In 2004 we boldly marched into the playoffs chanting “Reverse the Curse“.  In 2008, as we limp in, we could well be groaning “We Need a Nurse.”  

The Red Sox enter the post season for the fifth time in six years. This year’s edition is a dramatic statement of how far the organization has advanced since the days of “wait-until-next-year.”

Throughout the entire season the Sox have battled an inordinate number of injuries. To be fair, the Yankees and Rays have had their share as well. However, the 2008 Red Sox would have been wise to reserve a ward at the Mass General. 

It seemed that every week Terry and Theo had to call on reserves. Sometimes it was a proven player, often not. Off the top of my head, this year the list of injured players included*:

·         David Ortiz

·         Mike Lowell

·         Julio Lugo

·         J.D. Drew

·         Josh Beckett

·         Coco Crisp

·         Hideki Okajima

·         Sean Casey

·         Mike Timlin

·         Clay Buchholz

·         Jacoby Ellsbury

·         Curt Schilling

·         Tim Wakefield

 

*This list does not include the negative impact surrounding the Manny debacle.

Whatever, they held it together. 

Theo has received a lot of kudos since becoming the GM, and there should be little argument that he deserved every one of them.   However, while Terry Francona has converted many to his camp, there are still stubborn detractors who still, for whatever reason, have issues with him. 

Viewed from any reasonable perspective, this is hard for me to understand.

Admittedly, from time to time I have disagreed some of his decisions. I should also note that I occasionally disagreed with Joe Morgan, Kevin Kennedy, Jimy Williams, so forth and so on. In hindsight my opinions were sometimes right and often times wrong. But one thing is undeniable; regardless of this year’s playoffs, Terry Francona has already done what no manager in Boston has ever done before him.

Further, this has to be his finest hour.

A few years back, before the Papelbon era, we often referred to the term “closer by committee.” This year it wouldn’t be far from the truth to describe the situation as “roster by committee.” Thanks in large part to Terry it actually worked.

On paper Red Sox should have their hands full with the Angels. They are not the same team we pushed aside last year. The 2008 regular season was a job well done and as we enter the 2008 playoffs it’s Terry Francona’s light that’s shining brightest.   

Today’s manager needs to be a leader, teacher, arbitrator, statistician, psychiatrist and nurse. More than the game-by-game strategies that need to be executed, today’s manager has to oversee the process of keeping high priced contracts, egos, and unrelenting media in proper balance over the course of a very long season.

Nobody has done a better job than Terry Francona.

Bring on the Angels!