Terry Francona

FORT MYERS, Fla. — As he starts his job as the Red Sox's manager, Bobby Valentine gets to be one part Tommy Lasorda, two parts James Carville and three parts the guy who walks behind the elephants in the circus parade. And he loves every minute of...

Like his bosses, Mike Foltynewicz is a baseball optimist. He can see the Astros rising out of the ashes they find themselves in at the beginning of the Jim Crane era. "In three or four years, we're going to be a fun team,'' said Foltynewicz, a 21-year-...

MINNEAPOLIS — You couldn't have blamed Kevin Youkilis if he wanted a little time to collect himself. But baseball doesn't work like that, not during the 162-game marathon. So there was Youkilis on Monday, reporting to Target Field about 24 hours...

Harrison Ford has always been a thief. On the screen. In "Star Wars," Han Solo was on the run for nefarious deeds from the moment we met him. In the "Indiana Jones" universe, we first see Mr. Jones as he steals a priceless artifact and is almost...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Talking baseball while wondering whose stock has climbed faster, Apple or Northern Illinois’ football program: 1. John Kruk feels the pain of Cub fans. But he is a huge believer in the path set by Theo Epstein, who continues to...

1. Tigers: Forget the concern at closer. They were loaded last year, and they're a lot better with Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter and a full year of Anibal Sanchez. 2. Dodgers: Hanley Ramirez's injury could slow them out of the gate, but they're deep and...

One thing to keep in mind about baseball: It's all good. Big-league baseball. Minor-league baseball. College baseball. Pony League baseball. Even, gasp, international baseball. While many North American fans dismiss the World Baseball Classic —...

GLENDALE, Ariz. — So, Rick Hahn, how do you like Jeff Keppinger now? While the White Sox's rookie general manager eases into this extended spring training camp, his 13th with the organization, the bet on the American League Central table has...

Talking baseball while wishing we could fast forward to first-round games in the NCAA basketball tournament: 1. No matter what Ken Rosenthal and Buster Olney were suggesting before Michael Bourn’s deal with Cleveland was finalized Monday, the Cubs...

For What it's Worth on this January 16th--- Over the last four days the top three college basketball teams in the country lost. Begging the question of dominance…is their such a team this season like the Kentucky of last? No. There doesn’t...

Nobody on Earth could tell Lance Armstrong's story better than Lance Armstrong. Nobody on earth is less morally and ethically qualified to tell it than he is. Armstrong is a liar. Armstrong is a cheat. Armstrong is a bully. In the famously foreboding...

I wonder. Will the Red Sox ultimately be remembered for hiring the wrong manager from Connecticut? After outsmarting themselves last November by hiring the smartest man in the room, if not the planet, I wonder. Are the Red Sox overcompensating this...