Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

by poludamas on Sep 19, 2007 10:48 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

I'm curious to see what effect the recent downturn in Sox performance has done to people's opinion of Francona. On the one hand, it's been painful to watch the last week or so and the division title is very much in jeopardy. On the other, the Sox do not appear to be in danger of missing the playoffs and are allowing some banged up players time to heal. The bullpen situation could be described as either unclear or a big mess depending on your perspective. So, how does this reflect on Tito? Take the poll.

Poll

What is your current attitude toward Terry Francona?

After this mess he needs to win it all or go away

4 votes

I've had enough and don't want to see him back next year, no matter what

3 votes

Fire him NOW!

5 votes

Things are fine, these games aren't important

6 votes

I'm upset but he shouldn't be on the hot seat

20 votes

I'd probably favor keeping him unless the playoffs go really badly

9 votes

If they lose the division and exit in the ALDS, get rid of him

4 votes

51 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 14 comments

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Comments

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

To me it's a question of "Who's better?"

Of the bullpen issues we've had recently, Friday vs. the Yankees was not his fault. That's been kind of a tried-and-true sequence of pitchers all season, even if bringing in Oki in a 5-run game seemed a bit questionable.

I don't think you can start Alex Cora in any game where there is a bench player in another spot in the lineup. He's probably good for some kind of positive contribution to the offense at one point during a game. We need to increase the chances of that happening while others around him could take advantage of that situation. He's done this, though with Manny and Youk out (and Coco ailing), it's a toss-up on this issue.

Slow-hook on Schilling and Gagne are definitely his fault. Tonight, Tavarez or staying with Timlin was a rare instance where those options were better choices than putting Paps in.

What I'm most afraid of is that some of the forces in the Sox FO are going to want a big-name if they replace Tito. The smart money is on La Russa and the Cardinals parting ways. If you disagree, fine, but I'd prefer Tito to La Russa. Guys like MDC, J-Lo, and Snydes will get 100 appearances while recording a total of like 60 outs. Inefficient. Other guys will get burned out.

by Allen Chace on Sep 19, 2007 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

I don't want to see LaRussa here, and there have been times when I've thought that Francona was the worst possible manager, except for all the other ones. I actually think they'd promote from within or get someone who hasn't been a manager before, kind of like they did with Francona, if they decide to replace him (which I think is unlikely on balance). The established guys are probably mostly too old-school for Theo et al's tastes.

by poludamas on Sep 19, 2007 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

The real issue is that Bobby Cox is not available.

by Allen Chace on Sep 19, 2007 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

I'm not sure if there's a real in-house candidate at the moment. And Francona had been a manager before (Phillies).

by Allen Chace on Sep 19, 2007 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

I was thinking Brad Mills might work, but I don't know much about him; still it seems he would have a good understanding about Francona's flaws, but perhaps he is too close.

I had forgotten about Tito's Philly gig. Does the possibility of Schilling leaving make it more likely that Francona would go too? At that point, there'd be very little left from 04 by way of major players other than Tek, Papi, and Manny. Maybe the change in team style calls for a different manager; I doubt he'd take it because it seems like he's waiting for the Yankees job, but what about Joe Girardi?

by poludamas on Sep 19, 2007 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

Girardi = holy crap no. He may or may not be responsible for all the injuries to young talented pitchers in Florida this season, but I'm not willing to take that risk with Buchholz, Lester, and perhaps later in '08, Masterson and Bowden.

by Allen Chace on Sep 19, 2007 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right fit. Keep him.

I think Francona is the right fit for Boston. He may not manage every game ideally, from the tactical perspective, but he handles the media and his players well.

Francona is the type of manager who lets his players win or lose games, and with Boston's roster you could do far worse.

If you want to see a melt-down and clubhouse catastrophe, bring in a statistically-inclined manager who's less PR-savvy.

I'm willing to listen if you can point out a guy who can do both.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Sep 20, 2007 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eh

I don't really have an objective opinion on Francona. He seems like a good dude, is good at keeping things loose, and he's funny. As far as whethr he's a good manager, when they're winning he's great and when they're losing he's crap. Sure he's cost us a few games recently, but I get the impression that their more concerned about setting themselves up for the playoffs (getting guys healthy, aligning the rotation, seeing if anyone in the 'pen knows how to preserve a lead anymore) than they are about winning the division.

Speaking of getting ready for the post-season, how about giving Papi some time off and letting Manny DH for a little bit? If Papi doesn't start feeling a little better, we're not going very far in the post-season, regardless of whether we win the division.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Sep 20, 2007 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Eh

I think Manny would be in there if he could play. Here's Gordon Edes' take (we all know how Edes feels about Manny):

I'm on record as saying Manny quit on the club last season. I'm not in a position to do so this time. Oblique injuries are notoriously tricky, as I wrote about in some detail today. In my experience, usually when a guy starts taking BP he's close to coming back, but after a week of BP, Manny's still feeling it-that's what he's telling Tito, evidently-and is "dying" to resume playing, according to the manager. There's no test the Sox can run that would prove conclusively Manny is ready to play. No one in the organization has criticized him for not playing... the time frame of his absence remains consistent with what often happens in these cases. Only Manny knows for sure.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Sep 20, 2007 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Eh

I'm not saying Manny could/should be playing now, I'm saying when he is ready, let him have the DH spot and let Papi take a few days off.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Sep 20, 2007 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

I believe his players collectivley have way underplayed for him his entire managerial career. He Look at the number of players who have had career low performances - Beckett,Lugo,Drew,Crisp,Ramirez,Tavarez,Gagne,Renteria,D-K, Here's 9 for starters. All this ads up to teams that underperform. At some point the person at the top has to be accountable.

by gosox on Sep 21, 2007 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

Beckett has really underperformed this year. Let's see what Lugo and Drew do next year. I'm also sure Tito is calling all the fastballs Gagne and Dice-K have been throwing.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Sep 21, 2007 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"...calling all the fastballs..."

that bastard...

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Sep 21, 2007 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Poll: What's your attitude toward Francona?

Well, he's certainly had his share of Grady Little Moments this season, but I'm waiting to see if his has a Grady Little Moment at a Grady Little Time.

And if he does, maybe bring in Gabe Kapler as a player-manager. See, that's what's missing that we had in 2004 -- back then, we had two Jews on this team! (Take that, Mel Gibson!)