Empyreal Environs ∙ 2008 Is Enough

At last, a contract extension totally lacking in drama or intrigue. Those Christmas cards Terry Francona sent out must have made an impact; his contract was extended for two more years. The front office was probably highly motivated to avoid a return visit of the circus surrounding Theo Epstein’s contract negotiations, making Francona’s renewal a footnote in Red Sox’s offseason thesis on (mis)management.

Of Red Sox managers who have presided over more than 300 games, Terry Francona is second only to Joe McCarthy in winning percentage for their first two seasons. His in-game management often leaves me scratching my head, but the numbers, as well as the championship, are hard to refute. Let’s see if he remembers his lessons from the 2005 season and does not allow his bench to lie fallow.

Manager	Total Seasons	Years	WP*	W**	L**	WP**
Joe McCarthy	3	1948-1950	0.606	192	117	0.621
Terry Francona	2	2004-2005	0.596	193	131	0.596
Bill Carrigan	7	1913-1929	0.494	131	92	0.587
Don Zimmer	5	1976-1980	0.575	139	98	0.586
Grady Little	2	2002-2003	0.580	188	136	0.580
Jimmy Collins	6	1901-1906	0.548	156	117	0.571
Jimy Williams	5	1997-2001	0.540	182	142	0.562
Darrell Johnson	3	1974-1976	0.539	179	143	0.556
Dick Williams	3	1967-1969	0.545	178	146	0.549
Ralph Houk	4	1981-1984	0.525	148	122	0.548
Pinky Higgins	8	1955-1962	0.502	168	140	0.545
John McNamara	4	1985-1988	0.521	176	147	0.545
Kevin Kennedy	2	1995-1996	0.559	161	135	0.544
Joe Cronin	13	1935-1947	0.539	165	139	0.543
Joe Morgan	4	1988-1991	0.535	129	110	0.540
Ed Barrow	3	1918-1920	0.512	141	121	0.538
Eddie Kasko	4	1970-1973	0.539	172	152	0.531
Lou Boudreau	3	1952-1954	0.497	160	147	0.521
Patsy Donovan	2	1910-1911	0.520	159	147	0.520
Butch Hobson	3	1992-1994	0.472	153	171	0.472
Johnny Pesky	3	1963-1980	0.451	146	175	0.455
Hugh Duffy	2	1921-1922	0.442	136	172	0.442
Billy Herman	3	1964-1966	0.413	128	182	0.413
Lee Fohl	3	1924-1926	0.349	114	192	0.373

*Career with Red Sox
**First two seasons with Red Sox

Empyreal Environs

Readin'. Writin'. Red Sox.

2008 Is Enough

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