Cleveland- Guardians’ skipper Terry Francona hinted on Tuesday that his days behind the helm could be nearing an end. The beloved manager holds the most wins in Cleveland franchise history. The last several years he’s battled health issues that kept him away from the game for periods of time. Francona is 64 and listening to him speak today there was a tiredness to his tone. Asked how he felt Tito replied “Old…and beat up.”
Discussing his physical challenges he turned the talk to how he would want to announce his retirement saying “I think I felt my whole career like the players come first and the organization and my situation would always take care of itself. I think to deviate from that now is wrong. So, I think there’s a time and there will be a time to answer any question about what I’m going to do or not do. I don’t think that’s not because I don’t ever want to do this it can’t be on me.”
Francona’s most significant statement was “Just telling you that we’re getting there…and there’s just a time I think to do it appropriately.” Judging by his expressed desire to not take away from the players it would appear a decision to walk away would come at the end of the season.
Tito joined Cleveland in 2013 and during that time the club has been to six playoffs including a World Series appearance in 2016. This season he has received some backlash from fans and media alike as the Guardians sit six games behind the Twins in the Central.
Regardless, if this is Francona’s last season in Cleveland, he will remain one of the most popular managers in history and most certainly a Hall of Famer.
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