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Brett Myers may not be Zack Greinke, David Price or, even, Justin Masterson, but the signing of a veteran, free agent starter was fantastic news for Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona and the fans of the team.

After a miserable 2012 season from the starting rotation, the third worst ERA among staffs in baseball (5.25 ERA), could things have really gotten any worse for the Tribe starters looking forward to 2013?

With pretty incredible regressions from both Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez, along with a total implosion by Derek Lowe after June 1, which resulted in his release, the Indians had to do something to mix-up the starting five. While Myers is a solid addition, the club still lacks a true, dominant starter, which is troublesome with the Detroit Tigers possessing Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez, any of whom would probably slot into the Opening Day job if they were to join the Indians.

What exactly does Myers bring to the table for Francona, though?

A huge frame. Myers is listed at 6’4″, 240 pounds, a tremendous, ideal frame for an innings-eating starting pitcher. It is a good thing that Myers has that frame, as well, as he has moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen and back to the starting rotation in a couple of instances during his 11-year career.

Reliability. Myers has missed 159 games in his career—from May of 2007 through October of 2009—due to hip surgery and a shoulder strain. Other than those two stints on the disabled list, he has started 30 or more games in seven seasons. Of the four seasons that he did not reach 30 starts, one was his rookie season (12 starts), one was his 2009 season and the other two seasons he was a relief pitcher. He has tossed 190 or more innings in six of his seven full seasons as a starting pitcher (only Masterson did that in 2012 with his 206.1 innings).

A solid track record. Myers is 89-79 with a 4.27 ERA in 249 career starts, averaging more than six innings per start with his 1,560 innings pitched. If the Indians were to fall out of contention or decided to trade Chris Perez, Myers could slide into the closer’s role due to his success out of the bullpen (3.36 ERA and 40 saves in 128 games).

While giving a pitcher that only tossed 65.1 innings over 70 games a $7 million contract and hoping he can throw 200 innings the next year seems crazy, Brett Myers is a gamer, who has filled various roles over his career. He has pitched in the World Series, he has closed games, he has set-up and he has been an ace (finishing 10th in NL Cy Young voting as a member of the Houston Astros in 2010).

Terry Francona and the Indians will hope that Brett Myers is able to handle another transition from the bullpen to the rotation, and if history repeats itself, the Tribe will be rewarded with their gamble.

Myers is a solid No.3 starter who should not be miscast as a savior to the Indians rotation; however, he adds depth to a group that was clearly in need of an upgrade, and if nothing more, Myers will be a solid, innings-eater every fifth day for Terry Francona.

Brett Myers was a bargain at $7 million for 2013, and if he performs well, an $8 million team option for 2014 will be icing on the cake.

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Former Boston Red Sox and current Cleveland Indians Manager Terry Francona has a book coming out with Boston Globe Columnist Dan Shaughnessy titled “Francona: The Red Sox Years.” Hold on Red Sox fans. This is one you might want to pass up if you have any attachment to Red Sox ownership whatsoever. 

Francona takes shots at the owners and even includes a few conversations with former Sox GM Theo Epstein. 

According to the Boston Globe, Red Sox ownership felt that they didn’t have enough, as Epstein puts it, “sexy players” who would be more marketable to the fans. 

After the 2010 season, the Sox went out and aquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford who apparently were the “sexy” players that the owners were looking for, which eventually led to the departure of Francona and Epstein. 

However, Francona doesn’t let Epstein do all of the talking. Here’s a particularly interesting passage from the manager’s writings: 

“I don’t think they love baseball, I think they like baseball. It’s revenue and I know that’s their right and their interest because they’re owners … it’s still more of a toy or hobby for them. It’s not their blood. They’re going to come in and out of baseball. It’s different for me. Baseball is my life.” 

Francona also mentions that team chairman Tom Werner told Francona that the team needed to win in “more exciting ways.” Who wants a win if it’s not exciting? 

The Boston Red Sox were once a team that was all about winning baseball games. It didn’t matter who was on the field, who they were playing against or even how long Johnny Damon’s hair/beard was. They went out and won in any way possible. 

Now, according to Francona‘s book, the Red Sox owners are all about looking good, which apparently doesn’t translate to wins. The Red Sox went just 69-93 last season. 

Francona‘s controversial book will arrive on shelves on January 22. 

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Terry Francona will take over the managerial position for the Cleveland Indians in 2013 after spending one seasons as an analyst for ESPN in 2012. The two-time World Series champion manager of the Boston Red Sox has the credentials, but is there more to success in Cleveland than a resume?

After going 68-94 and finishing 20 games back of the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers, there may be a learning curve and patience needed, not only by Francona, but the fans of the Tribe.

Francona has the accolades to bring immediate excitement to Cleveland, but his 12-year managerial career isn’t filled with fairytale endings. In four seasons in Philadelphia, the Phillies were just 285-363 (.440), falling short of the playoffs and a winning record over his time in “The City of Brotherly Love.” The Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs in three of Francona‘s eight seasons, although his teams never won fewer than 86 games in a season, averaging 93 wins per season.

However, Francona does not have the massive payrolls or the talent in Cleveland that he had in Boston. He does not have the large, passionate fanbase that comes along with Philadelphia. The Cleveland Indians drew just over 1.6 million fans over 81 home games in 2012, 13th out of 14 American League teams, while their payroll was 10th in the AL ($78,430,300).

How can “Tito” thrive in his first season in Cleveland? Can he overcome the failures and collapses that have occurred in the second half the last two seasons?

Here you’ll find several keys to Terry Francona‘s first season in Cleveland.

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Let me preface this immediately: I love Santos Alomar Velazquez, Jr. I love what he stands for as a baseball player, a clubhouse leader and as an Indians icon. And what Indians fan doesn’t love him for his heroics in the magical year of 1997? Indians fans will love him forever.

A small sample of the kind of stuff we’ve heard or read recently: Robbie Alomar as a bench coach! Lofton and Vizquel as first and third base coaches! Thome as the hitting coach! Nagy as the pitching coach! Let’s find something for Belle and Baerga! Radio! Championship!

(I was kidding about pairing Belle and Baerga. Albert might say ten words the entire game. Brian Anderson?)

And it’s because of all of this that the Indians cannot allow Terry Francona to leave his interview on Friday without agreeing to lead the Indians.

The Indians spend time waxing nostalgic because that’s the only link left in a strained relationship between the organization and a dwindling fanbase that is borderline catatonic in caring. The front office needs, for the lack of a better term, a home run, in order to get the turnstiles moving again.

While Alomar might sate the memory banks, when you have a two-time World Series-winning skipper who appears to have genuine interest in your team and what you are about (despite all of the uncertainly of a likely roster turnover concerning trades of Shin-Soo Choo and Chris Perez), it is a no-brainer.

There is mutual interest between Francona and Indians. They’ll all know better after weekend. Peace, love and understanding may be >$

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) September 28, 2012

I believe that Sandy will lead a team someday soon (and knowing my luck in prognosticating these things, Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti could very well render me a fool by pulling the interim tag off of Alomar). But I feel that everyone involved is looking for the kind of name that could really bring the spotlight and a breath of fresh air; even if comes with the aroma of some fried chicken and beer.

The Indians aren’t known for big splashes under the Dolan regime. But the time is now to try to win back the trust. Albeit in a way that truly has the present and future in mind, which is the way that, as much as it hurts to let the Glory Days go, should have been the direction all along.

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Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona will reportedly interview for the same position for the Cleveland Indians this coming week. 

This according to Cleveland Indians beat writer Nick Camino (via Twitter):

Source: Terry Francona will be in Cleveland “Wednesday or Thursday” to interview for the open managerial job with the #Indians.

— Nick Camino (@CaminoTribe) September 29, 2012

Francona is reportedly “excited” about interviewing with Cleveland because of strong bonds with the club’s team president and GM, according to MLB on FOX reporter Ken Rosenthal via Twitter:

Sources: Francona “excited” to interview with #Indians. Close relationships with Shapiro and Antonetti overriding factor.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 29, 2012

The Indians are tied for the worst record in the American League (66-91) this season with just five games left to play in the regular season and are closing in on their fourth straight losing season. 

Francona managed the Red Sox from 2004 to 2011, leading Boston to two World Series championships in 2004 and 2007. There’s no doubt that Francona’s championship resume is his biggest asset in terms of landing a coveted managerial job this fall. 

As for another potential direction Cleveland could move in this offseason, Sandy Alomar Jr. is a candidate to win the position. The former Indians bench coach is currently coaching the club after Manny Acta was fired last week.

Alomar is 1-0 as interim manager of the Indians, and he will certainly be a candidate to manage the team in 2013.

The Red Sox finished the season with a winning record each year under Francona, missing out on the postseason just three times. Boston went 90-72 under Francona in his final season as manager in 2011. 

Francona was replaced by former ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine in Boston and is currently an analyst for ESPN himself.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more MLB conversation. 

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Theo Epstein was just appointed President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs, and he has a laundry list of problems to fix. His priorities range from blockbuster contracts for lackluster players, a dismal farm system and a front office that just hasn’t looked like they’re on the same page since the whole Bartman thing.

Epstein had immense success in his early years in Boston, but he was given a team with immense talent. The Red Sox let the Cubs interview Epstein about a possible position in their front office after a 2011 season in which the Red Sox went 7-20 in September, losing the Wild Card to the Tampa Bay Rays on the final day of the season.

Epstein took blame for the collapse alongside Red Sox manager Terry Francona, and then Francona‘s contract for 2012 was not picked up and he was trashed in the newspapers before he could even leave Boston.

Epstein didn’t take long to follow Francona and jump ship in Boston. He interviewed with Chicago and agreed to a deal that was finalized on October 21st after long negotiations between the Red Sox and Cubs on compensation for Epstein’s departure.

All that is now resolved and Epstein has been given a team with which he can clean his slate. He needs to get rid of contracts like Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano and Alfonso Soriano, but he has a more important task at the top of his list.

The Cubs need a new manager before the 2012 season, preferably as soon as possible.

Mike Quade, who managed the Cubs for his first full season as a Major League manager in 2011, led the team to a 71-91 record. The record is not as bad as the mismanagement of the bullpen in the second half of the season and the lack of development in the farm system.

The Cubs were eliminated from the playoffs just after the All-Star break and Quade should have saved his pitchers and position players from throwing out their arms or stealing bases in the grueling July, August and September of the baseball season. With so many managers on the sidelines, there is no reason for Epstein to keep Mike Quade as his manager.

Terry Francona is not a candidate to be the Cubs’ manager. His career ended harshly in Boston, and he is likely to stay out of the baseball limelight for at least a year. His broadcasting debut with FOX in October went well, and he would rather pursue that than rejuvenate a grown clubhouse again.

Epstein has some managers to choose from, but it will take convincing to move them out of retirement.

Ryne Sandberg is the Cubs’ first choice for their next manager. He had been a manager for the Cubs in the minor leagues until last year when they pushed him aside and gave Mike Quade the managerial position after Lou Piniella’s departure. Sandberg is respected in the Cubs’ organization and also by the players, so Epstein should consider him first. 

Epstein would also be wise to consider Bobby Valentine for the job. Valentine was most recently the manager of the New York Mets and took the Mets to the World Series in 2000. Valentine also had a very successful career managing in Japan, and his big city managing style would mesh well with Chicago. 

Epstein and Francona were on the same page from 2004 to 2008 and they won two Championships over that time period. Epstein will hire a manager that he identifies with both systematically and personally.

Epstein was a personable general manager in Boston; he would walk about the clubhouse and talk with his players, always staying on top of his team’s well-being. He would read every word of the reports he got from his scouts and was meticulous in his decisions on an everyday basis.

Valentine would complement his style well. Valentine managed with his ear to the ground, he knew the heart beat of his team every single day of the season and he would make the right decisions in every game—something Quade did not do in 2011.

There are managers in retirement that would fit the Cubs’ style but they are long shots. Joe Torre would be perfect, but to call him even a long shot is generous; he’s someone who no one talks about anymore and led a team with high-paid players that performed regularly.

Willie Randolph coached the Mets from 2005 to 2008 and had a winning record each year. The Mets have traditionally had a short leash with managers, and Randolph got a bad rap in the city upon his departure. Randolph coaches on Buck Showalter’s staff in Baltimore and is certainly more weathered in the Major Leagues that Mike Quade. He would fit well in Chicago and is someone who could adapt to Epstein’s plans for the farm system and the organization as a whole.

Epstein is going to turn Chicago upside-down. He will not be afraid of telling Cub fans like it is, and ridding them of the Bartman/Billy goat curse will be his goal. He took the job with the Cubs because he wants a new challenge.

He broke Boston’s curse, and now that he’s 37, he wants to break the other curse in baseball. Chicago has potential for a championship-caliber team, but their turnaround will start when Epstein finds a replacement for Mike Quade.

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When baseball isn’t busy being mired in steroids scandals, it’s a hyper-entertaining sport of men who face off against one another with leather gloves, tight pants, and more superstition than the average human can handle.

That, of course, is the opinion of your average baseball-obsessed super fan (ahem).  To many, baseball is a boring game that requires some sort of stimulant to enjoy.  For some players, it’s no different. Baseball requires a ton of stop-and-go performance, which, despite naysayers, is the No. 1 reason for major injuries.

It’s probably also the No. 1 reason that players make the choice to chew tobacco during games.  With all that standing (and for many, sitting) around, players often choose to let their minds wander with some smokeless tobacco resting in their lower lip or inside their cheek.  

In a sense, you can’t blame them: there are really only three guys playing at a time in baseball, which is truly unlike any other sport.  On the other hand, it’s a little unsettling when you see Tim Lincecum throw in a huge dip after tossing eight shutout innings (not to mention the health risks involved).   

On August 18 of this year’s MLB season, the Colorado Rockies suspended farmhand Mike Jacobs for 50 games when he tested positive for HGH.  Aside from the obvious implication, this story provided us with a perfectly nasty photo (pictured above).

Things can get out of hand (See here: Nyjer Morgan throws his chew at St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter) at times.  With Morgan’s Brewers currently trying to battle back from a 3-2 deficit in the NLCS, we take a look at MLB’s current top 10 most obvious tobacco chewers. 

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With news this week that Robin Ventura has been hired as the manager of the Chicago White Sox, Terry Francona‘s job prospects are increasingly thin.

The former Red Sox manager is a legitimate possibility for the Chicago Cubs, but after that, there’s no realistic possibilities.

Luckily for Tito, however, it turns out Francona has a job to fall back on if the whole managing gig doesn’t work out in 2012.

Commentating.

Game 1 of the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers has gotten underway tonight, and surprise surprise, Terry Francona is the color man next to Joe Buck in the booth.

And surprise surprise, he’s really good at it. Who would have thought someone who knows the ins and outs of baseball would provide good color for a baseball game?

In all honesty, though, commentating isn’t as easy as Tito makes it seem. You may know what you’re talking about, but it can be hard to turn those thoughts into fluent, audible sentences . Just look at Ozzie Guillen.

It’s only been a couple innings, but Francona already seems to be a better color man than Tim McCarver.

If FOX is smart, they’ll keep going with Francona because he’ll boost ratings. In a time when the MLB playoffs have to compete with college football, the NFL and the NHL, FOX needs any help they can get.

Francona is that help.

He’s knows what he’s talking about. He’s provides a look into the game that few others can. He has a sense of humor. He makes it easier to listen to Joe Buck. And most of all, the early returns are good. The fans love him.

According to Seattle Mariners left fielder Casper Wells via Twitter, “Terry Francona is a money call btw on the commentating!”

In fact, a quick Twitter search of “Terry Francona” results in about 99.5 percent positive comments about how well Tito is doing.  

So let’s see here.

Francona gives a terrific insight into the game of baseball. He finds a good job after the Boston Red Sox unfairly fired him. He makes baseball games watchable on FOX. And everyone loves him.

It’s not common, but this is a win-win-win-win situation. Not bad. 

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It is always dangerous to assume, regardless of how safe it seems. Embarrassing a manager whose team must do what no baseball team has done before might prove even more embarrassing.

There was a pivotal moment in the media after the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, 19-8 to take a three games to none lead in the 2004 ALCS. Selena Roberts, the “journalist” who outed Alex Rodriguez’ steroid use, ridiculed Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

Roberts compared Francona to a Little Leaguer because he tilts his cap, noting that he rocks back and forth on the bench as if he is ready to burst into song, “…as if nervously whistling ‘the sun will come out tomorrow’ will make it so.”

Hey, maybe Francona was onto to something.

Roberts felt that Joe Torre emanated calm while Francona reflected desperation. Torre managed against his own record, his own greatness.

Francona, who was in his first season as Red Sox manager, managed against the ghost of Grady Little. Francona was insecure, paranoiac and had lost all sense of logic.

Imagine if Roberts really went after Francona.

In an effort to break the Yankees momentum in the third game, Francona used Tim Wakefield in relief, although he was scheduled to start the next game. Roberts questioned the move because she felt that Derek Lowe would not be mentally ready to pitch in the fourth game.

She then zapped Pedro Martinez, saying “…was Pedro Martinez going to be called upon to save the Red Sox from elimination?”

According to the perceptive Roberts, Francona indulged the players in camaraderie techniques that were dangerously close to making it appear that he had lost control.

Kevin Millar, who was a replacement player during the 1994-95 strike, and Manny Ramirez, who has been known to displease some individuals, had the temerity to criticize Francona.

Experienced fans and media-types know that when it comes to sports, anything can happen. From the 1914 Miracle Boston Braves to the 1951 New York Giants to the 1969 New York Mets to the 1978 New York Yankees, the unexpected has occurred.

No one gave the Braves a chance against Connie Mack’s powerful Philadelphia A’s and a Baltimore Orioles World Championship was almost a forgone conclusion in 1969.

Selena Roberts ignored the fact that because something hasn’t occurred doesn’t mean that it can’t occur. 

“If the Red Sox fight their way back against the Yankees …Francona could go from being a pushover for his rebellious team of latent teenagers to a man who understood the value of a carefree clubhouse for a franchise miserable since 1918. He could, but he won’t.”

Another excellent example that when one assumes, one makes as “ass” of “u” and” me.”

Way to go, Selena.

Reference:

If torre is buddha, francona is a mess. by Selena Roberts (2004, Oct 17). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. SP1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/92798252?accountid=46260

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Expectations can be a wonderful thing. Expectations can also be a yoke of crushing weight. 

This year’s version of the Red Sox had some of the heaviest weight to bear of any team in sports.  The regular season was just supposed to be an extended warmup for the postseason.  They were supposed to step on the field and waltz their way to 100 wins and a third ring in less than a decade. 

Then they started off with a record of 0-6. Put away the waltzing shoes. 

The first week, Boston’s starting pitching looked nothing like the force they were expected to be.  The offense looked even less like a team that was going to steamroll their way to some new finger bling.

More than one quarter of the season was in the books before they hit .500.  In their last 10 games, they are 8-2 with seven wins in a row, capped by a 15-5 shellacking of the Cubs.  The Red Sox sit at 24-20, a measly half-game behind the surprising Rays.

This is how they were supposed to look right out of the gate.

During their struggles, with guys like Carl Crawford going 0-for-everything, Kevin Youkilis struggling, the starting pitching tossing batting practice during games to all of a sudden winning seven in a row, one thing stayed the same: Terry Francona.

He never lost his cool, he never called anyone out and he never panicked. Right now, the Boston manager is one of the best in baseball.  He knows how to get the most from his superstars and his shiny new call-ups from Pawtucket. 

It’s supposed to be easy with a huge payroll, it’s supposed to be a cake walk all the way to October.  The 0-6 start should prove otherwise. 

During the train wreck that was the opening week of the season, he stayed with his starting nine. He knew better than to panic and make wholesale lineup changes.  He did jiggle the batting order a bit, and he started a bench player here and there, getting results is his job. 

He is as loyal to his players as any manager in baseball, but he also isn’t afraid to drop a new $142 million outfielder to the bottom of the order.  His players know he’s just looking for results.  That’s why the $142 million outfielder didn’t grouse or make an issue of batting at the bottom. 

Francona never pointed a finger during the horrid start to the season, except in general terms.  Even when he did have a comment on a bad outing he told us he believed his team was better than they were playing and that he knew they would play better. 

He was right. 

Let’s hope he is right for the Red Sox for many more years.

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