I Was Glad.......

[Mike P]

You know---with all the crap that happened to the Sox this year--Papi injured and then a shell of himself, the whole Manny circus, Beckett obviously injured, losing the best post-season pitcher of the last 20 years for the season before it even started, Varitek hitting close to the Mendoza line all year, Buckholtz flopping, Wakefield being erratic as hell--Francona's done a hell of a job getting them where they are.

Madden will probably get Manager of the Year, and deservedly so, but for my money Francona's earned a pass on a brain fart or two.

[BigFish]

I agree with all that, but this is the ALCS...its an entirely different season....and he did not have a brain fart or two.....he left him in when he let them tie it 2-2...ok that was a no brainer but then we take a 4-2 lead and they tie again and its obvious Beckett does not have the good stuff!!! So he leaves him in 4-4 and we go ahead again 5-4, 6-4....then they tie it again and still he leaves him in???!!!! Then he comes back out for the next inning and coughs up another double.....in comes Oki and he faces one batter and walks him and Francona is all done with Oki after only 1 batter???? Come on!!!