Search for a new Manager
With the departure of Terry Francona the Red Sox begin trying to replace him with a capable manager for next season. I believe that the Red Sox do not need a big name coach for next season. The Sox just need some new blood to provide some energy to the clubhouse. From personal experience I believe that managing is a little overrated. Sure I have been on teams that a managers decision has won us a game or two but as players we still had to execute. I have also been on teams that have won despite the manager. We simply went out there and out-hit, out-pitched, and out-hustled our competition.
Even though I do not believe that last seasons collapse was entirely Terry Francona’s fault the organization had to blame someone. The manager can only do so much. Once the players are on the field it is up to them to play the game and give the effort. The players simply did not perform in September. Francona mixed up the line-up, gave players a rest when necessary, and put the best line-up he could on every single night to give his team the best chance to win. But none of it worked. The Red Sox bats went cold and the pitching couldn’t hold the few leads that the offense gave them. The people that support the firing of Francona point out the drinking and fast food eating of the starting pitchers during games and say that he had lost control of his players. But starting pitchers are on their own when they are not pitching. Francona shouldn’t be focusing on what the resting pitchers are doing. He should be managing the team that is on the field.
