CLEVELAND (AP) – When Terry Francona looks across the diamond at Boston’s dugout, the Indians manager will have emotions to suppress. It won’t be easy.
He’s got friends over there – one of his closest in manager John Farrell – and strong personal attachments with players like David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. Under normal circumstances, Francona would be wishing them the best.
Not now. This October, the Red Sox are in his way.
Francona, who guided Boston to a pair of World Series titles and exorcised the Curse of The Bambino before leaving in turmoil in 2011, will face his former team in the postseason for the first time when the Indians meet the Red Sox in the American League Division Series starting Thursday night.
There are deep connections between the two franchises meeting for the fifth time in the playoffs since 1995. None, though, are stronger than those for Francona, who is doing all he can to keep the attention directed at the field and the AL East and AL Central champions.