Staying or Going?

Its been two days since the train fell off the tracks for the Red Sox and stories are starting to fly. It also appears that the first domino to fall is the the choice to not have Terry Francona return to Boston for his 9th season. The report is that Tito had a meeting with the Red Sox brass and that no decision has been made on if he is going to come back. Gorden Edes reports that Francona has told some staff members that he wont be back and Edes, at times, is a credible source.

My gut says that Francona isn't coming back. Like I wrote about yesterday I think the players started to tune him out and stopped working hard. Yesterday at the press conference Francona said that he had a team meeting in Toronto after a 14-0 win. That shows the problems this team had where they had to have a meeting after a 14-0 win. You also hear reports about drinking in the clubhouse during games and little things that added to this collapse. This team really wore on Francona with how arrogant and entitled they thought they were and I don't think he can take it anymore. I think the choice is Tito's here. Frankly, I don't think he wants to comeback. He's has had a history of health problems and this job could kill you. Its been a miracle he lasted this long. 8 years is a long time. The average length for a manager with one team is 4.3 years. I think hes tired of the media, tired of the questions, and just tired of the prima donnas in that locker room. He looked dead tired at the press conference yesterday. Right when it ended he jetted out the press room so fast. By far the fastest hes ever moved.

Lets get another thing straight, Red Sox fans- he's not being fired. His contract is up and its up the front office in weather to pick up his option for a new two year deal. This is going to be a mutual parting of the ways here I think. I would love Francona to stay. Hes been a unbelievable manager here. Hes been the guy for two World Series championships. He handles the media tremendously and he handles a clubhouse tremendously. Well up until this year. I don't know who we are going to hire to replace Tito but I doubt it will be anybody better. Bobby Valentine wont. Tony Larussa wont. Maybe Joe Torre. Who knows.

After the Francona situation is done, the next decision to make is the status of Theo Epstein. Theo has one year left on his deal. They can't give extend him or promote him to president after this fiasco. That would be an awful PR move and their so PR conscience down there. I think Theo wants to stay and fix this. Theo was very accountable yesterday. He stood up and took blame which I give him credit for. Theo's John Henry's golden boy so maybe he'll stay. I think Theo is the guy to fix it here if management doesn't butt in. Your up next, Theo. Fix this thing.

Until next time....