Terry Francona got it done when many doubted him. Unlike much of Red Sox Nation, Francona did not panic when the things were not going well in the ’07 season. We got a the view the Sox in the middle of their slump out here in Oakland until Schilling turned it around with his near no-no. He stuck with Pedroia when he was hitting .182 in April. He changed the lineup several times when Coco and Lugo were not doing well. He gave players the rest they needed down the stretch; look at how that benefited Manny and Okajima in the post-season. He gets the most out of his players without being a drill sergeant. He kept J.D. batting 5th even when he wasn’t hitting well in October, then came the grand slam. He started Wakefield in game 4 of the ALCS when everyone was calling for Beckett, we all know how that series turned out. He made all of the right choices in the World Series including pinch hitting Bobby Kielty who’s home run put the nail in the coffin of the Rockies. Tito deserved the American League Manager of the Year Award, he deserves a long term contract, and he deserves the respect of Red Sox Nation.
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