The Orioles host the Red Sox and the Rays host the Yankees in the 162nd game of the regular season tonight. The Red Sox and Rays are hoping that they will have advanced as the American League Wild Card team within a few hours, but there's a chance they'll have a play-in game tomorrow to determine which team gets the final playoff spot. Here's some off-field news about the AL East as Boston tries to hold off the O's and the Rays try to come back against the Yanks…
- Blue Jays manager John Farrell told MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm that improving the rotation would be his top offseason priority.
- When Joel Sherman of the New York Post asked people in the know about Terry Francona's job security, he expected to hear that the skipper had nothing to worry about, but he heard otherwise. Some say the Red Sox manager hasn't stopped his players from getting out of shape and that he has made certain players feel over-privileged. Sherman also hears that Francona feels "bulletproof" after winning two World Series and has stopped attending to some of his job's minor responsibilities.
- The Cubs have reached out to Andrew Friedman, the Rays executive VP of baseball operations, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). It's hard to imagine Friedman entertaining the idea of joining the Cubs with his club so close to the playoffs.
- Orioles manager Buck Showalter told Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com that the club hasn't reached a "firm decision" about his role next year (Twitter links). The Orioles figure to reach a decision on their complex front office situation soon.
I’m not sure what they want him to do about his player’s conditioning? Break into their houses over the off season and crack the whip over them when they work out?
What do you think a manager’s job is? To just fill out the lineup card, make pitching changes, and sit back and watch the ballgame?
Well hopefully he occasionally does some of that “managing” stuff during the game, but… yeah.
Their job is to manage the personalities. He’s not their baby sitter. If 25 grown men can’t keep themselves in good enough shape to do their jobs properly there’s a problem that isn’t related to Terry.
… and the team pays strength and conditioning coaches to get these guys on a program… Terry’s job is to motivate his players to play for him, and before this year, that’s been the case.
From everything I’ve read its Showalter’s decision what he does next year, and the “club’s” decision is irrelevant.
he’s probably annoyed with all that is happening above him, giving him more power would probably be for the best
“Joel Sherman of the New York Post asked people in the know”
sure he did
Don’t like what he said?
Sounds like Joel Sherman just gave his opinion.
Wow, epic games tonight. Rays comeback, Papelbon blows it, Kimbrel blows it.
Makes me wonder if Sox fans are mad at Joe Girardi for not doing Robertson and Rivera.
Only the most blatantly moronic Boston fans would expect Girardi to guide the Yanks to the AL East Championship AND win the Wild Card for the Red Sox.He’s a good manager, but nobody’s that good!
god that was awful tonight. face it. they deserved to lose. with that lineup, bullpen and pitching staff, we should have won 100 games or more. Joe Maddon is a baseball god. The Rays deserve to win a world series…and screw everyone bashing Crawford..He would have made that catch if the grass had not been wet…and its the entire teams fault..not just his..Crawford is a humble and likable guy and will bounce back next season. The only thing that would make me turn on Crawford is if we lose Ellsbury bc of Crawford’s contract. Thank god that cocky and arrogant Papelblown has pitched his last game in a sox uniform…
Lol Boston lost! Boston lost! Tampa Won! Tampa won!
Francona is not a leader, nor is he a tactician. He is one of the guys. (witness playing Drew in RF last night). Its time to go into the front office Tito.
Wish I could delete my own comments.