Francona is feeling rejuvenated
Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona is feeling much better these days. He has a rod in his left foot that bothers him when he wears his beloved flipflops, but that’s a breeze compared with what he had experienced.
The former big league infielder dealt with gastrointestinal problems and blood-clotting issues in 2020. After surgeries on his hip and toe, he also had to step away from the team in 2021. But his outlook has stayed the same throughout.
“Everybody says, ‘Do you have perspective?’ ” Francona said Sunday as he continued preparations for his 11th season with Cleveland. “I hate when we lose. I really enjoy when we win. But I love doing what we do, but I always have. I’ve always enjoyed it.
“If I wasn’t in baseball, all I’d be doing was wishing I was in baseball.”
Francona, 63, is thankful that he isn’t limping as much as before, making it easier to do his job. And it doesn’t look as if he has lost anything on that front.
The two-time World Series winner with Boston directed a young group of Guardians to the American League Central title last year. He has led Cleveland to four division titles, six postseasons and one World Series since 2013.
Turner settling in with Phillies
The last few years have been a bit of a whirlwind for Trea Turner. They included a World Series title in Washington, a trade to the Dodgers, and then an 11-year, $300-million contract that brought him back to the National League East.
The one constant amid all that: Turner has played with some pretty impressive teammates.
And that’s not about to change.
“I’ve been on some really, really good teams with some great players — last year being one of them,” Turner said. “That’s kind of the beauty and the difficult thing about baseball. The best teams don’t always win. Just because we got a lot of talent in here and a lot of good guys, and they made it to the World Series last year, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again. You’ve got to put in the work.”
The Phillies seemed to understand that this offseason. Yes, they won the NL pennant last year, but they also were an 87-win wildcard team appearing in the postseason for the first time in more than a decade. And Philadelphia shares a division with teams in Atlanta and New York that appear formidable for the foreseeable future.
Signing Turner, a 29year-old shortstop who has been an All-Star the last two years, showed the Phillies are willing to stay aggressive too.
Etc.
Major League Baseball announced that San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Martinez will replace Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on the United States team for the World Baseball Classic. Kershaw announced Friday that he wouldn’t be able to participate in the WBC . ... Elvis Andrus agreed to a one-year, $3-million contract with the Chicago White Sox, likely filling the team’s hole at second base. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move was pending a successful physical. The 34-year-old Andrus finished last season with Chicago, hitting .271 with nine homers and 28 RBIs in 43 games after he was cut by Oakland . ... Baltimore Orioles chief executive John Angelos is hoping to complete a new lease for Camden Yards with Maryland Gov. this summer.