Papa Dunc says he wants to be back next year https://twitter.com/#!/GordonEdes/st...82137856344064

Grain of salt info

Guys, I'm hearing rumors that Francona is a done deal. The framework of the deal was done before the World Series. In case you didnt know.....Francona is in St. Louis as I write this post.

source = Cardinals minor league coach

Interesting, because I heard a similar rumor this afternoon. This thing might have legs.

Personally, I'm not a fan of giving the responsibility of this roster and franchise to someone that has little/no experience. I'd be perfectly content with Francona - then again, I'm not buying the narrative coming out of Boston that he's the reason all hell broke loose. Seems awful convenient.

Last I checked, there aren't any other active managers with as many titles as TF. If Mo think's he's best for this organization, get it done and start working on Albert.

Whoa. As long as it doesn't fatally offend Albert, it works for me.

Boston is a cesspool of back-biting and...well outright horseshit really.

Francona would be a fantastic pickup.

He provides instant credibility and respect both to prospective free agents and our own guys.

Added bonus: If Pujols walks, maybe Elsbury decides he really enjoyed playing for Tito and gives us a ring next December...

He's the guy I wanted before I knew LaRussa was retiring and deep down, I was hoping this exact scenario would play out (Tony rides off into the sunset and we get Tito).

Very exciting if true.

If he screws up the clubhouse we can run him out of town on a rail next year and get Maddon without giving up prospects.

Agreed.

Like I said, I'm not buying the story out of Boston. They needed a scapegoat, and TF was it.

I don't see Carp and Waino sitting in the locker room playing PS3, eating fried chicken and drinking beer on off days.

We have too solid a group for that to happen regardless of who the manager is.

IMO, Francona is the best hire we can make if we're serious about winning a lot over the next decade.

The minor league coach doesnt know first hand because obviously Mo hasn't communicated his plan to the farm system but its a very prevalent rumor and most are accepting it as probably true.

Maybe just the same rumor being passed around in the minors and in St. Louis. :hmmm:

David Eckstein was quoted as saying if Oquendo is named, then Albert will come back.

Eckstein's an idiot.

First, Albert hasn't come this far just to take a hometown discount if they name the 3rd base coach manager.

Second, Mo is a ****ing reerun if he gives the manager job to someone solely based on what Pujols wants.

Personally, I think Eck's talking out of his ass.

Guys love playing for Francona. I think that if you have a group of players with solid veteran leadership in place, and the Cardinals most assuredly do, perhaps more than any team in MLB, then he's an A+ pickup.

I have to worry about the health issues.

and who called Francona first!?

I won't take any credit though, I heard my roommate chirping about it during the NLCS...

ESPN has eleventy-billion channels, and I'm getting the ****ing Toledo/Northern Illinois game instead of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.

:facepalm: