Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Where and when will Terry Francona manage next? [Updated]

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Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss the future of Terry Francona, who stepped down last week after eight seasons and two World Series titles as manager of the Boston Red Sox. Check back throughout the day for more responses and weigh in with a comment of your own.

Dom Amore, Hartford Courant

Has to be the Cubs, doesn’t it?

The Cubs are bedeviled by the most hideous curse in sports, so what do they need? A manager who has d he can break such things. There are only two out there who have d then can win with organizations that haven’t in 80 years or more. The Cubs let Ozzie Guillen slip out of town and manage the Marlins. That leaves Terry Francona, the man under whom the Red Sox told the ghost of the Big Bam to scram once and for all in 2004.

Seriously, though, Francona, like most fired managers, will land in a place where he represents the opposite approach to his predecessor. The Cubs have tried the ranting of Lou Piniella and gone with a solid, longtime minor league organization man in Mike Quade. Francona would bring the gravitas of two championships, exciting the fans, and with his major league playing, coaching and managing experience, he has the ability to handle big stars in a big market and put out brush fires rather than start them.

He could work across town with the White Sox, too, or perhaps one day in New York, should abrasive Terry Collins wear out his welcome with the Mets. But the Cubs seem like a great fit. 

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