SPORTS OF THE TIMES Francona Awaiting His MartÃ­nez Moment
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A FEW hours before Boston won Game 2 of its American League division series last night, Manager Terry Francona stood in the lounge of the visiting clubhouse and listened to my theory on
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On the day after, manager Terry Francona was unwavering in his support of reliever Eric Gagn&#xE9; . Even before Gagn&#xE9; blew a save in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays, Francona said he told the reliever, "We'll do it again, in case you were wondering."
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Seldom has a man so deftly handled 24 players, as Terry Francona has managed the Boston Red Sox within striking distance of a World Series championship, while grossly mismanaging a 25th, as he has Pedro MartÃ­nez.
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This is why manager Terry Francona never did tighten the reins on the free spirits in the Red Sox clubhouse. Free spirits can bounce back with the best of them.
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The five innings that Pedro MartÃ­nez were encouraging but inconclusive. He held the Marlins without a hit until the fifth, but then allowed four runs in that inning before departing.
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Pedro MartÃ­nez could soon receive a contract offer from the Mets that is competitive with the one he has already received from Boston.
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Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he has not yet even begun to formulate contingency plans in the event that Curt Schilling's ankle injury sidelines him for the rest of the American League Championship Series, but Pedro Martinez said he is prepared to pitch on short rest if asked.
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Sitting in the visitors' dugout at Coors Field, Dustin Pedroia waited for the Rockies to wrap up batting practice before Game 4 of the World Series last night. With the Red Sox in control of the series, Pedroia was asked if he had any thoughts about possibly making the last putout that clinched the World Series.
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With a few more starts, Pedro MartÃ­nez could tinker with his control and recapture his sharpness. Unfortunately for the Mets, he is out of time.
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John Thomson looks ready for a prime spot in the Braves&#39; postseason rotation, and Julio Franco looks ready to display his midlife resurgence to a wider audience in the playoffs.
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Terry Francona remembers the dull ache of hopelessness, the sad feeling of managing a team that was destined to go nowhere in October but home. He guided the Phillies through four miserable Septembers in his only experience as a big league skipper before the Red Sox handed him the keys to their team -- and their dreams.
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Making wholesale substitutions as the Yankees piled on the runs yesterday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona removed Jason Varitek. The catcher
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CHICAGO -- Terry Francona was asleep during what may have been a signature moment in the American League East race. Given that it took place in the middle of the night, hours before the Red Sox' 14-2 victory yesterday made it three straight blowout wins over the Chicago White Sox, he was not alone.
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The Mets are hoping to use Pedro MartÃ­nez as a tool for expanding their appeal in the Caribbean and South America.
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On a night when Carlos BeltrÃ¡n played for the first time in a week and the Mets lost their last regular season home game, Pedro MartÃ­nez was the focus of attention.
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CHICAGO -- This national TV stuff, Terry Francona still has some work to do. &quot;I showed up for the wrong inning,&quot; said the Red Sox manager, who had been lined up to do a between-innings interview by Fox yesterday and eventually got on, but just a little later than he thought he would.
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When general manager Theo Epstein was putting the pieces of this Red Sox team together last winter, he asked then-managerial candidate Terry Francona about Keith Foulke, one of the prized relievers on the free agent market.