Long-time Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, who has missed the majority of the MLB regular season due to health problems, has re-entered the team’s quarantine bubble in advance of the upcoming MLB Playoffs and will be a part of the team in October.
Francona, who is still slated to miss the rest of the regular season, has still not made a final decision when it comes to managing in the playoffs, but his presence in the team’s bubble will at least open the door to that possibility. Even if he doesn’t return to manage on the field in October, his presence still could be useful for a team that will look to advance deep into the postseason.
“It gives (Francona) an opportunity to be around the team, even if it’s not in the dugout,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti explained before the team’s Wednesday night game against the White Sox.
The 61-year-old manager has missed 42 games this season due to gastrointestinal issues and a surgery as well as a blood-clotting condition.
Francona, a two-time World Series champion and a two-time AL Manager of the Year, has managed in 9 different MLB postseasons in his 19-year managerial career and could provide a real boost for his team whether it’s on or off the field.
