Red Sox Rule: Terry Francona and Boston's Rise to Dominance

Michael Holley, bestselling author of Patriot Reign, provides an inside look at how it all happened. With the exclusive cooperation of Terry Francona and stories from the clubhouse and the conference room, Holley reveals the private sessions and the dugout and front-office strategies that have made the Boston Red Sox a budding dynasty.

When Grady Little's job prospects were dimming during game seven of the Red Sox-Yankees playoffs in 2003, Oakland A's bench coach Terry Francona was puttering around his house, unaware of his fate. General manager Theo Epstein and owner John Henry sat in their Fenway box, praying that Little would pull Pedro Martinez. And fans throughout New England howled when Martinez remained in the game and the Sox lost the series. They wanted Little's head, and they got it.

In Epstein and Henry's search for a manager, they wanted someone from the new school, someone who could manage wealthy and/or sensitive players and rely not only on gut and instinct but also on the cold science of statistics. Francona, the son of a professional baseball player and a major leaguer himself until devastating knee injuries ended his career prematurely, was a dark horse candidate. After all, he'd been a mediocre manager while with the Phillies. But he had a great head for the game, and as the manager for the minor league Birmingham Barons, he had managed none other than Michael Jordan without a glitch.

After Francona's job interview with Epstein, which included a written test and a game simulation, the Red Sox felt they'd found their man. And now, after two championships in four seasons, they have their proof.

With a team of disparate personalities, from the inscrutable Manny Ramirez to the affable David Ortiz, Francona and the Red Sox have overtaken their hated archnemesis, the New York Yankees, as the American League's elite team.

Insightful, fascinating, and surprising, Red Sox Rule is the story of the changing face of baseball and the inner workings of its finest organization.

Customer Review: Not as Insightful as I had hoped....
I purchased Red Sox rule because I am a huge Red Sox fan and a huge fan of Michael Holley's work. The book definately contains the Holley trademark style, but was far less insightful then I had hoped. The book gives quite a bit of background on Terry Francona's career, but not a whole lot of insight into the Red Sox organization, or Francona's true relationship with the players, or his philosophy of management. The book does move around a lot with a chapter or two on Francona (not in chronological order, which can be a bit confusing) and then a chapter about a particular incident during the 2007 season, it might be a particular Yankees series during the season, the Gagne trade, etc.. But for the most part its a book about Terry Francona's life. Its not a bad book, I found it interesting, but its not what I expected. If you are looking for insight into the rise of the team and the organization "Feeding the Monster" is a better option. If you want to learn more about Terry Francona's life in baseball this is the book for you.
Customer Review: Red Sox Rule
Red Sox Rule: Terry Francona and Boston's Rise to Dominance Red Sox Rule is a well written, entertaining book about the Boston Red Sox and their rising gain of respect in baseball, culminating in two World Series victories in four years. In the forefront is the Manager, Terry Francona, and the book tells the Red Sox story through Francona's life story. This is a baseball book that will appeal to more than baseball fans, as it is a very appealing story of a family whose business happens to be baseball. Michael Holley is a skilled story teller, and knows how to tell a lot in succinct style. His chapter on Birdie Francona's battle with cancer will ring true for anyone who has had the illness strike his family. For parents of children who love baseball, the book's positive storyis worthwhile, and with a minimum of strong language.

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Thanks for your time, Coach Chip

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