Latest on Terry Francona
Last week, the Cleveland Indians provided an update on manager Terry Francona. Francona only managed 14 games this season due to health problems. The update came directly from Francona himself.
Francona started his Zoom call by saying, “For a couple weeks there, I was not just away from the game, I was away from everything. It was getting a little hairy there.” The 61-year-old manager started dealing with gastrointestinal issues when Spring Training originally started. He ended up being shut down from baseball-related activities on a couple of different occasions.
However, between the middle of March and mid-July when Summer Camp started, “Francona estimates that he was put under anesthesia nine or 10 times for procedures.” Eventually, Francona returned to be with the team. That happened to be around the time that starting pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac got in trouble for violating the team’s COVID-19 procedures.
Shortly after that time, Francona recalled what happened. He went onto state, “That last day in Detroit, I couldn’t get my shoe on and I was fidgety, and everybody was noticing.” That later prompted him to return to the Cleveland Clinic where he learned that he was dealing with a blood clot. Although, it wasn’t just one singular blood clot, but multiple. Francona told reporters that “He needed three surgeries in five days and spent four days in the ICU.”
After being released from the Cleveland Clinic, he returned to his apartment. It just so happens to be right down the road from where the Indians call Progressive Field. Therefore, while he wasn’t able to physically be at the game, “he was able to hear the celebratory fireworks after a win.”
Francona’s Chances of Managing in 2021
Looking ahead to next season, the Indians expect Terry Francona to return as a manager. At least, that is what the indications are from Chris Antonetti. However, as with anything related to personal health, only time will tell what ends up happening.
For him, though, Francona says it is very challenging being away from the game. Challenging from the aspect of not being there to celebrate with the team when they clinched a postseason berth. Also, challenging from the aspect of not being able to provide the necessary support that is expected of a manager.
Regardless, Francona realizes how blessed he truly is. He concluded his Zoom call by talking about that. “I don’t think I need to get sick to know that I’m a lucky person and value the relationships I have and things like that.” He went onto add, “I understand and love where I’m at. Everybody that’s around me knows that. I love the people I work with and work for. And that doesn’t change; it just probably grows stronger. But I want to be able to hold up my end of the bargain.”
Final Thoughts on Francona
In the end, Francona is everything that the Indians are built off of. Francona has been the team’s manager since the start of the 2013 season. Over that span, he has accumulated a 673-519 win-loss record. That translates into a .565 winning percentage. Additionally, the Indians have finished in first or second place during six of those eight seasons.
Stepping away from the game wasn’t easy for Francona. Neither is the thought of retiring. That means that his goal now is to try to win a World Series Championship. Hopefully, that happens for the Indians over the next few seasons. For now, continued prayers and positive thoughts to Terry Francona.
Main Image:
Embed from Getty Images
