CINCINNATI – Terry Francona not only has a championship vision for the young and talented roster he inherits with the Cincinnati Reds, he has a definitive method for achieving it and an disputed hall of fame career that includes two World Series titles to back it up.
The full championship vibe was evident Monday morning in the Handlebar at the Riverfont Club inside Great American Ball Park.
But Francona knows as well as anyone that it will take more than just words to turn that vision into postseason wins. This is a franchise that has enjoyed just two postseason victories since 1995 and none in Cincinnati.
They also haven’t advanced in the playoffs since beating the Dodgers in the 1995 NLDS. First comes getting to the playoffs, which hasn’t happened in a non-pandemic season since 2013, and that lasted just one game. Then comes winning in the playoffs and then getting to and winning a World Series.
Francona made it clear Monday he has already started to establish those standards inside the clubhouse in conversations with every Reds player, including Elly De La Cruz.
“I mean, that’s the goal,” Francona told me. “That’s the goal every year, and that’s why I started reaching out to the players right away. I don’t want to use this as an excuse that I knew or we don’t know each other. I need to get to know these guys fast, because before you get to know like I said earlier, you I think players like being coached.
“I think they enjoy working hard, but you’ve got to be organized, and we will be, and we’ll get after it. People talk about having fun, what I think being enjoyable is playing the game right, and to be honest, trying to kick somebody’s ass. That’s what I think is enjoyable.
Francona in his opening statements Monday, whether intentionally or not, made it clear that there will be an increased expectation of respect for the game, from conditioning to preparation to on-field conduct and performance. From top to bottom, Nick Krall and the front office is getting that man who will be the leader of the clubhouse they were looking for when they relieved David Bell on Sept. 22.
“I firmly believe players enjoy being coached as long as there’s always a solid reason, and you’re ultra-organized and that we will be,” Francona began with his credo for his Reds. “My promise to the organization and to the fans is that I’ll spend all my energy ensuring that they spend all their energy trying to play the game correctly and with respect.
“One of my biggest goals is to have our players feel like they’re cared for more than ever before, but at the same time, asking more of them on the field than has ever been done before. We need to find ways to value what it takes to be successful and win more than every other team we compete against. That is a formidable task. If it wasn’t everybody would win, but that’s our goal, starting from day one.”
From Krall to Francona, there was a definite effort to thank and respect David Bell and his family for they did to create a good culture in the organization. No one is more keenly aware of the Bell family name in Cincinnati than Francona, who was given his first minor league managing job with the White Sox organization by David’s father, Buddy Bell. Bell then hired him as a third base coach with the Tigers.
All of this came after Bell played with Buddy in his only season with the Reds in 1987.
“I’m sure there’s probably mixed feelings from Buddy, which I totally understand,” Francona said. “Buddy’s like my big brother, so much of how I view the game of baseball came through Buddy. He hired me as a minor league manager with the White Sox. He hired me as a third base coach with the Detroit Tigers. So he’s like my big brother. So regardless of where I work or who I work for, he will often be like my big brother.
“I’m personally aware just how much the Bell name means in Cincinnati, from Gus to Buddy to David, and I’m honored to continue building on David’s legacy of the positive culture. I tell our players all the time, and I’ll be telling our players all the time we need to spend our energy picking each other up, never tearing each other apart.”
That’s precisely what Francona is about. He has spent a career not only talking a good game but demonstrating his tone of respect for the game and its history. Treat the game like you treat each other, with respect.
Francona, 65, has agreed to a three-year contract through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028. He becomes the 65th field manager in club history, and the 55th since 1900.
Francona has 23 years of Major League managerial experience, compiling an overall record of 1950-1672 (.538) for Philadelphia (1997-2000), Boston (2004-11), and Cleveland (2013-23). He has guided his teams to the postseason 11 times, including 3 World Series appearances (2004, 2007, 2016). Overall, Francona owns a .564 winning percentage (44-34) in the playoffs.
“Terry is a future Hall of Fame manager that has experience winning with young talent,” Krall said. “I’m extremely excited that he wanted to be a Red, and he is the right person to take us towards our goal of winning a championship.”
A three-time American League Manager of the Year (2013, 2016, 2022), Francona’s teams won at least 90 games in a season 12 times in his career. His 921 wins for Cleveland are the most in franchise history.
“Terry’s proven track record speaks for itself. He is an outstanding manager who will lead our Club forward.” said Bob Castellini, Reds Principal Owner and Managing Partner said in a statement. “The Reds and all of Reds Country are proud to welcome Terry to Cincinnati.”
