CENTER FIELD :: Tito Is Underrated

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Tito Is Underrated

An oldie, but a goodie- from back at the beginning of November: a Pittsburgh paper, of all places, had an article about skipper Terry Francona and looking back at the team and the 2007 season.

The first part discusses how criminally underrated Tito is a baseball manager- which I have to agree with, even if I don't agree with how the author describes the situation:

Francona doesn't get the same respect [as Bill Belichick] -- and he doesn't cheat. The feeling among many Boston bumpkins is that their team wins because it has a big payroll. Even Red Sox management seems to believe that. It didn't give Francona a contract extension this summer -- he has a year left on his current deal -- even though his team ended 86 years of New England agony by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, made the playoffs again in '05 and went wire to wire to win the American League East Division this season.

"I don't know that I've ever checked," Francona said when asked whether he feels appreciated. "I know I don't care. There's no room for me to have an ego up here. It just wouldn't work."

I think Tito's contributions often get overlooked, but I don't think it's a matter of him not getting any respect. At least, I hope that's not the case- because anyone who actually followed the team, and watched the games (and Tito's strategy) unfold would have a hard time faulting the decisions he made. But I think the constant hyper-attention on him in the white-hot spotlight of Boston has worn him down at times, though he'd never come right out and say that. I found this quote particularly telling- because it sounds like he doesn't really care about the media so much as it bothers him when the fans are so quick to toss him to the wolves

Do you think it's easy managing the giant egos in today's game? Do you think it's easy managing in a market the size of Boston, where the media is relentless and brutal and the fan base passionate, opinionated and always willing to second-guess?

"I can handle that," Francona said. "What I have a hard time dealing with is seeing people at our parade the other day cheering me and holding up signs with my name on it. I know they were calling me a dumb ass 10 days before that."

The article closes out discussing not Tito's strategy - but his relations with his players, possibly his greatest skill of all. And the part about Jason Varitek is fascinating- as that's a side of Tek nobody ever gets to see.

But his strength is working his clubhouse, relating to his players, making them want to play their best not just for themselves, but for him.
It could be old pro Curt Schilling, the one star Francona had when he managed bad teams in Philadelphia. Or it could be rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

"We play cribbage every day at 1 o'clock and talk about everything," Francona said. "I can trust that kid with anything."

It doesn't matter. Francona has a feel for what makes each of his players tick. He also knows team captain Jason Varitek has his back.

"When we were on the field after the [clinching] game the other night, he put his head on my shoulder and cried like a baby," Francona said. "He had willed everybody to be so good. I think that's why I'm so calm. I know he's in charge. It's his team."

Hat tip to boston_princess for finding this article!

Comments (9)

[ Liza ] says:
on January 2, 2008 3:29 PM

The part about Tek just melts my heart. These two--Tito and Tek--they are the best people you could find to rule a madhouse like the Sox.

And I agree with your disagreeing with the first part of the article. At least, I don't think we win because we have a large payroll. I think we win because we have a lot of really good baseball players, great management, and the right mix of intangibles to boot--like a captain who drives the team and a manager who trusts his rookie second baseman.

Okay, end sappy: I did notice that they say we have an enormous payroll so we can "amass talent such as Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez." Since when is Papelbon expensive? He's our insane, wonderful, home-grown closer, not a Johan Santana type for whom we had to give up a lot.

And why hasn't he got a new contract yet, anyway?

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on January 2, 2008 3:50 PM

Papelbon is barely above the league minimum (though that will likely change very soon, and with good reason). David Ortiz signed for less than he was worth. Josh Beckett is now a BARGAIN at his contract price. And Manny Ramirez is paid very well, but not overpaid.

I think the author would have been more accurate to say we have an enormous payroll so we can overpay J.D. Drew and Daisuke Matsuzaka. I love both of those guys, but they are way, way overpaid. Our payroll isn't bloated because of Papelbon, Ortiz & Beckett.

[ Piney61 ] says:
on January 2, 2008 4:29 PM

You know I had some doubts before(when I did my big astrology thing) on Tek being an Pisces moon, but that quote seems to show me that he actually is one. *decides to look over astrology thing again*

[ fc ] says:
on January 2, 2008 5:27 PM

Aww, I wish we could convince Tito that not all of us who cheer for him after the fact were calling him a dumb ass earlier. We've all heard "In Theo We Trust." I say we start an "In Tito We Trust" campaign.

[ Erin ] says:
on January 2, 2008 5:38 PM

To TexasGal, I had that quote about Jason on my site on December 31st - I had the link to the article from November and was just waiting for the end of the year to post it as the "Quote of the Year". I am familar with the offerings of Ron Cook, the sportswriter who writes for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is probably the most wishy-washy bandwagon sportswriter you will come across - He covers the Steelers and has made a short career (at least up until the second half of this season) of running their young QB into the ground for his play, his personality, his leadership. etc... Now that the kid has pulled himself up after last season, Cook has suddenly jumped on the wagon and has been writing nothing but great things...but always with some sneering commentary in there somewhere! Steelers fans get after him all the time for his comments.

It was surprising he actually wrote something positive about a team not in PA.

[ Erin ] says:
on January 2, 2008 8:37 PM

By the way, LOVE your blog!

[ Kim ] says:
on January 2, 2008 10:10 PM

Awww, I hope Tito knows we love him! When all is said and done and Tek retires, I really hope he continues to have a big role with the Red Sox. The thought of him not with us makes me stabby!

[ Twinkie ] says:
on January 3, 2008 5:05 PM

Awww! *melts from the cuteness* I think I need to find someone who can make me a little Tek plushie; I want to cuddle him so bad!

And I agree with Kim. Though I must say that if anyone even considers letting Tek retire anywhere but Boston I will kill them. Or remove their man-parts. Whichever would hurt more...

[ JoshRocks ] says:
on January 3, 2008 9:29 PM

Not a big Francona fan because IMO some of the stuff he does could back fire big time on us. He has been very lucky (the game where he used out great bull pen in the 7th and 8th innings when Manny hit the homerun in the 9th. That same situation killed us in that same series when Manny and David were due up in the 9th so he used the good pullpen in the 7th and the 8th and we ended up losing in like the 14th) but I give him ALL THE CREDIT IN THE WORLD for dealing with the ego's of MLB players though me personally I would have bended Manny long before he did and for much longer then he did.

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