Francona gets ready to say goodbye to MLB
Terry Francona made it to the home finale, his last managing the Guardians before retirement.
His beloved scooter didn't get there.
Just hours before Cleveland fans saluted the popular manager, who is leaving baseball after 11 seasons with the club, Francona revealed that the celebrated motorized scooter he rode to and from Progressive Field for the past several seasons was stolen for the second time.
“The hog has been officially put on ice,” Francona said, using the pet nickname for his ride before Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. “It got stolen again, but this time they stripped it.”
Francona said the two-wheeled vehicle was swiped about 10 days ago. It was first stolen in January but recovered by Cleveland Police.
“Been in mourning,” he said. “They got it in the clubhouse under a blanket. Looks like they took a baseball bat to it.”
The 64-year-old recently hopped on a substitute electric scooter, but the ride wasn't the same. He veered out of the way to avoid hitting some pedestrians, caught a pothole on a cobblestone street near his downtown apartment and crashed.
“I went over the handlebars,” he said, “I mean over. It's amazing how much you can see of your life in that moment.”
Jokes aside, and it was fitting the moments before Francona's finale included some light-hearted one-liners from him, the last home game in 2023 is a bittersweet celebration.
It's hard for the Guardians and their fans to say goodbye to the longest tenured and winningest manager in the club's 123-year history — one of baseball's all-time characters.
Although he hasn't officially announced his retirement, Francona is expected to do so formally early next week.
His departure will be a loss for baseball.
“For me, just to be here on his last home game means a lot,” said Reds manager David Bell, who has known Francona for decades. “The thing I know about Tito is that everyone who has ever worked with him loves him. I'm sure this emotional.”
Mets owner sorry
The sloppy field that caused a costly postponement for the Marlins left the New York Mets all wet.
Mets owner Steven Cohen apologized to the Marlins for the circumstances that led to Tuesday night's series opener between the teams getting washed out. The game was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Wednesday, affecting Miami's pitching plans in the final days of a heated playoff race and angering team officials, according to a report by The Athletic.
“Our sincere apologies to the Marlins and their fans for having to postpone last night's game,” Cohen posted Wednesday on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “We know how important this series is to the Marlins and every effort was made to get the field playable.”
The infield at Citi Field wasn't covered with a tarp for at least some portion of last weekend, when rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia began pelting New York City for four straight days.
Around the majors
• Miguel Cabrera hit his 511th home run to help the Tigers take a 4-0 lead in a game against Kansas City that was suspended by rain after four innings. Cabrera, who is retiring after the season ends this week, tied Mel Ott for 25th place all-time. It was Cabrera's 378th homer for Detroit, tying Norm Cash for second place in franchise history behind Al Kaline's 399. The game will be resumed today before the scheduled series finale.
• Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said definitively he will be back with the team next year but didn't say in what position or even how he could be so sure. Asked before the home finale against Tampa Bay if he was confident his job was secure, Cora said, “I'm good. I'll be here.” Asked if he had been given a guarantee from ownership that he was safe, Cora twice repeated: “I'll be here next year.”
• The Phillies will turn to their top two pitchers to open the postseason, with Zack Wheeler getting the Game 1 nod Tuesday in the NL Wild Card Series opener and Aaron Nola starting Game 2 the following day.
• Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes owners will hold a vote on the Oakland Athletics' proposed move to Las Vegas when they meet from Nov. 14-16 at Arlington, Texas.