Fenway remains special place for粉柯南 - 美國職棒

Fenway remains special place for Francona

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BOSTON -- For roughly 20 minutes, Terry Francona sat in the visitors' dugout
at Fenway Park trying to convince a large pack of reporters that this was
just another day in the life of the manager of the Cleveland Indians.

Francona takes enormous pride in his tunnel vision -- staying in the moment
as he calls it -- with regard to each day's game.

"I'm sure, knowing him, it's just another day," said Red Sox second baseman
Dustin Pedroia. "I know this place is very special to him. I'm sure he just
wants to go out there and manage the game and see a baseball game."

In nearly every ounce of Francona's baseball being, he didn't want the night
of May 23, 2013, to be about him.

But guess what? He had no choice.

No sooner had Francona started holding court with the press than a fan yelled
over, "We still love you, Francona."

Outside of Fenway Park, street vendors were selling magazines that
accompanied a bumper sticker that said, "Thanks, Tito."

It isn't every day that David Ortiz ventures into the other dugout during
batting practice to give the other team's manager -- and his former manager
of eight years -- a hug.

Yes, this day was all about Francona, who guided the Red Sox to their only
two World Series championships since 1918 in his highly-memorable tenure with
Boston.

"And it should be," said Brad Mills, the former Red Sox bench coach and
current Indians third-base coach who has been one of Francona's best friends
for decades.

Then, there was the video that the Red Sox played after the first inning
ended.

On the high-definition scoreboard in center field, the opening message was
"Welcome back to our old friends."

Mills was listed first. Then right-hander Justin Masterson, former Sox
catcher and current Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash. After that, it was
former Boston reliever Matt Albers, infielder Mike Aviles and lefty Rich
Hill, the pride of Milton, Mass.

Then, the scoreboard message delivered the main message. "AND Terry Francona."

From there, the crowd roared as the highlights played. They ranged from
Francona hugging Mills after winning Game 7 of the 2007 American League
Championship Series to Francona coming out and greeting Tony La Russa before
Game 1 of the 2004 World Series.

There was a clip of Francona laughing at a news conference during a past
Spring Training. Then, a shot of the biggest celebration of them all after
the clinching World Series game in St. Louis.

The scoreboard then panned to a live shot of Francona and Mills, standing
side-by-side near the end of the Indians' dugout. The crowd got loud, and
Francona took in the moment as much as he could. A smile came across his face
and Francona acknowledged the Fenway faithful with a wave.

The crowd then chanted, "Tito, Tito, Tito", and the Fenway production crew
capped the moment by panning to the 2004 and 2007 World Series banners that
hang on the façade behind home plate.

Then, it was back to baseball -- Francona's favorite part of any day.

The Red Sox played Francona's Indians in Cleveland from April 16-18. But that
day didn't contain nearly the same emotion and nostalgia, partly because of
venue but mostly because that series started the day after the tragic
bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Thursday was different in that it was the first game Francona managed in
Boston since his managing days with the Red Sox came to a crashing halt after
the September collapse of 2011.

"Every game I've ever been here [as Boston's manager], I've never rooted
against the Red Sox," said Francona. "Now I will be like crazy. You know
what, it's kind of nice. I came in today early because I knew it would be a
busy day, seeing a lot of people you know. Whether you come in the ballpark
and make a right or a left, those people are still the same.

"I got a chance to visit with a lot of people, which was fun. And go to our
clubhouse. That's part of probably why it's making this easier to come back
because I'm so proud of who I'm with now and what we're trying to do that it
probably makes this trip a little easier for me."

Whether it was getting off the plane at Logan Airport in the wee hours of
Thursday morning or taking a taxi to the ballpark, did anything feel
different to Francona?

"No, it really didn't," Francona said. "I fell asleep on the plane. By the
time we got to the hotel, I was so grumpy it didn't matter. So, no, not
really. Like today, I was happy I got to see all the clubhouse kids and [Red
Sox traveling secretary] Jack [McCormick] and stuff like that, which I enjoy
a lot. Having the year in between really helped -- a lot."

Thursday wasn't the first time since Francona's departure that Red Sox fans
were able to shower him with applause.

During the grand 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park on April 20,
2012, Francona might have received the loudest applause of the day. On that
occasion, he exited through the tunnel under the bleachers and took his Red
Sox jersey off, throwing it to a kid in the stands. He also came back once or
twice as an analyst for ESPN.

This time, he had on an Indians cap and jersey, and that looked and felt
weird to anyone who had followed his time in Boston with any regularity.

As reluctant as he was to be in the spotlight, Francona enjoyed returning to
the place he poured his heart and soul into from 2004-11.

Francona started his work day on Thursday the same way he starts all others
on the road -- by going to the office far earlier than he probably needed to.

"Everybody kept saying, 'Well, are you going to be emotional?' You don't
know," Francona said. "We played a late game last night. We got in about 5
[in the morning]. I got up at 8. It's been a busy day. And from people that
know me, I really don't think that far ahead. I know I've been accused of
that in the games. But I just kind of take it as it comes and try to go with
the flow and enjoy what we're doing."

The part about being accused of not thinking far ahead in the games was
typical Francona, the self-effacer poking fun at himself.

The Indians -- who have been one of the hottest teams in baseball of late --
are now getting the full Francona experience, and loving it.

"It took me 19 years to play for him," said Indians reserve Jason Giambi.
"And he's everything I thought he'd be. We've gone out there and played well
and played hard for him every single day."

Like all teams managed by Francona, the Indians came in fully prepared for
their four-game set in Boston.

"We're here, and we're here to represent him, so we're going to play hard for
him," Giambi said. "We know what he means to us."

Though Francona no longer works in Boston, his relationship with the city
remains strong, and probably always will.

But Francona was too busy compartmentalizing to really put all of that into
perspective on Thursday.

"I don't spend any time thinking about stuff like that [on game day],"
Francona said. "It's just not the way I'm built. I had, these were really
special years here. Sometimes they were tough. These are some of the best
fans in the world. And they care about their team more than … it's
unbelievable. If you like baseball, this is a good place to be. And I got to
be a part of that. I feel very fortunate."

As for the end of Francona's time in Boston, that was acrimonious. It was
hard for it not to be.

Francona had no idea whether he would see or speak with Boston's ownership
trio of John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino during the long weekend in
Boston.

"I don't think that needs to be public," said Francona. "I think that's
probably more how I feel. That's just not something --- it's been public
enough. That's kind of how I feel."

The one thing Francona had no trouble expressing was how right it feels for
him to be back in a dugout this season. Though he drew strong reviews during
his year as an analyst, a uniform is what Francona has worn for nearly his
whole life.

"I think [the year off] helped," Francona said. "Saying that, I kept talking
about getting perspective. I have no perspective. When we lose, it kills you.
When we win, I'm happy. And I don't think that's ever going to change."

The same can be said about Boston, a city consumed with baseball every bit as
much as the man who used to manage here.

"Everyone loved him here, and what he did here for a long time," said
Pedroia. "He's a pretty important part of the history of this organization."


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