the clubhouse.

[dupree]

What happens in the clubhouse should stay in the club house!

 

I hope this book is a complete bust and ruins Francona's credibility. If it was that bad he should of got out a long time ago. Books like this is a shame and the people who write them are pathetic and are only trying to get the outside world to say "oh how bad and hard he had it", and try to get people to go against their forner club who made him the name he is today. Which is total disrespect and should be thanking the Boston Red Sox for the man he has become and the life they have given him and the honor to be the manger who was on the club in 2004 that brought the title back to Bean Town and what does he do he smears the good name of the franchise and the players so people feels sorry for him. Which in my opinion is wrong and is what is wrong with social media today in this country and which has made most of the games great figures in this sport into complete cowards and lost their sense of where they come from.

 

I had a lot of respect for Francona before this book but now all it shows is his BITCH-ASSED-NESS and that all he is out for is to make a buck.

[mvp 78]

Don't care. That clubhouse died last year. Time to start anew. The book doesn't bother me in the least thanks to the mudslinging the FO did after he was fired.

[VA Sox Fan]

Don't care. That clubhouse died last year. Time to start anew. The book doesn't bother me in the least thanks to the mudslinging the FO did after he was fired.

 

Yeah, exactly. The FO can go fk themselves for thowing him under the bus after he left. No way did he deserved that.

[Softlaw]

Tito was paid about 10 million and produced zero playoff wins and one playoff team in his last 3 years. All he does is blame his failures on ownership. Patheitc, frankly, and I was not a Tito basher during the last 3 disaster years of his tenure.

 

If Duquette hadn't set the table, Tito would produce about as bad as he'll be with the Guardians. He will be fired after a very short tenure with the Guardians. The first year will allow him the "youth" excuse. The following year will test the patience of the Guardians. The third year they will have had enough of this guy who takes L and R in a batting order without regard to recent splits history and fails to move runners up in situations where percentages scream for it because he believes in swinging away almost every time. His players will not be in shape, nor will they show up ready for hard work. He tries to be a sugar daddy to get players to perform. Manny was a hard worker, which the public doesn't know. It was Schilling and the combination of Manny and Ortiz that was the reason for reaching critical mass on championships, not Tito. Great managers, like LaRussa, can win with different organizations.

 

Farrell is an improvement, but the Red Sox have never even attempted to replace a large fraction of what Manny brought to the table and Ortiz is washed up as a full season producer. Middlebrooks is a solid 5 or 6 hitter, but the Red Sox are truly a joke in 3 and 4 lineup spots in a ballpark that requires elite hitting to be proficient in the 81 games in Fenway. Most teams are going to hit in Fenway, so in 2/3 or moe of these game the roster consturction must be able to out produce other teams, against visiting good pitching. Not the case, for 2013.

[redsoxrules]

Tito produced 2 WS titles idiot

Something no Manager has done in Boston in a million years

[Softlaw]

Wrong, mental midget, GM's construct the players who included Manny and Schilling who lead the players in production and provide the difference. Tito spitting in the dugout was exposed when those great players aged out and Tito was an embarrassment in a loser clubhouse eating fried chicken, playiing video games and drinking beer and winning zero playoff wins, for the last 3 yeras, and not getting in the playoffs at all for 2 of the last 3 yeras.

 

We'll see what Tito produces in Cleveland, with his spitting magic.

[mvp 78]

Go away.

[MANNYHOF24]

Just finished the book, loved it. Reading the chapters from 04 to 08 made me so nostalgic for good baseball.

[ibot2much]

Three excerpts have been in the GLOBE the past three days. You might find them on-line.

[seabeachfred]

Wrong, mental midget, GM's construct the players who included Manny and Schilling who lead the players in production and provide the difference. Tito spitting in the dugout was exposed when those great players aged out and Tito was an embarrassment in a loser clubhouse eating fried chicken, playiing video games and drinking beer and winning zero playoff wins, for the last 3 yeras, and not getting in the playoffs at all for 2 of the last 3 yeras.

 

We'll see what Tito produces in Cleveland, with his spitting magic.

 

Softlaw, you have to keep in mind that this board has members who seemingly support the front office in just about anything it does, but you also have to understand that whether it was Tito or not, he did bring home two World Series Champions. I happen to think as you do as far as the strategy part is concerned. He left a lot to be desired there, refusing to move runners, hardly ever bunting, playing his station-to-station dullsville game that usually resulted in our leading the league in rally killing double plays. Yet in his own way her served his purpose because he kept the pressure off his players, kept the press at bay and away from the team, ran a good clubhouse and took bullets for his players. In a city like Boston that cannot be taken lightly.

 

I also think he will fail in Cleveland just as he did in Philadelphia. You give Tito a solid team and he will do just fine and that also is not just a wasted canard. Some managers actually screw up good teams. Francona won't do that with a real good team, but he will not make an average team better either because his very philosphy to is wait to see things happen and not to force them to. Notice during the last four years how when he went against Joe Madden of the Rays how the Tampa Bay skipper ran rings around him.

[soxfan17881]

I just finished the book the other day. Not nearly as nasty as some news reports would lead you to believe. It didn't really have anything earth shattering that wasn't already known, such as the owners became more ratings/dollar oriented over the course of the second half of Francona's tenure. Also, Manny comes off and mentally ill - again, no news there.

[soxfan17881]

Wrong, mental midget, GM's construct the players who included Manny and Schilling who lead the players in production and provide the difference. Tito spitting in the dugout was exposed when those great players aged out and Tito was an embarrassment in a loser clubhouse eating fried chicken, playiing video games and drinking beer and winning zero playoff wins, for the last 3 yeras, and not getting in the playoffs at all for 2 of the last 3 yeras.

 

Utter nonsense. Same ridiculous nonsense we heard from certain folks when Joe Torre lest the Yankees.

[seabeachfred]

Utter nonsense. Same ridiculous nonsense we heard from certain folks when Joe Torre lest the Yankees.

 

Soxfan, here's one for you. If Francona had won one more World Series with the Red Sox he would have been a serious candidate for the Hall of Fame IMO. If he pulls one off in Cleveland he could still make it. That doesn't change my opinion of him as a manager. Handling players, running the clubhouse, taking the bullet for his players and keeping the pressure and press off his players, there he was an excellent manager. As a field manager, not so good. Again that is my opinion.

[DocHolliday]

Just finished the book, loved it. Reading the chapters from 04 to 08 made me so nostalgic for good baseball.

 

My thoughts exactly. Hopefully we can all enjoy some semblance of the baseball we became spoiled with during that time period in the near future.

 

The book was a great read and, despite the mudslinging at ownership, highlights a misguided period following a period of great success.

 

At the end of the day, the organization still has a lot to prove before the majority of us will give them the benefit of the doubt they received during the 04-08 period.

[seabeachfred]

My thoughts exactly. Hopefully we can all enjoy some semblance of the baseball we became spoiled with during that time period in the near future.

 

The book was a great read and, despite the mudslinging at ownership, highlights a misguided period following a period of great success.

 

At the end of the day, the organization still has a lot to prove before the majority of us will give them the benefit of the doubt they received during the 04-08 period.

 

Some of our Red Sox colleague fans think some of us are spoiled and are asking for too much from the organization, but I think just the opposite. With arguably the most rabid fans in baseball ( not arguably with me, but others), I think we at the very least expect the team to compete for something of value every season whether it is a division title, the ALCS or the WS. What we got last season was a pile of Confederate money. You are right....the majority of us will not give the front office the benefit of the doubt until they restore the team to what it is supposed to be---a yearly perennial contender.

 

As for the book, I am starting in on the year 2010 and we all know that wasn't a great year at all. I don't blame Francona for throwing some darts at the ownership. Wasn't it Lucchino and Company who threw Tito under the bus when he left? Turnabout is fair play. However, reading the book through 2009 there was no mea culpa for the disastrous decisions Theo and Tito fastened on the team, espcially in the starting rotation during those two crucial series with the Yankees in August. Those miserable decisions were never even mentioned.

[SoxSport]

I still have to chuckle about the "medical" decision to bench Crawford in the middle of a Yankee series in NY last year.

Apparently, a "rest" for the poor guy was deemed necessary every 3rd or 4th day--regardless of when that occurred.

The manager had no say in the matter. It was the "medical staff." Probably that head trainer. Is he still with the club?

You got to figure the problems are at the top.

[DocHolliday]

Some of our Red Sox colleague fans think some of us are spoiled and are asking for too much from the organization, but I think just the opposite. With arguably the most rabid fans in baseball ( not arguably with me, but others), I think we at the very least expect the team to compete for something of value every season whether it is a division title, the ALCS or the WS. What we got last season was a pile of Confederate money. You are right....the majority of us will not give the front office the benefit of the doubt until they restore the team to what it is supposed to be---a yearly perennial contender.

 

As for the book, I am starting in on the year 2010 and we all know that wasn't a great year at all. I don't blame Francona for throwing some darts at the ownership. Wasn't it Lucchino and Company who threw Tito under the bus when he left? Turnabout is fair play. However, reading the book through 2009 there was no mea culpa for the disastrous decisions Theo and Tito fastened on the team, espcially in the starting rotation during those two crucial series with the Yankees in August. Those miserable decisions were never even mentioned.

 

I agree with your thoughts on fan expectations. To me, the fans are the main shareholders of the organization and are the driving force behind the $ the sport is generating. The "ownership" of the Red Sox is, in my opinion, more or less a stewardship or management group that is responsible for overseeing the desires of the true owners - the fans. Fans are the driving force behind TV revenue, ticket sales, and virtually all sources of revenue that flow into the organization. And, like you mentioned, many of us feel the organization has not followed through with our support in the past few seasons by providing what we desire, a return on our investment - winning baseball teams. On top of this, the off the field drama and missteps of the organization have made many of us look like foolish investors wasting our money on a failing stock (especially when compared to other organizations who have accomplished far more with far less support and resources).

 

As far as the book is concerned, I agree that there were many missteps left out of the book, probably due to the flow of the story and limited space to devote to ALL of the issues that went on behind the scenes.

 

Fact is, there have been many miserable decisions over the years. But, as has been discussed ad nauseum across many mediums, the miserable decisions have become commonplace and, from a shareholder's perspective, unacceptable in the last 3 seasons.

 

The stewards built up a massive pile of goodwill with the majority of the fans during their first 8 years and pissed a lot of it away over the last 3 years. Until they get back to proving that they are capable of properly handling the support that loyal fans will continue to give them, they will remain targets to increasing scrutiny.

[seabeachfred]

I agree with your thoughts on fan expectations. To me, the fans are the main shareholders of the organization and are the driving force behind the $ the sport is generating. The "ownership" of the Red Sox is, in my opinion, more or less a stewardship or management group that is responsible for overseeing the desires of the true owners - the fans. Fans are the driving force behind TV revenue, ticket sales, and virtually all sources of revenue that flow into the organization. And, like you mentioned, many of us feel the organization has not followed through with our support in the past few seasons by providing what we desire, a return on our investment - winning baseball teams. On top of this, the off the field drama and missteps of the organization have made many of us look like foolish investors wasting our money on a failing stock (especially when compared to other organizations who have accomplished far more with far less support and resources).

 

As far as the book is concerned, I agree that there were many missteps left out of the book, probably due to the flow of the story and limited space to devote to ALL of the issues that went on behind the scenes.

 

Fact is, there have been many miserable decisions over the years. But, as has been discussed ad nauseum across many mediums, the miserable decisions have become commonplace and, from a shareholder's perspective, unacceptable in the last 3 seasons.

 

The stewards built up a massive pile of goodwill with the majority of the fans during their first 8 years and pissed a lot of it away over the last 3 years. Until they get back to proving that they are capable of properly handling the support that loyal fans will continue to give them, they will remain targets to increasing scrutiny.

 

Doc---You or I or Sox Sport, 700 Hitter, Jung or anyone who has taken a critical look at the front office's machinizations should be guilty of heresy towards our team. Just the opposite in my opinion. Red Sox fans live and die with their team and now with the pink hats and fair weather bandwagon fans now in exile or hopefully with another team, real Sox fans are chomping at the bit in hopes of regaining our balance and starting to win games in bunches again. You know, I don't even mind if they say we have to rebuild some; I would be satisfied with that if we could get some consitent talk coming from the front office but all I hear is dissonant nonsense like Werner and his worry over TV ratings, Lucchino with his constant meddling and worrying about the Red Sox brand for marketing and promotional schemes, and Henry who spends as much time with his soccer team in England and his other endeavors and has been AWOL for the disasters that have hit our team the past three seasons. To me that is no way to run a team.

 

What the hell happend to just going out there and a commitment to winning? I think a winning team would take care of the TV ratings and promotions, sales and marketing. I had to laugh when Werner said in the book that the ratings were down in 2010 because we didn't have sexy players. We were crappy that season and that's why the ratings were down. That, plus the plethora of injuries, most of which were misdiagnosed by our incomeptent medical staff. Give us a team that competes and the TV rating will go up, the sales of Red Sox gear will accelerate, and many of the fans will not have to walk the floor at night mumbling and asking themselves what's wrong with our team.

:(:(:(:(:(

[Behindenemylines]

Or a new-found dislike for publishing a tell-all. I feel like those kinds of books should either be done by a third party, or at least after much more time has passed. Torre couldn't wait to get his jab in with The Yankees Years.

 

Then there's the thought that maybe what happens in the clubhouse should stay in the clubhouse.

 

The book could effect his relationship with current players on the Guardians. I think a lot of ball players take the if it happens in the club house it stays in the club house very seriously.

[IRON HORSE]

I'm about to dive into this book. I bought it the very first release date but I have had strep throat for the past two weeks. Spring training is just around the corner! How exciting!