This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CLEVELAND -- In a few months, Reds players have seen the work, personality and skills that made manager Terry Francona an extremely popular figure for Cleveland over 11 seasons, and in Boston for eight years before that.
Francona was uncomfortable with all the attention from the Guardians and Cleveland on Monday during his first return to Progressive Field since he stepped down after the 2023 season. The likely future Hall of Famer did something he's often good at -- he compartmentalized his feelings by separating nostalgia from business.
“I had 11 really fun years here, and I had some great relationships. That never changes," said Francona, who managed Cleveland from 2013-23. "But now we’re trying to figure out a way to beat them tonight. That’s why we’re here. That will never take away how I feel about people here.”
Nevertheless, praise was heaped on Francona, who is Cleveland's all-time leader in manager wins and a three-time American League Manager of the Year who led his club to an AL pennant in 2016.
That was reflected in a video tribute given before Monday's game.
"It was special," said center fielder TJ Friedl, who hit a home run during the Reds' 7-4 win. "I think we all knew how much he meant to this city. But to see that and to see the tribute video to him and see how loved he was by the city, it’s cool. He’s a great manager, a great person. He’s someone I really enjoy playing for, for sure.”
With a 35-33 record entering play on Wednesday, the fourth-place Reds are close to the 33-35 record they had through their first 68 games under former manager David Bell in 2024.
But that hasn't diminished how Cincinnati players feel about Francona -- the person and the manager -- or their optimism that the club will experience the type of success Francona has had elsewhere.
“Our record is what it is because I don’t think we’ve played great," first baseman/left fielder Spencer Steer said. “I feel like we haven’t played close to what we’re capable of and we’re sitting at .500, so I see that as a positive in my opinion.”
Here are four reasons why the Reds have liked playing for Francona.
1. He relates well
“I just feel like with him it’s very clear what he expects out of you and what he expects out of us as a team," Steer said. "I think he just cares. He cares a lot. I think it’s really evident in how he manages and just the interactions you have with him. It’s always genuine. He really cares about you as a person. I think that’s really awesome to have as a manager.”
“He’s just fun to be around," reliever Brent Suter said. "So honest, an open dialogue. He cares about you. Super fun, relaxed and funny as heck. He’s a pleasure to be around every day, a pleasure to play for and honor to play for.”
2. He has great leadership skills
“For us, he brings great leadership. He really establishes what he wants out of you, each individual person," Friedl said. "We all had really good talks with him at Spring Training. I know what he wants from us as a team but also what he wants from us as individuals. I think he does a really good job of getting the most out of each one of us as players. To that testament, we all play for each other. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
3. He holds them accountable
"He’s rewarding us on and off the field with praise when we’re doing the right thing and the right amount of accountability when we’re freaking it up," Suter said. "He brings a sense of community, a sense of camaraderie with the team. It starts at the top.”
4. He’s a good communicator
During Spring Training as the Reds lost players to the injured list to open the season, Steer was dealing with a balky right shoulder that prevented him from making throws. He also got minimal camp plate appearances. Instead of putting Steer on the injured list, Francona had him open as the designated hitter and stuck with him while he struggled the first month of the season.
“He gave me the opportunity to be on the big league roster, which is a big deal to me," Steer said. "He was willing to work with you. He’s really good at communicating, and it’s easy to have those kinds of conversations with him.”
“He always says the right things at the right time," Suter said. "He makes the joke at the right time, makes the serious statement at the right time. He’s just got max feel with when and how and what to say. That helps break the ice for the room, helps get us in the right train of thought, helps people think about winning and executing all the time.”