Francona is the man

[DieHardCubbie]

Francona waits for reign
By Jeff Horrigan/Red Sox Notebook
Monday, December 1, 2003

The Red Sox announcement to name a new manager is expected to be put off until later this week, but the delay is not an indication that Terry Francona is no longer a lock for the job.

The former Philadelphia Phillies manager and current Oakland A's coach will be named as the Sox' 44th manager no earlier than Wednesday since his contract has to be finalized and club leaders must return from an extended Thanksgiving holiday, which included the courtship of pitcher Curt Schilling.

Francona, who passed his physical last week, beat out Texas Rangers coach DeMarlo Hale, Anaheim Angels coach Joe Maddon and Los Angeles Dodgers coach Glenn Hoffman.

Francona is expected to make some changes to the Boston coaching staff but will likely retain at least pitching coach Dave Wallace, hitting coach Ron Jackson and bullpen coach Euclides Rojas. Bench coach Jerry Narron, third base coach Mike Cubbage and first base coach Dallas Williams may not be back.

Not that we all didn't see this coming...but looks like it will be official by the end of the week.....

[Madison]

Seems like all that's left is Foulke now.

[Lofunzo]

For their sake, I really hope that they did this for the best manager and not just to get Schilling to go to Beantown.