Francona on . . .
Terry Francona had his weekly chat with "The Dale and Holley Show" on sports radio WEEI this afternoon. While the Red Sox manager didn't reveal much regarding his plans for the ALCS, here are a few of his noteworthy comments, quotes, and observations on the day after the Red Sox eliminated the Angels in the ALDS:
On why he removed Jon Lester from the game after seven shutout innings:
"When he came off the mound [after the seventh inning], he was done. He knew he was done. And [pitching coach] John Farrell asked him something about, 'What do you have left?,' and [Jon] said something about, 'I think I can go out." But he was already done, we already had [Hideki Okajima] in the game. I had told Jon the minute he looked up at the sky [after retiring the final batter of the seventh inning] that 'Okie is in the game.' There's no way we're going to make a mistake like that [sending a pitcher back out after thinking his work was done]"
On whether Lester knew the pitch count ahead of time:
"Oh, of course not. That's be stupid. I'm mean, how do we know? We don't know ourselves. That pitch count has gotten a life of its own. There are so many more things that go into it: The score of the game, who's available in the bullpen, who we're facing, there's a lot of things that go into it. The pitch count meant very little last night."
On Jonathan Papelbon's status for Game 4 after throwing 31 pitches in Game 3:
"Oh, Pap [would] have had an inning in him. And I'm sure K-Rod did too."
On when the Sox might need a fourth starter in the ALCS:
"It looks to me, at first blush, that Game 4 will probably be the game you need that guy. It looks like [the starters] for Games 1, 2, and 3 [of the ALCS] can be the guys for [Games] 5, 6, and 7, which means we'll need another starter for [Game 4]. But . . . those are things I'll need to talk through, and once we talk through them, then we'll talk to the pitchers and see how it's best to get them where we need to be."
On whether the Sox will add another pitcher to the roster for the seven-game ALCS:
"I think it's likely. We'll at least talk about it. You have to protect yourself in case things happen, and we've done that in the past."
On Dustin Pedroia's 0-for-15 start in the ALDS:
"Well, I always think [Dustin's] going to get a hit. But that's just the way the game goes. I don't know how many times I was asked, 'Are you going to move him out of the 2-hole?' Nooo. Sometimes guys just don't get hits."
On playing at Tropicana Field, a dome with some unusual ground rules:
"You know, that part doesn't bother me. But I hope that catwalk [in center field] doesn't come into play. But if it does come into play, let me say, I hope it helps us . . . But that ballpark doesn't bother me as much as it bothers other people. The dugout is good, you can see the game. They've got a great clubhouse. The game doesn't get played differently besides those catwalks, and again, hopefully they don't come into play."
I like Francona, but assuming that the transcript is accurate, he contradicts himself on why Lester was taken out of the game. He says Lester "knew he was done," but then suggests that Lester told Farrell: "I think I can go out" -- not out of the game, but back out for another inning. In addition, how can you conclude that a pitcher's ready to be taken out of the game just from him looking up at the sky, if you haven't already planned for the pitcher's exit beforehand? From what I saw, Lester was strong and pumped after pitching the seventh, so I don't buy that he was "done." The larger issue is this mindset that no matter how well the starters are doing, they are to be taken out after six or seven innings. During the season, okay, preserve your pitcher with an eye toward the stretch run, but with six outs to go in a series clincher? C'mon. It was a bad move. That said, the Sox in six and Lester goes nine in his next start.
Neddo, I think he knows what he's doing. There are plenty of die-hards who think they know nearly everything Red Sox just by watching the games on TV and reading the articles. But the reality is, while us fans may TRY to eat, breathe, and sleep Red Sox baseball, guys on the staff like Tito literally eat, breathe, and sleep Red Sox baseball. And why don't you try further dissecting the "I think I can go out" statement by Lester. "Think?" The only thing a pitcher should be "thinking" about on the mound is how to get the batter out, not whether he "thinks" he can go another round in a do or die scenario. And what else would you expect Lester to say? He's a competitor and team guy.
There is no contradiction here. Lester obviously acted like he felt, or thought he was "done" when he was coming back to the dugout. At that point he had already mentally "shut it down" so to speak. Yes he was then asked how he felt / if could go back out to pitch, and Lester said he thought he could. Based on what Farrell and Tito saw, and heard from Lester, they concluded that the pitcher ( in his mind) felt he was done as he walked off the mound. They simply didn't think it wise to send a pitcher back out after he felt he was done. Pitch count? Read Tito's words:
"That pitch count has gotten a life of its own. There are so many more things that go into it: The score of the game, who's available in the bullpen, who we're facing, there's a lot of things that go into it. The pitch count meant very little last night."
I always get a kick out of how many of us fans think we know more, have more first hand information and knowledge of what is said and seen in the dugout, or the clubhouse than the people that are actually there. If Tito and coach Farrell, in their professional judgement thought it was wise to not send Lester back out , that should be good enough.. Tito's vision is not myopic. He has proven to have his eyes fixed on the big picture.
I think that earlier Lester had told John Farrell that "Yes" he was done when he came out after the 7th. And "I think I can go out" isn't the strongest declaration of confidence. Yes, Lester looked great at the end of the inning, but if there was even part of him that wasn't ready to go back out with the same mindset that he started the game with, or the 7th inining, then it was probably time to take him out. I trust that Francona and Farrell know a lot more about the game and about their players than I do. It was probably the right decision. We'll never know what would've happened had Lester gone out for the 8th. That said, hopefully Lester can go all 9 whenever he pitches next.
I disagree nobody knows his players like Tito, from what he say Lester was done and when a pitchers says "I think" then he's done. Remember Pedro and the "point to the Gods" .....What happend in the next inning in that game.
I was stunned that he took him out, especially after saying in the interview that he gets stronger as the game goes. Francona has to go strong with his decisions though. If he starts changing them, then you will have guys talking him out of them, as in Pedro with Grady Little in '03. Francona gives everyone an opportunity to do their job. I believe that plays into why they are such a strong "team". Everyone has been relied on to do their job and he isn't going out of his way to cover for them until it is obvious that they are failing.
There is a very good reason Terry Francona has two World Series rings, and is poised to get his third in 4 years: He knows how to manage all 25 men on his roster. I'd rather see a fresh Okajima than a tired and spent Lester starting the 7th inning. Tito outcoached the opposing manager, who won 100 games and is in the running for the American League manager of the year. Oh, and the day Lester goes nine without the possibility of a no-hitter in a playoff game is the day I lead the parade to get Tito fired! This is the end of the season....intelligent handling of pitchers got us here and will carry us beyond. Have some faith!
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Red Sox Twitter
E-mail your question
- Amalie Benjamin,
- Nick Cafardo,
- Chad Finn,
- Adam Kilgore or
- Tony Massarotti
Or if your comment or question is non-specific to a particular reporter, enter it in the form below:browse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com