Goodbye Tito

Terry Francona, the most successful manager that the Red Sox have had since before World War II, is officially no longer with the team.

It was a move that was expected following the Red Sox 7-20 record in September that dropped them from the best record in the American League to being out of the playoffs but it still tastes bitter because I cannot imagine a replacement that will do the job as good as the man known as Tito in Red Sox Nation.  Francona became the de facto fall man for a team that collapsed down the stretch and failed to live up to their immense preseason expectations.

Was it Francona's fault that John Lackey, signed before 2010, has been a tremendous waste of money?  Was it Francona's fault that Carl Crawford had a terrible season after signing a $142-million contract this winter?  Was it Francona's fault that Clay Buchholz, Kevin Youkilis, and J.D. Drew spent considerable time on the disabled list and that Daisuke Matsuzaka, Rich Hill, and Bobby Jenks were lost for the season?  It seems so.

Francona did say in his press conference that it was his decision to leave the Red Sox but seriously, if management did not want him to leave they would have found a way to keep him in Boston.

Despite the sad ending, Francona will always be remembered as the man who managed the 2004 Red Sox to their first World Series title since 1918, ending 86 years of Babe Ruth jokes, and also led the 2007 team to a Series title.  In his eight years with the Red Sox, the team was in the playoffs five times and never had a losing record.

The Red Sox now face the dilemma of replacing a man who was perfect for the job of managing in the pressure cooker of Fenway Park.  Expect to hear names like Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine.  Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Dave Martinez of the Rays will also be mentioned.  Whoever it is, they will have enormous shoes to fill.

We mss you already Tito.