Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Well yesterday in Houston Texas the Houston Astros. Named Brad Mills is their new manager nice picture in The Herald of Brad holding up his number two Jersey. And out one word came down that Terry Francona. Was gonna see his best friend in bench coach go to Houston I have a feeling Terry Francona was happier that even Brad Mills was -- joins us on the like a warning --

What do you do without your here. Best friend I mean he is your best friend is --

It on my best friend -- world. I've known him since 1977. You know that's college professional. We've been through a lot together and a reason -- cycles because it'll again you go through this game. And and if you don't think like -- thing major French opens up they're -- probably important we've endured a lot of things together and he's one of my true special front of the whole world.

I I think sometimes fans don't understand what bench coach means they know what a pitching coaches they know what -- hitting coaches. And I don't think fans have a real grasp of how important Brad Mills was to what you guys were doing there.

Yeah and every organization is probably a little bit different and again now the building is gone maybe maybe the bench coach. Here may have a little bit different -- But assignments or responsibilities. They want the ability of like knew we -- social well. That I don't -- left the rumor I got called -- to -- expert drinks whatever -- you've done got done. Only got a lot of our responsibility here earlier that an old -- it was good for him tremendously -- But again you can't just have that happen --

You know it's interesting that the general manager in Houston now was it general manager manager in Philadelphia when you guys were there do you think that worked to his advantage. There.

I got him I think it got him an interview. Com I think building had to -- ticket go from there which is good. -- a good good guy -- we've been through a lot -- other -- studio the fire and MM that's -- you've heard of what bolt on for great but were still really good friends and I think allotted. He's a he's a solid solid guy. Cares about people. I think he can build your -- other.

What kind of manager do you think you'll be --

The auto mall. I'd don't want Big East he could not complete recaps coaches don't. Have a war on that you know you don't want to be. This will be interesting because he's always -- had to formulate. Reduce feelings around how I felt we got a bench -- does it give your opinion but it. They've -- decisions come down to -- now he'll be making no decisions. The game won't be going too fast or he's he's been noticeable. He's using he's got a great feel for baseball. He took very good person. If you got a lot of caught in got a combination of a lot of good things that should help make successful.

What's that old -- he's about find out the difference between making a suggestion and a decision.

did you ought artillery so conscientious. Occasionally -- next June would be called a -- for reportedly not sleep. And memo that I can -- it jumps.

Allison I wasn't surprised that you did it I was surprised that Houston Astros owner Craig McLean. Spoke so glowingly of a phone call you made a great McClain to give your endorsement for Brad Mills he was pretty open about how important that wants to.

We actually called Mae and and I was really impressed I mean guilt so much and so -- time -- game people make calls took a moment recover their backside -- don't just to have played a bit. He came armed with questions and good questions. And I actually really enjoyed it we have fun conversation. Back toward you on the sort -- you have a conversation with both -- commented that we are ready for spring training. We don't really likable guy -- lot of personality. And again you're here talking about our build my favorite people the world told I told myself and I hope did help --

you tell me before that. You'll mills were were so close that at times during the game either you wouldn't have the same thing. You know what he was thinking or he would try to talk to you and you could say things stand that maybe. If you set him to somebody else they would take it the wrong way.

Yeah yeah and that's just. Good good fortune not known somebody for thirty years. But the coach at all last coast -- rebuilding takes the brought a lot from me. And it and -- I can do that because we've known each other and give me a look every so often like okay enough to not back off at all -- typical. Many retreat -- problems because he has bigger and stronger and Italy's but he blocked myself sometimes but and the guys get a kick out of it but we also have a relationship where he can play some -- likely show -- only or you can tell me. You don't want what do you do want in that that doesn't make any sense we have that special relationship that something that just doesn't happen overnight. And an idea and I appreciate it I mean it was good it was healthy it was good. We talk about loyalty loyalty isn't just somebody that told you. -- good it's somebody that has -- ticket pairing of you and your organization to tell you sometimes a picture wrong.

Well what what do you think of it that transition. Now that you're you're dealing with in the organization and in baseball operations I mean you know you you lost Brad Mills. To Houston at -- lawyer goes on to San Diego the beauty general manager does that affect you at all of how does that Dole's those two losses what does that do for you.

Well you know I think I think inevitably these ethnic types of things happen when you have good people com it'll field got a lot of guys in his. Office that are targeted this isn't going to be the only guy turned in the hotel manager and bench Derek and it was just it was going to be next in my occasionally there's there's guys are good in -- power -- you can name a pretty good look down there so that that's that's inevitable. You know -- building just curious if it. It puts a -- while we do but I think you you kind of hope you'll lose people mean they're your friends. And in and they they get respect from the industry and and they get drastic to move on. I think. Our happiness for them too far out way news in all our concern about going response.

I understand there's nobody within your organization that you had a thirty year relationship with -- think there's somebody within your organization. You can approach the relationship you just described to was with Brad -- Pay mills he shut up now or or take -- what you do when you're that does make sense to me that somebody you can do that with.

You know what I hope so hum couple points one you don't you don't take thirty years Graham and end up to six months that's just not realistic there's a lot of with a lot of good coaches are. Not just at the Major League level. But it in our -- development system and so again the next couple days beyond and we need to sit around and it would -- love the last night but will will talk a little bit more than the moral. You know one other one of the important things to think about. Is staying in the organization that I have some some friends some people that I think are really good baseball people that -- in -- organization. Okay does that. You know again. Is that the best move I don't know we feel what my -- not talk about that there are some really good people -- organization not better long enough now works sometimes you need to stay in the organization of promote. And it's healthy and and again. We're hiring good people so sometimes they need to be. They need to be recommended for these jobs also.

Is it possible or likely you're gonna have to find somebody else's well somebody gonna go with mills to Houston.

I think mills he used in the process to date of kind of trying to get some -- together on his staff I think it's a possibility. But I don't think it's a probability.

They go at the last time we talked to you said he had no interest. In the championship series did you watch any of the.

Not much not much relaxed -- talked because you know I just I mean I certainly knew what was going on. You know. I don't like -- could be a title like guys it's just a -- maybe it sounds silly but. But just the that this was a tough ending -- for a lot of us just wasn't that into a lot of I don't know she also used the right werder envious but. Just didn't like watching other teams play a select or don't want it to be just and it's -- relief didn't enjoys it not to watch them play baseball.

So it now I know you're not interest to but I got to ask you this who do you think's gonna win I -- these teams matching up the Phillies. Who are very good team versus the Yankees -- you know extremely well.

It all Michael been wrong so far we're gonna -- can be just. I didn't think. You know you you know you look at. Sabathia and politically and they're gonna have a huge say so in the outcome visitors could potentially very depressed three times. I think it's going to be hugely important for whoever starts for Philadelphia. To get deep enough into a game because of -- adult. I think of people. Don't realize is you can't match up against New -- help you better have a good bullpen because and we had a good open as anybody -- can't match up. Me they'll switch hitters they have lefties that that are productive against lefties you've got to get somebody out that's been productive. -- can keep not there because you just can't bring in lefty righty lefty doesn't work against.

It what's the harder part UN Brad -- separating or your family separating.

All my kids are Erica. My gut I don't -- my one daughter who I should probably. -- about it because she's she's criminal didn't but note -- raptors. Press conference. And said that you brought my dad likes dozens congratulations. So he underwent went -- long time July. Building Rhonda and their kids I mean they're the nicest gramley in the world and everybody is coming touch with a note that. Legacy of building embodies a lot of what's right in baseball so for him to get this opportunity and it's pretty.

Well I know congratulations are in order 'cause I know how much you wanted this to happen for him sell off. Congratulations to your friend get the job we'll talk to begin some time later on. Okay thanks appreciate -- beyond our thanks to you know it's CNN as the Red Sox manager Terry Francona joining us.