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 TO joins us on the like a warning --

What do you do what dodger. Here. Best friend I mean he is your best friend is --

It on my best -- November -- world. I've known him since 1977. You know that's college professional. We've been through a lot together and a reason these stayed close because it'll again you go through this game. And and if you bowl technical like Austin English or French opens up they can probably important we've endured a lot of things together and he's one might truly 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 a hitting coach is. And I don't think fans have a real grasp of how important Brad Mills was to what you guys were doing there.

Yeah in every organization is probably a little bit different and again not a building is gone maybe maybe the bench coach. Here may have a little bit different -- But assignments or responsibilities. If you want big abilities like -- we knew we social well. That I don't -- left the rumor I got called -- to do something special expert drinks whatever -- because you've done got done. Only got a lot of our responsibility here earlier that enabled glory it was good for him -- tremendous -- ready. But again you can't just have that capital --

You know it's interesting that the general manager in Houston now was the 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. Tom I think -- ticket go from there which is good. Ed -- a good good guy you know again we've been through a lot of the other three studio the -- and MM that's not easy -- all the fun for great but we're still really good friends and I think -- 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 he'll be --

Auto mall. I'd don't want Big East he could not complete recap -- war on out -- you know -- the this will be interesting because he's always kind of had to formulate. He is feeling around how I felt we got a bench coach does it give your opinion but it. They've -- decisions come down to me now he'll be making those 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 -- very good person. If he got a lot of caught in got a combination of a lot of good things but it felt -- successful.

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

to enjoy -- I Q he's so conscientious. Occasionally -- next June would be called a ball for reportedly not sleep. And memo that I can lap but he jumps.

Allison I wasn't surprised that you did it I was surprised that Houston Astros owner ray 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 was to.

We actually called Bay Area and and I was really impressed I mean guilt so much so -- time -- game people make calls took a little maybe cover their backside or 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 tortilla on the sort -- you have a conversation with both -- common good that we are ready for spring training. We don't really likeable guy got a lot of personality. And again you're you're talking about Brett build my favorite people the world told ya I told myself and I -- did help let me tell the whole idea.

you tell me before that. You 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 at the wrong way.

Yeah yeah and that's just. Good good fortune not known somebody for thirty years. But the coach at all last -- elite -- at 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 I'm not to not back off at all always typical. Many retreat demolish because he has bigger and stronger and Italy's I didn't watch myself sometimes but and the guys get a kick out of it but we also have a relationship where he can play some -- very -- show -- or you can tell me. You don't want what are you don't want in that that doesn't make any sense we have that special relationship that something that just doesn't happen overnight. And -- and I -- I appreciated I mean it was good it was healthy it was good. And we talked about loyalty loyalty isn't just somebody that told you. -- good it's somebody that has book they're the pairing of you and your organization to tell you sometimes to picture --

what what do you think of that 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 basic types of things happen when you have good people -- you know field got a lot of guys in his. Office that are targeted this isn't going to be the only guy -- don't -- manager and bench Eric and it was just it was going to be next in my occasionally there's there's guys that are good in bridal how orange you to you can name a pretty good look down there so that that's that's inevitable. You know -- just curious if it. It puts a -- what we do but I think you you kind of hope you -- 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 -- our concern about going response.

I understand there's nobody within your organization that you had a thirty year relationship -- do you think there's somebody within your organization. You can approach the relationship you just described to was with Brad Mills. 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.

Well you know what I hope so hum couple points one you don't you don't take thirty years and Graham and end up to six months let's just not realistic there's a lot of we got a lot of good coaches -- Not just at the Major League level. But it in our power development system and so again the next couple days -- and and we need to sit around and it would -- talked globalized like 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 the organization. Okay does that. You know again. Is that the best move I don't know we feel -- I -- 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 -- sometimes they need to be. They need to be recommended for these jobs also.

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

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

They go and 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 in the last Lamotte talked because you know I just mean I certainly knew what was going on. You know. -- like -- could be a title like guys it's just amid an old 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 saw relief didn't enjoys it not to watch them play baseball.

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

It'll -- been wrong so far we're gonna vote can be ops. 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 -- deepen up into a game because of -- adult. I think of people. Don't realize is you can't match up against New York's lineup you better have a good bullpen because we had a good bullpen as anybody which 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.

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

All my kids aren't very good at my gut I don't play my one daughter who I should probably. -- me about it because she's she's I'm Milt Bearden -- note -- Raptors. Press conference. And said that you brought my dad likes dozens congratulations. So and -- could close for a long time a lot of building Rondo and our kids I mean they're the nicest gramley in the world and everybody is coming touch with a knows that. Like as a 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 -- again some time later on. Okay appreciate up beyond record that he's out CNN as the Red Sox manager Terry Francona joining us.