Francona Named New Indians Manager

The Cleveland Indians, who plodded their way to a 68 and 94 fourth place finish in the AL Central, broke the world land speed record in the off season by hiring former Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

Meet the New Cleveland Indians Manager. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

After unjustifiably being run out of town on a rail in Boston by an insecure and hair trigger Boston management group at the end of the 2011 season, Francona, 53, turned his attention to analysis for ESPN this past season after managing the Red Sox from 2004-11 and the Phillies from 1997-2000.

"“I’m really excited,” Francona said on air on ESPN. “People who don’t know me may have thought I was looking for something different.” Francona was hired over interim manager Sandy Alomar, Jr., who was the only other candidate for the job."

Francona also has a number of special connections with the Indians organization that make his choice a natural. In 2001 after he was fired as Philadelphia’s manager, he worked in Cleveland’s front office as an adviser. In a quirk of family history, Francona spent part of the 1988 season on Cleveland’s major league roster and his father, Tito, played with the Indians from 1959-64.

It feels like the first time
Feels like the very first time 
It feels like the first time
Feels like the very first time 
– Feels Like The First Time, Foreigner