Terry Francona reflects on his time with the Red Sox: ‘Way easier to remember all the good’


  • Wilyer Abreu hits grand slam and inside-the-park homer in Red Sox win over Reds 13-6


  • Terry Francona says his mind went right back to baseball after a needed year off

The Red Sox parted ways with Terry Francona fourteen years ago.

He then managed another American League team in Cleveland for ten years before moving on to Cincinnati, where he is now the manager of the Reds.

One of the many times Francona has returned to Fenway Park as an opposing manager was Monday night’s game against Cleveland, which the Red Sox won 13–6.

After the game, he informed reporters that his view on his tenure with the Red Sox has changed as a result of time. With the Red Sox, Francona won both of his World Series championships.

Francona stated, “It’s much easier to remember all the good and maybe kind of [brush aside] the stuff that wasn’t so good, or forget about it, as time passes and now [returning] here with multiple teams,” according to The Boston Globe.This was where I spent eight incredibly happy years. I realize I was lucky, but that doesn’t mean they were simple. We had some excellent players and teams.

An aspect of Francona’s recent trip has been health concerns. Following the 2023 season, he underwent shoulder replacement surgery and underwent surgery to repair a double hernia, which led to his retirement from the Guardians. The Globe claims that Francona has had almost 40 surgeries.

Francona said last December that he was having less fun and that his health problems were making him feel like he was beginning to take advantage of people. Taking a year off helped him rediscover his passion for the game.

Alex Cora, the manager of the Red Sox, expressed his amazement at Francona returning to the opposition dugout. Francona signed with the Reds in the offseason and is currently in his debut season.

Speaking with a few folks, Cora stated that the health aspect was the most important factor to her. Will he be able to persevere through a season? And everyone agreed that he was good. He is in good health. He wants to try it once more. And I say, “Okay, that’s cool.”

Francona claimed that he was convinced to return by his connections with two Reds front office staff. “I’m enjoying my return so far,” he remarked.

On the first day, I spoke with Brad Meador, the Reds general manager, and Nick Karl, the Reds head of baseball operations, and I found myself thinking, “We’re way too fast,” Francona said. You reach an age when you have different priorities, and while we will all face challenges because we are many, I prefer to face them with people I care about and respect because I know they will support me. That has been fun for me.

Boston.com’s Khari Thompson reports on professional sports. Khari worked as a college football reporter for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, prior to joining the team in 2022.

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Janet Trew

Janet Trew

Janet Trew is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in the industry. Known for her ability to adapt to different styles and formats, she has cultivated a diverse skill set that spans content creation, storytelling, and technical writing. Throughout her career, Janet has worked across various niches, from US news, crime, finance, lifestyle, and health to business and technology, consistently delivering well-researched, engaging, and informative content.

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