"So I can stand a little straighter," Francona said. "I'll go in the next couple days and get it figured out so I can feel a little bit better. I need it."
The constant ache of his back only added to the year's difficulties, which come with the perpetual viper pit that is managing the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox flew 6,000 miles for their season-opening series in Japan. He had a malcontent superstar to handle in Manny Ramírez, an impossibly delicate situation. Waves of injuries forced him to invent new lineups. By Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, a stomach bug hit Francona. He vomited in the clubhouse between the late innings.
Yesterday, while he still fought the flu-like symptoms and the wounds of Game 7 remained fresh, was not the most opportune time to evaluate his future. But he acknowledged that he has previously asked himself how much more of this he can take, and he has considered when he should walk away.
"Have I given it some thought? Yeah," Francona said. "If there comes a time when I don't feel like I can do my job appropriately, I won't do it. This job, sometimes it almost sucks the life out of you. You need to be careful the day after a season is over, especially when you're sick and you don't feel good.
"I try real hard every winter to make sure when I come to spring training I can do my job. I owe that to the players and the organization. Because it does take it out of you, this place more than any place I've ever seen. And I do have health issues. There's no getting around it. If there is ever a day where I don't feel like I can do my job, I wouldn't do it."
The Ramírez saga at the trade deadline was particularly hard on Francona; the stress affected him physically. Play Ramírez, and he risked alienating a clubhouse full of players tired of Ramírez's behavior; sit Ramírez, and he risked playing without his best hitter. Say nothing publicly, risk being considered an enabler. Rebuke Ramírez publicly, risk more outlandish behavior.
Francona could not win.
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