Ok not going to lie had to put this off for some time prior to writing this because I felt like I was right the obituary of a loved one. As you all know by now the Red Sox released Terry Francona from his duty as the skipper earlier today. The news came out sometime yesterday that it would happen and of course it did.
Early this morning team owners John Henry, Tom Warner, and Larry Lucchino meet with Francona as well as GM Theo Epstein. The meeting ended with ownership leaving as well as Tito. Epstein even went as far to put out a press statement announcing that no decision would be made and then rumor of Francona being back at Fenway brought back question.
Around 5 PM reports came out it was the end of an era and that Francona was no longer the manager of the Red Sox. Many people including myself at the time believe that he had been fired and was heartbroken at the time. Statements were issued from all three parties and dual press conferences were to be held. That is where the information came out.
"It was my decision. I don't know what I want to do. I know I want to stay in the game. This is all I've ever done, all I ever want to do," Francona said during his press conference held earlier tonight.
This got me to wondering what really went on in that morning press conference well Tito would tell us.
"We talked about a lot of different things. I think they wanted to know how I felt about coming back. I think that's probably a fair way to put it. I told them a lot of things that were on my mind, we talked obviously a lot about the organization, and then the team, and what went right, what didn't go right, and then I told them I thought it was time for a new voice. And that's not an easy thing to say. But I thought it was the right thing to do.”
Earlier today news came out of the Boston Globe about conflicts in the locker room even to the point of starting pitchers drinking in the clubhouse on days they weren’t playing. It seemed as if players would not listen to Tito anymore and it seems as if he felt the same.
"I felt frustrated, my inability to reach maybe guys I've been able to in the past," he said. "Or affect the outcome a little bit differently, and that bothers me."
So what did ownership do to keep him around? Not a whole lot in my book to the point where Francona went to add this:
"To be honest with you, I didn't know, or I'm not sure, how much support there was from ownership," Francona said. "I don't know that I felt real comfortable. You've got to be all in in this job, and I voiced that today. There were some things that, maybe, going through things here, to make it work it's got to be everybody together, and I was questioning some of that a little bit."
Later ownership was ask about this comment and if they had been behind Francona.
"I was actually puzzled by that comment," Lucchino said at a press conference held following one by Francona at Fenway Park tonight. "We have done nothing differently this year than we have done in previous years, and I think it's a question you probably have to ask him. I thought he did an exceptional job in conveying the strength of his feelings and his frustrations and his fatigue with the situation here in Boston."
Francona was ask about the pitchers drinking and other unacceptable behavior in the clubhouse and declined to answer questions on this.
"I'd rather talk about generalities. I would never single out players or an event, I'd never do that," he said. "I think I've been pretty open about that I was frustrated, and couldn't reach some of the things I thought needed to be reached, but I'd never single out players."
The greatest memory of Francona was when he led them to the 2004 and 2008 World Series and watching his guys in the dog pile.
As most Red Sox fans know Francona has the closest relationship with Dustin Pedroia.
"I love him. He’s given me every opportunity in the world and given me the respect to play the game with a freedom, and that’s what he allows us players to do. Geez, man, he’s done everything for me and everything for my family ... he’s done everything for me in the five years I’ve been in the big leagues. My heart’s broken for him and I wish he was back and I wish I could have played my whole career for him. It’s going to be hard. I’m sure he’ll come back a better manager and a better person for it. Us, as an organization, we’re going to move forward together,” added Pedroia.
All this should not have come as a surprise to Red Sox fans in the last couple of weeks when Francona was ask about returning for another season he would always decline to comment. But it still hurts the fans who loved him. Francona is considered my most fans including myself as the greatest manager in Red Sox history. During his eight year tenure including two World Series and having the second best win streak in the post season as the skipper of the Red Sox. I honestly believe if Tito wants to manage again he will be back.
In case you missed the press conference here is coverage from it.
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