Guardians' new look: Terry Francona back as their manager

CLEVELAND (AP) — The name has been changed on the front of Cleveland's jerseys and there's a new logo on the team's caps. There's another thing notably refreshing and different about this young squad as it opens spring training.

Manager Terry Francona is back.

Sidelined over the past two seasons by serious medical issues, the 62-year-old Francona feels recharged and eager to begin his 10th season with Cleveland — and his first as manager of the Guardians, previously known as the Indians.

After hobbling around in a protective boot before stepping away last July, Francona joked that his 2022 season is already an improvement.

“I got two shoes on, so right off the bat, I’m better than I was last year," Francona cracked at the team's training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, on Monday.

The past two seasons have taken a toll on Francona, a two-time World Series champion with Boston and one of baseball's most popular managers. He struggled with simple tasks, and the inability to function tested his patience and made him irascible.

“It’s been a hard couple years, there’s no getting around it,” he said. “:And I don’t want to act like a big baby because I know there’s people that have had way worst bouts than I've had. But it’s not been easy.”

Francona dealt with gastrointestinal problems during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and during a stay at the Cleveland Clinic he experienced blood-clotting issues that required a stint in intensive care. He wound up managing just 60 games before first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. took over.

He then had surgeries on his hip and toe in the offseason, and Francona pushed himself as far as he possibly could in 2021 before stopping in July and turning the team over to bench coach DeMarlo Hale.

Francona briefly contemplated retirement, but he...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Guardians-new-look-Terry-Francona-back-as-their-17002076.php