CLEVELAND (AP)-- Terry Francona won't be riding off on his beloved scooter after all.
Just hours before his last house game as
Cleveland's supervisor, Francona revealed that the motorized scooter he has actually ridden to and from Progressive Field for the previous a number of seasons was taken for the 2nd time.
" The hog has actually been officially put on ice," Francona stated prior to Wednesday night's video game against the
Cincinnati Reds. "It got stolen again, but this time they stripped it."
Francona said the two-wheeled lorry was taken about 10 days earlier. It was stolen in January but recuperated by cops.
" Been in mourning," he said. "They got it in the clubhouse under a blanket. Appears like they took a baseball bat to it."
The 64-year-old rented an electrical scooter over the weekend, but the trip wasn't the same. He crashed and hit a hole.
" I went over the handlebars," he said, "I mean over. It's remarkable just how much you can see of your life in that minute."
Jokes aside, and it's fitting Francona's finale includes some one-liners, the last house video game in 2023 is a bittersweet event as the Guardians honor the winningest supervisor in their club's 123-year history.
He hasn't officially revealed his retirement, Francona is anticipated to do so formally early next week.
" The worst kept secret ever," Francona joked Tuesday.
Francona didn't want a special event for his last home video game, however he relented to the team giving out 20,000 "Thank You Tito" T-shirts. There will also be a video homage to Francona played on the scoreboard shortly before the first pitch.
" The most discouraging part is I can't wear the T-shirt because it's me," Francona joked. "I mean, it's a good T-shirt. I like it when we get free stuff, however I can't use it."
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Francona has fought severe health problems in the last few years and wishes to proceed prior to the video game beats him up further.
It's time.
" It got harder," he said. "That's why I'm going to shut it down. … … I'm going to go get my body repaired once again for about the 80th time and I'm going to try to go get healthy and I'm in no rush."
Francona insisted upon keeping the spotlight on his gamers throughout the season's last month and talked to them Tuesday so they weren't surprised by anything in their final days together.
" I just wanted to thank them," he stated. "I informed them in spring training, it's an honor for me to stand up in front of them and go through not just the excellent, but the hard, and I desired everybody in that space to know that I seemed like it was an honor of a lifetime to be here for 11 years."
He's been a beloved figure in
Cleveland.
Francona's teams were constantly in the playoff hunt in spite of having among baseball's lowest payrolls. In 2016, the team came within one swing of winning their first World Series given that 1948 before losing in seven games to the
Chicago Cubs.
Francona stated his run in
Cleveland was everything he hoped. This season felt various for lots of reasons, and he spoke to group president Chris Antonetti and basic supervisor Mike Chernoff about his future to offer them time to begin a search for his successor.
He will not offer input on
Cleveland's next supervisor.
" I do not think that's reasonable," he stated. "For 11 years I've been doing this the way I think is. I do not believe that's fair to them or to the next person to attempt to put my stamp on it. There might be somebody can be found in totally 180 degrees various and it might be better. That's the appeal of our game."
It won't be simple to change Francona, who played 10 seasons before beginning his supervisory career with
Philadelphia in 1997.
The Guardians will finish their season in
Detroit with a three-game series starting Friday.
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