Terry Francona

Born on today's date, Terry Francona.

"He has transient subluxation. I thought that was the guy who lived under the bridge." - on a Jonathan Papelbon injury

Dustin Pedroia

On this date in 2007, Dustin Pedroia is named the AL Rookie of the Year.

"Years ago in Baltimore in Victor Martinez' first game with the Red Sox, I walked to the mound to make a pitching change, Pedey goes to me 'Get the (bleep) out of here. Leave us alone and we'll win the (bleeping) game' and Victor has this look on his face like, 'What the (bleep) is going on here?'"- Terry Francona

Tito's got a 10 gallon personal stash of bubble gum!

That year without managing REALLY sucked!

Terry Francona text to John Henry

"U sent Bard 2 bullpen on Shakespeare's birthday?! Here's a sonnet 4 u. Roses r red, violets r blue, we hired a guy named bobbyv who doesn't have a f*****g clue! U can use it if u want! 2xROFL!"

Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Did u no Sox have worst run differential in baseball (-25) under BOBBYVLOLENTINE? How's that sellout streak looking? 2 4 1 tickets soon? 2xlol!"

Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Good thing 4 the rain! You & BobbyV really dodged a bullet 2nite! Back 2 my KFC! ROFL!"

Another Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Matt Mantei called. He'll close for BobbyV! They found a new string that can hold his arm together now! LMFAOLOL!"

Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Petey called. No more closed-door meetings with BobbyV! They need freedom of movement. Will go 2 union if its happens again. LOL!"

Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Have those guys turn around and come back 4 tryouts! BobbyV will sort out positions! LMFAO!"

Another Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Youk called & wants a trade. Do I send him 2 u or 2 BobbyV? lol!"

Terry Francona text to John Henry

"Enjoy ur BobbyV! LMAO!"

Dustin Pedroia

On this date in 2007, Dustin Pedroia wins the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

"Years ago in Baltimore in Victor Martinez's first game with the Red Sox, I walked to the mound to make a pitching change. Pedey goes out to me 'Get the (bleep) out of here. Leave us alone and we'll win the (bleeping) game' and Victor has this look on his face like, What the (bleep) is going on here?" - Terry Francona

Now they're saying Francona was all drugged out!

He was managing John Lackey and Carl Crawford!

You don't do that straight!

Back off!

You know that McCarver watching Terry Francona steal the show here....

....is ripping out IVs out of his arm and leaving the hospital "against doctor's orders".

Hailing a cab now.

How do they bring back McCarver after this?

Emergency meeting being called at Fox this very moment.

"The personal goals were outweighing some of the team goals"

Ok but I remember SOMEONE giving the rotting corpse of Tim Wakefield 8 starts to get his 200th win.

Just sayin'.

Profound clubhouse thoughts

                                                                               
"We battled and battled and battled and came up short."

1 star out of 5 on the "cliche-meter": It's been done, you know. Creativity lacking.

Profound clubhouse thoughts

"We played good tonight and that's what we wanted to do."

2 stars out of 5 on the "cliche-meter": Good thing they had a plan!

Terry Francona

Born on today's date, Terry Francona.

"He has transient subluxation. I thought that was the guy who lived under the bridge." - On a Jonathon Papelbon injury

St. Petersburg is a tough place to play? Really?

Per the AP story on yesterday's Red Sox/Rays game, this from Boston manager, Terry Francona: "This is a tough, tough place."

Really? It is tough to play in St. Petersburg? Is it?

I note that the announced crowd last night was 20,823. As to how many were actually in the seats, who knows. I did catch a portion of the game the night before between these two teams and it is safe to say that attendance was sparse with a very healthy number of Red Sox fans in the crowd. It just did not strike me as a very intimidating place to play for the Red Sox. Maybe they don't clean the visitors clubhouse or just keep generic cola in the Coke machine, I don't know.

Those catwalks above the field are kind of weird but they shouldn't intimidate anybody as long as they are bolted firmly in place. I do see that the their fans waive around cowbells there but I don't think a professional ballplayer would much be bothered by that. Tampa does have a pretty decent team but not the type that would make you shake in your boots so I don't know if it is that either.

So what is it that makes St. Petersburg this unique house of horrors for Terry Francona? I don't get it.

Maybe he doesn't get out much.

He should go over to Europe and wear the visitors colors at a game in one of those dilapidated soccer stadiums. He might find that tougher than St. Petersburg.

Better yet, he should go play the White Sox at their place when the shirtless guys are there and charging the field. They are out of jail now, you know.

I bet then he wouldn't think that St. Petersburg is so bad.