Playing “eat your words” is fun! Here’s an extract from the New York Daily News, back in 2003:
Francona will be officially named the new Boston manager on Tuesday and all you can say to that is: Will the Red Sox ever get it? Francona is a nice guy (what was it Leo Durocher said about them?), very personable and undoubtedly a willing advocate of Sabermatics [sic], which the Red Sox brass has made a primary requisite for its manager. The players all liked him in Philadelphia. They just didn’t play for him, and anyone who was around the Phillies those four years will attest to Francona being in severely over his head. (“Boston’s making a Terry big mistake”)
Maybe that’ll show that just because you aren’t a hardass doesn’t mean you’re a bad manager. Listing being a nice guy, very personable, and a willing advocate of sabermetrics as reasons not to hire someone? Weak analysis.