Theo Epstein: 'There is no disconnect' with Terry Francona

September 23, 2011|By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

NEW YORK —Given his close relationship to the Red Sox and Theo Epstein, it's news when Hall of Fame baseball reporter Peter Gammons says on a national radio now, "I've sensed an increasing disconnect between Theo Epstein and Terry Francona."

Gammons then pointed out the apparent lack of repercussions for John Lackey staring down Francona on Monday when he was taken out of the game and Francona leaving Josh Beckett in to pitch the eighth inning on Wednesday.

But Epstein refuted the idea of a schism.

"There's no disconnect," Epstein wrote in an e-mail this afternoon. "We've had each other's support and admiration for eight years and that doesn't change because the team has had a very difficult month so far."

It's worth noting that Epstein is usually in Francona's office before and after every game and that was the case throughout the recent homestand.

Francona is in the final year of his contract. The team hold a two-year option on him.