ESPN Chicago reports that Terry Francona could be on Theo Epstein’s short list to replace the fired Mike Quade as Cubs manager:
Could Cubs, Theo Epstein Consider Terry Francona For Manager?
“Tito and I have spoken regularly since the end of the season,” Epstein said. “We actually spoke today [Thursday]. We are going to sit down together and see if it’s a fit.
“Clearly he would be at the top of anyone’s list as available managers. That’s probably true of any organization looking for a manager with experience and who is a proven winner. He has to be at the very top of the list. I think he has to figure out if this is right for him, and then as we continue our process and figure out where we are headed, we have to figure out the right fit in this organization, too.”
Notwithstanding that it’s weird to hear the nickname “Tito”, lifted right from Terry’s father, referring to the younger man, it doesn’t seem likely that the former Red Sox manager is indeed the “right fit” in Chicago. CSN Chicago’s David Kaplan explains why:
Imagine a press conference at the United Club at Wrigley Field and the introduction of Francona as the new manager. Theo Epstein makes the announcement and then a barrage of questions from the Chicago media about what went wrong in Boston, the alleged use of pain killers, the drinking by Red Sox players in the clubhouse and more. Not exactly the image I see Epstein and Hoyer wanting to project as they start their transformation of the Cubs.
Kaplan’s on to something here. Though Epstein has “put the band back together” in Chicago, Francona isn’t necessarily part of that band.
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