It's Time for Terry Francona to Go

[joeybee12]

The worst collapse in baseball history has opened the door wide open for the Red Sox to dump manager Terry Francona.

Francona, affectionately known as "Tito," was unable to motivate his players to finish September strong and allowed his team to finish off the season with a horrendous 7-20 record -- causing the Red Sox to lose the Wild Card on the last day to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Francona's beloved by most Sox fans for leading the team to two World Series titles within the last decade, but the magic is gone and now it's time for Francona to seek employment elsewhere.

Once upon a time Francona made positive history when he led the Red Sox out of a three game hole in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees. There was something special about those Red Sox -- you knew the team would be working hard and having fun doing it.

But the lifeless, listless performance by the team in the month of September suggests Francona just might not have it anymore, at least not for this Boston team. Perhaps Francona could benefit from a year off or a change of scenery to get those creative juices flowing again.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/221974/20110929/terry-francona-boston-red-sox-theo-epstein.htm

Problem is, not many people are saying this...he is the problem behind all this and the sooner gone, the better. My bet? They keep him and waste next season until it sinks in that he's finished.

[El Supremo]

1. Aaron Boone visited the Boston dugout before the game?

Aaron Fucking Boone??? They let him???

[MaineDem]

2. Should have brought Bucky F'in Dent in too.

Sheesh!

[El Supremo]

18. Now they have...

Robert Fucking Andino to add to the list.

[MaineDem]

23. The Boston tv guys were saying in the ninth "We do not want Andino coming to the plate."

They were right!

[WilliamPitt]

3. I disagree.

I think it would be wise for all of us - and upper team management especially - to let the swelling go down a bit before making rash personnel changes. Tito had a bad month, along with just about every player on the team. Two rings and several playoff appearances, in my mind, buys a lot of forgiveness.

[joeybee12]

4. See me next September when they don't make the playoffs again...

He has no control over the team and hasn't since 2009...great he won 2, but he needs to go...deniers like you (and there are many) are going to let the bleeding continue at least one more year.

[WilliamPitt]

9. Well...

Starting pitchers ERA for September: 7.08

Bard ERA in September: 10.60

Lackey in September: too grisly to repeat

Lester and Beckett in their last four starts: terrible

If that happens next September, I'll be here saying you can't blame Tito for bad pitching and injuries.

[joeybee12]

10. It's all about focus...there is a laisez-faire attitude in the clubhouse...

Thats' why guys are thrown out at the plate, why balls aren't caught by guys getting paid $142 million...and why is the pitching so bad? It's not injuries to those guys, it's mental toughness...you're proving my point...that's a manager's job to keep his team focused and ready to play...that is really the ONLY job a manager has to do...Francona can't do it anymore.

[bigwillq]

7. Does HE want to be there still?

Didn't seem like Tito did this last month. Isn't his contract up this year? I think he walks (on his own).

[joeybee12]

12. Sort of up...two one-year options left...

Only activating one would be sort of a sign they just don't think he has it, so they might as well either do both or none.

[bigwillq]

25. Yea, knew about the options

which is why I think he walks.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. "...let the swelling go down..."

Your best piece of prose, ever.

tip-o-the-hat

[MaineDem]

17. Yup!

Give it time.

Pitching sucked. Offense sucked at times. Many ways to point fingers. Let's see what the presser at 4pm today shows.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. This is an article that sums up last night - and the season - perfectly.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7033950/a-running-diary-game-162

Bill Simmons' diary of "the game". Great Stuff (the article, not the result). Had trouble sleeping after that mess.

[joeybee12]

6. And this quote sums up why Francona needs to go...

Their body language grew progressively worse as the month dragged on, with their manager seeming more hopeless and desperate than anyone.

[NRaleighLiberal]

14. Yes - for a team of high priced veterans, they played not to lose, instead of to win.

All season long they looked like a team that could not deal at all with any sort of adversity - definition of mailing it in.

Let the housecleaning begin!

[trumad]

16. The guy is a great writer.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. twas a fun read, wasn't it! Even took away a bit of the pain (some good use of irony and humor!)

Then again, I think most Red Sox fans are quite cynical and realistic. Knowing this team for a long time will do that to you!

[Kingofalldems]

8. They had a bunch of tired arms the entire month

Even if the Sox had gotten in to the playoffs, they were doomed from the start.

[joeybee12]

11. True, but if they at least amde it toa one-game playoff the news today

would not be about the historic collapse...playing TB for one more game would have mitigated that coverage.

[Kingofalldems]

22. On MLB radio (Sirius) they were hinting that Lackey

and others were 'not good teammates'. True?

[NRaleighLiberal]

15. Tired arms are one thing - all of the tactical blunders and mental errors are another.

Leadership issue - as well as chemistry issue - underlying the injuries and fatigue.

[Iggo]

19. Best manager they've had in almost 90 years.

Yeah, kick him to the curb!

:rofl:

[NRaleighLiberal]

21. He was great for his time, but you can't fire the whole team - he lost control this year.

He seems to be a wonderful fellow - but that's not what he's getting paid to be!

[bluedigger]

24. Said it before and I'll say it again - John Farrell.

They never should have let him get away.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. I nominate Bucky Dent.

:woohoo:

[MaineDem]

27. That's not his FULL name.

:evilgrin:

And you've got to be kidding!

I read tonight from NESN (Red Sox tv) that Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine are being considered.