Per Rosenthal: Francona expected to leave as Red Sox Manager

[The Rick]

Breaking news from Rosenthal.

Terry Francona will meet with Red Sox management on Friday morning, and the expected resolution is that he no longer will be the team’s manager, major league sources say.

While Francona’s departure is not certain, it is the likely outcome, in part because he is pressing for a resolution, sources say. He would not be fired; the Red Sox would simply decline their club options on him for 2012 and ’13.

[The Rick]

Looks like it's the ownership that could be trumping Theo on this one:

Epstein, however, may not have the final say. Ownership could conclude that Francona, after eight seasons of leading the Red Sox, has simply run his course as manager.

Francona managed the Phillies from 1997 to 2000. He was a special assistant to the GM with the Indians in 2001, then the bench coach for the Rangers in 2002 and Athletics in ‘03 before taking over the Red Sox in ’04.

[Gurgi]

Maybe the feud between Showalter and Francona is gonna end in our favor? Ha, ha, ha.

[The Rick]

Maybe the feud between Showalter and Francona is gonna end in our favor? Ha, ha, ha.

Crazy. I know I thought this could happen if the Sox were to see their collapse through, but now that it looks like it's imminent i'm still stunned by it. He's won two titles for them this decade.

[The Rick]

Maybe not a great comparison because the two sports are so different, but would the Pats fire Bellicheck if they missed the playoff two straight years?

[Remember The Alomar]

I always liked Francona a lot. Hopefully the Sox hire some one incredibly easy to hate. *crosses fingers for Bobby V*

[crissfan172]

Maybe the feud between Showalter and Francona is gonna end in our favor? Ha, ha, ha.

If Buck becomes GM, I would love to have Francona as a manager. He actually knows how to use a bullpen. The only thing he's guilty of is not being able to magically get his starters to pitch well in September.

[Remember The Alomar]

If Buck becomes GM, I would love to have Francona as a manager. He actually knows how to use a bullpen. The only thing he's guilty of is not being able to magically get his starters to pitch well in September.

I mean, that would never happen, but I'd laugh until I cried if it did.

[The Rick]

Well this Chicago Sun-Times article has a different spin on it, saying it's Francona who has grown tired of his time in Boston and wants out.

If the White Sox have designs on making Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona their successor to Ozzie Guillen, one important door has been opened.

Francona has had enough of his eroding Boston experience, a *major-league source said, and will ask the club not to exercise the option on his contract.

“He has had his fill of the whole thing,’’ the source told the Sun-Times.

[scOtt]

That's a shame. For all the Sux hatred, I rather like Francona. If the PLAYER'S collapse forces the manager to be fired (or let go...) that's sad. It's also not the knee-jerk response I expected from what seems to be a brilliantly run franchise.

[JTrea81]

This only means good things IMO. It sounds like the Sox might be falling apart...

[Sports Guy]

This only means good things IMO. It sounds like the Sox might be falling apart...

We can only hope...but that's not the case.

They will be fine.

[NewMarketSean]

Yeah I liked Francona, too. About the only guy on Boston I can stand. But it shows you how there is so little room for error in Boston and NYY, when a manager can be fired after winning two WS in 7 years (BOS) and the Yankees can push Joe Torre out the door after one of the best runs for a MLB team in the history of baseball. Meanwhile, in Baltimore we celebrate when a manager oversees a winning month or two in a losing season. Not that managers deserve all the credit or blame for their team's performance, but still, it just shows you how much of a demand Boston and NY place on winning whereas Baltimore doesn't.

[Remember The Alomar]

Yeah I liked Francona, too. About the only guy on Boston I can stand. But it shows you how there is so little room for error in Boston and NYY, when a manager can be fired after winning two WS in 7 years (BOS) and the Yankees can push Joe Torre out the door after one of the best runs for a MLB team in the history of baseball. Meanwhile, in Baltimore we celebrate when a manager oversees a winning month or two in a losing season. Not that managers deserve all the credit or blame for their team's performance, but still, it just shows you how much of a demand Boston and NY place on winning whereas Baltimore doesn't.

How many managers have we had over the past seven years?

[NewMarketSean]

How many managers have we had over the past seven years?

A lot, but we probably should have had more. IMO, it was clear that Perlozzo and Trembley should have been gone before they actually were.