Tito's Contract & the WBC

So, the Sox and Francona worked out a new contract, extended through 2008. I know some of his managerial moves drive the fans crazy - some question his ability to manage "in-game" - but let's look at the bottom line: two years, two playoffs, one World Series championship... Plus the players seem to love him - probably because he stands by his players. Look how long he stuck by Millar - long after he should have been using Olerud or Youkilis more. And he did give Bellhorn plenty of chances to bounce back.

Here's my favorite quote about the contract negotiations - from mlb.com:

The contract was signed at about 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday at City of Palms Park, before the team's game against the Cincinnati Reds.

"I was going to the bathroom," Francona said. "Theo walked it in. That's when you got a pretty good relationship. When your general manager can come and hand it to you while you're on the toilet, you got a pretty good relationship."

Yeah, I'd say that's a close relationship...

And check out the Dugout - aawww.

One of my favorite blogs to read is Jose Melendez. Like him, I'm having a real hard time rooting for the US team in the World Baseball Classic. It's not that I'm not patriotic, but the make up of the team makes me ill. Here's Jose's take:

That’s why this is so hard. Tomorrow, the American baseball team will battle Mexico, perhaps with a trip to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic on the line. And for all of his love of country, Jose cannot get behind this team knowing that Roger Clemens will be getting the ball, that Alex Rodriguez will be playing third, that Derek Jeter will be at short and that Judas Damon will be sitting on the bench icing his ouchy shoulder like a total pansy.

Of course, it could all be a moot point. I'm not sure of the weird math behind it, but if Japan wins tonight, there's the possibility that the USA is out. So, I guess we'll wait and see.