I think a lot of people would compare that aspect of Francona's job to be just as irrelevant as Varitek's "intangibles" believing that the only important part of the manager's job is to be a good on-field tactician
Beckett finishes the regular season with 19.5 wins. Under
Bay finishes the regular season with 129.5 RBI. Over
Ellsbury finishes the regular season with 69.5 stolen bases. Under
Ortiz finishes the regular season with a .250 AVG. Over
Lowell finishes the regular season with 119.5 games played. Under
Lowrie finishes the regular season with 59.5 games played. Over
Smoltz finishes the regular season with 6.5 wins. Over
normally I look for every opportunity to use this...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cdnmarty/gladiatorban.jpg
but I like a700 and I'd like him to stay
Red Sox --
Drew RF
Pedroia 2B
Youkilis 3B
Bay LF
Ortiz DH
Varitek C
Ellsbury CF
Green SS
Bates 1B
Beckett P
A's --
Kennedy 2B
Cabrera SS
Hairston CF
Holliday LF
Giambi 1B
Suzuki C
Cust DH
Sweeney RF
Ellis 2B
Eveland P
For the record, the Sox were supposed to be facing Dallas Braden tonight but he returned home yesterday to be with his grandmother, who suffered a heart attack
I wanna know what kind of post-departure "character assassination" hasn't been justified because as far as I know, the same things were being said about said players while they were still in uniform. Francona reprimanding Petey for leaving the ballpark early after his first start in '04 came out long before he signed with the Mets for example.