Francona's take
Red Sox manager Terry Francona touched on a variety of topics during his weekly conversation with the "Dale and Holley Show" on sports radio station WEEI this afternoon, revisiting some of the crucial moments of the Sox' loss to the Rays in the ALCS and offering insight as to what the future might hold for players such as David Ortiz and Justin Masterson. To read this entire post, please click the "full entry" link:
On how he's feeling physically:
"Not like a spring chicken. I feel like we just played about 180 baseball games, and each one of them were tension-filled. It's that way almost at the end of every year. You just collapse, and [never] more so than this year."
On whether he'll watch tonight's World Series opener between the Rays and Phillies:
"No. Sometimes the disappointment is so . . . you get so disappointed. I have a lot of friends in Philly that I'm happy for, but I don't know how interested I can actually be at these games. I know I'll probably watch some of it, but there's no way I can sit there and watch the whole thing. It hurts."
On whether losing Game 7 is more painful than being eliminated earlier in a series:
"Losing hurts, regardless of how. Sometimes the way you lose, it can be a little more emotional. The way we won, certainly, in Game 5 was a little more emotional. Then you come back and win Game 6, and you give yourself a chance, a realistic chance, to move on, and then you lose, sure, it hurts. And digesting that is tough, but I don't know if there's any way to get around it. When you lose, you lose. It hurts, any way you go about it."
On whether he second-guesses any of his decisions:
"Ah, I don't know . . . we try to think things through so much beforehand. I'm probably pretty tough on myself, but I also like to think I'm prepared enough . . . in this game, when you lose, especially in baseball, everybody knows more than the manager. And when you lose, you're wrong. But again, we prepare pretty significantly, and we do what we think is right. But when we lose . . . sometimes I beat myself up."
On Josh Beckett's performance in Game 6:
"I don't know if I can [put it into perspective]. He was beat up probably in a lot of different ways. He was coming back from a lot of timeouts this year -- the shoulder, the oblique, it started at the beginning of the season with his back. There were a lot of interruptions. And he was really beat up. Everybody knew what he was featuring out on the mound. But there's such a belief [in Beckett]. If I got defensive a little bit on Game 2, it was just because of who it was. When we scored those runs [to take the lead in the fifth inning], I fully expected him to go out and figure out a way to get them out. And maybe sometimes my belief in these guys is too much. But I'm not sure I really want to apologize for that."
On the tired state of the pitching staff at the end of the series:
"To get to where we wanted to go was tough, and I thought it was tough on Tampa, too. I mean, there's no way to describe the way that kid [David Price] bailed them out in the last game. They were obviously a little hesitant to go to [Grant] Balfour. and [Dan[ Wheeler and the lefty [J.P. Howell], they had asked a lot of them, and it was starting to show. Same thing happened to us. We dipped into our bullpen a lot. [Hideki] Okajima and [Justin] Masterson were doing a phenomenal job."
On the comeback from a late seven-run deficit in Game 5:
"I don't know how to describe that. We were going quietly, and then, bam. We have a rare ability to do things like that. I don't know if I've ever seen a place like Boston or like the Red Sox where you have Fenway Park and the zaniness of that crowd and the talent of those player to pull off something like that."
On the struggles of David Ortiz and Jason Varitek:
"Well, I think it's been chronicled what David's gone through this year [in terms of injuries]. He missed probably 45 days with the wrist injury. He came back and I think handled things like it was expected. Maybe it wasn't his best year, but he came back and was a huge presence in the middle of our order, and only missed a couple of games when he felt like he needed time off. So I think we'll be okay there. David was actually in [Fenway] today working out, which was not a surprise. He'll be ready and the time off will do him a world of good. You know, Tek, it was tough for him a lot this year, especially lefthanded. It was difficult. He means so much to us, and offensively there were a lot of difficulties this year . . . and again, I felt we were better off with him catching than a lot of other teams in the league, but it was tough. We actually moved him to the ninth spot in the order, we ended up pinch hitting for him in the playoffs, it was tough sometimes . . . [Telling him we were pinch hitting for him] wasn't really something I enjoyed. I don't know if there's a player in that locker room that I respect more than Tek, and he deserves that. At the same time, when I have to have a discussion with a player, rather than go through the media, I called him in to talk about it, and we actually did it a couple of times. It's tough. You get to where you rely on people, and what I didn't want him doing was looking over his shoulder, because I didn't think that would help us win. So you're kind of fighting a double-edged sword there."
On how much the Sox missed the injured Mike Lowell in the ALCS:
"[That probably hurt us in terms of flexibility] more. I mean, Youkilis did a phenomenal job at third, and I thought [Mark] Kotsay did a great job [at first], and he swung the bat better than his stats will show in the playoffs. But again, our bench wasn't what it could have been in Lowell was here. But you know, that's the way the game goes. You play to the end, and if you're good enough, you're good enough. We were good enough to beat the Angels. We weren't good enough to beat Tampa."
On whether David Ortiz's skills have begun to decline:
"There's a normal progression as guys age, and David certainly set the bar high a couple of years ago, but I do think that with a renewed offseason program and some general health in his wrist, he can be a huge presence in the middle of our order. He still was this year,. even when things weren't going perfect . . . You saw it in Game 5. You make a mistake, and with one swing, he can get you right back into the game with one swing. He has that ability . . . It's going to be important for his offseason program to be extensive. He'll do that."
On whether Justin Masterson's immediate future is as a starter or a reliever:
"He can probably do whatever the organization needs. I think there are differing opinions. I probably lean more towards keeping his impact in the bullpen. I think if you talk to John Farrell, he thinks he can go either way and impact the team. I think when you talk to the front office, they'd say, 'What pitching is available?' [and that may determine how] he can impact the team. I think the good news is, wherever we pitch him, he's probably going to get outs."
On Jon Lester's increased workload this season:
"That's certainly something we need to be cognizant of because of all the struggles he went through physically last year, and then he was so healthy this year and so good that his innings jumped up significantly. We need to be aware of that. Saying that, I do think he's one guy who can handle it. He stays in his delivery, he's strong, he has no arm problems . . . We're excited about his future, but his innings did jump, so we need to be aware of it."
Great job by Tito. A class manager
As miffed as I get at Tito for some of the things he does in games, there is no better manager in MLB, period. Just listen to him talk, or read his words, and you can see the incredible amount of pressure his job in Boston brings. Hope he gets healthy and they fix his back up for him - the Sox need him as skipper.
I can't think of a manager in the majors that I respect more now, or a Sox manager that I like and respect ever more than Terry Francona. Some say Sciosa of the Angels is better, or Maddon because of what he did the Rays this year. I like Leyland (Tigers), and respect Torre (Dodgers). And, as for past Sox managers, well, did any of them, aside from Tito, win a Series since 1918? And Tito has won 2 in just 4 years! The pundits and so-called experts can keep Sciosa, Maddon, and the rest - give me Tito any day! He's a Manager of the Year candidate every year, in my book. I just hope his health holds out - managing the Sox is a pressure cooker for anyone! But, if his health starts to go, I hope he has enough sense to get out - I'd rather have him healthy and not managing the Sox, than putting his health at risk. I like and respont the man that much. THANKS FOR ANOTHER INCREDIBLE YEAR, TERRY! SEE YOU IN '09!
Please get rid of Varitek. He is absolute garbage. He played horrible all series. He cannot hit to save his life, he can't make good contact. C'mon he struck out in a pitch in the dirt. Just like many times this year he would have a guy on 3rd with no or one out and he wouldn't make enough contact to drive them home on a sac fly. He batted plus than .050 in the ALCS! He cannot hit anymore and he cannot throw batters out, he showed it many times this year that he does not have the arm. We need to acquire some catcher than can do better than V-Tek as much as he has done for us in the past.
Just a note of thanks to the Globe's Sox staff for providing so much to read and consider this season. With a bowl of cereal and some coffee, it made my mornings more often than not.
You guys and gals are great and I appreciate it.
PdR
Having been a Sox fan for more then 70 years it was dissapointing to see them loose the last game. But bear in mind Sox fans there is always next year.
G. Chassey
West Columbia, SC
Terry you are the Best! We are so thrilled you are on our team!
Red Sox Nation!
On whether it would have been worth keeping Manny Ramirez happy for another four years just to get another (yawn) World Series ring. .. .
Terry, you took a team with a lot of holes in the pen and line up to game 7 against the best team in the AL this year. A few breaks and you bring your team back to the 3rd series in 5 years. You did it with injuries to key players, a spoiled brat player that the Globe Sports writers still pine for quitting like a punk, no bench players worth a damn and a pen with no reliable 7th and 8th inning guys until the end. Hell, you had to pitch a guy who started in AA ball this season to get to Papelbon.
Hell of a job.
I agree with PdR! Thanks, Boston Globe, for recognizing and doing your best to satisfy the insatiable needs of Red Sox fans.
Tito, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are a class act and a great baseball mind. Would that there could be more bosses with your management style. Few understand that respect is a two-way street. Rest up, Tito. We're playing until November next year!
I am proud to support the Red Sox. Considering the season loss of Schilling and the parade of injuries to key players, the team exceeded my expectations. This is a testament to the depth and character of this team and manager.
Wishing you a pleasurable off-season.
Terry Francona should retire from the Sox.....only to become the next Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives!! OK, so that's not going to happen....but that's the only job where he could more positively impact the lives of Mass residents! Terry, you are a great leader, and Red Sox Nation is lucky to have you as our field general. Our political "leaders" should take their cue from you.....respect for your position, respect for your staff and respect for the people who provide you with your livelihood. Thanks for your great example.....heal well this offseason.
Glad to see you guys lose. Couldn't take another Red Sox pennant or world series championship. The Yankees will rise again and the Curse of the Manny has begun!
Terry Francona! Thank you for the wonderful leadership and professionalism you bring to the Red Sox and the the Boston sports scene. The last five years have been the best of my fifry years of attending and follwing "our" baseball team. Get yourself and your team healthy and see you Ft. Myers. "In Tito We Trust".
They don't come any better than Tito......Get yourself and your team healthy and come back for another run........Great job!!!!!!!!
You can see why guys like playing for Francona (OK, except for one, but there may not be anybody who can penetrate that mental minefield between Mr. Ramirez's ears) and at the pro level, the athletes have to respect their coach/manager and have to want to play for him. Francona is a class act and the Sox and Sox fans are lucky to have him. Hope he gets well soon.
Tito, you did a great job with a team that had its challenges. Both the Rays and the Red Sox played their best with what they had - and the better team edged a great team. No huge mistakes were made and the ALCS was a classic thriller.
Thanks for a great season. We look forward to a continued strong club in the coming seasons.
And Ron the Yankees fan, you're the epitome of what Yankees fans have become in baseball - a classic dope that has no clue. One day your team may rise and again be contenders. You have the curse of A-Rod to contend with - good luck with that!
Tito loves his players - he's the kind of person I'd like to work for in any walk of life. He is one of, if not the best manager in MLB. You cannot second guess him or Theo. These guys are committed to bring home a contender year in - year out. Yes, it was very disappointing to lose game 7, but Tampa was the better team. We're a starter, a reliever (or two) and a big bat away from another World Series title. They should have the money to spend to make that happen. The off season will be exciting.
Tito,
Baseball is the greatest game on earth and to have you a part of it makes it extra special - for who you are and what you stand for, not the choices you have to make as a manager.
Only ALCS thoughts... yes, game 2 pitching decisions with Beckett and game 7 hitting decisions with Pedie ...'bunt' the ball with 2 on and nobody out.
Anyway, thank you for everything you do. Enjoy your family and your time off!
Great season Tito get well soon!!
To be honest if everyone comes back healthy, of course healthy being the key word, the Sox should be just fine a lineup of Jacoby, Pedey, Papi, Youk, Drew, Lowell, Bay, Lowrie, Tek is not that bad. Maybe built the bench more and of course you can never have enough pitching and they should be set.
Go Sox 09
Francona did a lousy job this year with the pitching staff and Jason Varitek. All year long and in the playoffs, when the game was on the line, he let Varitek bat. Huge mistake. Francona really screwed up game 2 against Tampa by letting Beckett continue to pitch when he was getting hammered. And he made the same mistake with his pitchers all year long. Nevertheless, Francona is a class act and a good guy and I will always be indebted to him for '04 and '07 (a little better managing and I could have added '08 to the list).
BOL Terry, get rested, next year will last until November. HOF manager.
Ronny Boy,
Your Yanks will be lucky if they finish in 5th place next year behind Baltimore. Hey that's last place in the AL East.
...get use to it.
The Yankees are such a non-factor to Red Sox Nation at this point.
Nice to see Francona get the recognition and compliments received here. Too often this and even last season, an awful lot of inappropriate comments were made about the Manager. I have not seen anyone, other than Dick Williams and Joe Morgan, even though having very different styles, who even warranted a comparison to Terry "Tito" Francona.
The best the Sox 2008 is on TV thanks to NESC
Francona will have to live with the inexplicable decision to leave Beckett in so long in game 2 of the ALCS. There is no explaination he can give me that justifies that move.
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