It's Time for Terry Francona to Go

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.

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

Sheesh!

Robert Fucking Andino to add to the list.

They were right!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

which is why I think he walks.

Your best piece of prose, ever.

tip-o-the-hat

Give it time.

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

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.

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

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!

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!

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

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

and others were 'not good teammates'. True?

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

Yeah, kick him to the curb!

:rofl:

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

They never should have let him get away.

:woohoo:

: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.