By C. Trent Rosecrans, Zack Meisel and Jenna West CINCINNATI — Terry Francona wanted to miss it: the office visits from opposing broadcasters, the late-night strategizing for the next day, the late-inning, high-wire acts that made his stomach churn. Francona, 65, will take over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, replacing none other than Buddy’s son, David Bell. The #Reds …
CLEVELAND — They sat at Lola Bistro, capping the 14-hour interview at the white tablecloth restaurant on E. 4th Street, trying to talk Terry Francona out of managing the Cleveland Indians. But it was set up to end with Francona at the helm, the full-circle script fit with the perfect final scene, a manager savoring the long-awaited parade down Ontario …
“You’re going to hate this question,” I say, before scanning the cramped visiting manager’s office at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. “That’s a good way to start,” Terry Francona says, leaning back in a leather chair, his fingers interlocked and resting on his stomach. “He does a lot of funny stuff,” says Rays manager Kevin Cash, Francona’s practical joke adversary …
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — News, notes and observations as the Guardians prepare for their first full-squad workout on Tuesday. “There’s a difference in how high we can get them and how high we should,” Francona said. “We feel it would be beneficial to stretch a number of pitchers out because if our starters aren’t in a position to go very deep …
