Francona: The Red Sox Years is a decent baseball book but would be a great book for Red Sox fans. Terry Francona managed in Boston for many years. One thing that happens in Boston is that the baseball manager is highly scrutinized.
Francona takes the readers inside the clubhouse with all that goes on. He talks candidly about what was good and what was bad during his tenure. He goes through his first year in 2004 when they win a championship and then again in 2007. He has plenty to say about Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez. He lets readers know what it is like working with a statistics driven general manager in Theo Epstein.
One of the most difficult tasks that Francona had to juggle was his relationship with three owners and their expectations. He discusses wins and losses, clubhouse talk, minor leagues and the joy of talking promo to a youngster and the heartbreak of demotion or release. It is all in this book that explains it all.
Francona states that winning became less of a priority and money was the impetus of it all and how the Red Sox lost their way dealing with that way of thought. This is a good read on baseball management. He tells us the real inside story. I would have enjoyed it more if I was a Red Sox fan. Good book otherwise.
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