Terry Francona: Red Sox Skipper May Take Fall for Theo Epstein's Shortcomings

Despite holding a nine-game advantage in the AL Wild Card race over the Tampa Bay Rays in September, the Boston Red Sox are currently sitting at home, out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

After such an epic collapse, somebody has to be the fall guy. It isn't likely to be any of the players so that leaves coaching and management. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, it seems as though manager Terry Francona will be the one who shoulders the blame for Boston's choke job.

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Terry Francona will meet with Red Sox management on Friday morning, and the expected resolution is that he no longer will be the team’s manager, major league sources say.

While Francona’s departure is not certain, it is the likely outcome, in part because he is pressing for a resolution, sources say. He would not be fired; the Red Sox would simply decline their club options on him for 2012 and ’13.

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If things play out as they appear likely to, then the Red Sox organization is making a huge mistake. It's certainly laughable to think that the Red Sox could miss the playoffs with such a roster, and somebody needs to be held responsible, but not Francona.

Although Boston missed the postseason in 2010 as well, Francona got everything possible out of an injury-riddled squad that was without stars like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Josh Beckett for huge chunks of the season.

Francona surely made some poor managerial decisions down the stretch, but ultimately the personnel he was given to work with wasn't good enough, and that is why general manager Theo Epstein should be the one to get his walking papers.

It isn't Francona's fault that the pitching staff was in shambles by the end of the season. Clay Buchholz's injury had much to do with that, but behind Beckett and Jon Lester, there simply wasn't anyone to count on.

Epstein is the one who threw a five-year, $82.5 million contract at John Lackey despite the fact that he was clearly in decline with the Los Angeles Angels. Epstein is also the one who thought acquiring the oft-injured Erik Bedard would help bolster the rotation, and that obviously wasn't the case.

I'm not going to fault Epstein and the Red Sox for spending money, but it simply hasn't been spent wisely with outfielder Carl Crawford being another example. Epstein threw a seven-year, $142 million contract Crawford's way and he was absolute bust this season.

Certainly nobody expected Crawford to play as poorly as he did this season, but there should have been some concern about giving him such a hefty pay day. Crawford wasn't prepared for the media scrutiny he received in Boston after playing for so long in Tampa Bay.

Also, his game isn't tailored to Fenway Park in the least as he didn't take advantage of the green monster like most successful hitters do. The Adrian Gonzalez trade and signing was astute, one good move simply isn't enough.

In Epstein's efforts to keep up with the Jones' (the New York Yankees), he has spent foolishly, and that shouldn't go unnoticed by the Red Sox brass. Epstein is simply living off his reputation right now, and he certainly hasn't done anything to bolster it.

Francona has done an excellent job as Boston's manager is reportedly loved by his players. Epstein's magic has worn off, however, and his continued presence will do nothing but hold down the progress of the Red Sox.