Terry Francona is the manager of that team in title only. At best he's a joke in that clubhouse. In reference to letting Pedro begin the 8th having already thrown 103 pitches, and then giving up the homerun to Matsui, Francona said:
"If I run out there after two pitches, you understand what I'm saying, it would make it look like I wasn't making a very good decision before the inning."
WTF??? So, that pretty much is the equivalent to saying, "well, I already F'ed up the game...might as well let it go just to prove my own dimented, selfish point." Sheesh, nothing like standing behind a decision that everyone and their blind, deaf dog knows is a mistake.
And why did Terry leave Pedro in there to start the 8th?
"In my opinion, he still had good stuff," the manager said.
Yep, a 90 mph fastball is top-shelf stuff for Pedro, no doubt, Skip. 103-frickin' picthes, Terry!! Wake up!!
It's pretty obvious that this year's reason for the Red Sox failing in October will be the man who plays "Manager" in the dugout.