Apparently Terry Francona Is Getting Healthy Again And Will Be "Back To Managing In A Year And A Half"

So Tim Kurkjian went on Cleveland sports talk radio this morning and dropped a bomb that I simply didn't see coming: he would not be shocked at all to see Tito Francona managing in the Major Leagues again. Huh??

I'm just going to give you my raw reaction: this would hurt. And don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with the energized and fun-loving team that Stephen Vogt has trotted out thus far in this young season, seeing as the Guardians are 17-7 and 1st in the AL Central after being given a below .500 projection by the suits out in Vegas. BUT, the reason we brought in Stephen Vogt is because Terry Francona announced his retirement dude to health issues...

Now I'm not saying Tito wasn't clearly having health issues and he needed some time off, but I was under the impression rumors wouldn't start swirling less than 25 games into the next season of his return. I thought that when he announced his retirement and the entire stadium wore Thank You Tito shirts for his send-off, we were really sending him off.

I'll be sad to see Tito in another team's uniform, if this does come into existence. And maybe I shouldn't take this so hard, but he was the greatest manager in the history of the franchise, and within 15 minutes of retiring from Cleveland, word is out that he may be back up. In no way am I sensing anything nefarious about this move, but it just feels weird that he was taking time off, had to retire, and we haven't even played a quarter of the next season yet and Kurkjian is getting the word out there that he wants to manage again. This can only be coming from the Francona camp. Give it time, Tito! Let our sadness heal a bit.

Anyways, someone is getting a really good one. His stint in Philly was obviously no good, but he's the best manager in franchise history for not one but two organizations:

Phillies: 285 wins, 363 losses (0 postseason trips in 4 seasons)

Red Sox: 744 wins, 552 losses, (5 postseason trips in 8 seasons, 2 World Series Championships)

Indians: 921 wins, 757 losses (6 postseason trips in 11 seasons, 1 trip the World Series...and a rain delay away from a World Series Championship)

Fuck, 23 seasons, recently turned 65 years old, and quite the career. Can't we just call it a day and go into Cooperstown with a Cleveland C on your hat?

Ugh, maybe he wants to manage a team with a payroll? If I see Tito in a Yankees jersey I might puke. Or would he really go to another small market team? He just turned 65 years old, and as shocked as I will be to see him managing again, I'd be infinitely more shocked to see him managing a bad team. It's gotta be a team like the Mets, with unlimited funds and a desire to win, that he would go manage. Then again, Frank the Tank might kill the old man. That has to be factored in.