Terry Francona recently retired from managing duties in MLB.
After leading the Cleveland Guardians from 2013 until 2023, he is now getting some much deserved time off.
Just by not bouncing from plane to plane, traveling from city to city, he is getting some much needed rest for his body.
That doesn’t mean he has been completely disconnected from the Guardians’ current reality.
He knows his successor, Stephen Vogt, and has been in touch with him.
Francona has told him he is always open to giving him advice and helping from afar, which Vogt really appreciates.
Vogt also likes to talk to Francona about his plans and ideas for the Guards.
“‘Tito’s been a huge help and mentor so to speak of just being able to bounce things off and what a great person he is,’ – New Guards manager Stephen Vogt on Tito,” ESPN Cleveland tweeted.
"Tito's been a huge help and mentor so to speak of just being able to bounce things off and what a great person he is," – New Guards manager Stephen Vogt on Tito. pic.twitter.com/pGItgf56ne
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 20, 2023
It’s nice and refreshing to know that Francona is now a Guardian for life.
He knows the players, he has established important, durable bonds, and he cares about the fate of the Guardians.
They are his project, or were until very recently.
It’s hard to completely disconnect from something that was very important in his daily life.
Vogt, a smart man, is making sure to keep him involved because Francona can still really help, offering timely advice.
He is one of baseball’s modern masterminds, a true dugout general who retired a bit sooner than anticipated because his body needed the rest.
Vogt is keeping him involved in a cool, wholesome way.
NEXT: Analysts Joke About A Painfully Slow Guardians Offseason
