Photo From: USA Today - Former Boston Red Sox manager & University of Arizona Wildcat, Terry Francona

Former Red Sox manager and new ESPN Sunday Night Baseball commentator, Terry Francona, took sometime to give back to his alma mater, University of Arizona.

Since Red Sox Nation still think highly of him and been giving endless praise for what he did during his 8 years as manager, this video is appropriate to share.

He starts joking about no beer and wings in the locker room, then gave some life and college lessons.  He also shared a few stories about a few times he played at the Cats' new home field, Hi Corbett Field.

He became manager in 2003, one year before they won the title in 2004.  He has been praised with fanfare from fans, and owners.  After the debacle the last month (and first month) of the season, missing the post-season for the 2^nd year straight, fans are becoming more critical about his time with the Red Sox. Is his time up?  I think so.

It is the manager’s job to keep the players focused to succeed, which did not happen.  It is the general manager’s job to get players that are good, blend into the team, and sign them to an appropriate contract.  That was not accomplished as time has gone on, and showed since the 2007 World Series.

A general manager’s job is not viewed in a year.  It’s a multi-year mindset, and it is every evident the tam has declined every year since 2007.

The Red Sox have been notorious for signing free agents to outrageous contracts, since ownership has the money to do so.  The problem is most of them did not add up to a team that blended together, and probably caused the gradual entitlement mentality in the clubhouse.

2006

• Alex Gonzalez – 3 years $14 mill
• JD Drew – 5 years $70 mill
• Julio Lugo - 4 years $36 mill
• Daisuke Matsuzaka – 6 years $52 mill

2007

• Matt Clement – 1 year $1.5 mill
• Mike Lowell – 3 years $37.5 mill
• Mike Timlin – 1 year $3 mill

2008

• Brad Penny – 1 year $5 mill
• John Smoltz – 1 year $5.5 mill
• Jason Veritek – 1 year $5 mill

2009

• Adrian Beltre – 1 year $10 mill
• Mike Cameron – 2 years $15.5 mill
• John Lackey – 5 years $82.5 mill
• Marco Scutaro – 2 years $12.5 mill

2010

• Adrian Beltre – 1 year $9 mill
• Hideki Okajima – 1 year $1.75 mill
• Carl Crawford – 7 years $142 mill
• Bobby Jenks – 2 years $12 mill
• Jason Vertiek – 1 year $2 mill

Theo has already stated the he wants to stay on as Red Sox general manager next year, the last year of his contract, to “clean up the mess.” Sorry Theo, you caused the mess, it will be someone else will clean it up.

Reports and rumors have been going around the Chicago Cubs have expressed interest on hiring him as the next general manager on Chicago’s north side.  If he is offered, and accepts the opportunity, I will not complain.

Fans were starting to blame the start if they missed the playoffs by 1 or 2 games (which did happen) after winning only 9 games in April.  They had a good summer, but the end turned into the biggest collapse in history.  They were up 9 games in the wildcard in the final month, only to loose it on the final day with only 7 wins in the month.  The collapse has accelerated the speculation to a fever pitch on the status of Boston Red Sox manager, Terry Francona.

Based on official reports Francona quit as manager of the Boston Red Sox, although the real story is up for debate.

After the poor performance that cost the team to miss the playoffs, it was right, not only for Francona, but also for the Red Sox club for him to leave.

For the record, I like Francona.  He will be viewed as the greatest Red Sox manager ever.  He had 8 great years there.  He won 2 World Series, including the first once since 1912.  I have nothing against him as a person or a manager.  There is just a time and place for everything.  It was time for him to leave.

Francona looked more worn then normal for this time of the year.  Managing in Boston for a year is like 2-3 years most other places.  I am giving him the benefit of the doubt he was burned out at the later part of the season.

What the Red Sox did this season is get some of the best players in the game, and paid them outrageous contracts.  They are one of a small number of teams who have such luxury. 17 players earned at least a million dollars last year.  Six players are earning at least 12 million, 3 of them are pitchers.  As a result, there was a feeling of entitlement in the clubhouse.  Players were complaining about the “grueling schedule., and about the buses.  There was also drinking by some of the pitchers on there off day (how about watching the game, examining the players so you will have an idea of what to do when you take the mound?) in the clubhouse.

Ultimately, it is the job of the manager to get continuity in the clubhouse, and get the players focused.  There was next to zero discipline, a lack of focus.  What happens on the diamond is a team effort, not individual.  They are there to win the game.  That did not happen.  Frnacona is at fault, and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein also takes part of the blame.  He signed the players and has to work with the manager day-to-day on making the team successful.

Regardless of salary, players should be selfish, but it is ultimately the manager’s responsibility to set the player straight, and have them focused at the task at hand. That is to win games. With that talent, there is no excuse for them to miss the playoffs.  Sorry Terry, time for someone new.

I want to know how the world feels about the milestone, so give us your vote and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Also, I couldn't resist, I need to leave you the quote from Barry Bonds' website, congratulating A-Rod after he hit the home run, classic!

"Congratulations Alex on hitting your 600th home run today, welcome to the club. Stay healthy and focused, you only have 163 to go. I'll be watching and rooting for you along the way. Good Luck." - Barry Bonds

Thanks to Keith Allison for the photo of Alex Rodriguez hitting a home run

Boston called up Dustin Richardson and Ryan Kalish from the minors and optioned Jeremy Hermida to Pawtucket. With Mike Cameron going on the DL, Daniel Nava was also re-activated. By dropping off Ramirez, we take that liability out of the bullpen, however, with all the roster moves and trading of minor league prospects to the Texas Rangers, our biggest acquisition was catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia who has been in the Rangers minor league system all season. Although the poll didn't have quite the response we're used to here at Sportsfan4 (with the reconstruction of the site, the polls will be on the lower right hand side of the page, under the new cool beans section), those who did participate felt that the Red Sox did need to make a move before the trade deadline.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Although Boston did make a few roster moves and some minor trades, I don't quite think that this was close to the type of trade that Red Sox fans were expecting with a team in turmoil, unable to close out games with a shaky bullpen and an offense that seems to either light up the scoreboard or get completely shut down.

I have as much loyalty as the next man when it comes to our veteran players that have been in there since the '04 and '07 seasons, but maybe it's time to make some bigger moves and take a chance. Varitek, Lowell and Ellsbury haven't played much at all this season (partly due to injury), but we could manage to find a hitter or a middle reliever out there somewhere that would be reliable and consistent if we would package something together for a team that's in need of any of those guys. One of our best hitters, Adrian Beltre, most likely won't be back next season anyway and just doesn't have the chemistry to be on this team. I mean, what kind of guy violently swings his helmet at his teammate for touching his damn hair?! With all the injuries we have, the one thing we don't need is Beltre breaking someones hand or jaw with a batting helmet because he's a frigging broad, but that's a story for another day.

There's so much that we could have done to improve our offense, forget about the concept of run prevention because we aren't preventing anyone from scoring on us and get a few more reliable relievers to come out for innings 5-8. I still haven't given up on the team, I can still see some guys getting healthy and the Sox making a run for the wildcard, but my hopes at winning the Division are slowly fading...

This Month's Poll

Here's a head start on this months poll. With Alex Rodriguez's 600th home run being right in front of us, what do you think of the milestone?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Thanks to VickieVictoria for the photo of Theo Epstein

Representing the Boston Red Sox in the ASG so far are Adrian Beltre (3B), Jon Lester (SP), David Ortiz (DH) and three players on the DL that will be unable to compete, Dustin Pedroia (2B), Victor Martinez (C) and Clay Buchholz (SP). Three Red Sox that were injured recently and will be unable to play are all going to Anaheim, why not Youk?!

So take a few minutes out of your day, show your pride in the Red Sox, your respect for Youk and your love of baseball by voting for Kevin Youkilis. I suggest you vote as many times as you are able to, then spread the word and get others to vote as well. Let's give Youk the All-Star bid he deserves.

Thanks to Keith Allison for the photo of Kevin Youkilis.

1) Stay off the phone - If you're at a baseball game, what the hell are you doing on a cell phone, watch and enjoy the damn game.

2) Bring a glove to the game if you suck - Sitting right next to the fair pole, if you can't catch a one hopper, be like the woman sitting next to you and bring a glove, chump.

3) Be friendly with the people sitting around you - While this man was talking about who knows what on his phone, there were about seven people (two with gloves) standing around watching the ball make a run at his face, I thoroughly enjoyed watching.

4) Don't be a Yankee fan - Do you think that would happen to anyone sitting near Pesky's Pole? No way. Bare handed while holding on to two beers and a hot dog is how we do it.

Thanks to wallyg for the photo of Yankee Stadium.

Red Sox Injury Report

Jacoby Ellsbury - Our leadoff hitter has been out for what seems like 3 months with a fractured rib(s) injury. There is still no timetable on Ellsbury and that's only the beginning of our woes in the outfield.

Jeremy Hermida - Also a victim to broken ribs, our fourth outfielder is also on the shelf, giving more of our rookies (Nava and McDonald) more opportunities to start.

Mike Cameron - Not officially listed on the DL, it's obvious that Cameron has been playing hurt for the past month. Either he's hurt or he is just living up to that .187 batting average theory that Mike Felger had when we first signed the outfielder this off-season.

JD Drew - Just recently came back from an injury himself, Drew hasn't caught fire like he normally would between now and August. With all the injuries all over the field for the Red Sox, it would be great if he could start that up sooner rather than later.

Jed Lowrie - What was supposed to be the answer to all of our shortstop problems from the previous 8 years, Lowrie has been out of action for the past three months with Mono. Not only was he not the same since his wrist injury last year, who the hell sits out for three months with Mono? Maybe we should have kept Nick Green around.

Mike Lowell - Lowell was recently placed on the DL after injuring his right hip while running down the first base line. Although I think Lowell on the DL was a roster move for the Sox to activate Matsuzaka and keep all the young outfielders in the lineup, we could really use him back in the lineup with everyone else out.

Dustin Pedroia - The biggest and most recent hit to the lineup is that Dustin Pedroia will be out for approximately six weeks with a broken foot after fouling a ball off his left foot during interleague play last weekend in San Francisco.

Clay Buchholz - Also hurt in the San Francisco series, Buchholz pulled up lame with a slightly torn hamstring while running to second base on a grounder. Buchholz is listed with a hyperextended left knee and will miss his next start on Saturday. Awesome.

Josh Beckett - Beckett is out until late July due to lower back spasms. Josh did throw a simulation game earlier this week and it went well, but two starting pitchers on the DL with Matsuzaka off and on really isn't helping us out getting closer to the All-Star break behind the Yankees and racing with Tampa Bay.

Victor Martinez - Also not officially listed on the DL, Martinez took two hard foul balls off his left thumb against the Giants as well. It was reported that Martinez will not need surgery, but he will probably sit a few games over the next week, making room for Jason Varitek to get the starts on the home stand. That'll toughen up the lineup a bit, won't it?

Tonight's Lineup

John Lackey will be taking the field with the Portland Seadogs tonight in an attempt to hold a one game lead over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in game one of a three game series at Fenway Park. Regardless of the situations, Adam and I will be cheering from Peske's Pole out in right field. I just hope that Bill Hall isn't playing right in front of us.

Coming into the game against the Rockies, Lackey does hold a nice 8-3 record, surviving mostly on run support with an ERA of 4.53 and only 49 K's in 87.1 innings pitched (14 starts). Oddly enough, this has been one of Lackey's best starts to a season since his 2005 campaign with the Angels.

Injuries Effecting The AL East Race

With both Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka (making his return start tonight) landing on the DL a few times this season, Lackey is expected to be a #2 type starter or even comparable to an ace of the staff. Lackey opened the game with 3 K's and 1 hit in the first inning, looking like he was someone that we could really begin to trust in that role. J-Lack then harnessed his inner Derek Lowe in the second inning, allowing a 2-run home run to Miguel Olivo followed by 3 more ER's on 72 pitches while only having 1 out in the fourth inning (right after he allowed a double to Ubaldo Jimenez).

With the AL East race becoming closer and closer after making up so much ground in the division in the past two weeks, Lackey needs to be more like Curt Schilling and less like Derek Lowe. The run prevention premise doesn't quite hold up well at Coors field when Lackey allows each hitter to go deep to the gap every inning.

It's Like Being On The Round-Up At Canobie Lake

I later ate those words in the 6th inning when Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald hit the snot out of Ubaldo Jimenez to tie the game at 5 a piece with 2 outs. Then Lackey doubled and later scored on a Marco Scutaro single to take a 6-5 lead and get Ubaldo out of the game with 106 pitches.

Lackey then got it together and retired 10 straight batters on 110 pitches before allowing a single to Todd Helton with two down in the seventh, protecting the 1 run lead. Lackey looked more like the pitcher we expected him to be and less like a rocky road to loserville. Then Papelbon came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth and allowed 2 HR, 3 ER on 7 pitches. A perfect ending to a roller coaster ride of a game.

With all of this in mind, don't forget to cast your vote on our newest poll. Should the Red Sox make a move before the trade deadline?

Thanks to phxwebguy for the photo of John Lackey.

Thanks to Mark Sardella for the picture of Pedro Martinez at the Boston Red Sox 2010 Opening Day Ceremony.